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Fr. Ken DeGroot, O. Praem., CCHS 1953, entered the Norbertine Order following his high school graduation. For 18 years he was on the staff at APHS, during which time he taught mathematics, was athletic director, coached freshmen basketball and football, and managed the book store. In 1980, he became pastor of St. Willebrord. With the four priests who lived at St. Willebrord, they celebrated four daily Masses as well as 10 weekend Masses in English. In 1990, he answered the need to accommodate a growing number of Hispanic families in the area who were without a parish church. At the time, there were about 15 families. After much preparation, they were invited to

St. Willebrord to bridge the gap between the Hispanics and this community. Presently, there are about 25,000 Hispanics in the area. He enrolled in two brief immersion programs in Guadalajara and Cuernavaca, Mexico to learn Spanish. As the Hispanic community continued to grow, the services also continued to grow to serve them. Presently, there are four weekend Spanish Masses and four weekend English Masses. Fr. Ken is also the co-founder of Casa ALBA Melanie Community Resource Center for the greater Green Bay area which serves more than 300 people monthly. Fr. Ken has received the Mayor’s Award for service to the Hispanic community and a Green Bay

Packers Award for the volunteer hours at Casa ALBA among others. He also has served on the United Way board, the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, HSHS/Prevea Advisory Board, NWTC Advisory Board to the President, and Diocesan Presbyteral Council, among others.