Past National Regents Immediate Past National Regent Sherry Nilles, 2020-2022
Olga Samaniego, 2018-2020
Helene Shepard, 2016-2018
Shirley Seyfried, 2014-2016
Anne Nelson, 2012-2014
Joanne Tomassi, 2010-2012
Libby Ramirez, 2008-2010
Claudia R. Bosch, 2006-2008 Past National Officers
Vickie Feist, First Vice National Regent, 2018
Letty Calvetti, Second Vice National Regent, 2010-2012
Theresa Kocer, National Secretary/Treasurer, 2008-2010
Rose Tomassi, National Secretary Treasurer, 1990-1994 & 1996-1998
In addition to the work done on the local level by our courts, Catholic Daughters of the Americas supports the National Projects and National Charities listed below. Through combined giving, each court and member gets an opportunity to support these worthwhile programs.
The Catholic Daughters in partnership with Habitat for Humanity work to build simple, decent, affordable homes for economically disadvantaged people so they can have a better environment in which to raise their families. We provide the finances for the house and also help “hands on” to build these homes. We, as Catholic Daughters, may leave the site of the build bumped, bruised, and tired but it is very rewarding for all involved. CDA was one of the first women’s organizations to complete a house in Habitat’s seven day “Blitz Build.”
Beginning in 1995 in Oklahoma City, the Catholic Daughters have built homes in Albany, NY; Riverside, CA; Baton Rouge, LA; Lakewood, NJ; Dilworth, MN; Port Jervis, NY; Corpus Christi, TX; Weston WV; Brockton, MA; Williamsburg, VA; Owatonna, MN; Wichita Falls, TX and Lake Charles, LA. A donation was also made to the Diocese of Gunther in Indonesia in 2005 after the devastating tsunami. Other ventures include helping to build 20 homes in the 40 days of Lent, 2008, in Mexico, four of which were paid for by Catholic Daughters. We have also built 4 homes in Haiti in the summer of 2010 and homes in Marana, AZ; Eagle Lake, TX; Pasco, WA; New Orleans, LA; Porterville, CA and the latest in Corpus Christi, TX in 2016.
A Habitat For Humanity build in Edinburg, Texas, was an important goal for Texas State Regent at the time, Rosie Stockwell, and the State of Texas. The Raising of the Walls was on September 23, 2017 and the Dedication of the home was held on February 10, 2018. Helene Shepard, National Regent at the time, along with her board, awarded the Texas CDA State Court a $15,000.00 grant to help with the costs in December 2017. The rest of the $50,000.00 was raised through court donations and a HFH fundraiser (a Skeet Shoot held on December 2, 2017). Helene flew to Edinburg, to present the check to the Habitat for Humanity local office the weekend of February 10, 2018.
Rosie Stockwell took Olga Samaniego, National Regent-Elect at the time, to see the house when Olga was in the Rio Grande Valley for an anniversary celebration in November 2017.
Rose Holschlag, Past National Director and Past National Chairman for Habitat for Humanity, and National Regent Helene Shepard, were also present along with National Director (at the time) Carolyn Bachman, and Rev. Gregory T. Labus, Texas State Chaplain. In attendance were also several past state regents for Texas, Texas State Officers, Texas State Chairmen, District Deputies, and of course, many CDA court members from across the state. Because the home was built in the vicinity of two (2) elementary schools (called “sister” schools because they are next to each other) in the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District, the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and the two (2) principals from the schools were present and participated in the Breaking of the Ground, along with city officials, which was held on August 14, 2017.
“The family that prays together stays together” is the motto of the Holy Cross Family Ministries. Faithful to Mary, the Mother of God, The Family Rosary encourages family prayer, especially the Rosary. Founded by Servant of God, Father Patrick Peyton, CSC, Family Rosary seeks not only to fulfill the need to share the message of prayer with those who are unfamiliar with the Rosary but also to strengthen the prayer life of the devout. Since Catholic Daughters has the Blessed Mother as our Patroness and we have a strong devotion to her, we have supported this worthy cause since 1977.
The Labouré Society encourages vocations to religious communities. They have financially helped aspirants who wish to enter a religious community. Sixty-five percent of their clients have been women who are unable to enter religious formation programs because of a financial impediment. Donations from CDA will help to make their vocation become a reality. St. Catherine Laboure is the patroness of this society.
SOAR! was founded in 1986 with $25,000 seed money received from Catholic Daughters. Augmenting the efforts of the institutional Church, SOAR! is a non-profit organization of persons who are committed to assuring financially stable and personally secure futures for elderly and frail members of Catholic religious congregations.
In 1962 Morality in Media was established in New York City to combat pornography. In 2015, the name Morality in Media was changed to National Center on Sexual Exploitation. They promote the WRAP Campaign. The White Ribbon Against Pornography, which takes place each year at the end of October. A NCOSE newsletter is sent out with each National Quarterly.
There are ten National Charities endorsed and supported by the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. Local courts are able to choose from the following charities:
Formation of men for the Priesthood of Jesus Christ at the Pontifical North American College is characterized by the four pillars of priestly formation as described in human, spiritual, intellectual and academic development. There are about 160 seminarians, as well as numerous faculty members and graduate students, from across the United States, Canada and Australia who devote themselves to personal formation for priestly ministry under the attentive guidance, supervision and evaluation of a formation faculty of priests and religious.
In 1943 this international project was started to provide assistance to the people in the poorest parts of the world. CRS reaches out to more than 100 countries with support such as food, medical supplies and religious assistance.
In 1920 Port Ministry was conceived. Its goal is to provide spiritual, physical, and psychological services to seamen at port locations in the United States. They are always happy to receive gifts and useful articles to place on board ships in ports at Christmas time.
Covenant House was founded 38 years ago with the mission to help homeless kids. Today, Covenant House is the largest privately-funded agency in the Americas providing food, shelter, immediate crisis care, and essential services to homeless, throwaway, and runaway kids.
The Tutwiler Clinic operates under the direction of Sister-Doctor Anne Brooks. It serves the poorest of the poor in the Bayou country. It runs totally through donations allowing medical help to those who do not have the ability to seek or pay for services. The Tutwiler Clinic is always happy to receive medical supplies/samples and over the counter medicines as well as clothes. Quilting and sewing supplies are always welcome. They sell quilting items in an attempt to become self-sufficient.
The Catholic Daughters maintain a Disaster Fund to which our members contribute. At the request of the State Regent where a disaster occurs, monetary assistance is forwarded to the Bishop of that diocese for distribution.
Human Life International (HLI) is a United States based Roman Catholic anti-abortion organization. It is one of the largest anti-abortion organizations in the United States. It is also the largest international pro-life organization in the world. It has affiliates and associates in over 80 nations worldwide and has sent representatives to approximately 160 locations.
Through their global mission Human Life International is-
Human Life International truly builds a pro-life culture.
Catholic Extension was founded in 1905, to help Catholics in remote areas lacking church buildings and resources. Their vision is to raise money to help bring the Catholic Church to these isolated communities. Today Catholic Extension serves 87 “mission dioceses”, funds approximately 2000 projects annually throughout the United States and its territories.
Missionaries of Charity
The Missionaries of Charity Sisters (Mother Teresa’s Sisters or the Sisters of Mother Teresa, as many call them) is a religious community in the Catholic Church, founded by Mother Teresa of Calcutta (now St. Teresa of Calcutta) in 1950 in Calcutta, India. The community is totally dedicated to the service of the poorest of the poor, irrespective of social class, creed or colour. We deliberately choose to show God’s concern for the poorest and the lowliest, remaining right on the ground, while offering immediate and effective service to those in need, until they can find someone who can help them in a better and more lasting way.
Helping maintain our beautiful Basilica in Washington DC.