We are men who lead, serve, protect and defend, whether we are giving out Coats for Kids, donating wheelchairs, lending a helping hand in disaster relief efforts, supporting local pregnancy centers or providing top-quality financial products.
Meeting Minutes
08/05/2025
Dining Room
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER at 7:30 P.M.
OPENING PRAYER: by FR. UCHE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: by EFRAIN OCHOA
OPENING ODE: by ALL
ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: P=PRESENT, A=ABSENT, EX=EXCUSED
CHAPLAIN: FR. UCHE
GRAND KNIGHT: MARC EVANS: P WARDEN: JESUS RADILLO: P
DEP GRAND KNIGHT: PAUL RYAN: EX INSIDE GUARD: RUSSELL LEROY: P
CHANCELLOR: EFRAIN OCHOA: P OUTSIDE GUARD: JOEL LOPEZ: P
FINANCIAL SECRETARY: PETER PERTA: EX ADVOCATE: RUSSELL GULLEY; P
LECTURER: JOEL LOPEZ: P 1ST YR TRUSTEE: JIM RUSSELL: P
TREASURER: JAMES SMITH: P 2ND YR TRUSTEE: DAN MURPHY: EX
RECORDER: ROBERT NIETO: P 3RD YR TRUSTEE: MIKE FITZGERALD: P
ARE ALL PRESENT IN POSSESSION OF A CURRENT MEMBERSHIP CARD: per Outside Guard: Yes
All persons who are not Knights (or honored guests) shall please retire form the chamber. The doors shall now be closed and the guards assume their positions.
Approve Minutes of the Prior Meeting – The minutes of our July 1st General Membership Meeting were posted on the Council’s website on July 15th. A motion was made to accept the minutes as posted. The motion was seconded and the minutes were approved as posted
Grand Knight’s Report
New Knights attending their first meeting: Alejandro Garcia
Geraldo Peña
Fall Festival –This year’s Festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday, September 27-28th. Planning is being led by past Grand Knight Chris Kubin, and we believe that we’re going to be asked to serve much as we have done in prior years, like assembling the stage on Thursday, August 25th. We will need new plywood for the stage. We will set up tents, tables, chairs, and coolers on the Friday, August 26th. We will purchase 15 cases of turkey legs (pre-smoked) and then will be heated up on the premises. Food will be served Saturday and Sunday. We may stop serving food around 1 p.m. on Sunday and then do tear down and storing the tents, tables, chairs, and coolers. More details to come.
Knights of Columbus and the Parish
GK Marc Evans met with Father Uche on July 9th. We asked Fr. Uche what kind of direction on the Knights can best serve the parish. We currently have many programs running currently.
Items discussed
At our meeting in person, Fr. Uche said we should help all fellow knights have a sacramental relationship with the church, including being married in the Church. In addition, we should be safe environment trained, and follow diocesan protocols. He also said this is the Year of the Family, and the parish will be using a workbook created by the Knights of Columbus Supreme Office. Perhaps there can be additional activities focused on the family throughout the year. He encouraged the Knights to attend Adoration, and there may be some additional days or opportunities for us to attend or facilitate Adoration. Knights may also lead a Eucharistic procession.
Other Items
Financial Secretary’s Report – Worthy Financial Secretary, Sir Knight Peter Perta asked me to provide the following to you in his absence:
Approval of Budget 2025-2026
Marc presented some details regarding our proposed budget. A motion was made to accept the proposed budget as stated. The motion was seconded and the motion passed. The first vote at the took place at our July 2025 general membership meeting. This completes our requirement of voting/accepting the proposed budget at two consecutive general membership meetings.
Treasurer’s Report – SK James Smith
James advised the Council of last month’s ending balance, the overall deposits made this month, the overall expenditures for this month and the resulting ending balance.
4th Degree – SK James Smith – Paul Maldonado has recently become a Knight of the 4th Degree. He also expressed interest in serving on the Honor Guard. If you are a 4th Degree and have an interest in becoming part of the Honor Guard, please contact James Smith and Russell Gulley.
James Smith announced the Food Pantry truck will be here at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday 08/06/2025. Volunteers are needed to unload and pass out the donation items. Please arrive around
Snow Cone Fridays -Snow cones and watermelon will be provided on Friday, August 8th, from 3-5 p.m. Please join us.
Italian Sister Parish -We will be providing breakfast to a group of visitors from our sister parish in Italy. We expect about 40 people. They will attend Mass at 9 a.m. and help is needed for the breakfast. Contact Fred Ciarochi, MD, if you would like to help.
Knight Hands and Baseball Concessions -by SK Allen Reitmeier
Little League Baseball starts on September 6th. We do not have the schedule yet. Please respond to Miguel if you get a text or a phone call. Zach Cazares helped repair the ice maker and it is now draining properly. We also have a new grill paid by the Parks Department. The prices for items at the concession stand will remain the same.
Five projects have been completed, totaling 59-man hours. We repaired the chimney and roof. There was a very steep roof and Juan Torres climbed the roof and did the necessary repairs. Thank you, Juan Torres! A TV and recliner were picked up by Knights, Hector Rubio and Ray Rivera. Allen and Fr. Uche then donated and delivered these two items a needy couple in DeSoto. Large pieces of furniture were removed from Felipe’s office and moved to make room for the new handicap bathroom near the existing bathrooms. Thanks to Marc Evans, Jesse Zuniga, Joe Eubanks, John Owen, Adan Luna, and Dan Keough. We helped Paul Mora move items from his garage to his front yard so that they can be donated. He is moving to a senior retirement community. Thanks to Jesse Aguirre, Jesus Zuniga, and Manuel Urias. Two Knight jumped in to helped Yvette Hernandez and her husband trim trees around the church grounds. Special thanks to Phil Holifield and Joe Eubank for your timely help! The next day, more Knights helped the next day to finish the job. Thanks to Mike Fitzgerald, Hector Rubio, Jack Ramsden, Eduardo Torres (first time Knight Hand project for Eduardo!) and Moises Martinez, Efrain Ochoa, Mike Moloughney. José Valles showed up to help but got called away to work.
Allen stated he is very proud to work with this great group of men who are very dedicated to helping our community!
Our Website -Please check our calendar for our upcoming events like Special Olympics, meetings and other Knight activities. Our newsletter, Knight Life, has been printed for free thanks to Lupe Hernandez, who owns an insurance agency in Dallas. Pick up a hard copy at the end of the meeting. This newsletter is also sent out to those Knights who do not have an e-mail.
Exemplification Ceremony -We are planning to have our next exemplification ceremony on Sunday, August 10, 2025 in Spanish after the 1 p.m. Mass.
Church Activities -Vacant
David is looking to train someone to over the position of Director for Church Activities.
Sister Parish from Italy -There will be a group of visitors from our sister parish in Italy. We expect about 40 people in attendance. This will take place on Sunday, October 19th, after the 9 a.m. Mass. More details to come.
Bible Study – Marc Evans -The Men’s Bible study group meets every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month at 6 AM. The sessions focus on the Holy Spirit, and the meeting wraps up around 7:30 AM. Marc Evans says it has been a wonderful experience.
Program & Committee Reports
Programs
We prayed 3 Hail Marys to end abortion.
Admissions Committee – S/K Russell Gully
Russell reports the committee met with 2 prospect candidates. One candidate did not meet our criteria but the second candidate did meet our criteria. Adan Luna was the sponsor for both candidates. Oscar Ortiz was interviewed. He is married and has 4 children. He lives in Cedar Hill and works in testing gas lines. The Admissions Committee has recommended Oscar Ortiz for membership. A motion was made, it was seconded, and the motion passed. An exemplification ceremony will take place in Spanish on Sunday, August 10th after the 1 p.m. Mass if the candidate can make it at that time.
Awareness Committee – Allen Reitmeier -mentioned earlier in the meeting
Council Activities – Vacant
Health Director – Dr. Robert Nieto – We had a successful Carter Blood Care blood drive on Sunday, June 22, 2025; a total of 24 units of blood were donated and many of the donors were Knights. There is no substitute for human blood and Carter Blood Care is very thankful for your generosity! The Health Fair will be at the Fall festival, and there will be blood pressure checks, glucose checks, flu vaccines, and other booths.
Recruitment –SK Jim Kowalski
Jim states that almost every recent prospective candidate to be a Knight was recruited by Adan Luna. Jim posed us a challenge. Let us, as a group COMBINED, recruit like Adan recruits. Ask someone at Mass to join the Knights of Columbus. There are many male parishioners may wish to join but need to be asked. Give the new cards to a prospective member. The QR code on the card will take you to the electronic version of the Form 100. The card says, “The world needs Catholic Men to step up and live out their Faith. Come follow me!”
Retention – SK Paul Ryan -absent
Paul asked to share the following. He has started his annual petitioning, with the help of Peter Perta, to reach out to Knights who are delinquent in their dues. There are about 55 Knights who still need to pay their dues. They will be reaching out with a phone call. There may be another Fraternal event coming up in September or October. We may combine this event with another church group like the ACTs group or the Guadalupanos Group.
Safe Environment – SK Russell Leroy
Marc Evan and Russell Leroy participated in a webinar recently. Things to come with regards to Safe Environment protocols: There will be a sign in sheet for all events and you will need to present a verified card in your wallet or on your phone stated you are compliant with Safe Environment Training. It is easy to do this when you do the training through the Knights. This is coming straight from the Diocese and the Bishop. We want to make it as easy as possible. We are actually ahead of another Councils and we can do this once we have the process in place.
Unfinished Business
Objective Statement -Marc asked that you take a questionnaire and a project survey at the entry table. Marc invited us to fill out this questionnaire and provide your thoughts. Indicate what you would like to do and that will allow us to point to the right person.
Dan Murphy -He is doing a charity bike ride to his Navy Reunion on the East Coast. The lead vehicle for the ride already has a signage on the truck stating Knights of Columbus 8157 is a sponsor for the event. He is requesting that we consider making a personal donation to this cause. You can go to www.gulftogoat.navy and you can make your donation there.
Wheelchair Drive -This has not been scheduled at this time
New Business
Silent Auction –There will be a silent auction at the Fall Festival. Fellow Knight Rolando Sobalvarro is requesting for someone to donate a bottle of bourbon or scotch to help form a basket. No decision was made on this request but there was no second to the motion to carry it forward. The Knights currently have a lithograph of Our Lady of Guadalupe that we obtained during the wheelchair drive. Jim Russell suggested we donate the framed lithograph to the silent auction as we currently have 2 in our possession. A motion was made to donate one framed lithograph item to the silent auction. The motion was seconded, and the motion passed. We recommended a starting bid of $500 but we will leave that up to the silent auction committee.
Field Agent –Eben Fernandez -absent
Good of the Order:
Knight of the Month: Zachary Cazares
Family of the Month: Isahi and Melissa Arrellano
We have official Knight of Columbus name tags at the table for 14 Knights. Please come by and pick up you name tag.
Prayer Requests – Prayer requests for Steve Zehnder who is recovering from an accident, the soul of Michael Higgins, he is son of SK Mike Higgins, Theresa Leroy, wife of Russell Leroy, Eudelia Serna, the mother-in-law of Gonzalo Aillon, MD, and multiple other prayer requests
Closing Prayer by Marc Evans -He prayed a special prayer for the canonization of Blessed Fr. McGivney
Closing Ode
50/50 Meeting Drawing 5920 Dennis Hudson
50/50 Membership Drawing – Antonio Verduzco (not present)
Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
