CDA Court Eunice 208 celebrates 100th Anniversary

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Eunice 208 will celebrate their 100-year anniversary on Sunday, Nov. 17 with a 11 a.m. Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church officiated by the Most Rev. Michael Jarrell, Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette. A reception, by invitation only, will follow immediately at the Jeanmard Parish Hall.
The proclamation for the court was signed on Nov. 9, 1913 by Mary L. McKernan, Supreme Regent and M.C. Kelly, National Secretary.
The Eunice Court 208 (National Order of the Daughters of Isabella) was organized on Nov. 29, 1913 by Rev. C.M. Chambon, Pastor of St. Anthony Church. The ceremony of initiation was conducted by members of the Opelousas Court (Court St. Landry), which was founded in 1909. Mrs. M.D. Lewis, Regent, opened the first meeting with a membership of 28 members. Two of the members, Mrs. M.D. Lewis and Mrs. E.F. Williams transferred to the Opelousas Court, leaving 26 Charter members.
On Feb. 2, 1914, sixteen officers were elected, with their installation on March 22, 1914. The court held regular meetings twice a month, falling on the first Sunday and third Wednesday of each month.
The crux of organization was basically two-fold, to involve the women with the church and to spread the idea of unity and charity throughout the church community, and the surrounding areas. Since there were no other CDA (Catholic Daughters of the Americas became the official name on May 22, 1921) except in Opelousas, the court began to serve the people of Basile, Duralde, Mamou, Ville Platte, until their own CD organizations were established.
Some of the early activities of Court Eunice 208 were card games played monthly to raise money for the court activities, helping with annual church fairs, and by hosting pound parties where each member brought a pound of some food or other item to be placed in baskets for the poor. Other activities included Valentine parties, dances, visiting the sick, praying the rosary for deceased members and their families, providing floral sprays and money for deceased members’ families, and putting up money to furnish the kitchen at Eunice High. They also helped pay for the sidewalks at St. Ed’s -Martel Memorial, providing medicine, firewood, clothes, baby clothes and transportation to various doctors’ offices and hospitals for those in need.
Today the court continues to perform similar activties within the community and for the churches it represents. Weekly rosaries at the nursing homes, at wakes for deceased members and their spouses, everyday at the Shrine of the Blessed Mother Mary at St. Anthony Church during the months of May and October, donations to the New Life Center, National Charities, providing transportation for those in need for doctor visits and hospital appointments and hosting receptions for Confirmation, Ordinations and Clergy just to name a few.
The Court Eunice 208 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas is presently headed by Linda Gaudin, Regent; Angela Huckaby, Vice Regent; Diana Parks, Recording Secretary; Germaine Courville, Finance Secretary; and Lynn Pavich, Treasurer. Their Chaplain is Deacon Gary Gaudin of St. Anthony Church.
The court consists of 120 members of the Eunice parishes of St. Anthony, St. Thomas More, and St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Mowata.
Their meetings are held every first Monday of the month, not including thee months of July and August.
The court welcomes any woman 18 years or older, in good standing in the church to become a member.
CDA’s motto is, “Unity and Charity,” remains the prevalent theme as the members continue to ask for guidance from their patroness The Blessed Virgin Mary.