The Catholic Morning Show
The Miracle That Made Father McGivney "Blessed" – Greg Waddle – 08/13/2026
Episode Summary
On the feast day of Blessed Michael McGivney, Knights of Columbus agent Greg Waddle joins Bo Bonner and Deacon Mark Campbell to tell the story of the Connecticut parish priest who founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882 to protect Catholic widows and orphans. Waddle details the 2015 healing later approved as the miracle behind McGivney's 2020 beatification, and explains how the order's modern charitable and financial-protection mission still carries out McGivney's original vision. The conversation covers the Knights' more than 2 million members worldwide, its local impact through the Tootsie Roll Drive and ultrasound-machine placements, and how Iowa Catholic men can join a local council.
Episode Notes
About the Guest
- Greg Waddle — Knights of Columbus agent and Investment Advisor Representative serving Iowa; host of Faith and Family Finance on the Iowa Catholic Radio Network.
Key Highlights
- Blessed Michael McGivney (born August 12, 1852; died August 14, 1890) founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882 at St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Connecticut, to provide financial protection for the widows and orphans of Catholic immigrant families.
- His feast day, August 13, falls between his birth and death dates.
- A miracle attributed to McGivney's intercession — the 2015 healing of an unborn child diagnosed with a fatal condition — was approved by the Vatican, leading to his beatification on October 31, 2020, in Hartford, Connecticut.
- Today the Knights of Columbus counts more than 2 million members worldwide and gave a record amount to charity in its most recent fraternal year, per the order's own annual reporting.
- Local impact: Iowa Knights raise more than $50,000 a year for Special Olympics through the Tootsie Roll Drive, and Des Moines-metro councils recently raised $20,000 — matched by the order's Home Office — toward a third ultrasound machine for a local pregnancy center.
Get Involved
- Learn more or join a local council: KofC.org
- Learn more about Blessed Michael McGivney's cause for canonization: FatherMcGivney.org
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