LINCOLN (SNR) – The Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court St. Charles #472 of Lincoln celebrated 101 ½ years as a court on CDA Sunday, Oct. 17.
After the 100-year anniversary celebration had to be delayed in April 2020, the court was able to come together to mark this milestone. Court St. Charles is the third oldest court in the state of Nebraska with 83 members. The court was established April 18, 1920.
In attendance were special guests Court Chaplain Father Nicholas Kipper, Bishop Emeritus Fabian Bruskewitz, Nebraska State Court Regent Betty Fredericks, and Nebraska State 1st Vice Regent Kim Meduna.
A 2 p.m. Mass was celebrated at Cathedral of the Risen Christ by Father Kipper. Pam Murray was cantor and Jean Travers was lector. Organist was David Schmidt. State and Court officers conducted a formal procession in their court attire.
Related item: CDA 2021 slideshow
A program and luncheon followed in Rectors’ Hall for members and guests. Immediate Past Regent Mary Anne Classen, was mistress of ceremonies. The CDA opening ode was sung. The court received greetings from the State Regent Betty Fredericks and comments from Bishop Emeritus Fabian Bruskewitz.
Regent Caroline Helget presented a check for $3,752.25 to State Regent Betty Fredericks, for money raised to date by the court for the State Project, the Women’s Care Center of Lincoln.
Helget recognized several member anniversaries in 2020 and 2021. Nearly 30 women were honored for anniversaries in five-year increments from five to 35 years. Those serving 40 or more years were Maugeritte Titterington, 40 years; Regina Schwartz, 44; Wilomine Tomes, Helen Wieser, 45; Judy Schiltz, 47; Rose Stillwell, Bonnie Watts, 52; Janet Broer, Mary Groebner, 55; and Kathleen Frisbie, 60 years.
Betty Rempe, Barb Weckman, Nancy Hilt, Jan Broer, Margaret Gross and Karen Hall were the luncheon and decoration committee; Maureen Kipper and Dixie Johnson were the program committee. Marian statues, donated by the late Bernadette Theil, were used as centerpieces and then for door prizes.
A recorded slide show on the history of the court emphasizing the last 20 years was presented by Mary Anne Classen. In addition, she presented a copy of the written history of the court to Regent Caroline Helget to be placed in the Diocesan Chancery Archives. The late Edith Wessel had prepared the first written history in 1990 covering the first 70 years. Shirley Ficke and Marvalee Richardson were recognized for their work in keeping annual scrapbooks completed for the past two decades to document the activities of the court.
