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National Chaplain National Clergy Consultant Most Reverend Brendan J. Cahill, S.T.D. Reverend Edward Lamp

National National First Vice Second Vice National Regent Regent-Elect National Regent National Regent Secretary-Treasurer Olga Samaniego Sherry Nilles Emily Guilherme Susan Moné Essie Walker

National Directors

Carol Bogacz Connie Dronette Peggy Guckin M. Susan Champion Hicks Rose Holschlag Carolyn Malik Pamela J. Poland Debbie Lattus Marialice Saga

National Office Manager National Office Staff National Public Relations Martha Hamboussi Cynthia Pichardo Alyssa Brady Tom Panas Joseph Delgado Gloria Linley National Webmaster Thelma A. Smith Secretary to National Regent Dan Seyfried Gertrude Gromally Rosie Rodriguez

The National Board and the National Office staff wish all

members and their families a happy Easter season.

!

Koltukovs/Shutterstock.com

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March 2020

My Dear Sisters in Christ,

This is such an important

time of the year! It is the

time of reconciliation,

renewal, and rebirth. While it

is a terribly important time in

our personal lives, I would like to talk about what it

means in the life of our court. We are women of faith

and women of service. We dedicate ourselves to

doing good in response to God’s call. Still, even

though we are women of faith and our intention is to

do good, we often end up unintentionally hurting one

with whom we serve. Sometimes it is a careless

word; sometimes it is a moment of refusing to

compromise, sometimes it is a moment of

stubbornness. Usually, the moment passes, and our

better nature takes over; but the damage has been

done. I liken it to pounding a nail into a board. I may

change my mind and pull out the nail, but the hole

remains. The damage has changed the board. The

good news is that the board can be repaired. Holes

can be puttied, sanded, and the board can be

varnished and made to look like new.

If we are going to continue to give witness to a good

and loving God, we must do what we can to repair

any damage to the relationships within our

membership that may have occurred over the term.

Take time to pray together for your court. Ask your

chaplain or spiritual advisor to conduct a

reconciliation service for your members. Fast and do

penance together, and then share a reconciliation

meal. Write a letter asking forgiveness for someone

you think you may have hurt. You can make

relationships within your court better. They may not

ever be exactly the same as they once were, but they

can be stronger made up of women who know how to

forgive and how to accept forgiveness. This Lenten

season let us be Church to one another.

Soon it will be time to elect new officers. Please

consider running for an officer’s position. The Lord

has given you gifts and talents that He expects you to

use. Say, “Yes!” I can’t promise you that it will be

easy, but I can promise you that God is never

outdone. If you offer time and your talent to serve

God and His people, He will reward you in ways you

can never imagine.

It is also time to start preparing for the National

Convention in Dallas. I hope you will make plans for

your court to send a delegation. There will be lots to

do even if you are not a delegate! Come and See! I

wish you joy!

Newsletter Highlights:

Page 8 - Lenten Prayer Service

Page 9 - Membership Contest

Page 10 - Local Court Nominations & Election Process

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Real-l ife Hope

Most Reverend Brendan J. Cahill, S.T.D.

National Chaplain

On our spiritual journey we

often encounter the point at

which we desire a change but may feel it isn’t

possible. A common experience of being human is

the reality that change, even for something good, can

be hard and stressful. In the time of Easter we face

this reality with the real-life hope that change for the

better is always possible. As we celebrate the victory

of Jesus over sin and death, we celebrate also the

victories of the disciples from fear to courage, of the

thief next to Jesus on the cross from despair to a place

in the kingdom, of the centurion from active

participation in the crucifixion to the proclamation of

faith that Jesus truly was the Son of God. With the

faithful women at the tomb who came to believe in

the resurrection of Jesus we are invited to real-life

hope in the power of Jesus – and so the Church

rejoices in this season!

Preaching in modern-day Turkey in the 300’s, St.

Gregory Nazianzen began a sermon for the Octave of

Easter with the following: “Everything contributes to

the beauty and the joy of the feast. The queen of the

seasons makes a feast for the queen of days and offers

everything she has that is most beautiful and pleasing.

The sky is the most transparent, the sun at its highest

and brightest, the course of the moon at its most

brilliant, and the choir of the stars at its most purest.

The springs run at their clearest, the rivers are most

abundant, freed from their fetters of ice. The fields

are filled with sweet scents, green things spring up,

the lambs bound in the green grass. Ships go out from

their ports with all the sails filled, and the dolphins

accompany them bounding and joyfully blowing. The

shepherds and cow-herd tune their flutes and pipe a

melody.” (Jean Danielou, SJ, The Bible and the

Liturgy, p. 291 - University of Notre Dame Press,

1956)

The ancient imagery from nature speaks powerfully

of the Easter season as a time of new beginnings and

a new creation. The message from the early

Christians speaks even to our day. Whatever the

intensity of the challenges or doubts or fears that we

face in our lives, the victory of Jesus Christ over sin

and death is much greater – so the whole world

rejoices in this season! The queen of seasons calls

the world to rejoice and proclaim “Alleluia – He is

Risen!”

The cycle of seasons teaches us that every season,

every time of our lives, has a purpose and a plan – all

in God’s time. As the winter snows and rains are

necessary for the spring-time streams and growth, the

challenges and pains that we encounter in life become

opportunities to find God’s healing grace. The person

who has received God’s healing grace often becomes

the strongest witness of hope in the world. What

wonderful news for us and for the world – to be

healed and to be healers!

May you and your families have a blessed, hopeful

Easter, with confidence in the personal love of Jesus

for you and in the gift of the Holy Spirit to give you

strength each day.

+Brendan

CEW1285909699/Shutterstock.com

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Christ is Risen!

Father Edward Lamp

National Clergy Consultant

Dear Catholic Daughters and friends:

Christ is risen! You and I are called to believe, and we receive our faith through these early witnesses. Those who have encountered the risen Christ, who appeared only to his disciples. Such witnesses have a sacred obligation to preach the message of conversion and solvation to all.

The Acts of the Apostles gives us the testimony of Saint Peter and ends with a very clear statement of faith: To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name. These early believers, in spite of all of their doubts about and rejections of Jesus finally acknowledge, and act in a way, that Jesus is the one chosen by God, that Jesus is the Savior and that, finally, Jesus is God.

The Letter to the Colossians begins with this affirmation: If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. In Baptism we share in the merits of Christ’s Death and Resurrection. Through Baptism, we die to sin and rise to new life. If we remain united to him, we will one day rise in glory as he did. Once again, this is a clear affirmation that the early followers of Jesus had arrived at this clear Divine Truth that Jesus is Lord and Savior.

In the Gospel of John today we encounter Mary of Magdala going to the tomb of Jesus, finding it empty, and then running to tell the disciples. First on the scene, Mary Magdalene, as Fr. Sean Davidson describes in his fine book Saint Mary Magdalene: Prophetess of Eucharistic Love, runs “through the streets of Jerusalem towards the hill of Calvary. So eager was her desire to be in the presence of Christ’s dead body once again that she broke away from the group of holy women and arrived on her own before even the rising sun had shed its light upon her.” Peter and an unidentified

disciple, almost certainly John, get to the tomb. Peter goes in and sees that the body is not there. There is no comment about the faith of Peter. The other disciple, probably John, goes in and the Gospel says this: Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.

As with the disciples, this faith must become our own and it must become so powerful that we act out our declaration: Christ is risen! We know from the Scriptures that faith may not take away all of our defects or even keep us from all sin, but it does show us the path on which we are to walk: complete trust in the Lord Jesus and a faithful following of His teachings. Christ is risen! Let us proclaim and act towards each other and the world in a way that leads our neighbors and families toward Him into the Kingdom.

Father Ed

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Bringing Good Courts to Life

Sherry Nilles, National Regent-Elect

Leadership Chairman

General Electric used this advertising slogan “We bring good things to life” in 1892 and has continued to have success using it even today. This slogan, changed just a little for Catholic Daughters courts, is a great tool to use.

Is it possible to bring good things to life in a Catholic Daughters court as we begin a new decade?

Start with a check on the leadership of the court.

The values and culture of each court must be kept alive by the elected officers with the help and input from court members. Officers as well as members need to be committed to Catholic Daughters, know the bylaws and procedures and follow them.

Leadership with enthusiasm from the elected officers is essential. Know your strong points and strengths, then build on them. Show care and concern for every member. Leadership is a relational skill that depends on how others react and interact with the officers.

Do’s and Don’ts of Leadership

• Be positive!

• Embrace change.

• Go the extra mile.

• Be accountable. Maintain integrity.

• Communicate openly with members.

• Maintain eye contact when conversing.

• Actively listen.

• Give a member undivided attention.

• Members should feel they are important and valued.

• Pay close attention to your behaviors. You are being watched.

• Give praise when appropriate. Thank you is a powerful statement when said with sincerity.

Don’t

• Micromanage. Each member has special talents. Give them a job. Then let them shine.

• Criticize or correct a member in front of others. Show respect for all.

• Converse with only a few chosen members. All members are important and must be aware of the decisions made. Everyone has a say. Listen to suggestions from all.

Next, examine the core values of Catholic Daughters within each court. Spirituality through prayer and good works, living lives according to Church rules, treating each person as a valued member, supporting all God’s people through the Circle of Love, working together for the greater honor and glory of God.

• Are these core values of your court? How would you describe your values to others?

• Are these values incorporated in every project, meeting or program of the court?

• When considering a new project or program, are court values part of the discussion?

• Are all court members aware and supportive of the values followed by the court?

• How does our court plan to continue with these values?

• What will our court look in 20 years or 50 years or 100 years?

Get your court involved in the discussion. Answer each question honestly. Honest discussion will be of great value to your court as we continue to listen to each other and our Lord.

Be proud to be a Catholic Daughter. Since 1903, that’s 117 years, Catholic Daughters have been a part of the church and the lives of Catholic women. It is exciting to be a part of this great organization and continue to serve all God’s people. The theme of our National Regent Olga Samaniego needs to be followed by every court and member “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:9

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It’s time for the biennial election of officers in our local courts. In March you will be

electing a nominating committee to select a slate of officers for your court. Serving as an officer is an honor and privilege. As an officer you have the opportunity to get to better know the members of the court. Please consider this opportunity and say, “Yes” if you are called and asked to be an officer. Being asked to serve is a sign of the nominating committee’s faith in your leadership qualities.

In the Tools of the Trade Prayer Section there is a lovely reading called “He Pointed His Finger at Me” to read to your court members to encourage them.

Included with the Quarterly newsletter is the Officer List to be completed by every court. It is very

important that this form be sent to the National Office and your State Regent immediately after your May

meeting. Even if your officers are remaining for the next two-year term, or your court is less than one year old, you must send the completed form back.

It’s Election Time

Susan Moné, Second Vice National Regent Ceremonials Chairman

Financial Reviews

Essie Walker, National Secretary-Treasurer Family Chairman

Local Court Financial Reviews

Every April and October each court is required to complete a Financial Review. The District Deputy or State Representative must be present for one of the two reviews. Please be sure to make the appropriate number of copies and send them out once the review is completed. A copy of the Financial Review Form for the period ending March 31, 2020 is included with this Quarterly Newsletter.

State Court Financial Reviews

State Courts are required to complete a Financial Review each year. Please refer to Section 4 pages 19, 20 and

21 in the Tools of the Trade. A State Financial Review form is included with this Quarterly as a flyer. Forms

can also be downloaded from the National CDA website at www.catholicdaughters.org. Forms are due to the

National Office by June 1, 2020.

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2020 ONE MILLION ROSARIES

FOR UNBORN BABIES

The multinational pro-life prayer event is being coordinated by the St. Michael the Archangel Organization and is scheduled for May 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Participants are asked to pray at least one Rosary for an end to the surgical and non-surgical killing of unborn human persons. To register your CDA Court’s rosary count, visit the St. Michael the Archangel Organization website at:

www.SaintMichaelTheArchangelOrganization.org

Let US Pray For …

We send prayers for the following CDA sisters and their family members. May God’s love surround them as His healing hands bring them to health in body and spirit.

Libby Ramirez, past National Regent from Texas, is

recuperating from knee surgery.

Legislative Chairman Margaret Sitte's son in law, Tim

Speck, has been diagnosed with cancer.

1903 Certificates

To be recognized and receive your plaque for Perpetual Membership in the 1903 Society at the 58th Biennial Convention of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas in Dallas, Texas,

all payments must be completed prior to May 1, 2020. Questions?

Please contact: Sherry Nilles, National Regent-Elect

Catholic Daughters of the Americas

711 25th Avenue

Sheldon, IA 51201

Email address: ljnilles@nethtc.net

Home phone: 712-324-0125

Cell phone: 712-348-1218

Reminder Reminder Reminder Reminder Reminder

Welcome New Courts!

Let us pray that these new CDA Courts receive the guiding hands of Jesus as they embark on their new journey of serving others in “Unity and Charity.” Congratulatory cards may be sent to these local Regents:

Court St. Maria Goretti #2759 Regent Lynette B. Gardner

2701 Stallion Trail Aubrey, TX 7622

Court Santa Maria #2760

Regent Liz Gonzalez 107 E 12th St

Grand Island, NE 68801

Court Our Ladies of St. Patrick #2761 Regent Ashley Martinez 9727 Lauren Briar Lane

Humble, TX 77396

Court Our Lady of Montserrat #2763 Regent Suzie Pierce

872 County Rd. 3588 Winnsboro, TX 75494

CORRECTION:

Court St. Bernard #2758 Regent Pam Richard

2113 Fable Street Meraux, LA 70075 Kiwi International/Shutterstock.com

Roi and Roi/Shutterstock.com

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In the name of the Father and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Leader: We are in the season of lent. During

the next 40 days, we are encouraged to make

the journey with Jesus into the desert. You will

be tempted by the devil just as he was. Most of

us cannot leave our homes and lives to go into

the desert, but we can make our lives more like

the desert by denying ourselves some of our

daily comforts and pleasures. While in our

desert, we can offer self-denial, sacrifices, good

deeds and almsgiving.

Reader 1: Read Psalm 51:3-5

Leader: During these forty days of Lent, we

have the chance to give up words and actions

that separate us from God and each other. We

can do our best to treat others with kindness.

All: Dear Jesus, give me the strength to walk

through the desert.

Reader 2: Read Psalm 25:1-7

All: Dear Jesus, give me the strength to walk

through the desert.

(At this time, the leader picks up the cross from

the prayer table and holds it reverently.)

Leader: Hopefully, you have been thinking

about your plans for Lent this year. As the

crucifix is passed to you, you may choose to

pray to Jesus in your mind rather than out loud

or pray so that all may hear. Tell Jesus what

you hope to do better. Tell Him the sacrifices

you are willing to make, just as he sacrificed

himself on the cross for you.

(Play soft music in the background as the cross

is passed from person to person. Make sure

that all know it is ok to say their promise in

silence.)

Leader: Jesus, thank you for being with us

during this time of prayer. Please give us the

strength to keep our Lenten promises.

All: Dear Jesus, give me the strength to walk

through the desert.

Leader: Let us prayer together the Our Father.

In the name of the Father and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Will You Go with Him into the Wilderness?

Lenten Prayer Service

Connie Dronette, National Director and Spiritual Enhancement Chairman

Preparation: On a small table in the front of the room, place a crucifix and candle. The crucifix will travel around the room so it should be medium size. Light the candle just before starting.

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CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAS®

BY LAWS

Amended July 2018 – Page 38

ARTICLE XIII LOCAL COURT NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Sec. 1 COMPOSITION OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE

A. The Nominating Committee of three (3) or five (5) shall be elected at the regular meeting in March in alternate years to the State elections. Nominations shall be made from the floor. No member may serve more than two (2) consecutive terms on the nominating committee.

B. The three (3) or five (5) candidates with the most votes shall be elected. The remaining candidates shall serve as alternates according to their rank. The committee member receiving the most votes serves as Chairman, or the committee itself may select its chairman from among the three (3) or five (5) elected members.

Sec. 2 DUTIES OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE

A. The Committee shall meet and consider possible candidates for office.

B. The Chairman shall call each possible candidate and ask if she is willing to serve.

C. The Nominating Committee shall submit to the Local Court Regent the name of one candidate for each office.

D. If there is a vacancy on the slate, the committee shall report that office vacant (open).

E. The Chairman shall report the slate of officers to the court at the April meeting.

Sec. 3 ELECTIONS

A. Written notice and/or notice via electronic (email) mail of at least ten (10) days from the date of postmark must be given to all members of the Court, as to the time, date, place of election, and the slate of officers as submitted by the Nominating Committee.

B. Prior to the election, nominations may be made from the floor at the regular business meeting in May.

C. Officers shall be elected by ballot at the regular business meeting in May in the alternate years to the State elections and shall hold office for two (2) year term or until their successor is elected. A plural-ity vote shall elect. In the event there is only one (1) nominee for an office, the Regent may take a voice vote for the election.

D. Each officer shall assume the office to which she is elected with or without installation thirty (30) days following election.

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Volume X, No. 7 March 2020

White House announces new rules protecting religious freedom and the First Amendment

In conjunction with Religious Freedom Day, January 16, the White House announced three actions to better protect organizations and people of faith.

Equal access to public benefit programs

First, nine federal departments issued proposed rules to ensure religious groups have equal access to public grants: Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban De-velopment, Justice, Labor, Veterans Affairs and Agency for International Development, USAID.

These rules specifically address Obama-era rules that gave religious organizations second-tier status and imposed additional burdens on religious partners. The agencies have worked with the White House to re-move discriminatory policies and to ensure faith-based and secular partners are treated the same. For example, regulations issued under President Obama required religious organizations to refer individuals offended by the religious character of an organization to secular organizations and post notices of this poli-cy. The proposed rules remove this requirement.

All restrictions of grant funds will now apply equally to faith-based and secular partners, so that they can equally compete for funds. All organizations are still prohibited from discriminating based on religion, so regardless of how an organization operates, it has to agree that it won’t turn away a beneficiary because he or she holds a different faith.

Updated policy on prayer in public school

Second, the Department of Education updated its pol-icy on prayer and religious expression in schools. The Department of Education will be notifying every State that students should be allowed to exercise their rights of free speech and free exercise, and school officials should not suppress student-led prayer. As a condition of receiving funds, each school will have to certify to its State Education Department that it doesn’t have a policy that prevents constitutional exercise of prayer.

Equal protection in grant competitions

Third, federal agencies must ensure all federal grant- making processes and state grant-making processes comply with the First Amendment.

Currently, 37 states have laws governing award sub-grantees, such as Blaine amendments, that can be used to discriminate against religious institutions. The Office of Management and Budget memo makes clear that sub-awards cannot discriminate against grantees based on faith. Essentially, to be eligible for federal funding, states may not enforce these laws. States don’t have to repeal these laws, but they must adopt a policy of non-compliance.

At the press conference announcing these changes, President Donald Trump said, “It is a sacred principle of our Republic that government must never stand between the people and God. Yet, in public schools around the country, authorities are stopping students and teachers from praying, sharing their faith, or fol-lowing their religious beliefs.”

“That is why, today, my administration is issuing strong new guidance to protect religious liberty in our public schools. The right of students and teachers to freely exercise their faith will always be protect-ed, including the right to pray.

“Nine federal agencies are also proposing new rules to roll back discriminatory regulations. …And earlier this afternoon, my White House released a new memo to make sure federal funding is never used to violate the First Amendment.”

Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said, “In reality, our Constitution doesn't exist to protect us from reli-gion; it exists to protect religion from government. The First Amendment affirms our free exercise of religion, and we don't forfeit that first freedom to anyone or in any place, especially in public schools.”

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Written by Margaret Sitte, National Legislative Chair; Approved: Olga Samaniego, National Regent

STOP Planned Parenthood: annual report shows abortions up; health services down

LiveAction reported on Planned Parenthood’s 2018-

2019 annual report released in January. Planned

Parenthood ended the lives of 345,672 preborn chil-

dren last year. The group is the nation’s largest abor-

tion provider, and is responsible for 40 percent of all

abortions in the nation. Taxpayer funding of Planned

Parenthood hit an all-time record—more than $616

million. Since 2008, the organization has seen a 70

percent increase of taxpayer funding.

The “services” it provides outside of abortion are

drastically declining. Patients are down 20 percent,

contraception services are down 33 percent, cancer

screenings are down 69 percent, pap tests are down

72 percent and breast exams are down 68 percent.

According to LiveAction.org, “Planned Parenthood is

receiving more tax dollars for fewer services and few-

er patients at fewer facilities while killing more pre-

born children than ever before.

“This report should make it clear: Planned

Parenthood’s business is not about ‘health care’—it’s

about making money off of the killing of innocent

children.

“We must counter Planned Parenthood’s lies that they

are in the business of providing actual health care for

women. They are in the business of abortion—plain

and simple.”

Find more information at LiveAction.org.

President Donald Trump attends March for Life; invigorates pro-life movement

As the first United States President to attend a March for Life, President Donald Trump engaged and en-couraged the pro-life movement as no President has ever done before. Here are some of the highlights of his speech.

“It is my profound honor to be the first president in history to attend the March for Life. We are here for a very simple reason: to defend the right of every child, born and unborn, to fulfill their God-given po-tential.”

“All of us here understand an eternal truth: Every child is a precious and sacred gift from God. Togeth-er, we must protect, cherish, and defend the dignity and the sanctity of every human life.

“When we see the image of a baby in the womb, we glimpse the majesty of God's creation. When we hold a newborn in our arms, we know the endless love that each child brings to a family. When we watch a child grow, we see the splendor that radiates from each human soul. One life changes the world.”

“We cannot know what our citizens yet unborn will achieve. The dreams they will imagine. The master-pieces they will create. The discoveries they will make. But we know this: every life brings love into this world. Every child brings joy to a family. Every person is worth protecting.

“And above all, we know that every human soul is divine and every human life, born and unborn, is made in the holy image of Almighty God.

“Together, we will defend this truth all across our magnificent land. We will set free the dreams of our people. And with determined hope, we look forward to all of the blessings that will come from the beauty, talent, purpose, nobility, and grace of every Ameri-can child.”

Supreme Court set to rule on Little Sisters

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty reports that the Supreme Court will once again weigh in on the case of the Little Sisters of the Poor in their legal battle against the Health and Human Services (HHS) contraceptive mandate. The Supreme Court has twice protected them in the past, but several states includ-ing Pennsylvania and California, have continued to drag them back to court.

The Obamacare HHS mandate required the Little Sisters to provide contraceptive and abortifacient ser-vices in their health care plans or pay millions of dol-lars in fines. Mother Loraine Marie Maguire of the Little Sisters of the Poor, said, “We are grateful the Supreme Court has decided to weigh in, and hopeful that the Justices will reinforce their previous decision and allow us to focus on our lifelong work of serving the elderly poor once and for all.”