Welcome to Saint Mary of the Assumption
a culturally rich and diverse Catholic family; through our worship, educational, youth and outreach ministries, we endeavor to welcome, to love, to evangelize and to serve, making Jesus Christ present in Word & sacrament.
The Knights was formed to render financial aid to members and their families. Mutual aid and assistance are offered to sick, disabled and needy members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works.
The history of the Order shows how the foresight of Father Michael J. McGivney, whose cause for sainthood is being investigated by the Vatican, brought about what has become the world's foremost Catholic fraternal benefit society. The Order has helped families obtain economic security and stability through its life insurance, annuity and long-term care programs, and has contributed time and energy worldwide to service in communities.
The Knights of Columbus has grown from several members in one council to more than 14,000 councils and 1.8 million members throughout the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, Poland, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Cuba, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan.
Our local Council Valencia # 80 is named for the home region of the explorer Christopher Columbus and was founded in Milford in 1893, a hundred and 25 years ago. They usually meet the first Tuesday of the month at Sacred Heart Church in Milford beginning with the rosary at 6:30 PM.
For update information on the activities of the Knights, their leadership and their meeting schedule, use the link to the left.
On March 29, 1882, a young curate at Saint Mary’s Parish in New Haven, CT, concerned about the welfare of his working class and immigrant families organized a mutual benefit society for the men of his parish. To give it an American identity beyond the Irish heritage of its initial members, he named the society the Knights of Columbus. In just over a decade, the fraternity began to grow, particularly among Irish Catholics in New England. On September 3, 1893, with 30 charter members, Council # 80 named Valencia for the region in Spain that Columbus either lived in or traveled through before sailing to the New World. Valencia was the fourteenth Council to be chartered in the state of Massachusetts. The founding Grand Knight of the Council was John T McLoughlin who was also the local state representative.
Though widely respected today and known for their charitable work among their own members and for the Church at large, particularly their donations to the National Shrine in Washington, DC, the Vatican, and the pro-life cause, it was not always so in Milford. Given his experience in Ireland with the Fein movement to overthrow the British government and similar secret societies among his Irish immigrants, Fr. Cuddihy cast a suspicious eye on the local Knights of Columbus. While never condemning the fraternity, for there was never a cause, he was also not a wholehearted supporter. Some of his suspicions may have been encouraged by his doubts about the local Ancient Order of Hibernians division who allowed the Knights the use of their hall for their meetings.
As a result, it was Fr. Cuddihy’s curate, Fr. James Canavan, who served as the first appointed Chaplain for Valencia Council, most likely following the death of Fr. Cuddihy during his term as pastor until his death in 1904. He was followed by Fr. David McGrath and it was under his direction, with his ‘kindly attitude’ that the Valencia Council ‘made its greatest advance.’ It was under his leadership that the Valencia Council became a leader in the state. It was the first Council to make a donation for the establishment of a free bed at Carney Hospital, one of the largest gifts at the time. With the entrance of our country into what would be known as World War I, the Knights of Columbus was at the lead in ministering to men in the armed forces, over 100 men from the Milford area answered the call to arms, some paying the supreme sacrifice as well.
In those early years, Mr. Edward L. Hearn of Framingham became a Knight through Valencia Council #80, and is listed as being in the second class to be exemplified. A short time later, on January 28, 1894, Coeur de Leon Council # 87 was formed in Framingham and Mr. Hearn was chosen as the founding Grand Knight. He would serve three successive terms there when he was chosen on April 1, 1899, to serve as Supreme Knight for the entire order, a position he held for ten years, until August 31, 1909. By 1924, the Council had a membership of over 600 men and was looking to own its own hall rather than use the quarters of the Hibernians. A location on Cedar Street was purchased and used by the Council until the early 21st century when at the national level the directive was to move beyond property holdings in order to make better use of people’s time by investing in service and programs than maintaining facilities.
Following World War II, another Knight from Valencia Council, John E. Swift would be elected as Supreme Knight and serve the international organization from October 24, 1945 until August 31, 1953. The Honorable John E. Swift is buried in Saint Mary’s Cemetery; many remember his impressive mausoleum removed in March of 2020.