CDA National Board
The Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA) was founded in Utica, New York in 1903 by John E. Carberry and several other Knights of Columbus as a charitable, benevolent and patriotic sorority for Catholic ladies. It was originally called the National order of Daughters of Isabella,” and is dedicated to the principles of “Unity and Charity,” the order’s motto.
The CDA initially was called the national order of the Daughters of Isabella and Carberry served as the first Supreme Regent. The Knights established the CDAs two standards of “Unity and Charity”. In March of 1913, the Daughters of Isabella purchased a building in Utica belonging to the Knights of Columbus for use as its official headquarters. The CDA National office is located at 10 West 71st Street New York, NY 10023.
CDA had 90 courts by 1908, and has grown from a membership of less than 100 to more than 10,000. In 2023, CDA has approximately 63,000 dues-paying members in 1,150 courts (local chapters) in 45 states across the country and in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guam and the Virgin Islands! All local CDA courts groups are affiliated with State and our National Organization.See CDA National for more information
CDA STATE OF CALIFORNIA
The Catholic Daughters of the Americas California court was instituted on January 20, 1923. In June 2023, The State of California CDA celebrated its 100th anniversary. Today, the CDA State has numerous local courts throughout California.
These CDA Courts have a long distinguished history of dedication to Church, our country and have evolved through the years to encompass local, state, national, and global concerns. We are one of the largest organizations of Catholic women in the world.
California
CDA has has hosted the National Convention four times; 1925 in San Francisco; 1948 in Pasadena; 1974 in Los Angeles and 1988 in San Diego. Also, of great pride, California CDA has seen two of our State Regents become National Regents; Grace Rinaldi (1974-1976) and Emily Guilherme (2022-2024).
LOCAL COURTS ANNIVERSARIES DATES FOR 2023 – 2025
HISTORY OF CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAS – CALIFORNIA
STRUCTURE
National Court
The National Court is composed of five National Officers, nine National Directors, Past National Regents, five Officers of each State Court and Local Court Regents and delegates from the Local Courts.
State Courts
Five or more Local Courts in good standing with a total membership of not less than 200 members may organize a State Court with the approval of the National Board. State Courts shall be composed of a National Regent or her representative, five State Officers, Past State Regents, and Local Court Regents and delegates from Local Courts. State Courts elect five State Officers at their Biennial State Convention.
State Board
Each State Court shall have a State Board consisting of the National Regent and five State Officers. The State Board shall meet quarterly or as often as necessary in order to discuss the program of THE ORDER in the State. State Courts shall convene biennially between March 1 and May 31, in the alternating years to the Biennial National Convention.
Courts usually meet in a particular parish, but membership is open to all Catholic women in the area.
Courts conduct 10 meeting per year, however at the 2002 National Convention it was changed that local courts can vote to have nine meetings each year due to inclement weather. The meetings are usually followed by a social and/or speaker according to the wishes of the members.
Court meetings are democratic: Members vote on the amount of dues, contributions to charity, and all decisions concerning their activities.