St. Francis K of C makes major donation to Hays Catholic schools

k of c donation — Council #11492 Knight and Catholic School Finance Committee Member John Moeder ’82, Council #11492 Grand Knight Alex Leiker ’06, Pastoral Designate Fr. Daryl Olmstead, IHM Pastor Fr. Kevin Weber, HFE Principal Rachel Wentling ’95, and TMP-Marian Principal Kathy Taylor

Thomas More Prep-Marian

The Knights of Columbus Council #11492 made a major donation at the close of national Catholic Schools Week to announce their support of Catholic education in Ellis County.

Members of the K of C council at St. Francis Parish in Munjor presented a $10,000 check Friday, Jan. 30, to be allocated to Holy Family Elementary and Thomas More Prep-Marian schools in Hays.

Following the gift presentation, Council Grand Knight Alex Leiker, a 2006 graduate of TMP-Marian said, “We hope this gift will challenge other councils to follow our lead. We have been blessed with Catholic education traditions going back more than 100 years. We want to see it continue for generations to come.” Leiker, his father David, and his grandfather, Gib, all are members of the Munjor Council.

Alumnus John Moeder ’82, also a Knight in the Munjor Council, recently was appointed by Bishop Edward Weisenburger to the finance council that serves Holy Family Elementary and TMP-Marian. “These schools teach hundreds of young people every day. We feel that Catholic education is important enough to make this significant investment,” Moeder said.

Leiker and Moeder made the gift presentation in the Marian Chapel at TMP-Marian under the stained glass window of St. Francis of Assisi, the namesake of their home parish.

Fr. Daryl Olmstead serves as pastor of St. Francis Parish in Munjor as well as the bishop’s pastoral designate over TMP-Marian, a diocesan school serving nearly 400 students in grades 7-12. Fr. Kevin Weber, pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish also heads Holy Family Elementary along with Principal Rachel Wentling ’95 where another 400 students receive daily instruction in the likeness of Christ.

TMP-Marian Principal Kathy Taylor expressed her gratitude to Leiker, a former student of hers, on behalf of the students and faculty of the schools as well. Taylor said, ”Our schools serve a great purpose but also have many needs. This gift is inspiring because it demonstrates the partnership we have with our schools, our parishes, and our families.”

Nationwide, the Knights of Columbus is an organization of Catholic men united in charity, unity and fraternity.