By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
June 19, 2003

ALGONA - There are organizations across the Diocese of Sioux City that give time and energy to their parishes and communities.

The Catholic Daughters of America is one such organization that will celebrate its national 100th anniversary of being founded.

In 1903, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Organization was initiated in Utica, N.Y. by the Knights of Columbus. The organization's purpose is to participate in the religious, charitable and educational apostolates of the church.

Catholic Daughters of the Americas engages in creative and spiritual programs which provide its members with the opportunity to develop their special God-given talents in a meaningful way to positively influence the welfare of the church and all peoples throughout the world.

"This year we are celebrating 100 years of service to our communities and our nation," said Ellen Gatton, regent of the Algona court #283. "It is an organization made up of dedicated women who have a vision. A vision that has escalated over 100 years. These women are local missionaries using their time, talents and treasures to make the world a better place."

Their mission states: Catholic Daughters of the Americas strives to embrace the principles of faith working through love in the promotion of justice, equality and the advancement of human rights and human dignity for all mankind.

Members of CDA in Iowa do many things for their communities. Some examples include at Christmastime, helping a family in need. They also work at and financially support Habitat for Humanity.

"The main thing, financially, they support a lot of programs," said Sherry Nilles, the State of Iowa Regent. "We work at a lot of things. I go back to my home court and we do fundraisers for people who need it. Right now we are doing a Relay for Life, and we are getting things set up for that."

Another activity that Nilles' home court, Ashton #1057, did was the Lifesavers for Abuse. They handed out candy Lifesavers and the money went to women and children in abusive situations.

"We give it locally, statewide and nationally, wherever it is needed," said Nilles. "Fourty percent of the money the court raises stays locally and they can give it to anything they want. Sometimes the police department needs help getting housing or maybe there is an abuse center that could use the money. Statewide, we will give money to Catholic Charities and use it with the abuse prevention and needs there."

Other things the organization continues to do are feed the hungry, clothe the naked, combat abortion and euthanasia, help the homeless, support priests and seminarians, provide aid to disaster stricken areas, care for the aged and disabled and support youth and pro-life programs.

Local courts meet monthly and the state court meets at least four times a year. They met in Sioux City on May 2 and will meet again on June 29 to celebrate Anna Baxter Day.

"Anna Baxter is a former state regent who was also a national regent," said Nilles. "She was a state regent in Wisconsin and then moved to Iowa. She instituted 29 of our 75 courts in Iowa."

The women who are members work with people in their communities through their parishes and touch many lives through their ministry.

"Anytime that you help someone else, hopefully, they realize that you are not doing it for yourself," said Nilles. "I am not doing it for the greater honor and glory of me. I am doing it for God's honor and glory. We help the CCD program. The women are involved as lectors and lay ministers in the church. That's all through encouragement through the Catholic Daughters.

"We encourage people to get involved in their parish and make a difference in a life. Any time we are ministering to someone else that we do it in the name of God and make them feel that we want to help."

All courts, nationwide, were invited to join in a celebration to be held at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City on June 22.

"If we were not able to attend we were encouraged by our state court to hold mini celebrations in our own areas," said Gatton. "The St. Cecelia Algona CDA have invited surrounding local courts and chaplains from St. John's Bancroft, St. Benedict, St. Joseph Wesley, Sts. Peter and Paul West Bend and St. Joseph Bode to share in the centennial celebration on June 22 at the KC hall in Algona."

Father Paul Eisele, St. Cecelia's chaplain, will be the celebrant of the special Mass at 2 p.m. Officers from the courts are encouraged to wear their ceremonial robes and take part in the Presentation of Gifts during the liturgy. CDA memorabilia will be offered while a narrator tells about the symbols.

Helen Arndorfer, immediate past State of Iowa Regent, and Rosemary Snyder, District Deputy, will be guest speakers for the afternoon. Court St. Fidelis #342 of Wesley will entertain the group with an educational and entertaining Skit.