Formation and development
The International Alliance of Catholic Knights was founded in Glasgow, Scotland, on October 12th 1979 at a meeting of the leaders of kindred Orders of Catholic Knights, convened on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of the Knights of Saint Columba. The Orders represented were the Knights of Columbus, Knights of Saint Columbanus, Knights of the Southern Cross Australia, Knights of the Southern Cross New Zealand and the Knights of Saint Columba.
This meeting resolved that these Fraternal Orders would found an International Alliance for the purpose of working together for the mutual advantage of the individual Member Orders and the extension of Catholic Knighthood throughout the world. It was agreed the Supreme Knight or National President of each Member Order would form an International Council which would meet annually and be responsible for the organisation and development of the new Alliance.
Founders of IACK
The Leaders present at this historic gathering are recognised as the Founders of the International Alliance of Catholic Knights and they were:-
Supreme Knight, Tony Rouse, Knights of Saint Columba, President
Supreme Knight, Virgil C. Dechant, Knights of Columbus
Supreme Knight, James J. Eccles, Knights of Saint Columbanus
National President, Peter Taylor, Knights of the Southern Cross Australia
Supreme Knight, Alan M. Diesel, Knights of Da Gama
Supreme Knight, Dr. Kevin Greene, Knights of the Southern Cross New Zealand
International Council Meetings
The International Council is a forum in which the leaders of Member Orders discuss matters of common concern and agree the future development of the Alliance. Since the Foundation meeting the Council has met at the following venues, under these International Presidents:-
1980 – East London South Africa, President Alan Diesel
1981 – Wellington New Zealand, President Patrick Keogh
1982 – Hartford United States, President Virgil C. Dechant
1983 – Dublin Ireland, President Vincent Gallagher
1984 – Melbourne Australia, President Robert Ward
1985 – Glasgow Scotland, President Walter Downey
1986 – Sekondi Ghana, President George Habib
1987 – New Haven United States, President Virgil C. Dechant
1988 – Berg An Daal South Africa, President Raymond Allam
1989 – Dublin Ireland and the Vatican , President Hugh McLaughlin
1990 – Auckland New Zealand, President Kinney Curran
1991 – Rome Italy, President Dr. George Akabogu
1993 – New Orleans United States, President Paul Condoll
1995 – Morecambe England, Chairman W. Roe, Ireland
1997 – Sekondi Ghana, President Owusu Prempeh
1998 – The Vatican, President Dr. Edmund Kwaw
1999 – New Haven United States, President Dr. Edmund Kwaw
2001 – Melbourne Australia, President Eamonn Fleming
2003 – St Martin bei Lofer Salzbergerland Austria, President Geoffrey Renner
2005 – Kruger Park, South Africa, President Niall Kennedy
2007 – Abuja, Nigeria, President Frank Wightman
2009 – New Orleans, Louisiana, President Samuel Barnes
2011 – Dublin, Ireland, President John Starmans
2013 – Banjul, The Gambia, President Vic Barra
2015 – Perth, Australia, President David Huppatz
2017 – Washington DC, USA, President F. DeKarlos Blackmon
2019 – Glasgow, Scotland, President Colin Walsh
2023 – Rome, Italy, President Charlie McCluskey KSG
2025 – Cape Town, South Africa, President Brendan McCann
The Holy See
By a Decree dated 14th. of April 1992.the International Alliance of Catholic Knights was given official recognition by the Vatican as an International Catholic Association of the Faithful, in accordance with codes 298 – 311 and 321 – 329 of the Code of Canon Law.
The development and work of the member Orders of Catholic Knights is fulfillment of the vision of the Rev Father Michael J McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus. Knights throughout the world give thanks to Almighty God for this holy and virtuous priest, especially on 14th August each year, the anniversary of his death in 1890, and we pray for his canonization.