Our Programs

FAITH

FAMILY

COMMUNITY

LIFE

FAITH IN ACTION FOR SCHOOLS


Knights of Columbus (KofC) is a fraternity of lay Catholic men who share the core ideals of Charity-Unity-Fraternity and Patriotism. Founded by Blessed Father Michael McGivney, the order began as a means to support Pastors, Parishes and Parish families in time of need. The order has grown to be so much more since its founding in 1882.

KofC, through its 16,000+ councils worldwide has contributed over $200 million dollars annually to charities and contributed over 57.6 million manpower hours to Parishes and Communities worldwide.

A significant part of that is through its FAITH IN ACTION programs that follow four key categories: LIFE, FAMILY, COMMUNITY and FAITH. These four categories include over 32 different programs in which KofC members are encouraged to support.

FAITH IN ACTION AND HAWAII CATHOLIC SCHOOLS:

As part of our 32 program initiative, the Hawaii Knights has highlighted five programs that we encourage Hawaii Catholic schools to consider incorporating into their established curriculum. These programs include:

- Keep Christ In Christmas Poster Contest

- Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest

- Soccer Challenge

- Free Throw Championship

Schools have a unique opportunity to incorporate these programs into their everyday curriculum. In the past, we have had:

KCIC Poster and the Drug Awareness Poster contests as a part of a School's Art class. Providing a theme for creative expression while incorporating key messages of faith and wellbeing.

Our Soccer Challenge and Free Throw Championships have served as a fun way to promote active healthy responsible lifestyles while incorporating basic athletic skills that are often already part of a Schools PE program.

Our Catholic Citizenship Essay contest has been used in School's English departments or Literature courses as an assignment that takes a key faith based theme and challenges our youth to express themselves through their writing on how this faith based theme relates to them. Helping to encourage critical thinking of Faith and Religion in their own lives. Used as an opportunity for extra credit or as a planned class assignment, we have found this particular program to be very successful.

KEY POINTS TO CONSIDER:

The manner in which these programs have been executed in the past is for the Knights to provide teachers with the tools, forms, certificates, outline, everything needed to execute these programs. within their everyday/weekly class schedule.

Knights of Columbus members from local or State groups can assist as much or as little as the teachers or schools deem appropriate.

Teachers are encouraged to implement a recognition process for each program and the KofC can assist with providing reasonable awards for the students achievements, for example GC to Starbucks in the amount of $5-$10-$25 depending on the final recognition plan.

Winners in each category of each program have the opportunity to move onto District, State and in some programs International levels of competition within the KofC system. Just a few years ago a Aiea student from St. Elizabeth had her KCIC Poster recognized on the international level.

These programs also allow for the opportunity for the Knights of Columbus to establish a relationship with our Catholic schools. These relationships have benefited our Hawaii Catholic Schools, both in manpower support as well as financial donations to Schools, scholarships and more.


Click below for a Snapshot of Each Program!

Click Here

OVERVIEW

Conducting a Knights of Columbus Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Contest is a fun and easy way to put your faith into action and get youth in your community involved in their faith. It is fun to conduct because of the opportunity to witness the creativity and optimism of the youth in your community. It is easy because you can tap into existing structures like class instruction. 

CRITERIA FOR JUDGING

Outline the criteria for your judges to use in rating the entries. The goal of this program is to increase the awareness of young people’s faith, while encouraging them to speak to other youth “in their own language” about the true meaning of Christmas. Local Knights of Columbus Council leaders can help you line up judges for your School's program.

RECOGNITION

Recognize everyone participating by presenting the included participation certificates to all who submit entries and school/council champion certificates to your school's/council’s winners. With advance planning, local Knights of Columbus councils, District or State leadership can work with you in providing a special award for each division winner. Example: 1st Place in Each Division to receive a $25 GC to Jamba Juice, etc. All runner's up to receive applicable Certificates.

JUDGING:

100-point scoring system will be used to determine the winners. 

Slogan — 30 Points: How clearly is the theme presented?

Visuals — 30 Points: How well do the visuals convey the message?

Overall impact — 40 points:  How effective was the poster in capturing your attention and causing you to reflect on the topic at hand?

SUGGESTED TIMETABLE & SUGGESTED QUICK PLANNER:

September/October: Work with you KofC partners to order a complete program kit for your school.

October/November: Implement Poster contest into your School's Art curriculum. 

November/December: Final stage to complete all entries, deadline to be set no later than December 1, 2021.

December: Work with Parish/Pastor to showcase posters, perhaps in the vestibule to showcase pre-Sunday mass. Hold a judging session with you judges panel.

January: (Possible Catholic School Week) School KCIC Poster Contest Awards presentation. Invite Knights to help with presentation and awards.

RECAP OF BENEFITS:

- Program materials and guidelines, including certificate templates are all provided for you.

- Criteria and program pre established, ready to go from the box!

- Promotion of Christ as the Reason for the Season, reestablishing to our youth the presence of Christ in Christmas.

- 1st Place awards to be provided to you (requires advance communication and planning) by the Knights of Columbus.

- DFY curriculum and contest for your School!

- School winners move onto District and/or State finals where additional awards and prizes are available.

- KofC to promote contest online, in the Hawaii Catholic Herald and other platforms to provide maximum exposure to the contest and the School.

- Support throughout the process for this Faith Filled Fun program

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OVERVIEW

Conducting a Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship encourages an active athletic lifestyle with our youth, provides an opportunity to teach sportsmanship, teamwork and overall good character. 

RECOGNITION

Recognize everyone participating by presenting the included participation certificates to all who compete and school/council champion certificates to your school's/council’s division winners. With advance planning, local Knights of Columbus councils, District or State leadership can work with you in providing a special award for each division winner. Example: 1st Place in Each Division to receive a $25 GC to Jamba Juice, etc. All runner's up to receive participation certificates.

SCORING

Normal rules of basketball regarding free throws apply for all levels of competition. Free Throw violations include stepping on or over the line prior to the ball reaches the rim, or shots rebounding off the "out of bounds" basket. Scorers should record baskets made and missed on each attempt according to the instructions on the entry form/score sheet. It is recommended that multiple scorers be assigned to each basket to assure accuracy and comparison. All scores should be verified before moving onto the next competitor. Video is not recommended, score sheets and determination by Scorers should be the final determination of all scores.

SUGGESTED TIMETABLE & SUGGESTED QUICK PLANNER:

October/November: Work with you KofC partners to order a complete program kit for your school.

December: Implement Free Throw Championship into your School's PE curriculum.

January: Final stage to complete all rounds of competition on all levels. Suggested completion before the third week of January. (Possible Catholic School Week) School Free Throw Championship of all finalists in all divisions compete followed by an awards presentation. Invite Knights to help with presentation and awards.

RECAP OF BENEFITS:

- Program materials and guidelines, including certificate templates are all provided for you.

- Criteria and program pre established, ready to go from the box!

- Encourage an active athletic lifestyle with our youth, provides an opportunity to teach sportsmanship, teamwork and overall good character.

- 1st Place awards to be provided to you (requires advance communication and planning) by the Knights of Columbus.

- DFY application and score sheets, plan execution of competition and all supporting materials provided for your School!

- School winners move onto District and/or State finals where additional awards and prizes are available. Coordinated and executed by Knights.

- KofC to promote contest online, in the Hawaii Catholic Herald and other platforms to provide maximum exposure to the competition and the School.

- Support throughout the process for this Faith Filled Fun program

Click Here

OVERVIEW

Conducting a Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge encourages an active athletic lifestyle with our youth, provides an opportunity to teach sportsmanship, teamwork and overall good character.

RECOGNITION

Recognize everyone participating by presenting the included participation certificates to all who compete and school/council champion certificates to your school's/council’s division winners. With advance planning, local Knights of Columbus councils, District or State leadership can work with you in providing a special award for each division winner. Example: 1st Place in Each Division to receive a $25 GC to Jamba Juice, etc. All runner's up to receive participation certificates.

SCORING

Each participant will be given 15 penalty kicks. Points will be awarded depending upon the area of the scoring zones through which the ball passes. For example, after the player’s 15 penalty kicks, his/her scores are 5/10/20/5/5/5/5/10/10/5/20/5/10/5/5, his/her total score would be 125.  A score of 125 would be marked on the entry form/score sheet. Normal rules of soccer regarding penalty kicks apply for all levels of competition.  Penalty kick violations include stepping on or over the line prior to the kick, and any contact made with the ball counts as a kick. Scorers should record shots made and missed according to the instructions on the entry form/score sheet. It is also recommended that multiple scorers be assigned to each goal for scoring accuracy and comparison. All scores should be verified before the next contestant is allowed to shoot. The use of video tape recording is not recommended to resolve questions on final determination of scores should be decided by the scorers and the scoresheets.

SUGGESTED TIMETABLE & SUGGESTED QUICK PLANNER:

September: Work with you KofC partners to order a complete program kit for your school.

October/November: Implement Soccer Challenge into your School's PE curriculum. 

November/December: Final stage to complete all rounds of competition on all levels. Suggested completion before the third week of December. Soccer Challenge Finals for all finalists in all divisions competed followed by an awards presentation. Invite Knights to help with presentation and awards.

RECAP OF BENEFITS:

- Program materials and guidelines, including certificate templates are all provided for you.

- Criteria and program pre established, ready to go from the box!

- Encourage an active athletic lifestyle with our youth, provides an opportunity to teach sportsmanship, teamwork and overall good character.

- 1st Place awards to be provided to you (requires advance communication and planning) by the Knights of Columbus. 

- DFY application and score sheets, plan execution of competition and all supporting materials provided for your School!

- School winners move onto District and/or State finals where additional awards and prizes are available. Coordinated and executed by Knights.

- KofC to promote contest online, in the Hawaii Catholic Herald and other platforms to provide maximum exposure to the competition and the School.

- Support throughout the process for this Faith Filled Fun program.

Click Here

OVERVIEW

Conducting a Knights of Columbus Catholic Citizenship Essay  Contest is a fun and easy way to put your faith into action and get youth in your community involved in their faith.  This essay contest utilizes a key theme that is established annually by the Knights of Columbus which helps to  energize them to become active citizens grounded in their faith. 

GUIDELINES

-Essays must reflect the assigned theme and be the student's original work.

-Essays must be typed and be between 500-750 words in length.

-The student's names should appear only on the official Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest entry form, which must be stapled to the essay.

-All entries become the property of the Knights of Columbus and will not be returned.

RECOGNITION

Recognize everyone participating by presenting the included participation certificates to all who submit entries and school/council champion certificates to your school's/council’s winners. With advance planning, local Knights of Columbus councils, District or State leadership can work with you in providing a special award for each division winner. Example: 1st Place in Each Division to receive a $25 GC to Jamba Juice, etc. All runner's up to receive applicable Certificates.

JUDGING:

Judges (three or more) will be selected by the School and/or the Knights of Columbus. Judges may include Council and/or assembly members, teachers, clergy, civil officials and/or members of the community may serve as judges. Essays will be judged on a 100-point scoring system:

-35 points: Content How clearly is the theme presented?

-30 points: Grammar does the essay reflect proper sentence and paragraph structure and utilize correct spelling?

-35 points: Style does the essay show creativity, imagination and development of the topic in a compelling style?

All scores should be recorded on the entry form/score sheet.  Please coordinate with your Knights of Columbus partners for help with securing judges. Judging may also be executed digitally.

SUGGESTED TIMETABLE & SUGGESTED QUICK PLANNER:

September/October: Work with you KofC partners to order a complete program kit for your school.

October/November: Implement Essay contest into your School's English or Literature curriculum. 

November/December: Final stage to complete all entries, deadline to be set no later than December 1, 2021.

December: Work with Parish/Pastor to showcase essays, perhaps in the vestibule to showcase pre-Sunday mass. Essays may be displayed anonymously.

January: (Possible Catholic School Week) Essay Contest Awards presentation. Invite Knights to help with presentation and awards.

RECAP OF BENEFITS:

- Program materials and guidelines, including certificate templates are all provided for you.

- Criteria and program pre established, ready to go from the box!

- Energize your youth and candidates to become active citizens grounded in their faith.

- 1st Place awards to be provided to you (requires advance communication and planning) by the Knights of Columbus. 

- DFY curriculum and contest for your School!

- School winners move onto District and/or State finals where additional awards and prizes are available.

- KofC to promote contest online, in the Hawaii Catholic Herald and other platforms to provide maximum exposure to the contest and the School.

- Support throughout the process for this Faith Filled Fun program

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