A very active women’s organization here in Sea Isle City is the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court Our Lady of Mercy, #1655.

Catholic Daughters preparing for Palm Sunday

A very active women’s organization here in Sea Isle City is the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court Our Lady of Mercy, #1655.

The Court is celebrating its 55th anniversary. The Court has 87 members, and meets on the third Tuesday of the month in the Saint Joseph Church basement. Their purpose is to participate in the religious, charitable, and educational apostolates of the Church. Working through its motto of “Unity and Charity”, its members strive to be a force for good in the community, and the world at large.

The court sponsors events, and supports Saint Joseph Church in many of its activities throughout the year. Known as “bakers extraordinaire”, the Catholic Daughters can be counted upon to supply goodies for the Parish Picnic, the Special Olympics, the Christmas Bazaar, and the Knights of Columbus Spaghetti Supper.

The court’s main fundraising event is the Card Party Luncheon in October, which provides the area’s numerous card players with an enjoyable afternoon of food, fun, and fellowship.

Last year, the Catholic Daughters contributed to a variety of organizations, including Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Camden, Saint Joseph Church, Morality in Media, the Smile Train, the North American College, the American College of Louvain, Habitat for Humanity, Project SOAR, Disaster Fund, and Holy Cross Family Ministries. They shared in the cost of transporting a truck, filled with relief supplies, from New Jersey to New Orleans, for Hurricane Katrina Relief.

Educational outreach is important to the Catholic Daughters. They sponsor an annual Education Contest at Bishop McHugh School, and at Saint Joseph Parish CCD classes. The contest is open to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. Prizes are awarded, and winning entries advance to a state contest. They share in the cost of providing Bibles for the Confirmation class of Saint Joseph Church.

The Saint Vincent de Paul Society in Woodbine receives ongoing support from Catholic Daughters members. This outreach provides cooked meals, frozen foods, canned goods, and boxed goods to the needy of Cape May County. Deliveries are made weekly, as the need is immediate.

Upcoming events include the annual Palm Sunday Cake Sale, which will take place after all the Masses on March 15 and 16, in the Saint Joseph Auditorium. A popular feature of this event is the sale of hand crafted palm crosses, and other religious goods made from palm. The court’s 55th anniversary will be celebrated with a Mass and dinner on June 17.

For information about any of these upcoming events, or if you are interested in becoming a member of the Catholic Daughters, contact Nancy Portland, Regent, at 263-6974.