Meeting Minutes February 2026

Meeting Minutes

02/03/2026

Dining Room

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER at 7:30 P.M.

OPENING PRAYER:  by GK MARC EVANS

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:  by PAUL RYAN

OPENING ODE:  by ALL

ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: P=PRESENT, A=ABSENT, EX=EXCUSED

CHAPLAIN:                                 

GRAND KNIGHT:  MARC EVANS:  P                        WARDEN: JESUS RADILLO: P

DEP GRAND KNIGHT:  PAUL RYAN:  P                 INSIDE GUARD: RUSSELL LEROY: P

CHANCELLOR: EFRAIN OCHOA:  EX                      OUTSIDE GUARD: JOEL LOPEZ: P

FINANCIAL SECRETARY:  PETER PERTA:  EX          ADVOCATE: RUSSELL GULLEY; P           

LECTURER:   JOEL LOPEZ: P                                   1^ST YR TRUSTEE:  JIM RUSSELL:  P

TREASURER:  JAMES SMITH:  P                           2^ND YR TRUSTEE:  DAN MURPHY: P

RECORDER: ROBERT NIETO: P                             3^RD 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 December 6^th General Membership Meeting were posted on the Council’s website on December 20th. 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

1. Officers absent with notification:
   1. Peter Perta, Financial Secretary
   1. Special visitors: Our pastor, Fr. Uche and Eben Fernandez (insurance agent)
2. New Knights who are attending their first General Membership Meeting

       None

• Diocese of Dallas Chapter Quarterly Meeting Saturday 1/10 at 8:30am @ St. Michael Archangel in Garland, Jim Kowalski and Marc Evans attended the joined meeting.
  • Committee of 1000 – $10 pins – This fundraiser helps support seminarians with a  discretionary fund toward books, tuition, emergency trips, medical needs, etc.
  • Pro Life Dinner tickets (as described last month by Alex Sabo -this year, there are no physical tickets and there are only electronic tickets via the QR code. You can buy tickets now up to the day of the Pro-Life dinner on February 21^st.
  • Texas K of C Convention in Dallas April 24-26 -This is a very nice convention to attend and allows you to see the grand scope of the Knights in Texas, the USA, and the world.
  • Silver Rose Pro Life is traveling into Dallas area in the April/May timeframe – There is a program that includes a Rosary and a Faith In Action Program
  • Sacred Heart of Jesus –An icon blessed by Pope Francis; this event includes Eucharistic Exposition, Adoration, a prayer book, and a Faith in Action Program; if there is a Knight who would like to bring one of these programs to the parish, let Marc know and we can work together
• Knights Appreciation Dinner and Corporate Communion Mass Saturday, February 7 at 5 pm.
  • Invitation via email (twice) and requested RSVP by Monday prior so can purchase food, beer and wine! Join us for a fun night with DJ and dancing. This event is free for the Knight and their spouse.
  • Corporate Communion Mass at 5pm – business casual – wear Knight’s nametag and we process together and sit together

Appreciation dinner and dance has a Mardi Gras theme. Join us for a fun night with a DJ and dancing. The event is free for the Knight and their guest.

• Pulpit talk by Ricardo Guzman / table in Narthex / wheelchairs / membership forms
• Planning and Leading Eucharistic procession on the Feast Day of Corpus Christi on 06/07/2026
  • The 4^th Degree ceremonial team would like to help with full regalia.
  • Possibly evening prior with torches in the cool of the evening (similar to a Fatima experience)
  • Would anyone like to volunteer to lead the Knight’s component: other ministries will be asked to participate.

Financial Secretary’s Report – Worthy Financial Secretary, Peter Perta

Membership 231

Will Robinson Reactivation

Dues:

We just started collecting the 2026 dues as they run calendar year

You can pay your dues online, at Council Meeting, or give to Pete Perta who attends the 5:30 p.m. Saturday Mass

Star Council:

Membership Quota 13

Year to date 13 (7/1/25 to 6/30/26)

Progress 100%

Knight in Need Fund:

$4,250

Recent Donations:

$400 for Knight Hands (Alex Sabo)

Money Paid:

Semi-Annual Supreme Per Capita

Liability insurance

Forms Submitted:

Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity, Due 1/31

Treasurer’s Report  by Sir Knight James Smith

James reviewed our beginning balance,  monies received, expenditures. We also received the balance of our CD fund

4^th Degree –  SK James Smith –  No report

Knight Hands – S/K Allen Reitmeier

• Parish trash and recycling bin fencing project is now cancelled, will no longer recycle, will get additional trash bin.

5 more Knight Hand projects have been completed. We are up to 577 projects since the program started. Thanks to Jesus Montelongo, who replaced a vanity top. John Espree and Allen Reitmeier delivered a hospital bed. A wheelchair was delivered to Ed O’Brian. Thanks, Jorge Ruiz. Mario Ramos delivered a wheelchair to Kathleen Stuckley. Hector Rubio and Jorge Ruiz installed a water heater.      

Baseball Concessions – S/K Allen Reitmeier – No games until March 2026. Allen went out to inspect the concession stand; the refrigerator is not working but it will be repaired before we start in the Spring.

Special Thanks to Lupe Hernandez. Every quarter, he prints out our Council Newsletter and also has calendars available for all Knights.

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Church Activities – Vacant need a new leader here, but David Ybarra and James Smith will train / support

Program & Committee Reports

• Programs
  • Faith –  Marc Evans – Cor / Men’s Spirituality / Bible study –
    • Sessions held 2^nd and 4^th Saturdays of the month at 6am in the Room 214.  January 31 we did a make-up session and did 2^nd of the 7 in USCCB series on Catholic Social Teaching. Join us for coffee, food, fellowship, and social teaching.

• Family – Vacant need a new leader here

• Community  – Dan Murphy – 
  • Fish Fry starting February 20 because Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, February 18
  • Dan provided a food safety presentation and discussed State requirements for food service

The Fish fry starts at around noon when James arrives and gets things ready for the event. The fish gets defrosted around 8 a.m. The fryers get set up by 2 p.m. We do food prep and table set up. We batter the fish. We use industrial type fryers. The fish gets fried by 4 p.m. We serve from 5-6:15 p.m. To go from 6:15 p.m. -6:30 p.m.

Station of the Cross is at 6: 30 p.m.

A monitor is used in the kitchen and keeps the fish in the oven. A team leader is needed for serving and for clean-up.

Be flexible and we can find a job for you -if you have special experience with battering fish or worked a restaurant, let us know.

The fish fry will take place for 6 weeks starting on February 20^th. We serve about 200 people every Friday. The price is $10 plate

  James Smith and Dan Murphy are certified food handlers; other general requirements

• Wear gloves when preparing and serving food
• Change out your gloves if you have to leave the area to do something else (bathroom, change trash)
• Keep your work station clean
• Keep hot food at 165 degrees
• If you are feeling ill, do not work the serving line
• Watch out for e-mails and What’s App messaging to sign up for the Fish Fry

• Life  –  Paul Ryan got recognized at DDC quarterly meeting for the ASAP donation to Dallas Pro-Life Community’s (Respect Life Ministry of the Diocese of Dallas) program called the Bloom Pregnancy Help Center. Paul helped educate other Knights of the Diocese on this important program and how Supreme can provide additional funds to boost our donations.

Stand and Pray 3 Hail Marys to end abortions.

1. First Hail Mary – for the Unborn
   1. Second Hail Mary – for the moms of those unborn babies – that they allow their babies to be born.
      1. Third Hail Mary – for those in the abortion industry that they turn away from evil and seek the face of God.
   1. Admissions Committee – PGK Jim Russell
      1. The Admissions Committee met with a potential candidate, Orlando Fraire. He has married for 26 years and he has 2 daughters. He works in HVAC business.  The Admissions Committee has recommended we accept in as a new Knight. A motion was made accept his nomination. The motion was seconded, and the motion was passed. Adan Luna will be getting the Exemplification Committee together for a Spanish Exemplification Ceremony for Sunday, February 8^th, after the 1 p.m. Spanish Mass.

• Awareness Committee – S/K Allen Reitmier
  • Come to the website and read about all our activities
  • Council Activities –  Vacant need a new leader here
  • Health Director –  Dr. Robert Nieto – no report
  • Recruitment  – SK Jim Kowalski

We have now achieved our quota and have 13 new members for the year; only about 20% of the Councils in the Diocese are able to achieve this goal; there is a license plate for the Knights of Columbus that you can obtain. Jim mentioned that he was stopped by a police offer and he was given a warning only. No ticket. The license plate helped because her police officer’s Dad is a Knight! 

Special Olympics is coming to Desoto at Desoto High School on Tuesday, March 24^th. We help pass out awards to the athletes. Please sign up.

• Retention – SK Paul Ryan

Paul Ryan has invited all men to attend the Catholic Brothers for Christ Conference on Saturday, February 28^th entitled “Stand Firm: Warriors for Christ in a Fallen World.” There will be an excellent line up of speakers. The conference is from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  Go to CATHOLICBROTHERSFORCHRIST.COM.

The activities include a great line up of speakers, Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, praying the Rosary, fellowship. Breakfast and lunch included. Cost: $69. Student Tickets are $10.

Location:

Prince of Peace Catholic Church

5100 West Plano Parkway

Plano, Texas 7509

Safe Environment – SK Russel Leroy

• Safe Environment reporting due to K of C Supreme

Once you have completed your training, e-mail a copy of your certificate to Russell Leroy at leroyruss@icloud.com

• Dallas Diocese Chapter – SK Jorge Ruiz – not present
  • Insurance Agent – SK Eben Fernandez

He discussed that only about 29% of our current Knights have life insurance with the Knight of Columbus. He states that a lot of the basic benefits of a Knight are enhanced when you have an insurance policy with the Knights. The Knights of Columbus pays dividends to all permanent policies offered. The Knight of Columbus offers whole life, term life insurance, annuities, and long-term care insurance. Meet with your agent, Eben, and he can do a review of your policies and find out what is best for you and your family.

• District Deputy – Kebran Alexander -absent

Lecturer – Worthy Knight Joel Lopez

A movie called Bendito Corazón is the top movie in most theaters in Mexico at his time The movie will be coming to Texas soon. The movie was made by a priest from Guadalajara, Mexico, and it is based on the Sacred Heart.

Unfinished Business 

• Joe Eubank – Joe returned from Juarez last week. He worked with other Catholic men and helped build a home building experience in Cuidad Juarez, Mexico, last week. The operation is called Operation Abrego. The house was a cinder block house with one front door and one window.  The house is 12 feet x 25 feet; 4 houses were built. There is no plumbing and no stove. The house is blessed by a priest at the end.
• Hearing Aids for Mass -We have 4 hearing impaired devices that can be used to hear during the Mass. It uses open Wi-Fi and everything that goes into the mic goes into this device. It goes into an ear pod and can be used by an android or Apple phone. The audio is very clear as do not ambient noise but rather what is being talked into the mic.

New Business 

Come tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 4^th, to help with food distribution. Please help if you can

Good of the Order:

• Knight of the Month  –  James Smith
• Family of the Month  –  Eduardo and Maria Conde -they are very involved in Youth Ministry

Prayers and Intentions – 

• Irma, Brother Knight Efrain Ochoa’s sister, dual lung replacement surgery and extend prayers also for the family
• Pray Hail Mary for these intentions and others not stated

Closing Ode

Closing Prayer – Canonization of Blessed Fr. McGivney 

50/50 Meeting Drawing  844 Paul Ryan

50/50 Membership Drawing –  deferred until the next meeting

Meeting adjourned:  8:40 p.m.