The following article from the July 16, 2010 edition of One Voice. Republished with permission.
On June 1, 2009, there was no significant Hispanic presence in the Knights of Columbus in Alabama but through a concentrated Hispanic initiative, supported by Bishop Robert J. Baker of the Birmingham Diocese, and Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi of Mobile, the membership team of the Alabama Knights of Columbus began actively recruiting members of the Hispanic community.
This effort was kicked off in Tuscaloosa by Father Jesse Rodriguez, a member of the Tuscaloosa Council; Deacon Adrian Straley, also of the Tuscaloosa Council; Steve Griffin, state membership director and member of the Tuscaloosa Council; Al Cala, Supreme Council Hispanic Coordinator in New Haven, Cn., and District Deputy William Drescher, St. Thomas the Apostle, Montevallo.
The group pulled together the resources to create a Hispanic Degree Team for the First Degree Knights and later a Second Degree Team for the Spanish speaking men in the State of Alabama. The Tuscaloosa Council then began to reach out to our Hispanic Brethren to offer them a chance to participate in the Knights of Columbus programs of service to their communities, churches and clergy.
The intent was to have this initiative serve as a pilot program that would become a template for Hispanic Development throughout the State of Alabama.
Now, the Tuscaloosa Council has created a First Degree Spanish speaking team for future Hispanic enrollment to go along with the Hispanic First Degree Team from Montevallo, giving Alabama two First Degree teams to offer K of C membership to all within the State of Alabama.
Tuscaloosa is also forming a second Hispanic Second Degree Team that will be complete by August 2010. This too will serve the entire State of Alabama as the Knights of Columbus expand its presence and offer the Second Degree to Hispanics throughout Alabama.
The entire effort has reaped enormous benefits as it brings together different cultures to serve our Lord through membership in the Knights of Columbus.
Alabama is blessed to have an organization like the Knights of Columbus that allows the State to develop these opportunities which will bring together the Catholic men of Alabama under the umbrella of the church and the order of Knights.
