Special Notes regarding the Meeting Minutes

In an effort to make the minutes more concise and accurate, the contact information for officers, directors and chairmen are replaced by a link where their email and phone are provided along with a description of their position.  Team leads’ that are not officers, directors or chairmen have their contact information listed in a table at the end of the minutes.

Call to Order: Deputy Grand Knight Ron White for excused GK Peters: January 27, 2026, 7:15pm

·         Total in attendance: 45 Brothers

·         Officers Attendance Report: End of this report

Burning candle memorial: SK Mike Alexander

·         For the Canonization of Blessed Michael McGivney

Opening Prayer: Hail Mary led by SK Miguel Saldana

Pledge of Allegiance: All

Special Guests:  We are honored to have special guests from the State Council with us tonight for a special presentation along with our Regional District Deputy Gene Ziemba. Welcome to State Secretary Paul McGrath and State Warden Christopher Kremer who presented the Star Council Award and congratulated our council for all the activity and extraordinary work.

Visitors: See above.

Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting: The November and January Meeting Minutes will be approved in the February meeting. The November minutes were delayed in being posted, not leaving adequate time for member review.

Financial Reports:

·         Treasurer Report: Treasurer Bud Tascone

·         Financial Secretary Report: Financial Secretary Cary Newman

·         See membership section on membership details. 

·         Still some raffle tickets available.  We have sold 623 Raffle tickets. $3,125 total sales which we receive half, or $1,562.  We still have 75 tickets left if anyone else is interested in purchasing more.

Chaplain Report:  SK Miguel Saldana for Fr. Cesar Martinez

·         January 2026 Supreme Chaplain's Monthly Challenge

·         Matthew 4:16 “The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen.”

·         Reflection: Why would anyone sit in darkness? When it is dark, we ordinarily seek a source of light so that we may see – and be seen. When we immerse ourselves in unrepented sin, we effectively enter into darkness. But Jesus calls us forth into the light, inviting us to repent of our sins, so that we may embrace Christ, the light of the world, who leads us to everlasting light.

·         Challenge by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori: Challenge: This month I challenge you to make an examination of conscience every day and to make a good confession at least once.

Grand Knight’s Report: Greg Peters (given by DGK)

·         This is a snapshot of the health of our council for the calendar year 2025. Thanks to the leadership of our Grand Knight, Greg Peters, we had the following successes:

·         Membership: We close the year 2025 with 203 members and are at 100% of our fraternal goal.

·         Fraternal Programs:

§  Faith: We had 2,666 service hours and $10,104 in charitable disbursements.

§  Family: We had 1,330 service hours and $5,020 in charitable disbursements.

§  Community: We had 1,915 service hours and $14,403 in charitable disbursements.

§  Life: We had 482 service hours and $22,471 in charitable disbursements.

§  Total: 6,393 Service Hours and $51,998 in charitable disbursements This level of service shows our Council’s commitment to both the St. Mark Parish and our support of our Pastor, Father Greg Spencer. Thanks to all of you for such great work. Let’s push to make 2026 just as strong.

Membership Report: Membership Director Ray Repage (given by DGK White)

·         We currently have 203 and 100% of new member goal. We have two prospective members and five Latino candidates pending.

·         Dues are due.  Please pay your dues as soon as possible.  53 members have not paid yet.  Letters will be sent out February 13. Please pay before that.

·         2026 Member ID cards and new badges are available at the Council meeting tonight at Brother Cary’s table. Pick them up and it will save us postage.

Programs Reports: Program Director Larry Greer who gave brief summary of all reports.

·         Faith Director Report: Faith Director John Clyatt

·         COR (Heart) Program – COR continues to meet the Wednesdays of each month from 7-8:30pm in the John Henry Newman room. We are starting a Lenten session which will begin February 25 rather than February 18 as previously mentioned. If interested contact John Clyatt or just show up.

·         Quarterly Knight’s Mass - We need more Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMoHC), readers and ushers for each Mass. Whichever Mass you regularly attend, please consider helping.  All are encouraged to attend wearing your council name badges or shirts to support the many Knights who will participate as Ushers, Greeters, EMoHCs, Readers, and choir members. The next Knights Mass date has not yet been set. Points of contact for this effort are Mike Krawcyzk and Miguel Saldana.

·         Family Director Report: Family Director John Danchisko

·         Faith on Films Series (Movie night): The January 10 movie was Jesus Thirsts. There were 48 participants and $117 contributed and will be given to St Mark as they paid $300 to get the film. The next film, on February 14 beginning at 6:30pm in the Parish Hall, will be The Sound of Music.
Joe D’Alessandro welcomes any suggestions of films to screen. For any questions/comments or to volunteer, reach out to Joe D’Alessandro.

·         Nominations each month for Family of the Month and Knight of the Month- Send to John Danchisko and copy Larry Greer.

·         Community Director Report: Community Director Ray Repage Report given by Larry Greer

·         Knight’s Breakfast is co-chaired Joe D’Alessandro, Ray Repage and Bob Stevens, and mentored by George Schadt. The January 11 breakfast: 187 breakfasts purchased, $878 was netted and kicked off the Bishop’s Annual Appeal. February 8 is the next breakfast then March 8 and all breakfasts starts after the 9:30am Mass. Help is needed for grill, hot table serving, beverage table serving, set up and clean up. Contact Joe D’Alessandro.

·         Sleep In Heavenly Peace is a national program that builds beds for needy children. The local chapter’s website is https://shpbeds.org/chapter/nc-wilmington/. Watch this video to get a taste for the program. Next build date set for February 21 8am-3pm.  See Signups tab on out website.  POC is Greg Decker.

·         Fish Fry for Lent is planned for March 20. More info will be coming.

·         Wilmington Marathon Aid Station on February 28 5:30am-8am. Go to the Signups tab to register. We need 11 more to sign up and it is an important fund raise so please sign up.  It will be the same as last year.

·         Life Director Report: Life Director Michael Breit

·         Prayer vigil supporting Life: A reminder of Wednesday's 9–10am at the corner of 17th Street and Hospital Plaza Drive. It lasts about an hour. Contact is Larry Greer.

·         Wilmington March for Life: The annual Wilmington March for life will be held on February 28 at Long Leaf Park. Note we also have the Wilmington Marathon scheduled for that morning. Additional Details to follow.

·         LAMB: Chairman Tim Niggel

·         We reached our goal of $12,513 (actual $12,473). Funds are used to support Special Olympics and programs for students and adults with disabilities. I’ll bet you always wondered what’s the story behind the Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll drive.  Here is the answer.

·         St Mark Christmas Tree Lot- We had 23 Knights participate in unloading & tree sales. Total profit generated was $8,002 which will be split between St Mark youth and LAMB for 2026. Profits collected will be distributed directly to LAMB. Thanks to all who participated!

·         Polar Plunge: The 2026 annual Polar Plunge will be held February 21 starting at 3pm at Kure Beach. Please coordinate with SK Tim Niggel should you wish to attend.

·         Knights on Call: Chairman Mike Alexander

·         Knights on Call is a program to help others.  If you want to join this group or if help is needed anywhere just send your info to Mike and he will send e mail out looking for volunteers. These efforts are to help parishioners with short term, easy projects and not long-term requirements.

·         YTD 2025 - 300 hours. Thank you for your dedication to helping others.

·         YTD 2026 – 8 hours.

Fourth Degree Report: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

·         Monthly meetings on the third Tuesday at 7pm.  Next meeting is February 17 at 7:00pm at Wilmington Council 1074 council chambers in the Tileston Building at St. Mary. 

·         Exemplification. There will be an exemplification on Saturday, March 21, at All Saints Catholic Church in Hampstead.  We won’t see another one so close in years.  SK Greer discussed the importance becoming a 4^th degree.  The information package for any Third Degree knights that may be interested can be downloaded at https://kofc2017.org/news/exemplification. For more information, don’t hesitate to contact Greg Decker.

Fraternity:

·         Bocce Ball- Mike Alexander is lead, contact Mike if you would like to join the team.  No experience needed. Bocce’s back on at Empie Park every Wednesday at 10:00am. Open to all Knights of Columbus. Bocce will return from our winter break on February 4.

·         Golf Tournament. The 2026 tournament will be Monday, April 13, at Castle Bay Country Club. Food will once again be provided by Poor Piggy’s BBQ. To register, or for more information including the flyer, go to the Golf Outing tab of the council website. We are in need of teams and especially sponsors to support this fundraising effort.

Latino Roundtable:  GK Peters reported.

·         The Latino Roundtable meets on the 2nd & 4th Thursdays of each month in the Juan Diego Room from 7-8:30pm.

·         The roundtable currently has 15 members; they have five men interested in membership and have set a goal of 10 new members for 2025.

Unfinished Business: Any motion tabled from the prior meeting.  No motions were tabled from the prior meeting.

New Business:  

·         Vote to follow on gift of Statues for St Mark Church. At a recent meeting of the officers of Council #12017, there was discussion of an appropriate gift to St. Mark Church in honor of the parish’s 50^th Anniversary. A suggestion was made regarding purchasing statues of Our Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph to be placed on either side of the altar at the Church, since none currently exist and this is traditional in Catholic churches. The thought was that these would be placed where the two banners currently hang on either side of the altar. The statues would be placed on pedestals. The Officers thought that this was an excellent choice of a gift. It was decided that this gift of the two statues would not exceed $10,000. A motion was made and was unanimously approved by the officers of the council for such a gift. Fr. Greg is in favor of this donation. At the Business Meeting a motion was made to have the membership of the council approve the purchase of statues of Our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph, and associated design and installation costs, not to exceed $10,000 as a gift from Council 12017 to St. Mark Church on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary as a Parish in the City of Wilmington of the Diocese of Raleigh. It was seconded and unanimously approved with no discussion. 

·         State Delegates for 2026 state convention. The 2026 Knights State Convention will be held May 15-17 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Durham, North Carolina. Each council in the state is encouraged to send two delegates to the convention. A motion to members of the council was made to nominate our Grand Knight, Greg Peters, and our Deputy Grand Knight, Ron White, as delegates to attend the convention. It was seconded and unanimously approved with no discussion. 

Miscellaneous: None

Grand Knight’s Report: GK Greg Peters (given by DGK White)

·         Previously discussed under Program Director Report and New Business

Good of the Order:

·         Knight of the Month – October: Fran Riley, November: Ryan Gallagher

·         Lecturer SK Miguel Saldana discussed the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Prayers for Brothers in Need:

·         Names in the Prayers Book, and specifically for Fr. Greg and for GK Peters

Next Meeting: February 24 at 7:15pm

Closing Prayer: Hail Mary led by SK Miguel Saldana

Meeting Adjourned:  7:50pm

Minutes completed by Recorder:  Sean Murphy