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Meeting Minutes
07/01/2025
Dining Room
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER at 7:30 P.M.
OPENING PRAYER: by PAUL RYAN
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: by PAUL RYAN
OPENING ODE: by ALL
ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: P=PRESENT, A=ABSENT, EX=EXCUSED
CHAPLAIN: VACANT
GRAND KNIGHT: MARC EVANS: P WARDEN: JESUS RADILLO: P
DEP GRAND KNIGHT: PAUL RYAN: P. INSIDE GUARD: RUSSELL LEROY: P
CHANCELLOR: EFRAIN OCHOA: P OUTSIDE GUARD: JOEL LOPEZ: P
FINANCIAL SECRETARY: PETER PERTA: P ADVOCATE: RUSSELL GULLEY; P
LECTURER: JAMES RUSSELL: P 1ST YR TRUSTEE: JIM RUSSELL: P
TREASURER: JAMES SMITH: P 2ND YR TRUSTEE: DAN MURPHY: EX
RECORDER: ROBERT NIETO: EX 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 June 3rdth General Membership Meeting were posted on the Council’s website on June 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
New Knights -No new Knights attended today’s meeting
Knight of the Year by David Ybarra
The Knight of the Year was announced today as this was not possible during the Installation Ceremony: Special thanks to our nominees: Jim Russell, José Montoya, Adan Luna, John Espree, Keith Archer. These Knights are exemplary servants and help our Council and parish in so many ways
The Knight of the Year for 2025-2026 Fraternal Year is ADA LUNA!
Adan Luna thanked everyone for this honor. During the ACTs retreat, he was told by God to serve in any way he can. When he was sick, he was not able to do so. He is happy he is doing better from his illness and thanked everyone for their support
Exemplification Ceremony -There was no exemplification ceremony in June. We are planning to have our next exemplification ceremony on Sunday, July 13th.
Parish Picnic -The parish picnic was a grand success. This may have been the best attended parish picnic ever for the parish. Thanks to all who helped with this event.
Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession -This event was held on Jun 22nd. This was a grand success, and many parishioners were able to attend. Altars were set up along the perimeters of the parking lot and Knights as parking monitors helped to keeps the cars away from the designated areas. Knights helped out pass out water for this event.
Fall Festival -The Fall Festival will take place on Saturday, September 27th. Two days prior to the Festival, volunteers will be needed for set up of the Festival grounds. Food will be served on Sunday morning as well. The chairman for the Festival is PGK Chris Kuban.
Star Council Status -According the Star Council tracker, our Council 8157 has achieved Star Council Status. Marc has everyone stand and give us a big round of applause! Great teamwork!
Installation Ceremony -The Knights and our spouses attended the 5 p.m. Mass together on June 28th. John Rizo live streamed the mass in case someone wanted to see the mass remotely. Many Knights and their spouses helped out during the mass. About 70 Knights attended the Installation Ceremony and Fr. Uchi and District Deputy Kebran Alexander preceded over the Ceremony. Mike Fitzgerald catered the BBQ meal and the Catholic Daughters of America helped serve the meal. Marc is humbled by the honor to serve as your new Grand Knight. Marc Evan proposed a series of goals for our Council. He asked that we fulfill our responsibilities to the parish and to help each other out so that Marc Evans will meet with Fr. Uchi later in the week to see how the Knights of Columbus can continue to serve the parish.
Marc Evans passed out a sheet (see below) that included proposed goals for the Council and also a survey of how the Council may serve you. What activities would you like to see? We have many Knights who serve in various roles. Are you interested in being trained for a leadership position or co-leading in some aspect of the work of the Knights of Columbus? The goal is that we can help and back up each other. Please write your ideas on these forms.
Knights of Columbus Council 8157
Holy Spirit Catholic Parish, Duncanville, Texas
Draft 2025-2026 Fraternal Year Goals
Financial Secretary’s Report – Peter Perta:
Peter emphasized we won the Star Council Award. This represents more than membership goals only. This designation to recognize excellence in programming and charitable outreach. The focus is Faith, Family, and Community Life. The includes Knight Hands, Special Olympics, Bisho’s Pro-Life Dinner, Bible Study, the Columbia Appreciation Award, etc. that serve our parish and community.
Membership stands at: 219
New Member Goal: this starts up again in July 2025; during the last Fraternal year, we were able to bring in 16 new members
Dues Collected Year to Date: 68%
The dues run on a calendar year basis from January 1st to the end of December
Knight in Need Fund: $5,700
This fund is to help a Knight who is going through financial difficulties like job loss, illness, etc. and the request is made to the Knight in Need Fund Committee
Star Council Status: Our 2024-2025 goal is to reach 14 new members; we have already exceeded this with 16 new members
The Budget for 2025-2026 Fraternal Year by Peter Perta
We are currently spending 75% of our yearly budget; At our next meeting, we will vote on the budget for the July 2025 through June 2026. The passing of the budget requires 2 separate votes on 2 separate meetings.
We give the parish a gift of $3500, and we gave an additional $1500 to the Capital Campaign Fund
New
Aid and Support After Pregnancy (ASAP) -Paul Ryan suggested we, as a Council, support a new charity called ASAP. This is a Supreme sponsored program. Supreme may provide matching funds up to $500. The proposed charitable donation as discussed at the last Officers and Director’s meeting, was $2,000.
Parish Picnic $1,700 is a budget item, and most of the money is recovered through donations at the picnic.
The Budget was presented by Peter on a PowerPoint presentation, and the proposed budget stands at approximately $51,000. As a reference point, our budget for 2024-2025 was $48,000. Again, the budget is created as a guideline for the Council and allows up to monitor our spending.
A motion was made to accept the proposed budget as stated. The motion was seconded and the motion passed. The next (second) vote will take place during the August 2025 general membership meeting.
Treasurer’s Report by S/K 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 – no report
Knight Hands and Baseball Concessions – Allen reported that after all our expenses, the net profit for the Spring Baseball season was $24,067. Our profit margin is at 58%. Thanks to all the Knights who made this possible. Special thanks to our Baseball Committee: Miguel Hernandez, James Smith, Greg Warr Allen Reitmeier. Since starting our work at the concession stand in 2009, we have earned over $723,000 in revenue and having attended 7, 244 games!
Knight Hands -8 Knight Hands Projects were completed recently. Danny Kendell repaired Ida Medrano’s car, Ted Winkler’s kitchen cabinets were repaired; Ray Rivera installed a new washing machine at the Rectory. We repaired a section of fence and installed a new gate for Melisa Limones. Thank you to Joel Lopez, Manuel Urias, Rod Kinard, and Jesse Radillo for your help with this project. He moved furniture and installed miniblinds for Paul Mora as he moved into a senior living apartment. Thank you, Moises Martinez, and his nephew who helped out with this project. Phil Holifield attended his first Knight Hands project! John Espree, Zach Cazares, John Owen repaired a fence for Diane McKirkle. Mario Luna helped drilled the holes for the posts and Ray Rivera helped set the posts in cement. Larry Balagna, John Owen, and Efrain Ochoa for putting up the fence. Ray Rivera helped fix a leaking sink for Patty Pardue (family to dan Murphy). There is a request for instillation of security cameras for her home.
Marc emphasized that Baseball Concessions is a big source of our revenue, and he asked that we give a big round of applause to our Baseball Committee for outstanding work. A big thanks to Miguel Hernandez, James Smith, Greg Warr Allen Reitmeier!
Church Activities -David Ybarra is currently our point person for church activities. Our next parish breakfast will take place on Sunday, July 13th. A sign-up sheet is available. Snow Cones Sales on will take place on Friday afternoons from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. on July 18, July 25, August 1 and August 8th. It is hot but we are in the shade. Please help if you are available.
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. We are currently on session 10 of the program “The Wild Goose” that is focused on the Holy Spirit.
Program & Committee Reports
Programs
We prayed 3 Hail Marys to end abortion.
Admissions Committee – S/K Russell Gully
Russell reports the committee has been currently working on 4 applications. Adan Luna is sponsoring all of these potential candidates. Jesus Alcocer Eleuterio may have been a transfer member but records could not be found. He will enter the Council as a new member. The 3 other gentlemen are Geraldo Piña. He lives in Dallas and is married and works as a yard driver; Alejandro Garcia and married and 4 children and a pipe fitter and Geraldo Terron lives in Duncanville works as a body shop. The Admissions Committee has recommended these 4 men for membership. A motion was made, it was seconded, and the motion passed. An exemplification ceremony will take place in Spanish on Sunday, July 13th.
Awareness Committee – Allen Reitmeier -no report
Council Activities – Vacant
Health Director – Dr. Robert Nieto – had another Carter Blood Care blood drive on Sunday, June 22, 2025
Recruitment –SK Jim Kowalski
Jim wants to recognize all those who have recruited someone to the Knights this past year. Without them, we would not be able to grow. This includes John Espree and Marc Evans. Special thanks to Adan Luna!
Retention – SK Paul Ryan -no report
Safe Environment – SK Russell Leroy
Please reach out to Russell Leroy if you feel you still need Safe Environment Training (SET). Send him your e-mail and phone number and he will contact you to arrange training. The parish will also have some upcoming opportunities to complete training in preparation for our Fall Festival.
Unfinished Business
Jorge Ruiz –Jorge mentioned that the parish is updating the status of those who have completed training every month. Russell Leroy is then updating the website.
New Business
Peter Perta announced we have 4 pins of praying hands. A donation of $10 is requested. The money will be given from the Dallas Diocese Chapter to our Seminary Director.
Field Agent –Eben Fernandez -absent
Good of the Order:
Knight of the Month: Russell Leroy
Family of the Month: Jack and Juanita Ramsden
Prayer Requests – There were multiple prayer requests
Closing Prayer by Paul Ryan
Closing Ode
50/50 Meeting Drawing -6010 is the winning member
50/50 Membership Drawing – Jesus Medina $48
Meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.