Our History
We are a National Catholic Fraternal Organization comprising of Men, Ladies, Young Men and Young Ladies.
The Order was founded November 7, 1909 in Mobile, Alabama; by four Priests of the St. Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart (The Josephite Fathers) of Baltimore, Maryland - Fathers: Conrad F. Rebesher, John H. Dorsey, Samuel J. Kelly and Joseph P. Van Baast, S.S.J.'s and three laymen of the Diocese of Mobile - Birmingham, Alabama. Messrs: Gilbert Faustina, Frank Collins and Frank Trenier, all now passed to their eternal rewards; Incorporated July 12, 1911; the Fourth Degree was authorized in 1917; The Constitution for Junior Knights was compiled by the Reverend Joseph P. Van Baast, S.S.J. and his committee; The Ladies Auxiliary was authorized and their Constitution adopted at Opelousas, Louisiana in August 1922; The Constitution of The National Council was revised by committee on August 21, 1925; August 8, 1929; October 1936; August 1948; August 1951; August 1971; August 1979; August 1989 and August 1999. The Ladies Auxiliary was recognized as a Division of The National Council at Galveston, Texas, August 1926; and The Junior Daughters was established in 1930; The Constitution of The Junior Knights as a Division of The National Council, effectived on October 1, 1935.
The first official organ of the Order was "The Shield" published for the first time in Mobile, Alabama, November 1910 with Frank Trenier, Charter Member and National Secretary, as Editor. The successor to "The Shield" is "The Claverite", authorized in 1922 as a monthly publication, and its first Editor was Joseph H. Rieras, who served until 1928. "The Claverite" was changed to a semi-annual publication in 1974 at which time it was edited by The National Secretary. Presently, "The Claverite" is edited by The Executive Director.
The office of Executive Secretary for The Knights of Peter Claver, Inc. was created on August 3, 1960 by The National Convention, whose duties shall be to direct or administer the business pertaining to The National Office. There have been four Executive Secretaries: Thomas R. Lee, Jr. 1960 to December 1962; Huntington H. Dusuau, 1962 to November 1964; Wallace L. Young,Jr. 1964 to October 1972 and W. Charles Keyes, Jr. 1972 to present. The name of this office was changed to Executive Director in August 1999.
The Order has recieved The Apostic Benediction of the Most Holy Father in Rome on many occassions. The Order also has the Apporobation of Their Eminences and of Their Excellenceies, The Cardinals and The Most Reverend Archbishops and Bishops, throughout The Archdioceses and Diocese in which The Order has Councils and Courts.
In the United States of America, The Order operates in over 56 Archdioceses and Dioceses.
Our History
We are a National Catholic Fraternal Organization comprising of Men, Ladies, Young Men and Young Ladies.
The Order was founded November 7, 1909 in Mobile, Alabama; by four Priests of the St. Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart (The Josephite Fathers) of Baltimore, Maryland - Fathers: Conrad F. Rebesher, John H. Dorsey, Samuel J. Kelly and Joseph P. Van Baast, S.S.J.'s and three laymen of the Diocese of Mobile - Birmingham, Alabama. Messrs: Gilbert Faustina, Frank Collins and Frank Trenier, all now passed to their eternal rewards; Incorporated July 12, 1911; the Fourth Degree was authorized in 1917; The Constitution for Junior Knights was compiled by the Reverend Joseph P. Van Baast, S.S.J. and his committee; The Ladies Auxiliary was authorized and their Constitution adopted at Opelousas, Louisiana in August 1922; The Constitution of The National Council was revised by committee on August 21, 1925; August 8, 1929; October 1936; August 1948; August 1951; August 1971; August 1979; August 1989 and August 1999. The Ladies Auxiliary was recognized as a Division of The National Council at Galveston, Texas, August 1926; and The Junior Daughters was established in 1930; The Constitution of The Junior Knights as a Division of The National Council, effectived on October 1, 1935.
The first official organ of the Order was "The Shield" published for the first time in Mobile, Alabama, November 1910 with Frank Trenier, Charter Member and National Secretary, as Editor. The successor to "The Shield" is "The Claverite", authorized in 1922 as a monthly publication, and its first Editor was Joseph H. Rieras, who served until 1928. "The Claverite" was changed to a semi-annual publication in 1974 at which time it was edited by The National Secretary. Presently, "The Claverite" is edited by The Executive Director.
The office of Executive Secretary for The Knights of Peter Claver, Inc. was created on August 3, 1960 by The National Convention, whose duties shall be to direct or administer the business pertaining to The National Office. There have been four Executive Secretaries: Thomas R. Lee, Jr. 1960 to December 1962; Huntington H. Dusuau, 1962 to November 1964; Wallace L. Young,Jr. 1964 to October 1972 and W. Charles Keyes, Jr. 1972 to present. The name of this office was changed to Executive Director in August 1999.
The Order has recieved The Apostic Benediction of the Most Holy Father in Rome on many occassions. The Order also has the Apporobation of Their Eminences and of Their Excellenceies, The Cardinals and The Most Reverend Archbishops and Bishops, throughout The Archdioceses and Diocese in which The Order has Councils and Courts.
In the United States of America, The Order operates in over 56 Archdioceses and Dioceses.
KPC Unit#313 Leadership
We have won several regional and national awards. We have recieved Council of the Year, Expansion Award, Family of the Year & Jr. Knight Commander of the Year.
- Willie Gude - Grand Knight
- Kathleen Leslie -
- Stan Hinds -
- Tom Grant -
- Grant Jones -
- Ray Leslie -