Event to Mark the Feast Day of Blessed Michael McGivney

A special mass for an internationally renowned member of the Cavan Diaspora, Blessed Michael McGivney, will be held in Cavan Cathedral on his Feast Day Wednesday, 13th August.

The road to sainthood for Blessed Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, moved a step closer in 2020 when he was beatified at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, Connecticut. Both of Blessed Michael’s parents were both from Co. Cavan and for the people of Cavan this was a proud moment.

His father, Patrick McGivney came from Kilnaleck and in 1847 he emigrated to Connecticut in the United States, where he met his wife to be Mary Lynch from Ballyjamesduff. They married and settled together in Waterbury, Connecticut.

Born in 1852, Michael was the first born of their thirteen children. His primary education took place in Waterbury and afterwards he studied at the College of St. Hyacinthe in Quebec, Niagara University in New York, and St. Mary’s Seminary in Monreal. Blessed Michael’s training for the priesthood was completed at St. Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore.

Blessed Michael is remembered to have been a priest with a strong social conscience who acquainted himself with the tough conditions faced by those who were impoverished. Out of his concern for the marginalised, he founded a new fraternal society on 2nd February 1882 which he named the Knights of Columbus for the purpose of providing aid to its members and to society at large.

The organisation now boasts over 2 million members worldwide. Blessed Michael McGivney’s Feast Day falls on Wednesday 13th August 2025, and Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council Cllr John Paul Feeley said the mass in Cavan will acknowledge the achievements of one of the Cavan Diaspora’s most influential members.

“I am proud to have helped bring about this local celebration of Blessed Michael McGivney’s Feast Day. As the founder of the Knights of Columbus, an organisation with over 2 million members worldwide, he is a shining example of the extraordinary influence of the Cavan Diaspora. His beatification in 2020 was a proud moment – not only for members of the Catholic faith, but for all those in Kilnaleck and Ballyjamesduff and their hinterland and indeed Cavan people across the globe,” said Cllr Feeley.

The Mass for Blessed Michael McGivney’s Feast Day will take place at the Cathedral of Saints Patrick and Felim, Cavan Town on Wednesday, 13th August at 10am.