By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
September 9, 2004

SHELDON/SIOUX CITY - Writing letters and cards may be a lost form of communication for some people, but women of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas are keeping it alive by sending cards to their members to let them know the organization cares.

Several Catholic Daughters of the Americas courts throughout the Diocese of Sioux City send cards to ill, hospitalized or grieving members and their families. Court Ave Maria #269 in Sioux City and Court St. Bernadette #189 of St. Patrick's in Sheldon are two courts that participate in this ministry of letting CDA members know that other CDA members care about them in their time of need.

Each court refers to the person or committee that sends the cards out as something different. Court Ave Maria has a one-person committee called the "thoughtfulness committee." Court St. Bernadette refers to this person as the card chairperson.

Court Ave Maria #269 has pre-printed cards that Gabrielle Perry, a 93-year-old CDA member, sends to ill or hospitalized CDA members, members who have lost a family member or to the family of a CDA member that has died. Perry also buys and sends 90th birthday cards and wedding anniversary cards to members from Catholic Daughters.

One card for a quick recovery states inside, "Regretting the news of your illness, and sincerely hoping that you are on the road to recovery." The other card of sympathy for a death of a family member or a CDA member reads, "The officers and members of Court Ave Maria # 269 Catholic Daughters of the Americas join in heartfelt sympathy to you and your family in this hour of sorrow."

Perry has been a member of CDA for 46 years and has been sending the cards since 1995. The Catholic Daughters have been participating in this ministry for many years, according to Perry.

"I think if anyone is a member of Catholic Daughters, they are deserving of a card from us," said Perry, a parishioner at St. Joseph Church in Sioux City. "They are really nice cards to send to them, too."

Since Perry took over writing the cards she has kept track of who she sent the cards to. From when she started until June of this year, she has sent 756 cards. She keeps track so that if someone is unsure that a certain person got a card or not, she has record of it.

"I think they feel like the organization is thinking of them," said Perry. "You belong to that and you are glad that someone from the organization is remembering you. I know I would feel honored to have that. It is one of the simplest things that Catholic Daughters can do for their members. I hope they continue it."

She has received thank you notes from the people that have been sent cards. When she goes to the CDA meetings, she reads the notes that are sent to her so that the other members know they are appreciated as well.

Marlyss Bauman from Court St. Bernadette #189 in Sheldon has been a member of CDA for over 30 years. She sends cards to CDA members on birthdays, when they are in the hospital, upon a death, for new babies or to their family when they die. She commented that sending the cards allows the Catholic Daughters to show their members that they are cared about.

"When I get a card, I feel like I am cared about," said Bauman. The cards make being a member of CDA personal and not being seen as a number, according to Bauman.

Bauman has been the card chairperson for about 10 years. She wrote the cards for a while, let someone else write them and then took them back. She buys the cards and writes a message inside such as "have a blessed birthday" or "we are thinking of you."

"They enjoy it," said Bauman. "Our organization is an organization of charity, and we care about others. What you want done for you, you do for others. It makes you feel wanted and remembered."

Both CDA courts plan to continue this unique ministry of letting their members know they are wanted, cared about and remembered.