Court Holy Rosary #1476 Catholic Daughters of the Americas

Court Holy Rosary #1476 Catholic Daughters of the Americas
Rosenberg, TX 77471
admin@cda1476.org

December 2009 newsletter

A Note from the Regent

How are we going to celebrate this advent season? It is hard to focus on Advent with all the hustle and bustle and problems of the world around us. Let us recall that this is a season of waiting for our Lord’s coming. The birth of Jesus is an incredible mystery, one that is central to our Christian faith.

Advent is a time of spiritual renewal and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Christ. We can do this by enhancing our daily prayers and meditation. Also we can purify our souls through the sacrament of Penance. Then let us consider our brothers and sisters in need and try to help them to the best of our ability.

We do not need to look very far for our ministry this Christmas. We have the adoptive family who needs spiritual and material help. Those of us who are blessed with abundance this Christmas season can share with this family and the others who are in need

By our actions this Advent season we celebrate the birth of Jesus in the manger in Bethlehem so many years ago. He will bless us for our gifts and actions.

Norma N Locker

Worthy Regent

Remember that the Christian Life is one of action, not of speech and daydream. Let there be few words and many deeds and let them be done well.

St. Vincent Palloti

Local News

Adoptive Family

By Mary Beth Haas and Gloria Zdunkewicz

The father of our adoptive family has a part-time job and needs help financially to meet their bills. Two weeks after the wife’s death in October, the middle child had an emergency surgery. Thanks to God he is doing well now.

We spoke to the eldest son and he said they are doing fine.

For those who want to help, here are the sizes of clothes they need:

Father – needs men’s large size

15 yr old son - needs boys large

11 yr old son - needs boys large

6 yr old daughter – needs girls size 11.

The committee will be buying food for Thanksgiving and Christmas out of the Needy Family Fund.

Christmas Party, December 11, 2009, KC Hall, 6:30 PM

Time is going by very fast so be sure to reserve your dinner through Janey Schumacher (281-232-8721), . She will accept reservations until December 7, 2009. Cost is $7.00/person. Send checks payable to “Court Holy Rosary # 1476” to Janey Schumacher, 2010 Crestwood Dr, Rosenberg, TX 77471

A table will be reserved for the collection of our contributions and gifts to the adoptive family.

For the first time our Chaplain, Father Bill, will be able to celebrate with us. Janice Rejsek has volunteered to prepare a decorative basket where we can place our Christmas Cards and other greetings we wish to give him this Christmas. It will be wonderful to have the basket full of good wishes.

Come early and enjoy some sumptuous appetizers and punch prepared by your fellow sisters. Dinner consisting of tasty roast beef, mashed potatoes, beans, and tea will be served by Lad’s Smokehouse. Various desserts will also be available.

Get lucky with the bingo games and door prizes. Secret sisters will be revealed and be sure to draw for your new secret sister for 2010.

Committee Chair is Jeanette Rehak; Co-chairs are Janey Schumacher, Janice Rejsek, Mary Beth Haas, and Gloria Mican, Be sure to acknowledge their hard work when you see them at the party.

Mass Enrollments

Errata: In the last newsletter this article mentioned the recipients of the mass enrollments as the scholarship and the education contest. Upon clarification from Peggy Rosales, State Chairman of CDA Mass enrollments, it was learned that the mass enrollments are only used for the scholarship program. She added that we were able to collect $29,000 for 2009.

The money awarded to Education Contest winners at the State Level comes from the state treasury and not from the mass enrollments.

(Ed’s note: The editor wishes to thank Dorothy Pospisil for bringing up this question for clarification)

Membership

To be included in the December newsletter will be a form whereby a member may indicate whether she desires the CDA Wake Service and the presence of Honor Guards when their “time comes”. This information will be recorded in a permanent book which will be very helpful to the Regent and Officers in discerning the wishes of the member.

Please return this form to Charlotte Carlson, Financial Secretary at the January meeting or you can mail it to her at the address stated on page 1. For those who have accomplished this form some 10 years ago, please do so again to confirm your wishes.

Scholarship and Education Contest

Entry forms for the scholarship contest may be obtained from Doris Gurecky (Chairman) at Gurecky Manufacturing (281-342-5926). Patti Kocich (281-232-2827) is chairman of Education Contest.

Dankeschon! Gracie! Thank you! Salamat Po! Merci beaucoup

to all those who helped distribute the white ribbons at the WRAP campaign, November 21-22, 2009
to Sheila Martinka, State Regent, for coming to our November meeting to award the certificate for the newsletter contest
to Henriette Jalowy and Patricia Michulka (East Bernard Court) for a pleasant trip to Court Maria Galante in Austin.

Errata: The telephone number of Mary Barcak, Prayer Line Chair was incorrectly printed in the last newsletter. The correct number is 281-232-9331. We apologize for the error.

Financial Report on CDA Sunday, October 18, 2009

INCOME: Jumbo Raffle $155.00

EXPENSES: $249.08
$ 33.97 Supplies/Door Prizes

$207.40 Food/Drinks

$ 7.71 Flowers for Past Regents

NET Money spent by the Court: ($94.08)

Money allocated in the budget: ($350.00)

Calendar Activities for 2010

January - Rosary for the Unborn; March for Life in Washington DC

February - Annual Valentine Membership Drive with invited speaker; Valentine bake sale; Election of delegates to National convention

March - Living Rosary or Stations of the Cross at the Grotto for Lent; Election of Nominating Committee for court officers.

…. And many more.

Come and witness the various activities offered by our court.

100^th Anniversary of Court Maria Galante # 115 in Austin

Your Regent attended the 100^th year celebration of Court Maria Galante on

November 7, 2009. She rode with Henriette Jalowy and Pat Michulka who are from Court St. Bernadette in East Bernard.

Court Maria Galante was the first CDA court in Texas which started on November 28, 1909 in Austin. The court’s original name was Daughters of Isabella and was later changed to Court Maria Galante, named after one the ships in Christopher Columbus fleet. There was not another court in Texas until 1912 in Beaumont . The Texas State Court was formed in 1917. Out of the 115 courts at the inception of Court Maria Galante, only 26 survive today.

There were 35 charter members and the first regent was Mrs. J. Theis. The present Regent, Melissa Counihan is a descendant (4^th generation) of one of the charter members.

Some interesting statistics, then and now:

Dues: 1909 - $4.25 2009 - $25.00

Treasury Balance: 1909 - $93.20 2009 - $3,807.75

Taco Dinner tickets - 1909 - $1.75 2009 - $6.00

(Main fund-raising project every year)

Bake Sale:

Our court sponsors 2 bake sales every year to support our scholarship, education contest, and tuition aid.

The first bake sale will be on December 12 & 13, 2009 at all the masses. Chairman will be Pat Schimara.

We need a chairman for the second bake sale which will be on February 13 & 14.

Please be generous in your contributions. If the money collected will allow, we might award monetary prizes for the winners of the Education Contest. This move will also be contingent on the approval of the court members.

Member News

December Birthdays

12/2	Shirley Stavinoha
12/3	Gloria Mican
12/4	Georgia Bergen
12/5	Maxine Phelan
12/7	Joan Stavinoha
12/9	Betty Rohan
12/10	Lucille Antrich
12/12	Cynthia Treybig
12/14	Eliska Pollock
12/16	Nancy Hockaday
12/16	Delores Schulte
12/18	Rosalie Millsap
12/24	Cynthia Blinka
12/25	Carol Moore
12/25	Katherine Frybert
12/27	Charlotte Rhemann

Prayer List

Violet Vacek, Dorothy Ryan, Leona Vincik, Judy Janecka, Georgia Krejci, Charlotte Carlson, Georgiana & Julius Nowak, Hattie Ries, Harry Wolff, Dorothy & Herman Pospisil, Jacque & Melvin Holchak, and Bernie Brezina

Congratulations

Steve and Clara Kubena on their 50^th wedding anniversary, November 15, 2009

Sympathy

- To the family of Gussie Meith on her death on November 3, 2009

- To Martha Macha on the death of her sister Edith Valicek

by Terrie Vacek

NEWS RELEASE

Catholic Daughters of the Americas

100^th Anniversary Celebration

State Public Relations Chairman Ct. Maria Galante #115 12886 Aries Loop Willis, TX 77318

November 10, 2009

Celebrating 100 Years of Unity and Charity

Nestled in the center of oak trees dating back to the late 1800’s about one hundred CDA members, clergy and guests celebrated what can only be done once in anyone’s lifetime; Saturday, November 7, 2009 the “Mother Court of Texas” celebrated her 100^th Anniversary! Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA) Court Maria Galante #115 dazzled guests with a simple yet elegant luncheon and program.

Special guests included Libby Ramirez, National Regent, Victoria; Duchess Collins, National Director, Sugar Land; Reverend Donald Ruppert, National Clergy Consultant, East Bernard; Sheila Martinka, Texas State Regent, Deer Park/Houston; Carolyn Malik, First Vice State Regent, Shiner; Peggy Rosales, Second Vice State Regent, Austin; Eve Trevino, State Secretary, Corpus Christi; Minnie Rodgers, State Treasurer, Mission; Monsignor Michael Mulvey, Diocesan Administrator, Austin; Reverend Germanus Rayen, Court Chaplain, Austin; Carolyn Bachmann, Immediate Past State Regent, Scotland; Maria Galante’s District Deputy, Sirene Brunell, Austin. Also attending were Past State Regents Amy Rueda, El Paso; Dee Scheetz, Austin; Olga Samañiego, El Paso; State Public Relations Chairman, Terrie Vacek, Willis; Campus Courts State Chairman, Barbara Britton, San Antonio; several District Deputies and local court officers and members throughout the state.

State Regent’s address by Martinka was a review of the changes over the past one hundred years; only 8% of Americans had phones, women washed their hair once a month, life expectancy was forty seven, and only eight thousand Americans owned a car that averaged ten MPH. Her congratulations to Maria Galante members concluded with a thank you for responding with yes over the past one hundred years. Martinka said, “much like Mary’s yes changed the world, as each woman answered yes to the call to service, lives were changed emotionally, physically and spiritually, therefore continue to ‘Do whatever He tells you’ John 2:5.”

National Regent’s address by Ramirez took a turn from the trivia over the past century emphasizing the consistency, the impact of volunteer service, and the need to promote membership. Today, only twenty six courts nationally can boast about one hundred years of membership. Ramirez said, “We all must let the parishes throughout Texas know who we are, what we do, and what we can do for them; for ‘In Him we live and move and have our being’.”

Honoring 100 years of faithful service, spiritual growth, and charitable contributions Court Maria Galante Regent, Melissa Counihan; Vice Regent, Lucinda Gatica; Recording Secretary, Terise Urias; Financial Secretary, Margaret Myers; and Treasurer, LaNelle Blahuta provided a moving slide show presentation of court activity from 1909 to the present. The court was organized Daughter of Isabella on November 28, 1909 in Austin with thirty five charter members paying annual dues of $4.25. They later took their name from the Christopher Columbus fleet.

One of their early projects to support the Holy Cross state hospital remains consistent with monthly programs and annual monetary donations. Members raised $10,000.00 in 1917 for the education of seminarians. In 1973 court achieves were destroyed with the KC Hall. Through two World Wars and fighting for a voice in the right to vote, while serving God, Church and community, Maria Galante members have weathered social, racial, and economic times with grace and joy.

The following is a partial list of court activities: financial support in building the State Hospital, State School, WW1 Victory Bonds, WW2 war bonds and care packages, Faith Home, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Brackenridge Hospital, Meals on Wheels, Red Cross, Christmas Baskets, Mary Knoll Missions, Respect for Life, Marywood Family Services, Youth, Education/scholarships, taco dinners and support to the State and National projects. Today they have fifty five members; some having sixty one years of membership including 5^th generation members.

With history and humor, Reverend Ruppert delivered the keynote address combining state and national history with the history of the Catholic Daughters. He honored women of faith and service and for a push forward into unity and charity for the church and for justice. He said that despite all the many things that have changed over the past 100 years, CDA has changed little in goals and remains the nation’s largest organization of women producing results. Ruppert has an enhanced appreciation for women in CDA stating, “one hundred years ago a group of women laid their aprons aside long enough to form Maria Galante and made a difference in the world around them. We are amazed that from such humble beginnings, Texas has become a star in the crown of accomplishments”.

National Court award was presented by Duchess Collins, State Court award by Sheila Martinka, Governor’s award by Joanne Counihan, Membership awards by Melissa Counihan, and an award of appreciation by Margaret Myer.

Mass followed at the newly remodeled 1852 Saint Mary Cathedral. The formal procession of robed National, State and Local Officers and Father Germanus Rayen’s remarks brought special attention to a packed Cathedral stating that this was a memorable day for all Catholic Daughters.

For more information about the Catholic Daughters of the Americas please view the national site at www.catholicdaughters.org or the Texas site at www.texascda.org