LINCOLN (SNR) – The Court St. Charles #472 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA) in Lincoln marks its 100th anniversary April 18.
While the court’s planned celebrations have been delayed due to coronavirus pandemic restrictions, court members will mark the anniversary date in prayer and a new date for the Mass.
The national headquarters sent a plaque to the court in Lincoln, commemorating the milestone.
The court was instituted April 18, 1920 under the original national organization of the Daughters of Isabella, organized June 18, 1903, in Utica, N.Y. The name changed to Catholic Daughters of America in 1921 and the name was changed yet again in 1978. Then, on the occasion of the group’s 75th anniversary, it became “Catholic Daughters of the Americas,” since the organization had extended beyond the United States.
The CDA – as Daughters of Isabella – was formed originally as an auxiliary women’s group of the Knights of Columbus. Queen Isabella of Spain was reigning queen when Columbus came to America, thus the original name.
The first court in the Lincoln Diocese was established in Falls City in 1908. Seven more courts were subsequently established in Lincoln, David City, Plattsmouth, York, Hastings, Nebraska City, and Wahoo. There are currently 35 courts and 2,800 members in the state of Nebraska, as part of the largest group of organized Catholic women in the United States.
The national organization was formed at a time in the United States before women had many secular rights, especially the right to vote. It was formed as a women’s social and service organization.
The organization was formed around community and national service. The members made clothes for war victims in Europe, even before the US entered WWI and helped support 52 of the 170 United Service Organizations (USO) during WWII. The members were nationally recognized for members’ work during both world wars.
In 1922, after Pope Pius XI published his encyclical, Ubi arcano Dei consilio (The Peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ), national regent Mary Duffy took the opportunity to transform the organization toward more apostolic, or Church-centered work. This added the spiritual element to the CDA.
The organization now operates under the “Circle of Love” in which different spokes help members grow in leadership, education, youth, spiritual, life, family and legislation to form the center common interest of love (“heart to heart”). The CDA motto is “Unity and Charity.”
The first officers of Court St. Charles #472 were Loretta Trumble, regent; Cecelia Foster, vice regent; Harriet Russell, financial secretary; Ione Downes, treasurer; and Elizabeth Doyle, recording secretary. The court was named for Bishop Charles J. O’Reilly. The first chaplain was Msgr. Peter O’Laughlin.
Today Court St. Charles has 95 members from parishes in the Lincoln area. The current officers are Mary Anne Classen, regent; Eileen Childerston, vice regent; Diane Fry, financial secretary; Marvalee Richardson, treasurer; and Cassie Chandler, recording secretary. Father Nicholas Kipper is chaplain.
To join the Lincoln Court of the CDA, contact Mary Anne Classen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 402-326-3656, or any CDA court member.
In the Diocese of Lincoln, young women can join the Catholic Daughters at the age of 18. Junior Catholic Daughters, girls age 6 through 18, strive to develop as Christians, learn to serve others, grow spiritually, and be creative and flexible.
