New Knights of Columbus council formed for Spanish speakers

Miguel Acevedo is the grand knight of the new La Sagrada Familia, or Holy Family, Knights of Columbus council. The new council was created for Spanish speaking community members. K. Kuphal

A new council of the Knights of Columbus has formed for the Spanish speaking community in Pipestone.

Miguel Acevedo, grand knight of the newly formed council, said someone approached him with the idea about a year ago. He began working on it and the new council, called La Sagrada Familia, or The Holy Family, officially began Aug. 13. Acevedo said 20 members were needed to start a new council and The Holy Family has 25. The members plan to meet once a month.

Acevedo said the name The Holy Family was selected for the new council because the goal is to foster a sense of family among members and eventually form local Knights of Columbus affiliated groups for women and youth as well.

Acevedo said the new council was formed in part because many Spanish speaking community members work jobs that don’t provide health or life insurance and, as a fraternal benefit society, the Knights of Columbus can provide insurance to its members and their families. Another reason for its formation was to meet the needs of a growing Spanish speaking population. According to U.S. Census data, the Hispanic or Latino population in Pipestone County more than doubled from 355 in 2010 to 804 in 2020.

In addition to being a fraternal benefit society, the Knights of Columbus is also a charitable organization that encourages members to live their faith at home, in their parish, at work and in their community, according to the Knights of Columbus website at www.kofc.org. Acevedo said the newly formed council plans to serve the community by helping single moms with needs like diapers, providing rides to church for seniors who don’t drive, mowing lawns and clearing snow for seniors, helping with funeral expenses for those in need, and helping Spanish speakers who are new to the area, such as those who come to find work.

“When they come, they come with nothing,” Acevedo said.

The Holy Family Knights of Columbus council, he said, could help the newcomers obtain needed items such as clothing or furniture, or by showing them where to find things in the community. Acevedo said the council is also open to other ways the members can serve the community. And while the new council was formed for members of the Spanish speaking community, Acevedo said the members are willing to help anyone in need.

“We are going to be open for anyone we can help,” he said.

The council plans to finance its efforts through fundraisers, as does the existing Knights of Columbus council, which organizes the annual fish fries during lent and the food sales at the Pipestone County Fair. Acevedo said The Holy Family council is considering fundraisers such as a garage sale at the church.

According to the Knights of Columbus website, the organization was formed in 1882 to unite Catholic men and help families of deceased members. The founders chose the name Knights of Columbus to demonstrate their loyalty to their country as well as their faith because Christopher Columbus was recognized as a Catholic and celebrated as the discoverer of America. Msgr. Gerald Kosse said the Knights of Columbus is its own entity, but local councils are associated with the parishes in their community.

For more information about The Holy Family Knights of Columbus council, contact Acevedo at 507-993-3050.