The Open Door

The Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest Catholic lay organization. This organization offers men a place to lead their families and communities in faith and service and put their Faith in Action. Knights of Columbus members, parishes and families have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference thorough a number of programs, including the Council’s Culture of Life Fund. Through this program, the Knights of Columbus works with qualifying pregnancy centers to assist in the purchase of ultrasound machines.

The Open Door is a faith based, non-profit pregnancy and family resource center with locations in Cisco and Breckenridge, and a mobile unit that travels to nearby towns. All of the services, including limited ultrasounds, are offered free of charge to their clients. In the summer of 2019, the ultra sound machine stopped working. After hearing that The Open Door needed a very expensive ultrasound machine to replace the broken one. The Knights of Columbus Council 2123 and its members at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Cisco, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Eastland, St. Rita Catholic Church in Ranger, and St. John Catholic Church in Strawn, decided to try and replace it. Fr. VJ, (Pastor for the four Catholic Churches) and others visited and toured the Open Door and were amazed at all of the services that they provide to the communities. The local Knights of Columbus Council and Fr. VJ appealed to the members of these four parish communities for their support. The parishioners responded most generously, donating a significant portion of the funds needed to apply to the National Knights of Columbus Council for a matching contribution to fully fund the purchase of the much needed equipment.

The new ultrasound machine was delivered right before Christmas, 2019. In the words of Shannon Thompson, Executive Director of The Open Door, “This incredible gift and blessing will serve countless families for many years to come and will continue to be a very important tool as The Open Door works to promote life and to help families be and have the best life possible.”