About Catholic Daughters of the Americas
Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA) is one of the oldest and largest volunteer organizations of Catholic women in the Americas, founded in 1903 in Utica, New York, as the female auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus. Its motto is "Unity and Charity," its patroness is the Blessed Mother, and its national headquarters has stood at 10 West 71st Street in Manhattan, New York City, since 1926. Today CDA comprises roughly 63,000 dues-paying members organized into about 1,150 local "courts" across 45 U.S. states plus Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. Members gather in parish- and community-based courts to support their church, administer scholarships, perform charitable works, and live out their faith through the seven-spoke "Circle of Love" program.
Mission
The Catholic Daughters of the Americas strive to embrace the principle of faith working through love in the promotion of justice, equality, and the advancement of human rights and human dignity for all.
- Founded
- 1903
- Founder
- John E. Carberry and members of the Utica, New York Council of the Knights of Columbus (originally as the National Order of the Daughters of Isabella)
- Leader
- Susan Moné (Worthy National Regent, Arizona), with National Regent-Elect Essie Walker (North Carolina); National Chaplain Father Erick Villa; First Vice National Regent Connie Dronette (Louisiana); Second Vice National Regent Nancy Bambenek (Minnesota); National Secretary-Treasurer Brenda Anderson (South Dakota); National Office Manager Martha Hamboussi.
- Reach
- Approximately 63,000 dues-paying members organized in about 1,150–1,250 local "courts" across 45 U.S. states plus Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. State courts are formed where five or more local courts exist; the National Court meets biennially and is governed by a National Board of five officers and nine National Directors.
- Serves
- Catholic women ages 18 and older (Senior courts), girls ages 6–18 (Junior CDA / JCDA courts), and college-age Catholic women (Campus Courts), together with the parishes, schools, charities, victims of disaster, the elderly, the unborn, the imprisoned, and the broader communities served by their charitable works.
Who Are the Catholic Daughters?
Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA) describes itself as one of the oldest and largest volunteer organizations of Catholic women in the Americas. Founded in 1903, it unites women around the motto "Unity and Charity" under the patronage of the Blessed Mother. Members are bound by faith in Jesus Christ and devotion to the Church and the Holy See, and they strive to be "helping hands where there is pain, poverty, sorrow or sickness." The national organization supports local courts with spirituality, sharing, and activity programming that embraces the principle of faith working through love in the promotion of justice, equality, and human dignity for all.
- Motto: "Unity and Charity"
- Patroness: The Blessed Mother
- Member eligibility: Catholic women 18 and older
- National symbol: Cross and Crown
Founding and Early History (1903–1920s)
CDA was founded on March 29, 1903, in Utica, New York, by members of the Utica Council #185 of the Knights of Columbus as a charitable, benevolent, and patriotic sorority for Catholic ladies. Originally named the National Order of the Daughters of Isabella, it operated as the Knights' female auxiliary. Within five years the Order had grown from fewer than 100 members to more than 10,000 and had 90 courts. The Order purchased its first headquarters building from the Knights of Columbus in Utica in 1913, financing the purchase with a $10,000 loan at 5% interest, and relocated the headquarters to 10 West 71st Street in New York City in 1926.
- Founded March 29, 1903, Utica, New York
- Original name: National Order of the Daughters of Isabella
- First Supreme Regent: John E. Carberry
- First female Supreme Regent: Mary McKernan (1906)
Growth Through the World Wars and Modern Era
During World War I the Order was deeply active — members volunteered as nurses and clerks, hosted parties for servicemen, ran sewing and knitting classes for the Red Cross, donated clothing for the needy, and worked with the blind. Under National Regent Mary Duffy (1923–1950) the Order expanded vigorously, reaching 170,000 members by 1928. In 1921 the name was changed to Catholic Daughters of America, and in 1925 the Knights of Columbus formally severed ties; the Order's name changed again to Catholic Daughters of the Americas in 1954. During World War II, 8,314 members served in the Red Cross, over 72,000 completed Red Cross courses, 7,468 gave blood, and 50,000 members sewed and knitted a million articles of clothing; the national organization and courts combined purchased $5.13 million in war bonds and sold another $3 million. Membership peaked near 215,000 in the late 1960s before gradually declining to the present ~63,000.
- 1921: Renamed Catholic Daughters of America
- 1925: Knights of Columbus ties formally severed
- 1928: 170,000 members reached
- 1954: Renamed Catholic Daughters of the Americas
- Late 1960s: Peak membership near 215,000
- WWII: $5.13 million in war bonds and 1 million sewn/knitted articles
The Circle of Love — CDA's Signature Program
All CDA programming is organized around the Circle of Love, a seven-spoke wheel symbolizing the needs of the Church and community the Order seeks to serve, bound together by the common thread of love. The Cross and Crown at the center is the national symbol of CDA. Each spoke offers opportunities for members to serve through active service or prayer. The Circle of Love also shapes how each court plans its annual activities, scholarships, charity work, and advocacy.
- Education spoke
- Family spoke
- Leadership spoke
- Legislation spoke
- Quality of Life spoke
- Spiritual Enhancement spoke
- Youth spoke
Spiritual Enhancement
The Spiritual Enhancement spoke is considered the heart of CDA's service. Through retreats, prayer booklets, daily reflections, parish life involvement, and the annual Lenten program (such as the 2025 "Peaceful Path of Hope" booklet led by National Chaplain Father Erick Villa on the National Facebook page), courts help members deepen their relationship with God. Service flows from that relationship — members are called to be "church to one another before they can be church to others."
- Daily Reflections on the National CDA Facebook page
- Annual Lenten prayer booklet ($5 from the CDA Store)
- Court retreats and parish spiritual activities
Education and Scholarships
Education is one of the seven spokes and includes both member formation and external scholarships. CDA sponsors the Father Leonard Bachmann Graduate Scholarships, JCDA Scholarships, an 8th-grade-to-9th-grade Catholic school scholarship, and a Campus Courts Scholarship. Education contests at the national level reward courts for programming that builds knowledge of CDA, its history, its charities, and contemporary issues.
- Father Leonard Bachmann Graduate Scholarship
- JCDA Scholarship
- 8th Grade Entering 9th Grade Catholic School Scholarship
- Campus Courts Scholarship
- National Education Contest
Youth and Junior Catholic Daughters of the Americas (JCDA)
CDA's Youth spoke nurtures personal and spiritual growth in young people, promotes service to others, and fosters an appreciation of diversity. The Junior Catholic Daughters of the Americas (JCDA), founded in 1925, is the youth auxiliary for girls ages 6–18, divided into Juniorettes (6–10), Juniors (11–14), and Teens (15–18). Campus Courts bridge JCDA members through college into senior courts, sustaining Catholic community for young women on campus.
- JCDA founded 1925
- Juniorettes (ages 6–10)
- Juniors (ages 11–14)
- Teens (ages 15–18)
- Campus Courts for college-age women
Quality of Life (Social Awareness)
The Quality of Life spoke is where CDA members respond to contemporary social concerns — supporting those experiencing pain, poverty, sorrow, or sickness. Programs include helping battered spouses, fighting sex trafficking and child abuse, assisting teen pregnancy, curbing drug and alcohol abuse, nurturing the elderly, prison apostolates, Habitat for Humanity partnerships, Meals on Wheels, and disaster relief through the CDA Disaster Fund (forwarded to the diocesan bishop where the disaster strikes).
- Habitat for Humanity partnerships
- Disaster relief fund (forwarded to diocesan bishops)
- Meals on Wheels
- Catholic Relief Services support
- Homes of Hope (India) — orphan girls
- Anti-trafficking and anti-child-abuse advocacy
Legislation and Operation Morning Star
The Legislation spoke equips CDA members to become better informed on public issues that touch human life, human rights, justice, and peace, while supporting Church teaching. CDA explicitly does not endorse candidates or political parties. Operation Morning Star is CDA's signature legislative initiative, dedicated to Our Lady under her title Morning Star, encouraging Catholic women to speak out in the public square.
- Operation Morning Star
- Working for Life / pro-life advocacy
- Support for human rights, justice, and peace
- Non-partisan stance on candidates and parties
Family and Leadership Spokes
The Family spoke recognizes today's diverse family structures and encourages courts to strengthen family life through service, prayer, and play together. The Leadership spoke develops the skills, confidence, and vision members need to serve as officers in their local courts and beyond — leadership development that has sustained CDA for more than 120 years as the largest Catholic women's organization in the world.
- Family: prayer, service, and recreation together
- Leadership workshops and officer training
- Mentorship for future court and state leaders
National Organization and Governance
Local units are called "courts"; where five or more courts exist in a state, a State Court is organized. The National Court is the Order's governing body when assembled at its biennial convention. Between conventions the Order is run by the National Board, which includes five National Officers and nine National Directors. National Chaplain Father Erick Villa provides spiritual leadership; Susan Moné of Arizona serves as Worthy National Regent with Essie Walker as National Regent-Elect. Public Relations and Webmaster Tom Panas oversees the CDA website and SHARE magazine.
- Local: Court
- State: State Court (formed at 5+ local courts)
- National: National Court (biennial convention)
- National Board: 5 officers + 9 directors
- National Chaplain: Father Erick Villa
Contests, Publications, and Communications
CDA encourages courts to publicize their work through several channels. National contests reward excellence in websites, education programming, newsletters, and Facebook engagement. The national quarterly National Newsletter and the SHARE magazine keep members informed; SHARE submissions go to [email protected]. State boards also publish newsletters such as California's "Golden State Tidings" via Flocknote. The national CDA Facebook group is private — members join by answering questions about their court and length of membership.
- National Website Contest
- National Education Contest
- National Newsletter Contest
- National Facebook Contest
- SHARE magazine ([email protected])
- National Quarterly newsletter
- Flocknote email updates
How to Join Catholic Daughters
Membership in Catholic Daughters of the Americas is open to any Catholic woman age 18 or older who wishes to enrich her spiritual life and participate in charitable and social activities. Girls ages 6–18 may join the Junior Catholic Daughters of the Americas (JCDA), and college-age women may join Campus Courts. Prospective members are encouraged to contact their nearest local court or the National Office at (212) 877-3041 for assistance in finding a court in their area.
- Senior courts: Catholic women 18+
- JCDA: girls 6–18 (Juniorettes, Juniors, Teens)
- Campus Courts: college-age Catholic women
- Contact: 10 West 71st Street, New York, NY 10023 — (212) 877-3041
Charitable Outreach and National Charities
Members donate time, talent, ideas, knowledge, dedication, and enthusiasm to a robust roster of charitable causes. National charities include the Disaster Fund (forwarded to local diocesan bishops), Catholic Relief Services, JCDA scholarships, and ongoing support for pro-life and anti-trafficking initiatives. State and local courts select additional charities — for example, California's 2025–2027 State Regent's Charity is Homes of Hope (India), and courts often partner with parish food banks, pregnancy resource centers, and Habitat for Humanity affiliates.
- CDA National Disaster Fund
- Catholic Relief Services
- Homes of Hope (India)
- Habitat for Humanity
- Pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes
- Local food banks and shelters
Contact and Headquarters
Catholic Daughters of the Americas is headquartered in a New York City brownstone that has served as its home since 1926. Members and the public can reach the National Office by phone, fax, or email, and can follow the organization through its website, private Facebook group, X/Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube channel. Public Relations Director Tom Panas handles advertising sales for SHARE magazine.
- Address: 10 West 71st Street, New York, NY 10023
- Phone: (212) 877-3041
- Fax: (212) 724-5923
- Email: [email protected]
- Roster: [email protected]
- SHARE magazine: [email protected]