ABOUT US
The Columbian Squires is an international youth fraternity run by the Knights of Columbus for Catholic boys between the ages of 10 and 18.
It has been described as “an athletic team, a youth group, a social club, a cultural and civic improvement association, a management training course, a civil rights organization and a spiritual development program all rolled into one.
The Squires is designed to develop young men as leaders who understand their Catholic religion, who have a strong commitment to the Church and who are ready, willing and capable of patterning their lives after the Youth Christ.
The Squires were established under the direction of Brother Barnabas McDonald, F.S.C., together with Supreme Director Daniel A. Tobin on August 4, 1925. At that time there was a national interest in youth in the United States, as reflected by the development of the Boy Scouts of America and the Big Brother movement.
Brother Barnabas McDonald F.S.C.(1865 - April 24, 1929), was a Brother of the Christian Schools involved with youth work, especially among delinquents and orphans in the United States. He is remembered as founder of the Columbian Squires of the Knights of Columbus and as a driving force in establishing the early relationship between the Boy Scouts of America and the American Catholic Church. (1)
As said by Brother Barnabas, “The supreme purpose of the Columbian Squires is character building."
Circle no. 5271 was organized on these grounds of molding young men into the leaders of tomorrow, who are all committed to the Catholic Church, to their families and to their Community.
Squires have fun and share their Catholic faith, help people in need, and enjoy the company of friends in social, family, athletic, cultural, civic and spiritual activities. Through their local circle, Squires work and socialize as a group of friends, elect their own officers, and develop into Catholic leaders.
The emblem of the Squires symbolizes the ideals which identify a squire. On the arms of a Maltese cross are the letters "P", which represents the physical development necessary to make the body as strong as the spirit; "I", which stands for the intellectual development needed for cultural and mental maturity; "S", which represents the spiritual growth and practice of our faith and "C", which stands for the development of citizenship and civic life.
The larger letters: "C", representing Christ and also Christopher Columbus; "S", the Squires; and "K", the Knights of Columbus, by whom the Squires program is
sponsored, are intertwined in the center of the cross. They are the three foundations of the program.
The Latin motto, "Esto Dignus", encircles the emblem. Translated into English, it means "Be Worthy."
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"Squires aim to trainleaders". Western Catholic Reporter. 2001. Archived from the original on February 24, 2005. Retrieved August 22, 2009. The Squires were begun by Christian Brother Barnabas McDonald in August 1925. In August 2000, the Squires began year-long 75th anniversary celebrations.