He founded the Knights of Columbus at a local parish to serve as a mutual aid and insurance organization, particularly for immigrants and their families.

The cause for his canonization started in the Archdiocese of Hartford in 1996; in March 2008, Pope Benedict XVI declared McGivney "Venerable" in recognition of his "heroic virtue".

Michael attended the local Waterbury district school but left at 13 to work in one of the brass mills' spoon-making departments.

He continued his studies at Our Lady of Angels Seminary, near Niagara Falls, New York[3] (1871–1872) and at the Jesuits' St. Mary's College, in Montreal, Quebec.

[3] From his own experience, McGivney recognized the devastating effect on immigrant families of the father and wage earner's untimely death.

On March 15, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI approved a decree recognizing McGivney's heroic virtue, thus declaring him as "Venerable.

[2] The Miracle involved the healing of Michael "Mikey" Schachle in his mother's womb after being given a zero percent chance of survival by doctors at Vanderbilt Medical Center in 2015.