Meeting Minutes January 2026

Meeting Minutes

01/06/2026

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:  P            ADVOCATE: RUSSELL GULLEY; P           

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

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

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 5^th General Membership Meeting were posted on the Council’s website on December 17th. 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

Honored Guest Rick Self with the Catholic Brothers for Christ

Rick Self, along with our own Paul Ryan, 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 75093

Special Presentation:

Jack Ramsden was mentored many years by fellow Knight Leo Mattingly. He was involved in many Knight activities including the pancake breakfast, Fish Fries, and playing St. Nick. His wife, Filomena, was involved in taking photos for many activities including the fall Festival. On behalf of the Estate of Leo and Filomena Mattingly, a check of $1,000 was presented to our Council. Thank you!

New Knights attending their first meeting:     

Jorge Alonzo -He is married with 4 children (3 daughters and one son); He is a heavy machine operator.

Officers absent with notification:

                      Dan Murphy, James Smith, and Efrain Ochoa

1. Diocese of Dallas Chapter Quarterly Meeting Saturday 1/10 at 8:30am @ St. Michael Archangel in Garland, join Marc and Jorge and carpool
2. Knights Appreciation Dinner and Corporate Communion Mass Saturday, February 7 at 5pm.

We were not ready to do this event in January.  All Knights and their wives are invited. Will send out invitation via email and please RSVP by Sunday prior so can purchase food, beer and wine!

• Wheelchair Mission – March 7-8^th -We will have a table in the Narthex and we will get a pulpit talk at each Mass. The wheelchairs will go to México. Each wheelchair not only helps one child, but it helps a whole family. One wheelchair donation is $150.
• Our Council will be Planning/Leading Eucharistic Procession on Corpus Christi on June 7th
  • The  4^th Degree ceremonial team would like to help with full regalia.
  • Possibly evening prior with torches in the cool of the evening
  • Marc is asking for a volunteer to lead the Knight’s component; other ministries will be asked to participate. Other ministries can host different stations. Knights will be needed for the procession, directing traffic, etc.
• The K of C materials for Consecration to the Holy Family in English and Spanish were distributed to parish families on December 28^th  during the Feast of the Holy Family. There was a prayer card and consecration materials were handed out at the request of Fr. Uche/Lindee Greer/Parish Council. Marc asked that if you are involved in a parish ministry and see a need for materials or religious items, please let Marc know. We are here to support ministries and have money budgeted for this type of support.

Treasurer’s Report  –  Worthy Treasurer, Sir Knight James Smith -absent

Peter Perta 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.

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

• Total Membership: 229
• New Members:
  •  Jorge Alonzo

• YTD Dues Paid:
• Star Council 7/1/25 to 6/30/26 Membership Goal is 13 – Currently at 11 new members
• Knight in Need Fund :   $4,252

• Tull Rea III has achieved the status of Honorary Life member for 25 years of consecutive service and have achieved a certain age.
• Yearly dues for the Council is $30 per year
• We received 2 reimbursements from Supreme in the amount of $500 for the RSVP Program ($100 for each of the 5 seminarians we supported) and $200 for our Food for Families Program (we give $1,000 to the food pantry each year)
• We will make an annual donation to Holy Spirit in the amount of $3,500
• We will also be sponsoring 5 seminarians this year; one of the seminarians we sponsored will be ordained this spring
• Aryel Carreon, son on Marcela Solis and Edgardo Carreon, is in the Dominican Seminary in Colorado, will be one of our new sponsored seminarians
• The money that is currently in a CD will be re-invested in the CD for another 3 months to keep it “active.” We will also look at the Knights of Columbus investments as another option if we can get a higher yield.

Knight in Need Fund -we had a recent donation made in the amount of $4,250

4^th Degree Report– by PGK Jim Russell -We had our Annual Clergy Appreciation Dinner on November 13^th. It was a wonderful evening. Tonight, we want to recognize two Knights that have done an outstanding job to make that event a reality.  A certificate was awarded to Jack Ramsden and Larry Balagna. Thank you for all your hard work.

The 4^th Degree meets every second Thursday of the month. If you are interested in being a 4^th Degree Knight, please contact Jim Russell or James Smith. Knight Andy Goza would say “It doesn’t make sense to be ¾ of a Knight.”

Food Pantry -The Food truck will be here on Wednesday, January 7th at around 8: 30 a.m. Volunteers will be needed  to unload the Catholic Foundation food truck and hand out food. Bring a knife and gloves.

Knight Hands – S/K Allen Reitmeier

We did 4 Knight Hand projects. A toilet was changed out. Thank you, Ray Rivera. Ray Rivera and Allen Reitmeier repaired a leaky faucet for Alex Sabo. We took down boxes from an attic for a lady from the parish. Thank you, Dan Murphy and Allen Reitmeier.

Striping the Parking Lots -This was the big project. It was meant to be a parish project, but it became a Knights Project! A special thanks to all the men who showed up for the project. It was meant to be a parish project, but it became a Knights Project! A total of 104-man hours. A big thank you to:

Miguel Huizar, David Ybarra, Jim Ouimet, Mario Ramos, Dan Murphy, Geraldo Terron, Arthur Rodriguez, Roberto Diaz, Jesse Radillo, Jesus Montelongo, Marc Evans, Doug Karpan, Mike Fitzgerald, joe Eubank, and Allen Reitmeier

Columbia Magazine -The December 2025 magazine for the Knights of Columbus features a picture giving our Council international exposure! The article stated that “Since 2010, the Council has completed more than 500 Knight hands projects for community members in need, ranging from plumbing repairs to building wheelchair ramps and more.

Baseball Concessions – S/K Allen Reitmeier

• We are on break until the end of March

Church Activities – Vacant; David Ybarra and James Smith have agreed to train/support

Program & Committee Reports

• Programs
  • Faith –  Marc Evans – Core/Men’s Spirituality / Bible study –Sessions held 2^nd and 4^th Saturdays of the month at 6 am in the Dining Room.  On Saturday, January 10^th, we launch 2026, we will start with the United States Council of Catholic Bishop’s (USCCB) message on Social Teaching. There will be a video followed by a discussion. You go to Mass to thank God for all the graces you have received.  This can lead to a transformation of life, not conforming to the world, but renewing the mind to discern God’s will, making all life an act of worship. And one way we do this is dealing with your neighbor. And you deal with your neighbor with love.  Come join us!
  • Family – Vacant need a new leader here

• Community  – Dan Murphy -absent

• Fish Fry starts on February 20^th; Ash Wednesday is February 18^th. Work with the fish and your brothers!

• Life  –  Mike Moloughney-absent

Paul Ryan –He informed us that as part of the K of C ASAP Program, we budgeted and have donated  $2,000 to the Bloom Pregnancy Help Center, a Pro-Life organization. This is part of the Respect Life Ministry of the Diocese of Dallas. We have submitted the necessary paperwork to Supreme so that we can obtain supplemental funds to add this donation.

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.

Admissions Committee – by S/K Russell Gully

The Admissions Committee -We do not have any candidates to present since our past meeting.  We will not have an Exemplification Ceremony this month

• Exemplification Committee chair Tom Greco has retired. He has passed torch of leadership to Gamaliel Hernandez and Adan Luna. Thank you, Gama and Adan!
  • We also have 2 members joining the committee, Moises Martinez and Joel Lopez
  • Other Knights helping on the committee is Mike Fitzgerald, Russell Gully, Gonzalo Allión, and Robert Nieto

      Awareness Committee – S/K Allen Reitmeier

• Come to the website and read about activities

      Council Activities –  Vacant need a new leader here

      Health Director –  Dr. Robert Nieto – In 2025, we had three blood drives, and a total of 50 units of blood were       collected. Thanks to all the Knights who show up and donate

Recruitment  – SK Jim Kowalski

He is asked every Knight work on asking one man from the parish to join the

Retention – SK Paul Ryan: no report

Safe Environment – SK Russel Leroy

Russell reports that the program is going well. He is requesting that if you completed your training, send Russell Leroy a copy of your completed certificate. Send this to  leroyruss@icloud.com

Dallas Diocese Chapter – SK Jorge Ruiz is Vice President of the Chapter–Saturday, January 10^th is our next meeting. The State Chapter will disseminate information from the  State level. Breakfast is served. The meeting starts at 8 a.m. and runs till about 12 noon. The Clergy Appreciation Dinner will take place on Friday, February 13^th. The Bishop will be present. No extra tables have popped up. Jorge mentioned that that his business partner has left and he is seeking a replacement. The development of the mobile app is at a standstill at this present time.

Insurance Agent – SK Eben Fernandez -absent; no report

District Deputy – Kebran Alexander -absent; no report

Lecturer – Worthy Knight Joel Lopez

                       Joel Lopez -He presented the Council with a prayer

A motion was made that the $1,000 donation from Leo Mattingly be placed into the Knight in Need Fund. The motion was seconded, and the motion passed.

The Catholic Pro-Life Dinner is February 21, 2026. This is based on the Bishop’s schedule. Unfortunately, there will be little time to sell tickets at the Fish Fries. Alex will not be in the Narthex this year but we will have a QR code in the Narthex and people can donate electronically. The raffle will consist of three different prizes. Each raffle ticket is $50 each. Paul Ryan recommended that we consider doing a donation through the ASAP program so that we can get some extra funds from Supreme. A motion was made to donate $1,000 to the Catholic Pro-Life Dinner. The motion passed.

Unfinished Business 

Good of the Order:

• Knight of the Month  –  Mario Ramos
• Family of the Month  –  Phil and Hazel Holifield

Prayers and Intentions – 

• Pope Leo’s intentions
• Bishop Burns and the Dallas Synod generated plan released December 12 on the Feast of the Lady of Guadalupe
• USCCB’s new leadership and decisions like Consecration of USA on our country’s 250^th Anniversary
• Irma, Efrain Ochoa’s sister, and family, dual lung replacement surgery
• Judy, James Smith’s wife, cataract surgery this morning
• Mario Luna, eye surgery yesterday
• Fr. Uche’s vacation and visit with family in Nigeria, for his and family safety plus for a safe return

Closing Ode

Closing Prayer – Canonization of Blessed Fr. McGivney

Meeting adjourned

50/50 Meeting Drawing  – Mario Luna $36

50/50 Membership Drawing –  Pat McLain (absent)

Meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.