Kirby Farek, Chairman
(361) 772-0054 or kirbyfarek@sbcglobal.net
This fund was newly established in 2020 and the fund is named in honor of the late Bishop Thomas J. Flanagan who served the Archdiocese of San Antonio as Auxiliary Bishop from 1998-2005 and the Texas State Council as State Chaplain from 2000-2002. This fund has been established to provide for the care and welfare of those who so faithfully served us and affords grants for our retired priests. The primary way to contribute to this fund is by acquiring and displaying a Texas Knights of Columbus license plate on your vehicle. We are working to gain approval for other direct contribution options for this newly established fund. The funds contributed shall be distributed equally to the fifteen dioceses in Texas each fraternal year.
The Texas State Council first issued the K of C license plates in 2004 which means the program has been in effect for almost 20 years. Currently we are granting each dioceses almost $2000 each year from this program. Multiply that by 15 diocese and 20 years and we should be proud that the knights have provided over $500,000 to help our retired priests. Name another organization in the State that matches that record.
But the bad news is less than 1% of the knights in the State participate. I'm not a big techie but I'm not sure we make it easy for anyone interested. Attached is a link that will take you to an ON-LNIE application form.
Print this form and take to your local DMV office to obtain the KC plate for $30 with $22 coming back to the State Council for Infirmed Priests. This may be easier route to take.
Another option to donate is to call or email the State Office to purchase a license plate frame holder for $30!