Our Mission
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.
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#CDA Strong
2022-2024 Officers
Regent: Joan Peterson
Vice Regent: Leslie Nagel
Recording Secretary: Deb Kelleher
Financial Secretary: JoAnn Anderson
Treasurer: Teresa Brown
CELEBRATING Court 216’2 New Officer Installation Mass on June 10, 2022
Front Row L-R Banner Bearer Lois Schreck, District Deputy Marie Sheeder, Vice Regent Leslie Nagel, Regent Joan Peterson, Financial Secretary JoAnn Anderson, Recording Secretary Deb Kelleher, Treasurer Teresa Brown, Banner Bearer Marianne Kesten. Center: State Regent Rita Carlson. Back Row: Knights of Columbus Honor Guard surrounded by Msgr. Kevin McCoy (center), Court 216’s Chaplain.
2022 CDA Court 216 Scholarship Recipients
Left: Alyxis Mericle $1,000 High School Recipient. Alyxis’s Grandmother is CDA Member Julie Ault Smith!
Center: Emma Alstott $500 Outstanding Catholic Female Leadership Recipient
Right: Jonah Mosier & Grace Fuller 8th Grade $500 Tuition Assistance Recipients
Honoring our Priests & Deacons at CDA Luncheon on June 21, 2022We enjoyed visiting with and serving lunch to our Priests and Deacons
L-R Front: Deacon Ed Albright, Fr. Larry McCarty;
Back Row: Deacon Rick Salocker, Msgr. Kevin McCoy, Fr. James Tigges and Fr. Thomas Hart
Dues: Dues statements will go out in late June. Of course, there is no penalty for early payment 🙂. Dues are now $35 made payable to CDA Court 216. You can mail your $35 check to me – JoAnn Anderson, 1209 Riddle St., PO Box 264, Gowrie, IA 50543.
Court #216 – 2022 Education Contest Winners
2022 Court 216 Education Contest 1st Place Winners
L-R: Education Contest Chair Sheila Huebsch, 1st place winners: Nora Kate O’Connor, Div. II, Computer Art; Mae Pokorny, Div. I, Poetry; Kiersten Schumacher, Div. I, Art; Jimin Song, Div. II, Art & Computer Art; Cora Anderson, Div. II, Poetry; Grace Schlegel, Div. I, Essay; Greenlee Crimmins, Div. II, Essay, and Regent Christina Rosch
CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE LOCAL WINNERS!
2022 State Education Contest 1st Place Winner
Mae Pokorny, Div. I, Poetry 1st Place is headed for National Contest! Good luck Mae!!
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS!
The Reception of New Members Mass, November 10, 2022
Pictured Left to Right: DiAnna Hunter, Glenna Hawkins, Paulette Heddinger, Chaplain Msgr. Kevin McCoy, Jean Helmers, Joetta Promes and Margo Augustine.
Not pictured: New Members: Julie Lentsch & Shawn Rodenborn and Transfer Members from Pocahontas Court Infant of Pague: Maureen Lenz, Joyce Majorowicz, Eileen Alig, Elizabeth Hallberg, Ila Mae Kraus, Bernadine Martin, Cecelia J. Olson, & Lisa Sefcik.
WELCOME LADIES! WE ARE SO GLAD YOU JOINED US!!
You Could Be In This Photo! Won’t You Join Us?
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Second Graders’ 2023 Lenten Project for CDA Court 216
Thanks to CDA Ct. 216 member and teacher Mrs. Mollie Jenks and teachers Mr. Horrell and Mrs. Galles, three 2nd grade classrooms from St. Edmond Catholic School chose Catholic Daughters Court 216 for their Lenten project this year. The children filled bags made by Ct. 216’s “Bag Ladies” with toiletries for the local women’s shelter. Top picture on the left is “CDA Bag Lady” Rose Mary Ruddy with students and Mrs. Jenks on the right; followed by pictures of Mr. Horrell and Mrs. Galles’ students. Our community is blessed to have these children and their families participate in the “Bag Lady” project.
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Court 216 Presents Honor Quilts in April 2023 to Honor Our Local Veterans
Court 216’s Talented Quilters, Kitty Nilles, Jean Konvalinka and Mary Yung graciously gave many hours of their time and significant treasure to present these beautiful honor quilts to our Veterans again this year.
THANK YOU LADIES!!
Top Picture: L-R: Court 216’s Retired Naval Commander, Marie Sheeder, presented US Army Veteran Bob Shanks with a beautiful Honor Quilt made by Jean Konvalinka pictured on the right.
Middle Picture: L-R: Cathleen Prelip, US Air Force Veteran, is presented with this beautiful Honor Quilt by Marie Sheeder which was made by Mary Yung.
Bottom Picture: Court 216’s Retired US Naval Commander, Marie Sheeder (center), presented this Honor Quilt made by Kitty Nilles (right) to Retired US Navy Mike Graham. Listening to Mike Graham’s thank you speech are L-R: Mary Graham, Mike Graham, Marie Sheeder and Kitty Nilles.
THANK YOU TO ALL HEROS WHO HAVE SERVED AND CURRENTLY SERVE IN THE USA MILITARY & THEIR FAMILIES.
THANK YOU TO ALL VETERANS, TO THOSE CURRENTLY SERVING & TO ALL THEIR FAMILIES!!
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Marie Sheeder receives Lumen Christi Award from Holy Trinity Parish! CONGRATULATIONS, MARIE!! 
Marie received the 2023 Lumen Christi Award for her superior service, contribution and commitment to Holy Trinity Parish as well as demonstrating her Catholic Faith through service to St. Edmond Catholic Schools, Webster County Veteran Affairs, American Legion and Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court 216. We are proud of you Marie!! Surrounded by her family, Marie receives her award as pictured here L-R: Deacon Rick Salocker, Marie Sheeder, and Monsignor Kevin McCoy.
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OUR MEMBERSHIP DRIVE ON MAY 11, 2023 FEATURED SPEAKER JULIE STORR
After Mass and dinner, we enjoyed our speaker, Julie Storr, during our membership drive who says “You have been called. You are gifted. God has given you gifts specific to you, for you, and these gifts are to be given away.” Julie shared highlights from Charisms for us to discern on what God has called us to be and what he has called us to do.
We are looking forward to the next Membership Drive!
Stay tuned!

Memorial for Deceased Members
Court #216, Proud Members of the 1903 Society
Click for Perpetual Members of the 1903 Society form
$$ Dues: Dues statements will go out in late June. Of course, there is no penalty for early payment 🙂 Dues are now $35 made payable to CDA Court 216. You can mail your $35 check to me – JoAnn Anderson, 1209 Riddle St., PO Box 264, Gowrie, IA 50543.
Webmaster Emeritus Rita A. Carlson iowafarmgirl4@hotmail.com