The Catholic Daughters of the Americas; formerly the Daughters of Isabella

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[On June 18] the Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA) was founded in Utica, New York in 1903 by John E. Carberry and several other Knights of Columbus as a charitable, benevolent and patriotic sorority for Catholic ladies. It was originally called the "National order of Daughters of Isabella," and is dedicated to the principles of "Unity and Charity," the order's motto. They were originally called the national order of the Daughters of Isabella, and Carberry served as the first Supreme Regent. The Knights established our two standards of Unity and Charity. CDA had 90 courts by 1908, and had grown from a membership of less than 100 to more than 10,000. The membership encompassed 69 cities in 18 different states. In March of 1913, the Daughters of Isabella purchased a building in Utica belonging to the Knights of Columbus for use as its official headquarters.



The Daughters became very involved in overseas duty during World War I. They acted as nurses, did clerical work, conducted sewing and knitting classes for the Red Cross, and staged parties to entertain the servicemen. They also helped the Knights of Columbus raise $3 million for recreational activities for the enlisted men. When the war ended, Supreme Regent Genevieve Walsh was named to the newly formed national Catholic War Council. The CDA was a part of the restoration of the University of Louvain's ravaged library in Belgium. It was also during this time that a youth society called "War Service Plan for Girls" was formed. This group later evolved into the Junior Catholic Daughters.

At a biennial convention in 1921,the order changed its name from the Daughters of Isabella to the Catholic Daughters of America (CDA). In 1925 the first court outside of the United States was established in Cuba. It was during this time that the Knights of Columbus severed its ties with CDA, allowing it to become an independent organization. In 1926, the national headquarters moved from Utica to its current location at 10 West 71 Street in New York City. By 1928, the membership of the CDA had swelled to 170,000 members in courts that spanned 45 states, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Canada.

Supreme Regent Mary Duffy led the organization into becoming involved in community life, social work and services, literary endeavors, and missionary work. CDA supported the Catholic press, and they protested against the Oregon Compulsory School Law and the Cummins-Valle Birth Control Bill. The organization kept a close watch on adverse legislative matters across the nation, and its members engaged in legislative discussions. The CDA became associated with the Legion of Decency and took a public stand against mercy killing (euthanasia).

CDA contributed money to the war effort during World War II. They bought war bonds and defense stamps, helped to fund chapels, camps and food necessities, and provided entertainment for those in the service. The membership also became involved in making bandages, sewing, conducting first aid classes and donating blood across the country. The statistics of the efforts of the CDA are staggering. Various court purchased $1.6 million worth of war bonds, individual members bought $4.7 million and sold $3 million more to others. More than 8,314 members served as instructors for the Red Cross, and 15,061 members made four million surgical dressings. Contributions to the USO exceeded $100,000. During this time the CDA were still involved in many important issues, such as juvenile delinquency, democracy, peace, postwar America, labor and the war, women in industry, help for students in China, racism, the Equal Rights Amendment, and federalized education.

Bishop Fulton J. Sheen addressed the delegates at the 24th Biennial Convention held in 1952. He said, "You are the Catholic Daughters of America; I would like you to become Catholic Daughters of the World." He urged the CDA membership to extend their charity to the needs of the poor and to the ends of the world.

In 1954, the order changed its name to the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, with 115,000 Catholic Daughters in the 1,450 local units called "courts" throughout the United States, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Saipan, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. Its international headquarters are located in New York City. It donates generously to several charitable causes, provides scholarships, works with Habitat for Humanity, and supports the aged and infirm retired Catholic clergy, and is very pro-life.

Mother Teresa, founder of the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, spoke to an audience of Catholic Daughters in October of 1972 in Washington, D.C. to mark National Catholic Daughters Day. She asked the CDA members to continue to "give to our brothers and sisters throughout the world as if once more Jesus had come into the world cold, hungry, and alone." Through annual donations to the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa's challenge and that of Bishop Sheen are being met, as we become "Catholic Daughters of the world."

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas continues to live out its motto of "Unity and Charity" today. In 1976 CDA presented a bicentennial gift of $750,000 to the Catholic University of America to establish a Chair in American Catholic History.

CDA donates generously to the seminary training programs for priests at the North American College in Rome, and at the American College at the University of Louvain in Belgium.

In 1990 the bishops approached the organization to take a "leadership role" in support of the Papal Foundation, citing CDA's committed support "of the Church at the highest level." The national office gave a gift of $500,000 to be used by the Holy Father to help Catholic Churches in Third World countries. John Cardinal O'Connor, Archbishop of New York, stated in a letter to National Regent Rayola Mclaughlin that, "The Catholic Daughters has a rich tradition of loyalty and generosity to the Church. Your willingness to step forward at special moments of need is well chronicled in the great works you have accomplished, not only in your parishes but also in your support of the American bishops."

Since the inception of SOAR! (Support Our Aging Religious!) in 1986, the Catholic Daughters has been one of its largest supporters providing seed money to help religious communities with immediate needs such as repairs on buildings and vans to transport sick and disabled religious.

The Catholic Daughters has a continuous working relationship with Habitat for Humanity International in building affordable housing for the poor. CDA was one of the first women's organizations to complete a house in Habitat's seven day "Blitz Build."

In 1997 the Catholic Daughters opened a legislative office in Washington, D.C. The office gives the CDA its own "listening post" with ready access to Capital Hill, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. We now can give support to the bishops in areas of concern such as pro-life issues, domestic policy and social justice matters.

M. Joan McKenna, Immediate Past National Regent, holds observer status at the NCCB meetings. Grace Rinaldi, Past National Regent, attended the World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China and has been a part of a delegation of women in a follow-up study.

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas is a member of the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW).

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas has nearly 95,000 members in 1,400 courts in the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Guam, Saipan, and the Virgin Islands.