Faith, Service and Inspiration: The Knights of Columbus in Illinois

The Knights of Columbus have made enormous contributions to the Church, the Order, and their communities, and have left a remarkable record of service and achievement. In Illinois, that record began with the establishment of the first Illinois council- Chicago Council #182 - on July 10, 1896 - the oldest council west of the Allegheny Mountains- and has expanded to include over 500 Illinois councils today providing millions of dollars of annual charitable contributions and thousands of service hours to parishes and communities across the state and beyond. They created an organization "built to serve" whose projects assist people across all walks of life while understanding that helping one person might not change the world, but it could change the world for one person. Their efforts have succeeded in changing not only the world of one person but the world of many around the world.

A native Illinoisian, Logan Ludwig, who holds a PhD from St. Louis University, an MLS from the University of Missouri, and a BS with a minor in history from Southern Illinois University, has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for over fifty years. He has served as a Council Grand Knight, a District Deputy, and an Illinois State Deputy. He was elected to the Supreme Council Board of Directors and served as Supreme Treasurer and as Deputy Supreme Knight. He is keenly aware of the importance of documenting history, for if left undocumented it can be used to alter the true narrative of the past to influence the future. Telling the story of the Illinois Knights of Columbus history has largely been neglected and much of their legacy has already been lost to the tides of time. This work preserves the past and provides examples of how Knights have responded in faith to our many gifts from God and offers reflection and inspiration for growth in faith-based leadership.