Who are the Columbiettes?

 

Purpose                                                              

The Columbiettes, an organization of Catholic women dedicated to our Patronesses, Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Theresa the Little Flower and St. Joan of Arc, are comprised of affiliated Auxiliaries of the Knights of Columbus Councils.A Columbiette Auxiliary is in existence only with the consent and approval of the Council with which it is affiliated. One of our purposes is to aid our Council spiritually, socially and financially. The Columbiette Auxiliary upon request aids said Council in all its endeavors.

 

Our purpose is to:

•promote the spiritual, social and charitable welfare of our members

•to instill a steadfast conviction relating to the proper place and function of Catholic women in safeguarding the religious, civil and economic rights of all Catholics

•to rely upon the intercession of Mary, our Mother and Model, for guidance in guarding the common good, and to work through her, on loving and aiding all members of the human family and to give assistance to the Knights of Columbus in all their activities upon request.

 

History                                                                 

In 1939, Monsignor J. Francis McIntyre, at that time the Chaplain of the New York Chapter Knights of Columbus, and who

later became Cardinal McIntyre of Los Angeles, California, seeing great numbers of women coming out of a Communist

rally at Madison Square Garden, conceived the idea of a ladies organization to work with the Knights of Columbus. The

New York Chapter Knights of Columbus formulated a plan for such an organization. Their plan called for the

establishment of Auxiliaries in each Council and tocoordinate the efforts of all under the direction of the parent group.

On March 2, 1939, the first Columbiettes were instituted in New York City. Since that memorable day, many new

Auxiliaries were formed and eventually State Councils and a Supreme Council were established.The Columbiettes are

now an international organization of Catholic women presently established in the United States and Canada.

 

Founders                                                         

                                                                               They ignited the spirit of the Columbiette Order

                                                                                       May we continue to kindle the flame.

                                                                                                        Our Founders

                                                                              The Honorable Margaret Mary Josephine Mangan

  Judge Mangan was a Justice of the Supreme Court of New York and was one of the Founders of our Order. In 1959, Judge Mangan was elected the First President of the Supreme Council Columbiettes. She was a woman of greatness and humility and was dedicated to the Columbiettes. The Columbiettes were always dear to her heart and she brought honor and glory to the Columbiettes in all aspects of her career as a Supreme Court Justice and a Catholic woman.

                                                                                          John Leo Coyle             Charles P. Maruca

 Thomas J. Hartigan, Chairman of the New York Chapter Knights of Columbus, designated Past Grand Knight Charles P. Maruca and Faithful Navigator John Leo Coyle, both as Advisors to formulate a plan to follow through on the ideas put forth by the Chaplain. They enlisted the aid of a member of St. Nicholas Auxiliary, Margaret Mary J. Mangan, to assist them. Their untiring efforts thus resulted in the Columbiettes. John Leo Coyle, a blind Attorney, who worked from the outset of the formation of the Organization, composed a First Degree. On December 17, 1939, the First Degree was exemplified for all the Columbiettes in existing Auxiliaries. The Major Degree was completed in 1942 and was exemplified at the Capital Hotel in Manhattan. The Degrees brought the Columbiettes in format with the Knights of Columbus structure.To our founders we dedicate ourselves to do Gods work on earth promoting unity, Christs love for each of us, and zeal to serve God through Faith, Hope and Charity.