Knights of Columbus

Box of Joy – Simple, Inspiring and Fun!

Looking for an engaging way to involve Knights and unite families to uplift those in need?

Box of Joy is a perfect service opportunity for your Knights of Columbus council!

In the 2021 season, U.S. Catholics blessed 106,276 children in developing countries with a Box of Joy. In the coming season, friends like you can help us share Christ’s love with more children than ever before!

Put your faith into action by packing Christmas gifts for children who pray for just one gift. By leading your council, you can demonstrate Christ’s compassion to poor children in developing countries truly leaving no neighbor behind.

We will help make your Box of Joy experience simple, inspiring and fun!

Use this interactive map to see if your local Knights Council is participating in the Box of Joy ministry!

Don’t see your council on the map? Sign-Up by October 28 to be a Project Leader and lead your council to bless even more children through Box of Joy!

One Million Meal Challenge

Host a Food-packing Event to Help Feed Hungry Children

Host a Food-packing Event to Help Feed Hungry Children

Cross Catholic Outreach is supporting the Knights of Columbus on a mission to pack one million meals for hungry children and families in developing countries. Nearly 587,169 Vitafood meals have already been packed, and there is a commitment to pack 40,000 more meals for the poor. That will put the Knights over half way to achieving the goal, which we are confident they can reach — if we can depend on your support.

Collaborate in this effort to feed the hungry and you will see the tremendous impact this mission of mercy has on the lives of suffering children and their families! This outreach is truly transformative with blessings that go beyond filling empty stomachs; nurturing hungry souls as well.

Contact us now to learn more about how you can bring this engaging experience to your council. As you join brother Knights nationwide to feed the poor, you and your council will be manifesting the love of Christ in a powerful way. Join us and put your faith into action today.

Knights of Columbus Volunteer Events

National Food Packing events 

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Retreats

Our retreats (virtual or in-person) engage Knights in a time of prayer, discussion and celebration of the Eucharist. Through the intercession of St. Joseph, the retreat guides men in becoming attuned to God’s plans, better serving family and community, and discerning what is important in the life of faith.

Outreach Priests

Give your parish priest a much-needed rest and your parish unique insight into the needs of the poor. Cross Catholic Outreach Priests are specialists in mercy and serving the poor who can bring this enriching experience to your parish. By welcoming an Outreach Priest into your parish, you welcome a message that will set hearts on fire — convicting your parish to serve those in dire need.

Box of Joy

This past Christmas season, Knights from across the U.S. blessed 21,700 children in need with Boxes of Joy.  Children who might not have received a Christmas gift were all smiles as they opened their boxes. During the next holiday season, invite your council to help spread Christ’s love and the joy of his coming at Christmas!

Light on a Knight

Men on a Mission

Cross Catholic Outreach appreciates the opportunity to serve alongside the Knights of Columbus nationwide. Each month we are proud to shine a “Light on a Knight” as our way of recognizing different brother Knights for putting their faith into action through their leadership and support of our ministry and programs.

Terry Waters is the Manager of Special Initiatives for Cross Catholic Outreach

Terry Waters

Manager of Special Initiatives

Terry Waters has been a Knight of Columbus for more than 20 years and is currently a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Council #12127. He served in various leadership roles, including as a Grand Knight, a District Deputy and a State Program Director.

Terry is the Manager of Special Initiatives for Cross Catholic Outreach. In this role, he encourages U.S. councils and their members to build partnerships aligned with the faith-in-action goals of the Knights of Columbus. Cross Catholic Outreach’s Box of Joy ministry, food packing programs and overseas mission projects have become particularly popular activities with these councils.

Prior to joining Cross Catholic Outreach, Terry enjoyed a 30-year career in the beverage industry.

We’d Love to Work With You

Fill out the form to learn more about how to bring Faith in Action events to your community

Let’s Pray Together

We consider it an honor and a privilege to intercede for Knights and their family members. If you or someone you love needs prayer, please fill out the form below. We would love to pray for you.  

Share Your Prayer Intentions

Knights’ Reviews

What Brother Knights Have To Say About Our Programs

Eric Johnson
Eric JohnsonPast PA State Deputy for Knights of Columbus
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Eric Johnson participated in the Pittsburgh Chapter's food packing event. "It’s really encouraging because today we have a lot of issues in our country, in our world, with a lot of people that are really struggling,” Johnson told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. “It’s really great that we had this many people come out. We just put the call out, and they showed up."
Mike Martin
Mike MartinGrand Knight Council No. 11172, Glen Allen, VA
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"Our Pastor and parish staff were so excited when we introduced Box of Joy to them as one of our Outreach Programs. St. Michael’s parishioners were very thankful to our council for giving them the opportunity to make a difference in a child’s life for Christmas."
Vince Grauso
Vince GrausoPAST STATE DEPUTY, MD STATE COUNCIL
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”The virtual retreat directed by Fr. Dave Caron of Cross Catholic Outreach provided our Knights in Maryland with a unique opportunity to participate in an inspiring activity that helped deepen their faith. All of us were moved by the experience, and I strongly encourage other Knights to take advantage of this retreat which enabled us to better understand how to be men who follow in the footsteps of St. Joseph.”
Bill Newbrough
Bill NewbroughDirector of Community Programs, MD State Council
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“Cross Catholic Outreach food packing events have been a tremendous blessing to me.  I simply cannot think of a more worthwhile and effective charitable program that I’ve had the privilege of participating in.  Each volunteer at a Cross Catholic Outreach food packing event is blessed with the opportunity to put their faith into action! The food packing events provide critically needed food assistance to the hungry and allow each participant the chance to stand publically in solidarity with those in need!  Thank you Cross Catholic for that opportunity!  I’m so grateful!”
Chris Powers
Chris PowersMaryland State Deputy
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"Our Knights of Columbus families strive to ‘Cry the Gospel with Our Lives!’ In other words, we look for opportunities to charitably live our Faith in the public square as our founder, Blessed Michael McGivney challenged us to do. Teaming with Cross Catholic Outreach enables our members and families to fulfill their need to act, specifically by feeding the most hungry, a Corporal Work of Mercy. I look forward to many more such food packing events in the future!"
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Proceeds from this campaign will be used to cover any expenditures incurred through June 30, 2024, the close of our ministry’s fiscal year. In the event that more funds are raised than needed to fully fund the project, the excess funds, if any, will be used to meet the most urgent needs of the ministry.

What Is Your Legacy Mission?

When you include Cross Catholic Outreach as a beneficiary in your will, trust, retirement account or life insurance policy, you will make a difference for poor communities by meeting both material and spiritual needs for generations to come. Create Your Legacy!