The Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA) was founded in Utica, New York in 1903 by John E. Carberry and several other Knights of Columbus as a charitable, benevolent and patriotic sorority for Catholic ladies. It was originally called the National order of Daughters of Isabella,” and is dedicated to the principles of “Unity and Charity,” the order’s motto. They were originally called the national order of the Daughters of Isabella, and Carberry served as the first Supreme Regent. The Knights established our two standards of Unity and Charity.<\/p>\n
CDA had 90 courts by 1908, and had grown from a membership of less than 100 to more than 10,000. The membership encompassed 69 cities in 18 different states. In March of 1913, the Daughters of Isabella purchased a building in Utica belonging to the Knights of Columbus for use as its official headquarters.<\/p>\n
Catholic Daughters Support the World War I Effort <\/strong> Expansion and Change <\/strong> Supreme Regent Mary Duffy led the organization into becoming involved in community life, social work and services, literary endeavors, and missionary work. CDA supported the Catholic press, and they protested against the Oregon Compulsory School Law and the Cummins-Valle Birth Control Bill. The organization kept a close watch on adverse legislative matters across the nation, and its members engaged in legislative discussions. The CDA became associated with the Legion of Decency and took a public stand against mercy killing (euthanasia).<\/p>\n CDA Patriotism During World War II <\/strong> The 1950’s and the “Challenge” by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen <\/strong> In 1954, the order changed its name to the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, with 115,000 Catholic Daughters in the 1,450 local units called “courts” throughout the United States, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Saipan, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. Its international headquarters are located in New York City. It donates generously to several charitable causes, provides scholarships, works with Habitat for Humanity, and supports the aged and infirm retired Catholic clergy, and is very pro-life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA) was founded in Utica, New York in 1903 by John E. Carberry and several other Knights of Columbus as a charitable, benevolent and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":25,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"page-fullwidth.php","meta":{"spay_email":""},"yoast_head":"\n
\nThe Daughters became very involved in overseas duty during World War I. They acted as nurses, did clerical work, conducted sewing and knitting classes for the Red Cross, and staged parties to entertain the servicemen. They also helped the Knights of Columbus raise $3 million for recreational activities for the enlisted men. When the war ended, Supreme Regent Genevieve Walsh was named to the newly formed national Catholic War Council. The CDA was a part of the restoration of the University of Louvain’s ravaged library in Belgium. It was also during this time that a youth society called “War Service Plan for Girls” was formed. This group later evolved into the Junior Catholic Daughters.<\/p>\n
\nAt a biennial convention in 1921 ,the order changed its name from the Daughters of Isabella to the Catholic Daughters of America (CDA).\u00a0 In 1925 the first court outside of the United States was established in Cuba . It was during this time that the Knights of Columbus severed its ties with CDA, allowing it to become an independent organization.\u00a0 In 1926, the national headquarters moved from Utica to its current location at 10 West 71 Street in New York City .\u00a0 By 1928, the membership of the CDA had swelled to 170,000 members in courts that spanned 45 states, Panama, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Canada.<\/p>\n
\nCDA contributed money to the war effort during World War II. They bought war bonds and defense stamps, helped to fund chapels, camps and food necessities, and provided entertainment for those in the service. The membership also became involved in making bandages, sewing, conducting first aid classes and donating blood across the country. The statistics of the efforts of the CDA are staggering. Various court purchased $1.6 million worth of war bonds, individual members bought $4.7 million and sold $3 million more to others. More than 8,314 members served as instructors for the Red Cross, and 15,061 members made four million surgical dressings. Contributions to the USO exceeded $100,000. During this time the CDA were still involved in many important issues, such as juvenile delinquency, democracy, peace, postwar America, labor and the war, women in industry, help for students in China, racism, the Equal Rights Amendment, and federalized education.<\/p>\n
\nBishop Fulton J. Sheen addressed the delegates at the 24th Biennial Convention held in 1952. He said, “You are the Catholic Daughters of America; I would like you to become Catholic Daughters of the World.” He urged the CDA membership to extend their charity to the needs of the poor and to the ends of the world.<\/p>\n