National Quarterly Timeline

Transcription

1 National Quarterly Timeline The National Quarterly is published quarterly, March 1st, June 1st, September 1st, and December 1st each year with news that should be read to your courts. The goal is to have it in your mailbox by the first day of those months so that no matter which day your court meets during the month, you will have the National CDA news in a timely manner. In order to save much money in postage, we now have it printed and mailed bulk non-profit mail. Consequently, we are being told that even though we have it to the printer on time, some areas take longer to receive it that others. The Quarterly is also put on our website right under the picture of the National Regent, as soon as it is finalized and ready to mail. Therefore, if you have not yet received your printed copy by the time of your meeting in each of the above mentioned months, please go to the website, print it off, take it to the meeting, and read/summarize the important National news to your members. Please invite your members to also go to the website and read the Quarterly. It is available to anyone and we want everyone to be informed. It is still important that you do convey what is in it to your members at the meeting since not all have access to the web. Thank you so much, Shirley Seyfried National Regent

2 The National Board and the National Staff of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas wish a very Blessed Easter to each of you and your families. May the Risen Christ always be in your hearts and bring you much joy as you do His work through Catholic Daughters of the Americas. Thank you for all you do in CDA. May God always bless you. 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 Alyssa D Angelo Joe Delgado Martha Hamboussi Gloria Linley All Catholic Daughters will be remembered in a Mass celebrated by our National Chaplain during the Easter Season at St. Henry's Church in Perham, MN.

3 Catholic Daughters of the Americas National Regent s Message Dear Sisters in Catholic Daughters, MARCH 2016 Shirley Seyfried, National Regent We have just returned from another March for Life in Washington. What a phenomenal experience to see so many people out marching for life as one of the worst snowstorm to hit Washington in a long time was descending upon us. We ended up stranded in Washington for two extra days, but we were headed to New York for a budget and board meeting so we made the most of our time and met while we were there. Regent-Elect Helene Shepard and I were interviewed on EWTN on the morning of the March, and I have had several s from people who are interested in Catholic Daughters as a result of seeing us on EWTN. Hopefully, they will materialize into some new courts. It is always a great experience to attend the Vigil Mass for Life the night before the March in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. In his homily, Cardinal Dolan asked all pro-lifers to see the face of Jesus in everyone we meet and treat them as we would treat Jesus. Speaking about the First reading that night where Jonathan talked his father, Saul into not killing King David, Cardinal Dolan challenged all of us to convert others so they will not kill innocent unborn babies. As Catholic Daughters, we stand for life and we go to Washington to tell the world that CDA stands for Life! Our concern for life does not end with the unborn baby. The week before the March, I saw a program on EWTN about the possibility of many states putting assisted suicide on the ballot next fall. We really need to be alert to whether the issue of CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS D C of OF THE AMERICAS 1 A 10 West 71st St. New York, NY FAX cdofanatl1@aol.com cdaroster@aol.com assisted suicide comes up in our state. We need to not only vote against it, but work to convert others to want to protect the elderly, the infirm, and people with disabilities. We also need to let our Congressmen know that we believe in preserving life at all ages and stages. Since our last newsletter, we went on a wonderful pilgrimage to Rome and Medjugorje. Then, on December 2, we traveled to Kenya in East Africa where we instituted our first world court. We had a wonderful visit there, and we welcome these ladies to the Catholic Daughters. I sent a letter to the State Regents and the local court Regents for whom I had addresses, telling all about the institution of the court in Kenya. I am attaching a copy of the letter to this Quarterly for those of you who did not get a copy. For those who have already responded generously to the letter, thank you very, very much. You truly are living our theme this term, Whatever you do for the least of my brethren, you do for me. Matthew 25:40 I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for the cards, prayers, Masses, and your many expressions of sympathy when my sister lost her battle with cancer and passed away on November 2nd. They are greatly appreciated. I can t even begin to express how much they all mean to me. Our second convention mailing is attached to this newsletter. Please read it carefully and use the forms to register, sign up for meals, choir, walk/run, tours, etc. The Pennsylvania State Board and the many chairpersons and committees are working extremely hard to make this the best convention ever. I hope you will be able to join us in Pittsburgh for the 56th Biennial National CDA Convention. Coming to the National Convention is a great way to meet many new friends and to learn about Some Highlights: National Chaplain s Message...3 Leadership...5 Family...6 Scholarships...6 Prayer Requests...7 BOGO!...7

4 all the tremendous projects that your sisters are doing in their courts. Local Courts, please send as many delegates, alternates and members as possible, in order for your members to be energized by all that happens at a National Convention. They will come back to your courts with renewed vigor for Catholic Daughters, and your courts will be more vibrant because of the attendance of your members at the National Convention. We have been building momentum in instituting new courts around the country. Please keep that momentum going so that at the convention we will see the fruits of our labors by meeting our membership goal. If there is anything any of us on the National Board can do to help you in instituting new courts, please don t hesitate to ask. If you know of a contact in another country, please let us know that, too. We are here for you. Please remind all your Circle of Love Chairmen to complete the forms and send them to the State Chairmen. State Chairmen, please send your best local project as well as a State Project to National by April 1, We would love to have 100% participation in all areas of the Circle of Love by every state and territory. This is the way you report to State and National about the wonderful work you are doing at the local and state levels. Please also submit your newsletters and websites to the contest chairpersons by May 1, All forms can be found on the CDA website Priest Appreciation Sunday is June 5th. Please remember your chaplains, and local priests for all they do for us. May you all have a Lenten Season filled with renewal as you experience God s mercy and love. Have a Blessed and Happy Easter. To all of you who are mothers, may you have a very Happy Mother s Day. May God always bless you. Peace in Christ, By now you should have: q Collected all Education Contest Entries on the local level and sent the winners to your State Education Chairman. q Informed the National Office of your intent to attend or not attend the National Convention. By April 1, you must: q Send all Circle of Love forms to the proper State Chairman (see the website if you need additional copies) By May 1, you must: q Submit your web site and newsletter to the National Chairmen for those contests One Million Rosaries For Unborn Babies Praying to end abortion is our largest weapon against abortion. Please join in the Million Rosaries for the Unborn event to be held this Year May 6-8th. This event is sponsored by the Saint Michael the Archangel Organization and persons participating are asked to say at least one rosary during that weekend For an end to the surgical and non-surgical killing of unborn human persons. For more information please go to their website Organization.org Shirley Seyfried Important Legal Notice We have had a situation brought to our attention of which everyone should be aware. Be very careful not to quote poems or paragraphs from another source unless you have permission from the author. Just giving credit by listing the author s name is not enough. If the author is alive, or the literary work is under copyright, you must get his/her permission to publish a poem or lengthy quote in your newsletter or anywhere else. The best rule of thumb is that unless the poem is very old and is in public domain, or it is truly anonymous (meaning you absolutely cannot find out who the author is by searching the internet) do not quote a poem or other literary works. 2

5 The Texas State Habitat for Humanity House, which is being co-sponsored by National and Texas Catholic Daughters of the Americas, is well on its way to completion. Thank you so much to everyone who has worked on the house, made meals for the workers, prayed for the success of the build and donated to the house. You are truly doing God s work of Mercy by building a home for a family in need. Dedication of the house is planned for April but the date has not yet been set. We are now looking for a state sponsor for our next Habitat build. Please contact Shirley Seyfried, National Habitat for Humanity Chairman, at Shirley.seyfried@gmail.com if your state is considering co-sponsoring a Habitat for Humanity House this year. My dear sisters in Christ Jesus, 3 National Chaplain s Message Fr. Matthew Kuhn, National Chaplain I was struck today by the Old Testament passage we heard at the daily Mass, from 1 Samuel 24:3-21. Young David is on the run from the wrath of King Saul, and has hidden himself and his men in a cave. He happens to catch King Saul unaware and vulnerable at the entrance of the cave, and cuts off a bit of his cloak. David s men see this and want to seize the opportunity to kill Saul. David s minor act of violence sets a bad example for his men, and he immediately recognizes this and regrets his action. He sees how his small action could have led to greater violence, and is forced to make a larger act of humility to set a good example, literally placing his life in King Saul s hands. His act of humility corrects his men and moves the heart of King Saul to repentance. This is a good reminder for us who are in positions of leadership. Our actions, great and small, are observed and imitated by those who look up to us. Whether it is our children or our fellow Catholic Daughters, we want to be good examples for those who depend upon us for leadership and moral modeling. Sadly, it seems that the smallest action on our part can be inflated and misinterpreted in the wrong circumstances. The interpretation is in the control of the observer, as we cannot be constantly explaining our motivations for every little thing that we do. By accepting a position of leadership we make ourselves vulnerable to this kind of misinterpretation. As in all things, we are in God s hands. This vulnerability is the burden of leadership, but also an action of the Holy Spirit encouraging us to always seek personal growth in virtue. This fishbowl effect can also remind us to give the benefit of doubt to other officers. We may want to rush to judgment of a particular decision or statement of a colleague or superior officer, but we must be willing to assume the best and ask good questions before passing judgment on another person. We must extend the same courtesy to them, which we wish to receive for ourselves. As in most things, a healthy dose of humility will bear us through misunderstandings. If necessary, we may, like David, be forced to take a more extreme action on the side of virtue to offset our minor misstep. Like David, we may have to lower ourselves and publicly place ourselves at the service of others. Jesus Christ was willing to be misunderstood and treated as a criminal despite His perfect innocence. His sacrificial love is our model for leadership. Let me lead by example in this area by apologizing now for any harm or confusion my words or actions as National Chaplain may have caused in your courts. I place myself at your disposal to rectify any such disturbances as you see fit. Christian leadership is service, and therefore I remain, Your servant in Christ, Father Matthew Kuhn

6 New Courts Please welcome and pray for the officers and members of our newest courts. May they enjoy many years of Unity & Charity in our great Order. Feel free to send them a note of congratulations. Court Our Lady of Loretto #2702 St. Francis University, Loretto, Pennsylvania Advisor: Angela Balog 514 W. Lloyd St. Ebensburg PA Court St. Louise de Marillac #2703 Maurepas, Louisiana Regent: Donna Vicknair Hwy 22 Maurepas LA Court Our Lady of Czestochowa #2704 Summerfield, Florida Regent: Christina McClean 2085 Vickers Pl. The Villages FL Court St. James the Greater #2705 Bishop, Texas Regent: Deborah Levensailor 702 E. 4th St. Bishop, TX Court St. Monica #2706 Nairobi, Kenya Regent: Nelius Wambui c/o Fr. Peter Wambulwa, FDP Sons of Divine Providence Langata South Road PO Box Nairobi, Kenya Please be sure to complete your Circle of Love Reports and send them to your State Chairman. We really want to hear about the wonderful work you are doing in our charitable program, the Circle of Love. We will publish the some of the outstanding projects in a booklet at the convention. Financial Reviews Every April and October your Court is required to hold a Financial Review. Your 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 as soon as the Review is over. Attached is your Financial Review Form for the period ending March 30, State Court Reviews All 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. These forms are due to the National Office before June 1, Money Owed to National and State Please be aware that any court owing money to either the National Office or your State as of December 31, 2015, may not participate as delegates at the National convention. This includes dues, supplies, insurance, but not 1903 Society pledges. The National Office has sent out statements to those who are past due. Please pay all debts on time. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) The collection of National Center on Sexual Exploitation (formerly MIM) membership dues and donations is done through a one-time annual court donation sent directly to National Headquarters. In return, NCOSE receives one CDA check of support. Of course, if an individual in your court or the court itself wishes to communicate directly with NCOSE, they may do so at any time. Please forward your annual $50 donation check National Office ASAP. Local Court Elections In March you will be electing a nominating committee to select a slate of officers for your local court. Please say yes if they call you to be an officer in your court. Your District Deputies and State Officers are there to help you if you have any questions. Serving as an officer of your court is a wonderful experience and a great way to get to know the members of your court better. 4

7 of Bloom where you are planeted D C A A Window of Opportunity A new way to support the 1903 Society Helene Shepard, National Regent-Elect National Leadership Chairman As we approach spring, this verse from 1 Cor. 7:17-24, seems very appropriate. Too often we waste time and energy playing the If only game. If only I were thinner, richer, younger, taller, smarter, funnier, etc., etc. Instead, we can channel that time and energy into the location we call home and the circumstances and seasons in we which we find ourselves. Are we blooming where God has planted us? Are we bringing forth a good yield? Are we being fruitful and productive for the Lord? Perhaps we are in need of more nutrients. We are nurtured by prayer, scripture and being in the presence of God. Or maybe we need some weeding to get the toxic things out of our lives. Resentments, grudges and anger cast dark shadows in our lives. We may need more light from the Son and more water from the Living Water of the Spirit. What fruits are we bearing for the Lord? Are we sharing our talents and gifts by taking an active role in our Court activities and State activities? Are we reaching out to others to bring them into the Circle of Love that is an important part of our organization? Are we nurturing others who are just beginning in their roles as CDA officers? The cycle of growth is a cycle of renewal and expansion. Each seed expands itself in the fruit it produces. In doing so, it must pass through the various steps in the cycle. Maybe you are ready to begin your journey through these cycles. Every step in life prepares us for the next one. You may not realize it, but where you are in our organization now is providing you with vital life lessons for the next adventure. Maybe the Lord is calling you to be an officer of the court. Every chapter in your life builds upon a foundation to launch the next chapter. You have a choice. You can be upset because you are not in the position or situation that you really want to be in. You can feel sorry for yourself. Ask yourself, how can I use this experience to propel me to my ultimate goal? Sometimes we find ourselves providentially planted where we would 5 not want to be. A true test of character is whether we wilt or we bloom in these positions and places. We need to be positive and not complain. It is difficult to work in a court where there are complainers. In this type of a situation you need to decide what you can change and what you cannot. Maya Angelou said, If you don t like something, change it. If you can t change it, change your attitude about it. Be a blessing. Look for ways to be a blessing to someone. Your struggles have prepared you to be in the path of someone that needs what you as a Catholic Daughter can give. You can choose to be a blessing despite your own circumstances, and in doing so, inspire the lives of many. Bloom through the concrete. You may be in a situation where other people are not doing their best. Don t expect them to change, learn to change yourself. We cannot change the way people act we can only change the way we react. Try not to let the small things bother you. If other people are late for meetings, you should still arrive on time. If others have given up, you should continue to persevere. Finally, see the positive in your surroundings, share the gifts God has given you and be an instrument of growth and fruitfulness in CDA. Bloom where you are planted.

8 About Forgiving Others Forgive them Father, for they know not what they are doing. Luke 23:24 Sherry Nilles, Second Vice National Regent, National Chairman for Family Where does one learn to forgive and live as Jesus did? The family is the foundation for learning to forgive and live with humanity. In the words of Pope Francis on June 23, 2015 The family is truly the school of humanity which is much needed today. Humanity as defined in the Webster dictionary is the quality of state of being human or humane. This humanity is learned in the family. Family can be immediate (wife, husband, children), extended (grandparents, aunts, uncles) or inclusive (friends, church members, Catholic Daughter members, local community members). In whichever family life we live, values are taught. Love one another. Forgive one another. Support one another. Love and support can be shown easily with words and actions. Forgiveness cannot be as easily shown because with forgiving there must be forgetting. Forgiving family is sometimes the most difficult forgiveness to give because family is looked upon as those who did this thing to me. Forgiving must be the start. As part of Lent this year, start with forgiving others, especially family. This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread and forgive us the wrong we have done as we forgive those who wrong us. Subject us not to the trial but deliver us from the evil one. If you forgive the faults of others, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours. If you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive you. Matt 6: 9-15 Scholarships A $1000 National JCDA Scholarship will be awarded to a JCDA Member entering college in the fall Two $1000 National Scholarships for an 8th grader entering 9th in a Catholic High School in the fall of A Campus Court Scholarship in the amount of $2000 will be awarded to a member of a Campus Court currently enrolled in college. All entries must be postmarked no later than May 1, 2016 and mailed to: Letty Calvetti 854 Country Lane Indiana, PA A $3000 first place and a $1000 second place Father Leonard Bachmann Graduate Scholarship will be awarded to persons who have completed undergraduate studies and who desire assistance for tuition in order to continue studies on the graduate level. All entries must be postmarked no later than May 1, 2016 and mailed to: Joyce Ann Fleming 62 Cushing Street Medford, MA Policies, procedures, and the application forms for all scholarships are outlined on the Catholic Daughters of the Americas website 6 Enclosed with this Issue: CDA Store Flyer Operation Morningstar Newsletter New Officer Form Financial Review Form Lenten Prayer Service 1903 Society National Regent s Letter Regarding New Court in Kenya 56th Biennial National Convention Information Packet

9 Time to BOGO! Olga Samaniego, First Vice National Regent Membership and Court Development Chairman We are in the most important season of the year the season of repentance, renewal, and rebirth. I know that in addition to the traditional giving up of something, courts are scheduling activities that encourage members to open up and to allow the Lord more access to their minds and hearts. Members are participating in retreats, Lenten missions, Rosary walks, Stations of the Cross, and Holy Hours. Additionally, because we recognize that coming close to the Lord requires that we do His will, I am sure each court is undertaking special service projects during Lent. These projects and the special prayer activities are important to the spiritual growth of our members and, indeed, to the spiritual growth of every human being. Unfortunately, there are many women who have not yet recognized the need for service, and they have not had the opportunity to use their gifts while working together with other women committed to service. The season of Lent is the perfect season to invite women to experience for themselves the joy of service. Instead of inviting them to a meeting, why not invite them to work and pray with you? Instead of telling them what you do, show them! If they journey with you for a little while, I know that they will want to walk with you for a lifetime! As you are reading this article, we are a few short months away from the National Convention in July, and that means that our membership contest will be drawing to a close as well. There is still time, however, to participate. Great news you don t have to fill out any forms to participate in the contest! All you have to do is BOGO! (Bring One; Gain One!) Invite women to join your court. Winners in the membership contest will be determined by the National s membership records. So, keep recruiting, don t forget to send in the new applications. We can t count them if we don t receive your applications. The contest ends June 1, I hope each state is actively searching for areas to establish new courts. In the beginning, it is a little hard to break the ice in court development. However, if you will bring in just one new court, you will peak the interest of other parishes in the surrounding area. Momentum will build quickly after that. Thank you to all the states that have been instituting new courts. I am getting lots of requests for information. Please make sure you follow up on all leads and inquiries. Priests Packets are now available in English and Spanish! Call or me if you need any help or any recruitment materials. Some of us have grown up as members of CDA. Many of us have spent our adult lives as members. Along with our family lives and our job experiences, our experiences in CDA have help to shape us into women of faith, prayer, compassion, and love. Let s each of us do all we can to ensure that CDA is around for another hundred years so that our daughters, granddaughters, and great granddaughters can have the opportunities that we have had. Pray for your organization and invite other women to learn what you know that women working together under the direction of God Can Do Anything!! Prayers Needed Please keep the families of the following deceased in your prayers: Don Bowman, husband of Florida State Regent Michele Bowman passed away November 27, Messages of condolence may be sent to Michele at: 3428 Bohannon Rd., Zephyrhills, FL Louisiana Past State Regent Grace Savoie entered her heavenly reward on December 27, 2015 at 96 years of age. Condolences may be sent to The Savoie Family at 2530 Thomas Lane, Lake Charles, LA Arizona Past State Regent Ann Cahill went home to Jesus on December 29, Condolences can be sent to the Arizona State Board: State Regent Maureen O'Reilly-O'Shea, 821 W Union Bell Drive, Green Valley, AZ Pauline (Polly) Fleming, the motherin-law of National Director Joyce Ann Fleming entered the gates of heaven on January 17, Condolences may be sent to Tes and Joyce Ann at 62 Cushing St., Medford, MA Also please lift in prayer all those members and friends of CDA who are in need of physical and spiritual healing, especially: National Secretary-Treasurer Vickie Feist who had surgery and some complications. National Director Ruth Guidry who recently underwent open heart surgery. Past Oregon State Regent and former CDA National Legislative Committee member, Carol Piatz, who was admitted to the hospital with multiple medical issues. 7

10 Jewelry Apparel Brochures Prayer Cards Gift Items Posters Banners Stickers Umbrellas Grave Markers Court Supplies Sun Catchers Magnets The CDA Store now accepts New Items! 3/4 Sleeve White CDA Blouse Feature stain release, wrinkle & crease resistant 65/35 poly/cotton blend fabric, a spread collar,and a longer/flaired hemline for feminine look and fit. Sizes Small through 4X $ 34 Item#395-S $ 36 Item#395-M $ 38 Item#395-L $ 40 Item#395-XL The newest item from the CDA Store to help with Membership Drives and Court Development: The CDA Info Flyer This full color, double sided, 8.5 x 11 flyer is economical and chock full of information about the greatest organization in the world: CDA! Pack of 100 flyers is $ 15 Item#173 Item#395-2X Item#395-3X Item#395-4X R.E.D. Button Down Shirt with patriotic embroidery. Perfect for Memorial Day, July 4th, Sept. 11th, Veterans Day and R.E.D. Fridays. Short Sleeve #389-S $34 #389-M $34 #389-L $34 #389-XL $34 $389-2X $36 #389-3X $38 #389-4X $40 Long Sleeve #390-S $37 #390-M $37 #390-L $37 #390-XL $37 $390-2X $39 #390-3X $41 #390-4X $43 God Bless Our Troops Car Magnet Item #376 $4 Men s Short Sleeve Only #391-L $34 #391-XL $34 Court Election Time Is Near, Order Your Past Regent Gifts Now Past Local Regent Jewelry contains genuine onyx stone. Special orders take weeks. Past Local Regent Pin with gavel and chain guard #13 electroplate $100 #13-SS Sterling $185 #13-10K 10K gold $355 #13-14K 14Kgold $470 Past Local Regent Pin NO gavel #14 electroplate $90 #14-SS Sterling $160 #14-10K 10K gold $340 #14-14K 14K gold $460 Past Local Regent Charm #8-A electroplate $90 #8-SS Sterling $160 #8-10K 10K gold $340 #3-14K 14K gold $460 Past Local Regent Ring #2-A Celestrium $270 #2-SS Sterling $302 #2-10K 10K gold $695 #2-14K 14K gold $895 Find these, and other great items, at the store on catholicdaughters.org and choose the PayPal option or submit your order to CDA, 10 W. 71st Street, New York, NY 10023, with a court or personal check for the total amount. Remember that shipping is now FREE and anyone may order.

11 Catholic Daughters of the Americas Operation Morningstar Volume VIII, No. 7 March 2016 National Headquarters 10 West 71st Street New York, NY Watch For State Assisted Suicide Legislation: Learn Talking Points Last year legislators in 25 states introduced physician-assisted suicide bills. Catholic Daughters should watch proposed state legislation and, as individuals, be prepared to defend life when the elderly and disabled are threatened. Here are some talking points to use when talking to local legislators: (taken from Second-Thoughts.org) Insurance Denial. Poorer people, disabled people, and minorities have trouble getting care. When an insurer denies treatment but offer suicide, it is not a choice. Assisted suicide is always the cheapest treatment; it saves insurers money. Abuse. Abuse of the elderly and disabled is epidemic, perhaps as high as 10 percent. Nothing can stop an heir or abusive caregiver from steering someone toward assisted suicide, witnessing the request, picking up the lethal dose, and even administering the drug since no witnesses are required at the death. Oregon has seen many abuses since enacting its law. Mistakes. Every year, physicians misdiagnose 12 million Americans, putting half at risk of severe harm. Assisted suicide could make that harm lethal. If someone received a prescribed overdose because of a misdiagnosis, no one could ever know that person's life was cut short by months, years, or decades. Depression. The state shouldn t tell depressed and suicidal people that suicide is a good solution to suffering. Oregon s law doesn t care about depression as long as the patient has approved motives such as feeling like a burden. Bullied, autistic, intellectually disabled, and young people will be encouraged to see suicide as a reasonable response to suffering. Suicide contagion is real. Race/Ethnicity. In past elections, Blacks and Latinos have opposed assisted suicide by two-to-one margins while white people have supported it. In Oregon, 97 percent of prescribed suicides have been non-hispanic whites. Hollow safeguards. Some bills have a 15-day waiting period that proponents say protects patients. Some have no waiting period. Most proposals require professional involvement only until the lethal drugs are picked up from the pharmacy. Most bills don t require an official witness at the death and deny the state authority to enforce or investigate. Unnecessary. Uncontrolled pain is completely unacceptable, but good palliative care makes dying people comfortable. The bill s advocates say it is all about pain, but the leading suicide motive is distress over disability. Disability prejudice. Better dead than disabled, is a belief that is acted on all too often. Medical professionals already discourage treatment for the disabled that is routine for everyone else. Will disabled persons get suicide prevention or suicide assistance?

12 Catholic Daughters March For Life Despite the record snowfall that was about to descend on Washington, D.C., Catholic Daughters again attended the Vigil Mass at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and walked in the annual March for Life to pray for an end to abortion. Bishops Help Create Human Life Action Center The National Committee for a Human Life Amendment, a partner organization of the United States Conferences of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has a new project, Human Life Action. Go to the website HumanLifeActionCenter.org to view hot topics, action alerts and legislative reports. Also, sign up to receive their action alerts. In addition to finding up-to-date information on the life issues before Congress, people can research legislative reports from past years or go to the issues tab for more detailed information by topic. Defund Planned Parenthood: Boycott Its Donors Both houses of Congress passed legislation to defund Planned Parenthood last year, but the bill was vetoed by President Obama. Since one-fourth of Planned Parenthood's $1.3 billion budget comes from private donations,however, consumers can boycott those corporations and organizations that support the nation's largest abortion provider. According to 2nd Vote, a website tracking money from consumers to political causes, these companies donated directly to Planned Parenthood: Adobe, American Cancer Society, American Express, AT&T, Avon, Bank of America, Bath & Body Works, Ben & Jerry s, Clorox, Converse, Deutsche Bank, Dockers, Energizer, Expedia, ExxonMobil, Fannie Mae, Groupon, Intuit, Johnson & Johnson, La Senza, Levi Strauss, Liberty Mutual, Macy s, March of Dimes, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, Nike, Oracle, PepsiCo, Pfizer, Progressive, Starbucks, Susan G. Komen, Tostitos, Unilever, United Way, Verizon, Wells Fargo. Omaha Archdiocese Stands Against New Comprehensive Sex Education In Schools (From Lifesite News) Despite parents' strong objections, the Omaha Public Schools adopted new comprehensive sex education standards in January. The changes include adding lessons on abortion, "emergency contraception," LGBT issues, and gender identity, and they were pushed by Planned Parenthood, SIECUS, and other proabortion groups. Catholic Daughters should be aware that similar new standards are being implemented nationwide. The Archdiocese of Omaha has opposed the new standards, posting on Facebook: These sex education programs are in no way any solution, but rather are a significant part of the problem of today's sexual permissiveness for when new attitudes about sex are purveyed in the classroom and under the authority of the school, the kids can be affected more decisively than they are affected by the sexual permissiveness they regularly encounter in the media." Approved by National Regent Shirley Seyfried

13 Lenten Meditat ion Olga Samaniego, Spiritual Enhancement Chairman Supplies: glass or metal bowl with lid, matches, two pillar candles, lyrics for Hear I Am, Lord, a CD player and soft religious or instrumental music, a notepad and extra pens or pencils. Leader: Light the two pillar candles and place on either side of the bowl on at a table in front of the members. (You may choose to add a tablecloth and a statue of Our Lady or flowers.) Ask all members to be seated. Give a small sheet of paper from the notepad to each member. Lord, help us to come into your presence; help us to recognize that you are here. We center our thoughts on you as we hear your word. Reader: (2 Corinthians 9: 6-12) Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparing, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You are being enriched in every way for all generosity, which through us produces thanksgiving to God, for the administration of this public service is not only supplying the needs of the holy ones but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God. The Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. Leader: The Lord is never outdone in generosity, yet often we hold back. We ask ourselves, Will I have enough time for my family or for myself? Will I have enough energy? Do I have enough know-how enough talent, enough money? We need to ask ourselves, What is the Lord calling me to do? Why am I resisting? What am I afraid of? Am I just being disobedient? Am I being obstinate? Am I holding on to what I want? Am I putting up barriers between myself and the life God has in mind for me? Let s take a few minutes and think about what gifts we have been given and how the Lord is calling us to use them. Let s also think about what gift the Lord may be asking us to give Him this Lenten season. Does He want more time spent in prayer? Does He want more of our trust? Does He want us to give Him our fear? What are the desires of your heart that you would like the Lord to know about He knows already, but he d like you to share your heart with Him yourself. While the music plays, write what you d like to tell the Lord, what you d like to give Him, what you d like to offer to Him today. When you have finished, fold up your piece of paper and place it in the bowl. (Allow 5 minutes or so for activity.) All: (Stand) Lord, Jesus, this Lenten season we remember all you endured and sacrificed for us. We remember what you suffered. We recognize that you were willing to die so that we might have eternal life. You held nothing back. In response, we want to give ourselves to you. We have tried to surrender to you many times in the past, but as we grow in faith and knowledge, we recognize that there is always something we are protecting something we have been refusing, maybe unconsciously, to surrender. Tonight, we offer our hopes, fears, joys, talents, energy, work, and leisure to you. Help us to know, deep in our hearts, that you are all we have, and you are all we need. Amen. (Burn your offerings be ready to smother the flame with the lid.) Sing Hear I am, Lord together.

14 2 A Ways to Support our National Headquarters D C of A Perpetual Membership Window of Opportunity A new way to support the 1903 Society Support the upkeep of the Grand Old Lady for only $ 1,903 Become a Perpetual Member of the 1903 Society Make a Pledge of $1903 Receive a plaque and an inscription on the Wall of Honor at the National Office. Receive a 1903Society Pin and Membership Card Send Pledge checks made payable to: Catholic Daughters of the Americas with 1903 Pledge in the memo to: CDA, 10 West 71st St., New York, NY Memorialize a needed window at the National Office for only $ 1,000 Windows will be energy efficient thus saving money Window will keep with the décor of the historic neighborhood Receive a Certificate and an inscription on a Plaque of Honor at the National Office. Send Window checks made payable to: Catholic Daughters of the Americas with Window of Opportunity in the memo to: CDA, 10 West 71st St., New York, NY Commemorate your Court Anniversary Donate in memory of a deceased member The perfect Christmas gift Complete this form and mail with your check, made payable to Catholic Daughters of the Americas to the appropriate address listed above. q 1903 Pledge q Window of Opportunity Name Address City State Zip Court Number Inscription (Max. 3 lines 25 characters each, includes spaces) Signature

15 Catholic Daughters of theamericas National Headquarters 10 West 71st Street New York, NY P F catholicdaughters.org Whatever you do for the least of my brethren, you do for me. Matthew 25:40 Shirley Seyfried National Regent North Shore Drive Battle Lake, MN shirley.seyfried@gmail.com Helene Shepard National Regent-Elect Washingtonville, NY Olga Samaniego First Vice National Regent El Paso, TX Sherry Nilles Second Vice National Regent Sheldon, IA Vickie Feist National Secretary-Treasurer Pierre, SD Rev. Matthew Kuhn National Chaplain Perham, MN National Directors Carolyn Bachmann Scotland, TX Letty Calvetti Indiana, PA Joyce Ann Fleming Medford, MA Ruth Guidry Sulphur, LA Jo Hammen Little Chute, WI Janet Martineau Sidney, MT Susan Moné Mesa, AZ Margi Oller Frederickburg, OH Sheila Storey Durham, NC Mary Impellizeri Executive Director cdofanatl1@aol.com (This is a copy of the Letter sent December 2015)

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17 Local Court Officers for the two-year period 20 to 20 Election held on May, 20 Court # City State The Financial Secretary should complete this form immediately following the election held at the May monthly meeting. Even if you do not have any changes in officers or have been recently instituted, this form must be completed every two years. Your prompt attention to this request will be appreciated. Please PRINT neatly. Please submit ORIGINAL form to: Catholic Daughters of the America 10 West 71 st Street, New York, NY Send one copy to your State Regent (Territorial Courts: send to your National Supervisor) Regent: Name new re-elected Address City State Zip Phone# ( ) Cell# ( ) Vice Regent: Name new re-elected Address City State Zip Phone# ( ) Cell# ( ) Recording Secretary: Name new re-elected Address City State Zip Phone# ( ) Cell# ( ) Financial Secretary: Name new re-elected Address City State Zip Phone# ( ) Cell# ( ) Treasurer: Name new re-elected Address City State Zip Phone# ( ) Cell# ( ) Chaplain/Spiritual Advisor: Name new returning Address City State Zip Phone# ( ) Cell# ( )

18 Financial Review either for the period April 1, 20 to September 30, 20 or for the period October 1, 20 to March 31, 20 CO URT Total memm bership on your records as of September 30 or March 31 was NAME C OURT # CITY STATE 1. Total amount paid out by check for Reli gious, Charitable, and Educational pu rposes. To tal $ Include amounts paid to National Offic e and State Court for these purposes. 2. Paid to National Court: National Dues, Assessments and Insuranc e Supplies, Jewelry and Gift Items Paraphernalia (robes, banner, flags) $ $ $ Other (specify) $ Total $ 3. Paid to State Court: State Dues and Assessments Special State Court Projects $ $ Total $ LAS T REPORT FUND BALANCES CURRENT REPORT CH ECKING ACCOUNT SA VINGS ACCOUNT MA SS FUND MONEY MARK ET ACCOUNTS CD S TR EASURY ACCOUNTS OTHER FUNDS (SPECIFY) $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ TOTAL CURRENT FUNDS OF COU RT $ We, the undersigned Financial Review Committee of the Court hereby certify that we have reviewed the Court books, examined an d checked the bank accounts and that the foregoing report is a true and correct statement of the funds of this Court. Signature of District Deputy/State Representative if present: Sig natures of Financial Review Committe e * District Deputy/State Representative must be present for at least one (1) Fin a ncial Review per year. RETAIN a copy for Cou rt files Send Original Form to National Office: Catholic Daughters Of The Americas 10 West 71st Street, New York, NY Send a copy to: Your State Regent, your St ate Secretary y ou r District Deput y or yo u r State Representativ e Re port should be re turned to appropriate design ations by November 1 or Ma y 1 of the current year.