About Us

About the Knights of Columbus

Founded by Father Michael J. McGivney in 1882 in New Haven, Connecticut, the Knights of Columbus has grown to a worldwide Catholic fraternal brotherhood of more than 14,000 councils and 1.8 million members. Every member of the Knights of Columbus plays a part in improving the world around them, one community at a time. Knights stand together in faith, dedicated to upholding the principles they cherish while lending their support and strength to parish, home, and fellow Knights.

From charity for worldwide causes, to helping closer to home with volunteer activities, to a top-rated insurance program, the Knights make the most of their brotherhood.

About our Knights of Columbus Council

The Thomas Price Council was founded on August 31, 1924. Our Council is named for Father Thomas Frederick Price. He was the first native-born Catholic priest of North Carolina. He is now up for sainthood as a Servant of God. Our Council was formed to serve the Sacred Heart Church in Raleigh. 

In 1924, Bishop William J. Hafey was named the first bishop of the newly formed Raleigh Diocese. The new Diocese of Raleigh was the entire state of North Carolina.  Bishop William J. Hafey wanted to refurbish what is now Sacred Heart Church as his cathedral. Our council was formed so the bishop could get a loan from the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council. 

Our council was formed when State Deputy C. F. Linthicum was responsible for all Knights of Columbus members in North Carolina. Our first Grand Knight was Herman Wolfe, and our Chaplain was Reverend Thomas Griffin.  

At this time, new council development was a very scarce commodity. No new councils came into existence in North Carolina until 1941, after the start of World War II. 

For the first 29 years of our existence, we met in the orphanage run by the diocese.
We assisted the children in the orphanage, as well as the clergy and staff.  When the orphanage was to be closed, we moved to our present site in 1953.  

It is worth noting that we were the only council in the greater Raleigh area for 27 years. That changed when a Council was formed in Durham in 1951. The next Council to be formed was in Cary in 1975. Because of this history, we have members who belong to parishes across the greater Raleigh area and not just the Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral (and Sacred Heart Church).

The Knights of Columbus was founded on the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism. Opportunities abound to put your faith into practice and action through the Knights of Columbus. We have our RSVP program (Refund Support Vocations Program) to help our seminarians. We support many local charities, including Operation L.A.M.B., Catholic Parish Outreach, The Women’s Center of Wake County, Habitat for Humanity, Run for Life, Aid Support After Pregnancy (ASAP), A Note in the Pocket, and much more.

We currently have just over 200 members, which makes this all possible. There is so much more that we could do with your help. Come out and celebrate our many successes.

2025-2026 Council Officers

Grand Knight                        Donald J Pavic                    

Deputy Grand Knight           J Graham Leonard III

Financial Secretary              John R Nussbaum

Treasurer                               Elia L Minervini III

Chancellor                             Robert Kearney

Warden                                  Clyde R Dennis

Advocate                               James C Frawley

One Year Trustee                 John C Gouldie

Two Year Trustee                 Charles W Watson III

Three Year Trustee              Mark D Toupin

 

What we provide

Charity is the first principle of the Knights of Columbus. Knights are men who serve our parishes and communities. Unity and Fraternity are the second and third principles of the Knights of Columbus. The Knights of Columbus was founded so that men could work together to protect the well-being of their Catholic families and support others in faith, and in many other ways along life’s journey. The Knights of Columbus offers its members the opportunity to grow in their faith through living the example of a charity that evangelizes and personifying what it means to be a Catholic gentleman through the practice of good works.

Knights and their families have exclusive access to our top-quality insurance products. No insurer in North America is more highly rated than the Knights of Columbus. As an organization founded to protect the well-being of Catholic families, we have taken that mission seriously for over 130 years.

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