National Directors Carolyn Bachmann Letty Calvetti Joyce Ann Fleming Ruth Guidry Jo Hammen. Janet Martineau Susan Mone Margi Oller Sheila Storey

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1 The National Board and the National Staff wish all of you and your families a very Blessed Christmas and a most Joyous New Year. We sincerely thank you for all your work in CDA. May the Peace and Love of the Christ Child be with you and your families. National Officers Shirley Seyfried, National Regent Helene Shepard, National Regent-Elect Olga Samaniego, First Vice National Regent Sherry Nilles, Second Vice National Regent Vickie Feist, National Secretary-Treasurer Father Matthew Kuhn, National Chaplain National Directors Carolyn Bachmann Letty Calvetti Joyce Ann Fleming Ruth Guidry Jo Hammen Janet Martineau Susan Mone Margi Oller Sheila Storey National Office Staff Mary Impellizeri, Executive Director Theresa Duran, Administrative Assistant Tom Panas, Public Relations Gigi Barreca Joe Delgado Martha Hamboussi Gloria Linley Brittany Pick All Catholic Daughters and their families are being remembered in a Mass said by our National Chaplain, Father Matthew Kuhn at St. Henry s Parish in Perham, MN.

2 Catholic Daughters of the Americas DECEMBER West 71st St. New York, NY FAX ORDERS e mail: cdofanatl1@aol.com cdaroster@aol.com National Chaplain s Message Fr. Matthew Kuhn National Chaplain Dear Sisters in Christ, I was recently approached by one of our parish super-volunteers who was interested in restarting one of our inactive women s associations. I suggested, proud papa that I am, that she and the other interested ladies join the Catholic Daughters court and take advantage of our resources instead of restarting a separate group. Her response stopped me in my tracks. Not going to happen, Father. I asked her to explain why she had such a strong reaction. Again, I was shocked. I used to be a member, but [CDA] is for a certain kind of woman, not me. I was, and am, distressed by this reaction. A good conversation followed, but I was still left with a desire to address this impression of the Catholic Daughters as exclusive or elitist. The evolution of our title itself is proof that the Catholic Daughters of the Americas are intended by nature to be inclusive, reaching beyond boundaries and past borders to serve the least of my brethren no matter who or where they are. (I feel particularly blessed that I am included, despite not qualifying physically as a daughter!) To be Catholic is to be part of the Universal Church; thus our mission as Catholic Daughters must be equally broad. The venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen expressed his desire that we become the Catholic Daughters of the World. My desire for you is to be the Catholic Daughters of Christ, wherever He is found. See the face of Christ on your sister in the parish who has not felt welcomed, has not been invited, or who perhaps has had a bad experience of CDA in the past. Invite her to share in the good works that we do, to call forth her talents, and show her the value she has as an active member of the Body of Christ. We exist as an organization of women not to be opposed to other organizations, but to cooperate with them. This was expressed beautifully in Court St. Rita on September 11th, when our local Catholic Daughters teamed up with the Knights of Columbus to host an evening of prayer for peace. We may still need separate cupboards in the parish kitchen in order to keep the peace, but we must be able to work together, respect each other, and love each other, especially other Catholic women! Division in the Body of Christ is a scandal to the world and an offense against our principles of Unity and Charity. If another group exists in our parish to serve another purpose or meet another need, we must feel free to support and encourage them in their ministry. More hands busy in ministry are hardly a threat to our success or identity. Most importantly, we must carry ourselves in such a way that the most memorable qualities impressed upon the hearts of observers by any encounter with Catholic Daughters are those qualities most typical of Jesus Christ Himself. My prayer for you is that you become this kind of women: women of service, women of humility, women of joy, women of peace, women of love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Peace in Christ, Father Matthew Some Highlights: National Regent s Corner...2 BOGO!...3 March For Life...5 Education Contest News...6 New Courts...7

3 National Regent s Message Shirley Seyfried, National Regent Dear Sisters in Catholic Daughters, The Thanksgiving holiday is just over but I want to tell you how thankful I am for all of you and all the work you do in CDA. May God bless your work as you continue to be His hands and feet here on earth. The advent season is here, and although we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of preparing for Christmas, we must all remember, the reason for the season and prepare our hearts for the coming of the Christ Child. Let us especially remember and pray for those less fortunate including those in lands where fighting and terrorist attacks continue to occur. I can t believe how quickly the time has past since we were together in Billings in July. I hope your fall work in Catholic Daughters is going well. I have heard about many wonderful workshops and even a few new court institutions. Congratulations to those states who have instituted new courts. By the time of our next issue of National Quarterly, I am hoping we will have many more court institutions happening or planned. Our goal is five new courts in each state by July of Will your state make that goal? We are very excited to announce that we are again instituting a Catholic Daughters of the Americas court in Alabama. The last court in Alabama disbanded fifty years ago in The new court, Court Tuscaloosa #2686, will be instituted in Tuscaloosa on December 6th. Congratulations and welcome to all of the new Catholic Daughters in Alabama. Have you had a reception of new members? If not, please plan one in the near future so that the new members will have several meetings to attend before the end of the year. BOGO! Bring one; Gain one! is our slogan for membership this year. If everyone will bring just one new member, we could double our membership. I challenge all of you to find one new member. I know you can do it. You all know women out there who are looking for the best spiritual, charitable, friendly, Catholic women s organization they can find. We have it in the Catholic Daughters, and you know it and I know it; we just need to let every woman know it. The first episode of the Catholic Daughters on the EWTN program The Church Universal aired in October. Many of you had the opportunity to see it; however, several people have contacted me that they were unable to watch it and are wondering if it will be re-aired. At this point, I am unaware that it will be re-aired but both episodes are on one DVD and are available through EWTN for $10 for the DVD. To order the video of The Church Universal Catholic Daughters of the Americas go to: ewtnreligiouscatalogue.com/shop.axd/productdetails? edp_no=28445 The Video Number is HDCUCDA If you are looking for programs for your meetings, showing the video would make a great program. Each episode is about one half hour. The dates for the showing of the second episode are: Sun 12/07/ :00 PM EDT Tue 12/09/ :00 AM EDT Fri 12/12/ :00 PM EDT As I mentioned in my last article, our theme for these two years is Whatever you do for the least of My brethren, you do for Me Matthew 25:40. I asked each court to begin one new charitable project in each of the next two years, then write up the project and send it to me. I would like to feature some of them in Share and on the web site. I have heard that some courts have planned some wonderful new projects so I am anxiously waiting for your articles or paragraphs with pictures about your project. I hope to have some articles for the spring Share magazine. I would need to have the article by February 15th. Please them to me at shirley.seyfried@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your contributions to our FUN D calendar fundraiser. If you have not already sent in your contribution and put your name in the drawings, it is not too late. There will be $30 drawings every weekday and several $100 drawings on holidays, until CDA Sunday in October of 2015, when the $1000 drawing will take place. As I close, I thank God for all of you. I pray that He will Bless you and all of your families this Christmas and in the coming New Year. Peace and Love, 2

4 Calling all sisters: BOGO! Bring one; Gain one! Olga Samaniego, First Vice National Regent Chairman of Membership and Court Development As a member of the Catholic Daughters, you are truly blessed not only because you belong to a wonderful sisterhood, but also because you have heard God s call to service and you have responded as Isaiah did when he said, Here I am, Lord, send me. (Isaiah 6:8) Now you are being called again, but this time you are called to help others hear God s call to service. Many women today know that they have gifts and talents, and they want to use them they just don t know how or where. That s where you come in. Reach out Answering E Mails It has come to our attention that s are being sent to Regents and no response is sent to the sender. Since they do not come back as undeliverable, it is assumed they are received but they could be going in junk mail. Would everyone please check your and your junk mail on a regular basis to make sure you are getting all your CDA . If you receive an from someone, especially from National, would you please acknowledge that it was received? We would greatly appreciate it. Thank you. to your sisters blood sisters and sisters of the heart your friends, your acquaintances, and tell them about CDA. Invite them to your meetings and projects. Help them to experience the joy of serving God with other women of faith. We need more hands to minister to God s people. We need more voices to share God s word. Our hope is that everyone will embrace our battle cry: BOGO! Bring one; Gain one! I am sure that everyone can bring in at least one new member! Don t be shy. Chances are you know someone who has just been waiting to be invited. Don t disappoint her! Also, don t forget to be on the lookout for new areas for court development. Each state has been asked to institute at least five new courts in the next two years and several state regents and state teams have hit the ground running. Talk to your friends from other State Conventions parishes even those friends and family members in other states. See if there is some interest in CDA and get us some contact information. Please send leads to your state regent or to me. (Shhh! I have a secret! Everyone who is instrumental in bringing in a new court and those states that have instituted at least five courts will receive a special surprise at the next national convention but keep that under your hat!) We have a cracker-jack team who will help states develop new courts if you haven t done it in a while. Just share your love of CDA sometimes we are the bestkept secret in town! This is one secret we cannot afford to keep! Our organization can double in size, but it must start with you reach out and share the news CDA is on the move!! BOGO! Any questions or for help establishing a new court in your area: olgasamaniego@hotmail.com. State Regents: Would you please send the date, place and theme of your State Convention to the National Regent, Shirley Seyfried as soon as possible? There are always some overlapping dates for the National Representatives and as soon as she has all the dates, she can begin looking at them and assigning a representative to your convention. You will have your own representative, if at all possible, but if she has two conventions the same weekend, someone else may be assigned to your convention. JCDA Sunday JCDA Day is February 15th.The JCDA Proclamation is attached. If you have a JCDA Court, please plan something special for them on JCDA Day. Perhaps plan a Mass and breakfast with the Juniors that day, sponsored by your court, so that they know how proud you are of them and how much they are appreciated. 3

5 Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! I wish to thank you all for all the well wishes, Masses, gifts and monetary gifts bestowed upon me and my husband upon our retirement from the CDA National Office. It has been my pleasure to have served first as Administrative Assistant to my dear friend Lorraine McMahon and then assuming her position as Executive Director. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge Lorraine first for hiring me, mentoring me and having the confidence in me to become the second Executive Director of CDA. Lorraine was a true friend and had been there to help me whenever I needed her. Lorraine had a wealth of knowledge in regards to the Catholic Daughters. As most of you know, Lorraine passed away last November and will surely be missed. I would like to thank the present and past National Regents, National Officers, National Directors, National Chaplains and Clergy Consultants, present and past State Officers, State Chaplains and members that I have had the privilege of working with over the past years. I will always treasure the many friendships I have made. I leave with many mixed emotions, but I look forward to my free time to be able to be with my family especially my two grandchildren, Sara and Brendan. Words can never express how much I thank my family, especially my husband Jimmy, for putting up with the many weekends (and weeks) of eating hot dogs, pizza or TV dinners while I traveled the world on behalf of CDA. I couldn't have done it without their loving approval. The gratitude I have for the national office staff is immeasurable. Their dedication is what holds the organization together. Without them we could not exist. My thanks to Mary, Carol, Paz, Gloria, Theresa, Tom, Martha and of course my other half, Jimmy, as well as all those who worked in the office during my time there. My congratulations and best wishes to Mary Impellizeri, who has assumed the position as Executive Director. May God watch over her as she embarks on the many duties associated with this title. Mary, I know I will miss the daily activities at the National Office but most of all (to take a line from a few Past National Regents) I will miss 'MY STAFF' and yes Mary, my staff was the best staff anyone would want! I will not say goodbye as I will still be an active Catholic Daughter and I am sure our paths will cross again. Until then God bless you all and all you do in the name of CDA. Peggy O Brien, Past Executive Director Thank You National Projects and Charities Attached please find a copy of the donations given to our National Projects and Charities the last two years. Thank you so much for those donations. They have helped many, many people. As you know, it was voted to give $20 per court per year to the five National projects. Christmas is a good time to give that gift of $100 to our National Projects and help live our theme Whatever you do for the least of My brethren, you do for Me Matthew 25:40. Please make all checks payable to Catholic Daughters of the Americas and in the memo line of your check, please write Five National projects. If sending $100 all at once is too difficult for your court, consider sending $20 a month for five months, and in the memo section, write either a specific National project or the word National projects. Thank you again for your wonderful generosity to those less fortunate. Breaking News! A quick note to welcome our newest employee at the National Office. Gigi Barreca, a member of Ct. Mary s Nativity #2347, Flushing, NY, has joined our team and will be handling all Application, Transfer, Renewal and Deletion Forms. 4

6 Stepping Up to the Plate Helene Shepard, National Regent-Elect National Leadership Chairman What makes an organization great is that it is selfperpetuating. In other words, there is always someone ready to step up to the plate and take over where those who have gone before have left off. Conversely, if members do not step forward, the organization languishes and eventually ceases to exist. Have you ever considered stepping up to the plate as a CDA State Officer? You may say that you can t be a leader because you are not good enough. We have to remember this: we aren t going to hit home runs in every situation in which we find ourselves. If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. John Quincy Adams. Leadership skills can be learned and practiced. In addition, our organization has a number of resource materials along with our Bylaws and the Tools of the Trade to help you, as well as, experienced and generous women to act as mentors and guides. As a leader you will be working with others to make a difference in our organization, while motivating others through the development of creative and innovative programs. You may never know who you are touching and what lives have been changed for the better because of your actions. A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader, a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves. Eleanor Roosevelt Ask yourself, is this something that would interest you? Do you have the time, energy, enthusiasm and the willingness to work as a team player? Are you ready to Step Up to the Plate? If after prayerful consideration you feel this is something you would like to do, check the Bylaws (Green Cover) page 34, Sec. 1: A, B, C* for the guidelines and submit your papers by February 1, 2015 to the Chairman of the Nominating Committee in your state. We hope that many will respond to this call and we will have a full slate of officers for each state who, once elected, will have the thrill of a life changing experience helping the Catholic Daughters of the Americas to continue growing and improving. *CANDIDATES FOR STATE OFFICE A. A member who intends to run for office shall submit a statement of qualifications, a current photograph, a statement of endorsement by the Local Court of the candidate which must be voted on at a local court meeting and signed by a majority of the Local Court Officers and a consent to serve signed by the candidate. Five (5) copies of each shall be received by the Nominating Committee Chairman no later than February 1 of the convention year. B. Candidates may make known their intentions to run for office to their Local Court. C. Candidates may respond honestly when asked if they intend to run for office. March for Life This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision by the Supreme Court which legalized abortion. Several members of the National Board will again be attending the Opening Mass of the Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Wednesday, January 21, 2015, at 6:30pm and participating in the March for Life on Thursday January, 22nd in Washington, DC. The theme of the March this year is Every Life is a Gift. Please join us at the Mass and for the March to show our support for the gift of life. The March for Life Rally is scheduled to begin at 12 noon on the National Mall. We will meet at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, located at the intersection of 12th Street NW and Constitution Ave. NW. On the ground floor of the museum, entering from Constitution Ave. near 10th St. NW, you find the Atrium Cafe. We plan to meet here at 12:30 pm to warm up a bit before we go out for the March at 1pm. If you cannot attend the March, please watch the EWTN coverage 5 that day and keep all March for Life pilgrims in your prayers. National Regent Shirley Seyfried and National Regent Elect Helene Shepard are scheduled to be interviewed by Teresa Tomeo (guest speaker at our National Convention in Billings) before the March.

7 2015 National Education Contest Reminders Communication is so important! State Regents, please make sure your Local Courts Regents know the name and address of the State Education Chairperson. Local Court Regents, please pass the information to your Local Court Education Chairperson. Please do not wait until after Christmas. Every school system has their schedules. Please note our two themes for the 2015 Contests: Love Your Neighbor As Yourself Be A Good Neighbor On page 7 of the 2015 Education Contest Form, we have a new rubric system for your judges. Please pass on to your Local Court Education Chairman the complete paperwork. Please ask your Local Court Education Chairman to fill out the bottom of page 4 of the 2015 National Education Contest Form with the name of your court. Local Court Deadline is February 15, 2015 State Court Deadline is March 15, 2015 National Contest Deadline is April 15, 2015, for 1st Place State winners only to be mailed to: Joyce Ann Fleming 62 Cushing St. Medford, Ma Questions: Call 781/391/1069 or jatfleming@comcast.net Habitat for Humanity On Saturday, October 25th, the Habitat home in Porterville, California was dedicated. Watch for the story in Share magazine. We are now looking for a state to co-sponsor a Habitat house with National for next year. If your state has been raising money for a Habitat house and is ready to start building, please contact Shirley Seyfried, National Habitat for Humanity Chairman, as soon as possible. Chair in Catholic Church History Lecture Due to our emphasis this year on Membership and Court Development, the National Executive Committee decided that there will not be a Lecture at Catholic University in the spring of 2015 for the Chair in Catholic Church History. We felt it was important to conserve as many resources as possible to use for court development. Looking for a Gift for that Special Someone? The CDA Giving Tree and Memorial Wall are the perfect way to honor a dedicated member or officer, memorialize a deceased loved one, or just commemorate your dedication to CDA. For a donation of $100, you get 3 lines engraved on a brass plate and displayed on our Giving Tree Wall in the National office. Contact Theresa Duran at 212/877/3041 or cdofanatl@aol.com for more information, or mail your donation and desired inscription to the office at 10 West 71st St., New York, NY Enclosed with this Issue: National Projects & Charities Christmas Prayer Service Share Subscription Form 1903 Society Operation Morningstar Newsletter JCDA Proclamation 6

8 Circle Of Love Reporting Forms The 2015 Circle of Love reporting forms have been sent to all State Regents. State Regents, please place the names of your State Chairman on the forms before forwarding them to your Local Courts. These forms should be in the hands of your Local Court Regents by January 1, Please note: In odd years, the states recognize outstanding local court activity that has occurred since the last state convention. In even years, National recognizes both state and local court projects that have occurred since the last National Convention. Therefore, this spring the states will do the recognitions. State Regents, please forward the necessary forms to your local courts. Local courts, please participate and follow the instructions provided by your State Regent. You should be proud of the work your court is doing and share it with other courts in your state State Conventions The form advising the total number of Delegates and Alternates that your Court is permitted to elect has been sent out. Please complete the form in a timely manner and return it to the proper State Officer. Newly Instituted Courts Please welcome and pray for the officers and members our newest courts. May they enjoy many years of Unity & Charity in our great Order. Feel free to send them a card of welcome and encouragement. Court St. Dominic of the Rosary #2682 San Antonio, Texas Regent: Belinda Kiger 328 Oak Knoll Dr., San Antonio, TX Court St. Thomas More #2683 San Antonio, Texas Regent: Mary Monteverdi 4207 Dauphine Dr., San Antonio, TX Court Our Lady of Light #2684 Coppell, Texas Regent: Mary Creason PO Box 3271, Coppell, TX Court St. Pope John Paul II #2685 Tuscon, Arizona Regent: Dorothy Nunnink Tolar 9412 N. Wandering Spring, Tucson, Arizona Prayers Needed Well done, good and faithful servant Matthew 25:21 Please keep the families of the following deceased in your prayers: Suzann Breen, mother of National Secretary-Treasurer, Vickie Feist, entered the gates of heaven on November 3, Messages of condolence may be sent to Vickie at 311 S. Lincoln Ave., Pierre, SD Shawn Postlethwait, son-in-law of Past National Officer Rose Tomassi and brother-in-law of Past National Regent Joanne Tomassi died suddenly, yet peacefully, on October 26, Condolences may be sent to: Rose and Joanne Tomassi at nd Avenue, St. Pete Beach, FL Past National Director Mary Gail Peters went to her heavenly reward on September 5, Condolences may be sent to her son, David Peters at 13 Hemlock Hill Rd., Amherst, NH Nicholas C. Marro Sr., the husband of Past National Director Arline Marro, passed away on September 3, Condolences may be sent to Arline at 23 Nelmar Heights, Claremont NH On August 26, 2014, our longtime accountant Karan Itwaru died suddenly in his home. We were shocked and saddened by his passing. Please keep his family in your prayers. Also please lift in prayer all those members and friends of CDA who are in need of physical and spiritual healing. 7

9 Jewelry Apparel Brochures Prayer Cards Gift Items Posters Banners Stickers Umbrellas Grave Markers Court Supplies Suncatchers Magnets The CDA Store New Items Spiritual Enhancement Brochure A great tool for promoting CDA, educating fellow parishioners about our mission and recruiting new members! This new full color brochure highlights the spiritual side of CDA and why it is integral to our mission. 25 brochures for $ 3 item #183 Artist s rendition Magnet Clip A super-strong magnet backs this 2 x 3 purple clip. A real rubber handle gives added durability and there is a hole in the back for hanging on non-metallic surfaces. $ 2 each item #372 Updated/Redesigned JCDA Brochure An inviting new look, updated information and a more economical price for our pamphlet that outlines the benefits of JCDA for both girls and parents alike. 25 brochures for $ 3 item #JCDA-01 Get Wrapped Up in CDA! Cozy items to help fight the chill Snap Front Jackets start at $ 25 Rugy Striped Scarf just $ 15 Full Zip Hoodies start at $ 30 Great Christmas Gifts Collectors Item Evangelization Ornaments First Eucharist First Noel Ave Maria $ 20 each or any 3 for $ 50 Watch for the NEW Chaplain Guide due out in early January! Find these, and other great items, at the store on catholicdaughters.org or submit your order to CDA, 10W. 71st Street, New York, NY Remember, since a court check is required for payment, only Officers may place orders. All orders over $50 must be accompanied by payment of at least 1/2 the total.

10 National Projects and Charities Donations from Courts June 1, 2012 May 31, 2014 Apostleship of the Sea $7, Catholic Relief Services $12, Covenant House $8, Disaster Relief $73, Habitat for Humanity $29, Holy Cross Family Ministries $25, Labouré Society $5, Misericordia $1, Morality in Media $21, Pontifical North American College $14, Sisters of Charity (Mother Teresa) $10, Smile Train $57, SOAR! $27, Tutwiler Clinic $10, Profit from Fundraisers 1903 Society $170, FunD Calendar $118, Pocket Calendar $82,971.89

11 A Christmas Carol for Courts All: (Sing or recite) Oh Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining. It is the night of the dear Savior s birth! Reader: As we gather together this evening (today), our world is decorated. Lights twinkle in our windows; wreaths hang from our doors; candles are lit, and sweet music fills the air. Help us to remember, Lord, that this is all for you. You are the reason the world is decorated! Help us to prepare our hearts and our souls for your coming even as we prepare our homes, but help us also to remember that you are with us even as we prepare. As we ºrepent and turn to you, you are faithful to forgive and to renew each heart. All: Long lay the world in sin and error pining; till he appear d and the soul felt its worth. Reader: Lord, sometimes we come to this season tired and dry. We feel spent and unproductive. We feel overworked or undervalued. We wonder if we are needed. Help us to understand that you know us. You call us each by name. You look into our eyes, and You see us. We have value because we are created and loved by You. We are worthy because You make us so. We are so blessed to be loved by You, and You are all we need. All: A thrill of hope; a weary world rejoices. For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! Reader: Rejoice, my soul! Be light, my heart! Emmanuel, God, is with us! He holds each of us in the palm of His hand. He sees the pain in the world, and He reminds us that He is in charge. He knows our worries, our fears, and the loved ones for whom we pray he knows the prayers of our heart. Our heavenly Father says, For I know well the plans I have in mind for you plans for your welfare and not for woe, plans to give you a future full of hope. (Jer. 29: 11-13) Lord Jesus, we trust in you, and we are at peace. All: Fall on your knees; oh hear the angel voices. Reader: Oh, Lord, we fall on our knees before you. As you request, we offer you the only sacrifice you desire the sacrifice of praise! You are the King of Kings the Lord of Lords! We stand in awe of you. We lift our minds and hearts to you; we join our voices with the heavenly choir. Hear us oh Lord, and be praised! All: Oh night divine oh night when Christ was born! Oh night, Oh Holy night! Oh night divine!

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13 Sponsor a window replacement at our National Headquarters for only $1,000 Memorialize a window in the name of a loved one or a friend; make a gift in the name of that special officer, member, chairman, or District Deputy; donate in thanks for the gift of membership in CDA. Donors receive a certificate and an inscription on a plaque of honor at the National Office. The new windows, which will keep with decor of the historic neighborhood, are thermal paned, energy saving windows complete with screens. Fill out the form below and mail it, with your $1,000 check, made payable to Catholic Daughters of the Americas, to: Sherry Nilles, 2nd Vice National Regent 1903 Co-Chairman th Avenue, Sheldon, Iowa Sponsorship limited, so act fast! Name Court Number Address City State Zip Inscription (Max. 3 lines 25 characters each, includes spaces) Signature

14 2015 JCDA Day Proclamation Whereas, The Junior Catholic Daughters of the Americas celebrates its Eighty-ninth anniversary in February, 2015 and Whereas, The Junior Catholic Daughters organization s goal is to help the girls to enrich their life through service to others in their church, community and world, Whereas, The Catholic girls age 6 through 18 who through prayer and volunteering, want to assist others to have a better life, Whereas, The Catholic Church promotes the strengthening of one s faith through aid to others, now be it Resolved, That each Junior Catholic Daughter will use their gifts from God to grow in their own faith and become stronger as they seek to help others, and be it further Resolved, That through their help of others they become young women growing strong in their faith. Signed Given this day of 2015

15 Catholic Daughters of the Americas Operation Morningstar Volume VIII, No. 2 December 2014 National Headquarters 10 West 71st Street New York, NY Children as Commodities? Reprinted, with pernmission, from the USCCB Respect Life Program Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. This is your pilot speaking. I have two pieces of news to report, one good and one bad. The bad news is that we are lost. The good news is that we are making excellent time. Author Unknown In 1971, the renowned physician and medical ethicist, Dr. Leon Kass, used this parable to illustrate the coming wave of assisted reproductive technologies, hailed by science as a final triumph over infertility; scientists were on the verge of creating children outside the womb and inside the laboratory. Dr. Kass feared that we had not given adequate consideration to the question of how this might affect the couples pursuing these methods and the children produced from them. Forty years later, we re just beginning to understand the consequences of such technologies. Consider Natalie,* a thirty-year-old woman living in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. Throughout her childhood and adolescent years, she suffered from depression and endured severe adjustment difficulties, feeling as if she never truly belonged in her family. When she was seventeen years old, she discovered that she was conceived through a process known as commercial surrogacy. Natalie s parents had contracted with another woman to become pregnant using her father s sperm and the woman s own egg, bear her for nine months in her womb, and then hand her over to them. After questioning why her parents lied to her, Natalie became estranged from them, hurt that money, rather than the expression of marital love, was the context in which she was brought into the world. Now consider Amy, who was eight years old when her parents told her they would be divorcing. Her father attempted to gain custody of her older sister, but not her. The reason? Amy was conceived via an anonymous sperm donation, and her father was not interested in maintaining a relationship with a child who was not biologically his offspring. Such a scenario highlights the many complexities of donor conception, by which a child is intentionally severed from his or her biological parents with little consideration of the long-term consequences of such a decision. These true stories represent the sad realities often faced both by those who choose to pursue assisted reproductive technologies and by children conceived through them. Unfortunately, when couples face the heartbreaking challenge of infertility, they may not know where else to turn. When couples are unable to bear children, very often there is an understandable feeling of great loss. It is essential to note that the Church has compassion for couples suffering from infertility and wants to be of real help to them. At the same time, some reproductive technologies are not morally legitimate ways to solve those problems. 1 No doubt, those who are tempted to avail themselves of such technologies almost always plan to accept and cherish the child to be conceived in this manner. Nevertheless, the child is brought into existence through a technological process and not through a loving act of marital intercourse. The inevitable result is that the child is initially treated as an object created for the parents self-fulfillment instead of welcomed as a gift of God. Since the advent in 1978 of IVF (in vitro fertilization), by which children are conceived by technicians working in labs, the floodgates have been opened to bringing about reproduction through egg and sperm donation and surrogate pregnancies. Yet these technologies are fraught with medical, legal, and moral complications that are often either unknown or too easily dismissed. What many people don t realize is that, in addition to the financial burden, assisted reproductive technologies can also present significant health risks.

16 A February 2014 analysis in the British Medical Journal found that women who use IVF are more likely to suffer gestational diabetes, fetal growth restriction, pre-eclampsia, and premature birth. 2 Children conceived through IVF are likely to have higher blood pressure, vascular difficulties and other health problems. 3 Moreover, IVF and surrogacy subject women to grueling rounds of hormones, shots, and painful procedures with minimal chances of success. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the overall failure rate of IVF in the United States is nearly seventy percent. 4 Yet the demand for designer babies and the commercialization of childbearing continues to increase. Parents who are spending tens of thousands of dollars to conceive children now have the option of picking the best sperm or egg to maximize their investment. However, children are not parents possessions to manufacture, manipulate, or design; rather, they are fellow persons with full human dignity, and parents are called to accept, care for, and raise them to be new members of God s family and his Kingdom. Children deserve to be begotten, not made. 5 In other words, children have the right to be conceived within the context of an act of marital love, not created in a laboratory by scientists. How then do we best respond to couples struggling with infertility? First, we must acknowledge their pain and accompany them in their suffering. Second, we should offer them opportunities to continue exploring the possibility of parenthood. Many causes of infertility can be addressed through medical assistance that is fully in accord with Catholic teaching. Adoption is also a viable alternative for couples seeking to raise children, as it lovingly serves children who urgently need homes and families to love and care for them. For couples who choose not to pursue these options, their active service in ministries and communities where they are needed should be better welcomed. As Pope St. John Paul II reminded us, It must not be forgotten...that, even when procreation is not possible, conjugal life does not for this reason lose its value. Physical sterility in fact can be for spouses the occasion for other import ant services to the life of the human person. 6 While infertility may be a profoundly painful process for many, the Church calls the couple to consider that this experience may ultimately lead to new ways of experiencing God s love and plan for their love to be life-giving in other ways, even if they are unexpected. The very technologies that some believed would solve the age-old problem of inferti lity have, in fact, raised more questions than answers questions about the meaning and purposes of children, and the limits and detriments of technology when it intervenes in the most intimate of human relationships. Children, after all, are meant to serve as an outgrowth of a couple s love, but instead, reproductive technologies reduce that gift to a product. To ignore the concerns raised by some reproductive technologies and to move forward with them anyway would be to take matters into our own hands and to act against this great design. So instead, in love, hope, and prayer,...let us be open to God s gift of life and love in marriage, with profound respect for the dignity of all God s children. 7 *Names have been changed to protect the privacy of those mentioned. To learn more about the Church s teachings on the morality of reproductive technologies, visit Life - Giving Love in an Age of Technology at - and - teachings/what - webelieve/ love - and - sexuality/life - givi ng - love - in - an - age - oftechnology. cfm. 1 U.S. Catholic Bishops, Life-Giving Love in an Age of Technology, (USCCB, 2009). 2 Esme I Kamphuis, S Bhattacha rya, F van der Veen, professor, B W J Mol, A Templeton, Are We Overusing IVF? British Medical Journ al (2014). bmj.g Ibid. 4 Centers for Disease Control a nd Prevention, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, So ciety for Assisted Reproductive Technology, 2010 Assisted Reproductive Technology Fertility Clinic Succe ss Rates Report (Atlanta: U.S. Department of He alth and Human Services, 2012). ART2010/PDFs/ART_2010_Clinic_Report - Full.pdf. 5 U.S. Catholic Bishops, Life - Giving Love in an Age of Technology. 6 Pope St. John Paul II, On the Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World: Familiaris Consortio (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1981), no U.S. Catholic Bishops, Life - Giving Love in an Age of Technology. *Excerpt from Familiaris Consortio ( On the Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World ) Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission. All rights reserved Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities 3211 Fourth Street NE Washington, DC Tel: (202) Fax: (202) Find us at facebook.com/peopleoflife! To order materials call toll free (866) Copyright 2014, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C Approved by National Regent Shirley Seyfried and National Chaplain Fr. Matthew Kuhn