Who Are The Catholic Daughters?
The Catholic Daughters of the Americas is one of the oldest and largest organizations of Catholic women in the Americas. They donate to charities, administer scholarship programs and strive “to be helping hands where there is pain, poverty, sorrow or sickness.” The CDA motto is “Unity and Charity.” The CDA was formed over 100 years ago and today numbers 70,000 dues-paying members in 1,250 courts (local chapters) in 45 states across the country, and in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. Catholic Daughter women enjoy each other’s company at meetings and work hard for their parishes and communities. Deeply spiritual, together they share faith, love of God and a distinctly feminine spirituality alluded to by Pope John Paul II when he spoke of the necessity of “feminine genius” in today’s world. The program includes concerns of today’s church and society as well as issues that affect the well-being of women and children. The Legislative Program encourages interested members to learn about laws that may influence their faith and to contact their state representatives to make their personal positions known through Operation Morning Star [The Catholic Daughters of the Americas does not endorse political candidates]. Girls and young women ages 6-18 can join the Junior Catholic Daughters of the Americas. Young college women can become members of Campus Courts at some universities. |
2022-2024 Court Officers
Regent Audrey Wolf Vice Regent JoAnn Andera Recording Secretary Sue Brager Financial Secretary Danalla Rooney Treasurer Deanna Boehmer Above: Regent Audrey Wolf, Treasurer Deanna Boehmer, Jane Roach, Financial Secretary Danella Rooney, Vice Regent JoAnn Andera
About Our Patron Saint
St. Joan of Arc, "The Maid of Orléans," was born in 1412 in Domrémy, Bar, France. A national heroine of France, at age 18 she led the French army to victory over the British at Orléans. A year later, Joan was captured and burned at the stake as a heretic by the English and their French collaborators. King Charles VII ordered an investigation that in 1456 declared Joan of Arc to be officially innocent of all charges and designated a martyr. She was canonized as a Roman Catholic saint more than 500 years later, on May 16, 1920, and is the patron saint of France. |
About Our Court Meetings Regular meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of the month at Holy Family Church, 714 N. Adams, at 6:00 p.m. We do not meet in January and July. Our Members We currently have 49 members and 1 honorary members from Mason City and the surrounding communities. New members are always welcome. History Court St. Joan of Arc #152 was instituted on September 3, 1911, with 45 founding members and has been performing charitable works and having fun for 104 years since. At one time, the court sponsored a junior CDA group for high school girls. Along with supporting state and national projects, the chapter has supported Newman High School through scholarships and the annual Education Contest. In the early days, the court sponsored a mitten fund, in which members contributed mittens to needy children. The court has hosted the State Convention several times, and members regularly attend state and national meetings. We celebrated our 100th Anniversary in September of 2011, with a Mass and reception. Our Court Brochure Link to Standing Rules |