Brief History of the Columbian Squires

The existence of the Columbian Squires organization is due to the vision of Father McGivney, the Knights of Columbus and the experience and determination of Brother Barnabas McDonald, a Christian Brother, whose entire adult life was devoted to the welfare of young men.

Largely because of his previous work with youth, Brother Barnabas was charged by the Knights of Columbus with the development of a program for Catholic young men, which would have the immediate objective of developing each member’s leadership abilities.

On August 4, 1925 the first official investiture took place during the 43^rd annual meeting of the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus held in Duluth, Minnesota. Barnabas Circle 1, sponsored by Duluth Council 447, thus became the first Columbian Squires circle. Other circles followed under the sponsorship of a Knights of Columbus council or fourth degree assembly. Each was granted its own charter and known by its own name and number.

Four years after the first investiture, Brother Barnabas died in New Mexico. The New York Times wrote, “(he) was a Saint walking amid the crowded, busy, modern ways of men, in active ministry to boyhood…to how many thousands of individuals he has given a helping hand, no one can estimate.”

Brother Barnabas once urged the Knights of Columbus, “…give (a boy) the greatest possible help in making himself the sort of Christian citizen he wishes to become, and we so urgently need.” Over 300,000 young men have been Columbian Squires in more than 4,700 circles in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Philippine Islands, Cuba, Panama, Guatemala, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico – a fitting testament to the insight and compassion displayed by both the Knights and Brother Barnabas for the welfare of young men everywhere.

Knights of Columbus

Guide to Sponsorship and Counseling of a Columbian Squires Circle

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