Knights of Columbus Coral Gables Council # 3274 - BELEN GRAD SELECTED TO REPRESENT ORDER AT WORLD YOUTH DAY

"These 35 College Knights from the US and Canada will help run the Love and Life Catechetical Site together with the Sisters of Life. This trip will entail a lot of work on the part of those that have been selected, but it is also a once in a lifetime opportunity, and the graces and blessings will no doubt be abundant," remarked Stephen Walther, College Membership Coordinator for the Knights of Columbus. More than 16,790 college men are active in 120 Knights of Columbus College Councils. "We are proud of the witness and leadership demonstrated on so many college campuses by these brother Knights, and that is why when Pope Benedict declared the theme of this year’s World Youth Day as “You will be my witnesses,” we decided that our college Knights should be participating more actively than ever in World Youth Day," explained Supreme Knight Carl Anderson.

Those selected to travel to Sydney Australia for World Youth Day attend Auburn University, Briar Cliff University, the College of the Holy Cross, Georgetown University, Harvard University, Howard University, Oklahoma State University, Quinnipiac University, St. Mary's University-MN, Texas A & M University, the United States Military Academy - West Point, the University of Alberta, the University of Arkansas, the University of North Dakota, the University of Notre Dame, the University of St. Thomas-MN, the University of St. Thomas-TX, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Wyoming.

Raf Egües joined the Knights of Columbus as a member of the Coral Gables (FL) Council upon turning 18. After enrolling at Auburn University, Raf transferred from Council #3274 to Auburn University Council #8696 and began encouraging other Auburn students to join what had been a Council of mostly adult members from the community. Today Council #8696 has many college student members and the Knights of Columbus have a recognized presence on the Auburn campus. Raf presently serves as Council Advocate. In addition to his work through the Knights of Columbus, he is an active member of St. Michael the Archangel parish in Auburn and the Auburn Catholic Student Organization. His CSO activity includes serving on numerous spiritual encounter (Pan y Vino) retreat teams and Raf has been selected to lead the next Auburn Pan y Vino retreat in the 2008-2009 academic year. A public administration major, Raf is also an active member of ALAS the Auburn Latino Association of Students, Membership Coordinator for the Auburn Sustainability Action Program, and was recently selected for one of six year-long paid internships with the Auburn University Sustainability Initiative.

Each of the College Knights selected was asked to contribute $1,000.00 towards the cost of his trip. “Coral Gables Council #3274 will be making a $1,000.00 contribution to the Supreme Council in support of Raf’s selection. This is a memorable event that makes our Council proud and Raf is not only representing Auburn, but also Miami and the State of Florida. Congratulations are in order to him and to the Egües family,” remarked Grand Knight Jose Matute. Rafael Gustavo is the son of Diana Perez-Poveda Egües and Past Grand Knight Ralph Egües.