Catholic Daughters look to increase courts

By KENNY KEANE, Globe staff reporter
Posted May 1, 2003

The Knights of Columbus instituted the Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA) in 1903 in Utica, NY. The first Iowa court, St. Rose of Lima No. 6, was instituted in the Sioux City Diocese on May 18, 1904 in Carroll.

At the peak of their membership a few years ago, the Iowa CDA had approximately 15,000 members in 84 courts. Presently there are about 7,000 members in 73 courts, and the Iowa CDA is researching the possibilities for more new courts.

In the Sioux City Diocese, there are currently 33 courts, but according to the CDA's Current State Regent in Iowa, Sherry Nilles, the goal is to increase the number of courts in Iowa in each diocese.

"This has been an ongoing process, but Helen Arndorfer, who is the Immediate Past State Regent, is really doing a push," said Nilles, a parishioner at St. Mary Church in Ashton. "She asked if I thought there would be more interest in the Sioux City Diocese. We looked at the parishes that have the Knights of Columbus councils, and since the Knights of Columbus started us, we thought maybe they would be interested in having a Catholic Daughter court."

One diocesan parish in particular, St. Mary Church in Spirit Lake, has taken the necessary steps to bring the CDA back to their community.

"It's really a revival of a court that was discontinued a few years ago," said Father Albert Grendler, pastor of the Spirit Lake parish. "It's another outlet for women in the parish, and it provides another source of apostolic activity for members of the parish. It provides a forum for women to get together, to talk, to share their faith and to be involved with parish projects."

Nilles said there are many good things that each parish does, particularly with women's organizations, which she said are important, but she noted that there are also needs outside of each parish where the CDA can be of service.

"The Catholic Daughters, I think, expands my horizons just a little bit and gets me outside of my parish to realize we are a universal church," she said. "We're not just in our parish, and that's the way I see women being even more aware. I think what Catholic Daughters has done for me personally is given me the opportunity to gain some leadership skills that I probably wouldn't have had any other time."

The revival of the Spirit Lake court has been led by St. Mary parishioner Cindy Hansen, who was a member of the previous court in the early '70s. She said the court will keep its previous name, Our Lady of the Lakes, and so far they have 30 charter members who have paid their $20 annual due - an amount that varies from court to court.

The next step will be installation of the new court, which Hansen hopes will take place prior to the dedication of the new St. Mary Church on July 20.

"We were hoping to be installed in June so that we can be in full court by the time the new church starts," Hansen said. "Then our meeting times will be the first Tuesday of every month, and we will meet at 6:30 for our social gathering with a 7 o'clock meeting time. It will be held in one of the large meeting rooms at the church.

"Maybe now, knowing we could lose it, I think we'll work really hard to keep it going strong."