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
03/04/2025
Room 212
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER at 7:30 P.M.
OPENING PRAYER: by FR. UCHE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: by PAUL RYAN
OPENING ODE: by MIKE FITZGERALD
ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: P=PRESENT, A=ABSENT, EX=EXCUSED
CHAPLAIN: VACANT
GRAND KNIGHT: MIKE FITZGERALD: P WARDEN; ADAN LUNA: P
DEP GRAND KNIGHT: MARC EVANS: P. INSIDE GUARD: GAMALIEL HERNANDEZ: P
CHANCELLOR: PAUL RYAN: P OUTSIDE GUARD: RUSSELL LEROY: P
FINANCIAL SECRETARY: PETER PERTA: EX ADVOCATE: RUSSELL GULLEY; P
LECTURER: JAMES RUSSELL: P 1ST YR TRUSTEE: JORGE RUIZ: P
TREASURER: JAMES SMITH: P 2ND YR TRUSTEE: DAN MURPHY: P
RECORDER: ROBERT NIETO: P 3RD YR TRUSTEE: JIM RUSSELL: P
ARE ALL PRESENT IN POSSESSION OF A CURRENT MEMBERSHIP CARD: per Outside Guard: Yes
Approve Minutes of the Prior Meeting – The minutes of our January 7th and February 4th 2025 General Membership Meeting have been posted on the Council’s website. A motion to accept the January meeting minutes as posted was made, seconded and approved. A motion to accept the February meeting minutes as posted was made, seconded and approved.
GRAND KNIGHT’S REPORT: by Mike Fitzgerald
Before the meeting began FR. UCHE stopped by to thank the Council for our generous annual gift of $3,500 to the church and our one-time gift of $1,500 to the Capital Campaign Fund. At the GK’s request FR. UCHE then led us in an opening prayer.
New Knights who are attending their first General Membership Meeting: None
Fraternal Benefits Night by our Field Agent, Eben Fernandez, and conducted via zoom by Chris Stark
The presentation included:
A. A Prayer to Blessed Father McGivney
B. An explanationKnights of Columbus Life Insurance enhanced member benefits
C. Chris reminded everyone of the four (4) principles of the Knights of Columbus which are the reasons to join our order: Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism. We have more than 17,000 Councils and over 2.1 million members worldwide. Last year, we brought in 93,000 new members the most since 1905. We are thriving as an organization.
D. Multiple Member Benefits
i. A free annual financial needs analysis is available to all members.
ii. The Columbia magazine is the largest Catholic publication in the world.
iii. Accidental Death policy .
Iv. Family Fraternal benefits
v. Life insurance to an uninsurable child (ie, disabled child, Down’s syndrome) is available which is unheard of in the life insurance industry.
vi. Orphan Benefits
vii. Widows can continue to have full access to the field agents of the Knights of Columbus and all benefits for her lifetime.
viii. Long Term Care is not a luxury; 70% of adults will need long –term care sometime in
their lives; The average nursing home care will cost $9700 per month. The costs of nursing home care will only go up in the future.
Eben mentioned that the Knights of Columbus also offer Annuities. There are no fees associated with Annuities. Knights of Columbus Annuities have a minimum payout of three (3%) percent. It does not have the risk of the stock market. Annuities are available to “park” the monies and are subject to required minimum distribution (rmd) at age 73.
Appointments for the free annual financial needs analysis are available in English or Spanish with our field agent, Eben Fernandez.
Membership Appreciation Dinner -Saturday, March 8th in the gym after the 5 p.m. Mass. So far only thirty-five (35) people have RSVPed. Only Knights and their spouses. No children please. Beer and wine will be served.
Mardi Gras Celebration for Faith Formation Youth -March 4th. Several Knights including John Espree, James Smith and Dan Murphy helped make pancakes this evening for the Youth Formation celebration.
Lenten Fish Fry -The first Fish Fry is Friday, March 7th. We need about 8 Knights frying the fish and at least 10 Knights helping in the service line. We also need help in clean up afterwards. The Fish Fry runs from 5-7 p.m. every Friday except Good Friday. The cost is $10 per plate. We do allow teenagers come by and help if you invite them.
St. Joseph’s Residence (Assisted Living Facility) – April 26th -We have former parishioners living there. Some of the wives who speak Spanish were very helpful as the spoke with the residents there. We meet around 9 a.m. and load the truck with supplies and then go to St. Joe’s to cook a lunch for the residents.
Catholic Brothers for Christ -by Paul Ryan
This took place at St. Anne Seton’s Parish, and it was a full house. Four Knights from our Council were able to attend. It was a wonderful event and Paul mentioned there will be a half day program in the Fall.
Chair Set -up -Thank you to the Knights who helped set up chairs in the Narthex this morning for the anticipated Ash Wednesday services overflow seating. Help will be needed for stacking and storing the chairs on after the Thursday morning Mass.
Membership: stands at 245
Dues Collected 36%
We are current on all form submissions
Knight in Need Fund stands at: $ 6,600
Our District Deputy, Kebran Alexander, won the meeting drawing in January which he graciously donated his winnings to our Knight In Need Fund.
Treasurer’s Report – Worthy Treasurer, Sir Knight James Smith, provided his report. 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 – SK Allen Reitmeier
The Knight Hands has completed eleven (11) projects in the last month. He delivered goods to a Gabriel mom. The old Baptismal font was replaced by the Knight’s newly built Baptismal font. David Dybala made the top. Allen built the base, and Dan Sheridan placed the tile. Efrain Ochoa, Steve Zehnder, and Dan Murphy helped with the instillation. The Knights involved in the project paid for the cost of the materials. Multiple repairs were done to Lovis Miller’s home. Several years ago, her pipes froze and burst above her bathroom. She needs extensive repairs due to the resulting flood damage. Allen and José Montoya declined the project due to the required work for being beyond our Knight Hands capabilities/comfortable factor. She wishes to have a washer and dryer. One Knight has anonymously agreed to purchase a dryer if the Knights will sponsor the cost of the washer. A motion was made for the Knights of Columbus to sponsor the cost of a washer. The motion was seconded, and the motion passed. We replaced a busted door for Mike Higgins. We received a $400 donation. Three shelves were installed in the storage shed behind the Community Center. Efrain Ochoa sponsored the project. A TV was delivered (TV donated by David Dybala) to a Meals on Wheels recipient. This large TV replaced her smaller TV. Mike Higgins did the hook ups for the TV. Blown out shingles were replaced at the home of Ana Harbor. Dan Murphy was the sponsor on the project. A professional photographer was sent by Columbia Magazine to take photographs for an article in the “Knights in Action” section in the Columbia Magazine. However, his car would not start, and the photographer did not show up! Thanks to Efrain Ochoa, Jesse Zuniga, Juan Torres, and Allen Reitmeier for this roof repair project. More shingles will need to be worked on after the recent windstorm. Eduardo Torres is an expert in roofing and will advise Allen on the best materials to use for glueing the shingles. The sofa was moved from the rectory to the youth center. Uche and Allen did the heavy lifting. James Smith was the sponsor. A toilet was repaired for Rita Collier; Allen and Jack Ramsden accomplished this Knight Hands project. Peter Perta was the sponsor.
Baseball Concessions – S/K Allen Reitmeier -Starts on March 15th. We have a new grill donated by Russell Leroy! The concession stand is in good shape and ready to go.
Church Activities – SK David Ybarra – absent
The Knights will be serving breakfast for the parish on Sunday, March 16th. Volunteers are asked to arrive by 7 a.m. and breakfast will be served after the 7:30 a. and 9 a.m. Masses. Efrain Ochoa will be sending around a sign-up sheet
Program & Committee Reports
Programs
Faith – Marc Evans – Bible study -The first program which focused on the Holy Eucharist has been completed. For the next program, we decided to embark on a program entitled, “The Wild Goose” which focuses on the Holy Spirit. The ancient Celts were sometimes known to call the Holy Spirit the “wild goose.” The Bible Study program will continue to meet from 6:00 -7:30 a.m. on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. You do not need to be a Knight to join in this bible study. Please attend.
Family – Jose Montoya – absent
Community -Dan Murphy -Friday Lenten Fish Fries and St. Joseph’s luncheon were reported on earlier in these minutes.
Life -Sir Knight Mike Moloughney was not present. GK Mike Fitzgerald led us praying 3 Hail Marys to end abortions.
Admissions Committee – S/K Russell Gully -no report
Awareness Committee – Vacant – Allen Rietmeier looking for help with the website.
Council Activities – Vacant
Health Director – Dr. Robert Nieto – no report
Casino Night Update by Roberto Nieto -the Casino Night took place on Saturday, February 15th. Many Knights made this event possible. Special thanks to Dan Murphy, Jim Ouimet, Chris Kuban, John Espree Frank Salazar, Adan Luna, Larry Balanga, Efrain Ochoa, and Mike Fitzgerald. The event cleared $4,200 which will be donated to Holy Spirit Catholi Church’s Capital Campaign Fund.
Recruitment –SK Jim Kowalski -no report
Retention – SK Paul Ryan
We will do another Fraternal breakfast in April or May
Safe Environment – SK Russell Leroy
Safe Environment Training for Spanish speaking Knights will take place on Sunday March 9th from 6 p.m. -7 p.m. at St Juan Diego Catholic Parish at 10919 Royal Haven Dallas 75229. There will be a video presentation. You can also go to the KofC8157.org website to log in and sign up for upcoming certification programs.
Unfinished Business –
Allen Reitmeier requested the Council open a Certificate of Deposit (CD) putting $75,000 of the Council’s funds into the CD. A motion was made to place $75,000 in a CD, which was seconded and passed.
Mail Chimp allows up to send 1,000 text messages per month. We send out about 6 texts per month. Several members reported they do not check e-mails on a regular basis. The new website constructed by Jorge does allow us to send e-mails. However, we cannot send text messages. For now, we will keep our Mail Chimp account active.
New Business –
Knights of Columbus State Convention will take place on April 25-27th in Corpus Christi. Jorge Ruiz will attend, and we will need a delegate to attend from Council 8157 as well. The Council’s website calendar does include an entry of the State Convention dates.
District Deputy – SK Kebran Alexander (Absent).
Field Agent – Eben Fernandez –– a Fraternal Benefits Event presentation was given at the opening of this evening’s meeting
Good of the Order:
Knight of the Month – John Espree
Family of the Month -Jim and Lillian Kowalski
Prayer Requests – Ted Winkler is doing better. Prayer for Pope Francis and other prayer requests
Closing Prayer
Closing Ode
50/50 Meeting Drawing – Mario Mejia
50/50 Membership Drawing – not present
Meeting adjourned 9:00 p.m.
