Catholic Daughters celebrate 100 years in Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi Court 246 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas celebrated their Centennial Jubilee on Sunday, Oct. 26, with Bishop Mulvey celebrating a special Mass. The Catholic Daughters held a reception at St. Joseph’s Hall after the Mass.

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas were called the Daughters of Isabella when they were founded in Utica, New York, in 1903. A little more than 10 years later, in August 1914, Mrs. T. B. Southgate and Justina Bluntzer organized the Corpus Christi Court with 37 charter members. Mrs. C. F. Sinclair was selected as the first Grand Regent. The Southern Messenger described the installation as “very impressive.”

In 1921 the Daughters of Isabella name was changed to Catholic Daughters of the Americas.

On Sunday, a three-member Catholic Daughters color guard and 12 delegates processed into the Cathedral with Bishop Mulvey while the Knights of Columbus stood guard. Representing the local court--Court Corpus Christ #246--were its officers, Regent Mary Helen Rios, Vice-Regent Valerie Commons, Financial Secretary Priscilla Moreno, Treasurer Bettye McLaughlin and Recording Secretary Barbara McDonald.

“In a very special way we welcome the Corpus Christi Court of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas who this year celebrate 100 years since their foundation in Corpus Christi in 1914,” Bishop Mulvey said at the beginning of Mass.

Among the special guests at the centennial celebration were Carolyn Bachmann, National Director; Peggy Rosales, Worthy State Regent from Austin; Eve Trevino,
First Vice Regent of Corpus Christi; Rosie Stockwell, Second Vice Regent from Edinburg; Melodie Brunt, State Secretary from Texarkana; Becky Brown, State Treasurer from Angleton; Iris Hinojosa State Education Chairman from Benavides; and district deputies Erica Garcia #16 & 41 in Corpus Christi and Janie Corona #22 from San Benito.

(Photos by Ervey Martinez.)