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August 31, 2022The Catholic Daughters of the Americas held its 59th biennial national convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico on July 20-24. The Oklahoma delegation included State Regent Karin Dudash, Altus; State Treasurer Jo Ella Newbury, Tulsa and State Chaplain Fr. Jim Caldwell, Tulsa. Delegates were Lisa Koeller, Harrah; Elizabeth Carillo, Lawton and Laura Hamilton, Lawton. Iris Fraticelli, Lawton, also attended as an alternate delegate.
Mass was said each day and a chapel for prayers and contemplation was available. There were many business meetings since it had been four years since they were able to meet.
Oklahoma received several recognitions from the CDA National Board. The Oklahoma State Court won first place in the National Newsletter Contest. They were also presented with the National Leadership State Court Award for the State Workshop “You are the Apple of His Eye,” which was held on Sept. 25, 2021, at the Catholic Pastoral Center in Oklahoma City.
Court Salve Regina No. 847, El Reno, received first-place recognition in the National Family Circle of Love category. They contacted Love the Children, formerly Birth Choice, which is a nonprofit organization in their community that provides clothing, diapers and formula to mothers in need, and asked what items most in need were. The staff said they needed car seats that are certified as safe for mothers to bring their babies home from the hospital.
Court Salve Regina members collected monetary donations from the parish and the community. They walked door to door with a letter explaining the fundraiser and made numerous phone calls asking business owners for $120 to purchase one car seat.
Within weeks, the committee raised $1,670. They purchased 12 car seats, formula and diapers. They hope to continue this award-winning project annually.
Finally, Maureen Wortham from Court St. Francis of Peace in Altus received a St. Faustina Membership Award. These awards are presented to women who have been instrumental in increasing CDA membership in each state. In the last year Wortham was instrumental in bringing six new members into her home court.
The Oklahoma Catholic Daughters are proud of their accomplishments and would like to invite all Catholic women in the state to join them.
