NATIONAL PROJECTS & CHARITIES
In addition to the work done on the local level by our courts, Catholic Daughters of the Americas supports the five Special National Charitable Projects listed below. Through combined giving, each court and member gets an opportunity to support these worthwhile programs.
Habitat for Humanity
Holy Cross
Laboure Society
SOAR!
National Center on Sexual Exploitation
Habitat for Humanity
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 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. Our latest venture was to help build 20 homes in the 40 days of Lent, 2008 in Mexico, four of which were paid for by Catholic Daughters.
“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.
SOAR (Support Our Aging Religious)
National Center on Sexual Exploitation
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 takes place at the end of October. A NCOSE newsletter is sent out with each National Quarterly.
National Charities
In addition to 5 major National Projects there are nine National Charities endorsed and supported by the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. Local courts are able to choose from the following charities:
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Catholic Extension
Catholic Relief Services
Disaster Relief Fund
Human Life International
Missionaries of Charity (The Sisters of Mother of Teresa)
North American College
Tutwiler Clinic
Apostleship of the Sea
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 toilet articles to place on board ships in ports at Christmas time.
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Designated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as a National Sanctuary of Prayer and Pilgrimage, this great Basilica is our nation’s preeminent Marian shrine, dedicated to the patroness of the United States, the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception. This patronal church is home to more than 80 chapels and oratories that honor the Mother of God and represent the peoples, cultures, and traditions that are the fabric of the Catholic faith and mosaic of our nation. It is no wonder why it is affectionately referred to as America’s Catholic Church. The National Shrine, also known as Mary’s Shrine, receives nearly one million visitors annually and has been visited by Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, Saint Pope John Paul II, and Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, among others. On behalf of our clergy, religious, staff and volunteers of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, we hope that your visit online will inspire you to plan a visit onsite! We look forward to welcoming you! May God bless you abundantly and Our Lady, the Immaculate Conception, always be your guide and intercede for your every need.
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.
Catholic Relief Services
In 1943 this international project was started to provide assistance to the people in the poorest parts of the world. They reach out to more than 100 countries with support such as food, medical supplies and religious assistance.
Disaster Relief
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. Recently donations were made to Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas due to hurricanes. Relief was sent to Mexico, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio and Texas experiencing major flooding. Dioceses received funds in Arkansas following tornados and West Virginia during a mine disaster.
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-
- Training local leaders and make a lasting impact on communities around the world through doctors and teachers.
- Helping families choose life by providing counseling, healthcare and other resources to expecting mothers in crisis.
- Going beyond abortion by bringing Christ’s teaching on life and family to the world including chastity, marriage, end of life issues and more.
Human Life International truly builds a pro-life culture.
Missionaries of Charity Mother Teresa
On October 7, 1950, Mother Teresa received permission from the Holy See to start her own order, “The Missionaries of Charity”, whose primary task was to love and care for those persons nobody was prepared to look after. In 1965 the Society became an International Religious Family by a decree of Pope Paul VI.
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.
Tutwiler Clinic
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.