CDA No. 1962 has 58th Anniversary Family Dinner, Awards and Presentations

Three new members were received and welcomed into CDA Court Annunciation No. 1962. Seated from left, Membership Chairman Stacy Ryza, First Vice State Regent Mary Jane Albert, new members Griselda Albiter, Adriana Vietch, Nicole Ramirez, and Regent Shirley Antosh. Photos by Jeff Wick Charter Members were recognized and presented gifts. Seated from left, First Vice State Regent Mary Jane Albert, Charter members Lorine Bertsch and Doris Lidiak, Vice Regent Sherry Hebert, and Regent Shirley Antosh. Unable to attend were Anna Mae Hajovsky and Marian “Polly” Supak. State guests and officers of Court Annunciation No. 1962. Seated from left, District Eleven Deputy Rosa Galipp, State Secretary Debbie Johnson, First Vice State Regent Mary Jane Albert, Second Vice State Regent Virginia Olsovsky, State Treasurer Janet Purdy. Standing from left, Court Chaplain Fr. Brian Phillips, Court officers, Treasurer Judy Evanicky, Financial Secretary Marilyn Kothmann, Recording Secretary Carolyn Weishuhn, Vice Regent Sherry Hebert, Regent Shirley Antosh; JCDA State Second Vice President Celeine Fabre; State Youth/JCDA Co-Chairman Peggy Supak, State Spiritual Enhancement Chairman Mary Lou Anderle, and State Ways and Means Co-Chairman Cynthia Novak. Court Annunciation No. 1962 Scholarship Committee with Fr. Brian Phillips, from left, Marilyn Freedman, Brenda Seberger, Co-Chairmen Elizabeth Kallus and Stacy Ryza, Peggy Supak, Beatrice Ortiz, and Theresa Mueller. The Court Annunciation No. 1962 JCDA surprised Fr. Brian Phillips with a birthday gift. JCDA members from left, Second Vice President Elena Supak, State Second Vice President and local President Celeine Fabre, Haylie Cooper, Sophie Janda, and First Vice President Ella Nygren. Sacred Heart Catholic School library in La Grange received a $500 donation from Court Annunciation No. 1962. Regent Shirley Antosh made the announcement while Vice Regent Sherry Hebert made the presentation to Court Chaplain Fr. Brian Phillips. Regent Shirley Antosh presented Fr. Felix Twumasi a 20th Ordination Anniversary and Farewell gift from Court Annunciation No. 1962. Regent Shirley Antosh presented Court Chaplain Fr. Brian Phillips a gift for his April 15 birthday. JCDA State Second Vice President Celeine Fabre and State Youth/JCDA Co-Chairman Peggy Supak, both of La Grange.

The Annual Family Dinner and 58th Anniversary of Court Annunciation No. 1962 of La Grange, Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA), took place on Sunday, April 14, at the La Grange KC Community Center. The social hour began at 3:30 p.m. followed by the Welcome given by Mistress of Ceremonies, Regent Shirley Antosh. She invited everyone “to reflect upon your gifts to help serve our Lord, our community and our Court.”

The Invocation and Prayer before the meal was given by Rev. Fr. Brian Phillips, followed by a dinner of roast beef, brown gravy, mashed potatoes, California blend vegetables, homemade bread, German chocolate and white cakes, tea, and coffee.

After dinner the program began with Regent Antosh introducing those seated at the head table, namely, Court Chaplain Rev. Fr. Brian Phillips from Sacred Heart Parish in La Grange, Rev. Fr. Felix Twumasi from the neighboring Parishes in Plum and Hostyn, Deacon John Mc-Court and wife Eileen, First Vice State Regent Mary Jane Albert and husband Merv of Houston, JCDA State Second Vice President Celeine Fabre of La Grange, and Court officers, Vice Regent Sherry Hebert and husband Mark, Recording Secretary Carolyn Weishuhn and husband James, Financial Secretary Marilyn Kothmann and husband Jim, Treasurer Judy Evanicky, and herself, Regent Shirley Antosh and husband Gary.

Also recognized were State guests and Court members that serve on the State level, namely, Second Vice State Regent Virginia Olsovsky and husband Dennis of Flatonia, State Secretary Debbie Johnson of Pearland, State Treasurer Janet Purdy of Weimar, District Eleven Deputy Rosa Galipp of Schulenburg, State Youth/JCDA Co-Chairman Peggy Supak, State Ways and Means Co-Chairman Cynthia Novak, and State Spiritual Enhancement Chairman Mary Lou Anderle and husband James, all of La Grange The program began with a Reception of New CDA members. Membership Chairman Stacy Ryza was called on to present the three candidates: Griselda Albiter, Nicole Ramirez, and Adrianna Vietch. Regent Antosh and First Vice State Regent Albert administered the CDA pledge and welcomed the new members.

On March 23, 1966, Court Annunciation No. 1962 was instituted with thirty-six Charter Members. Regent Antosh recognized the four living Charter Members while Vice Regent Hebert presented them gifts of appreciation. Present were Lorine Bertsch and Doris Lidiak, and unable to attend were Anna Mae Hajovsky and Marian “Polly” Supak. After 58 Years, Court Annunciation No. 1962 has over 350 members serving the Lord through the many projects and programs of the CDA.

Regent Antosh said that Jolene Byrd, who was unable to attend, achieved her 25-year membership status and will receive a special pin signifying this milestone.

Next, the Court Annunciation No. 1962 Education Contest winners were presented certificates and monetary prizes for 1st place $20, 2nd place $15, and 3rd place $10. Education Contest Chairman Rita Sulik announced the Court’s winners, while Emma Proske assisted by handing out the awards. Winning entries were displayed; and the two CDA National Education Contest themes were: God’s love and kindness will shine upon us like the sun that rises in the sky. Luke 1:78 and How does my love shine for others? The first-place entries have been sent for judging at the CDA State level with State winners to be revealed in May.

The local Education Contest winners: Division 1 (Grades 4-5): Essay – 1st Lyla Westberry, 2nd Chezni Berdoll, 3rd Helen Streiff; Poetry – 1st Zach Kocian, 2nd Mary Catherine Streiff, 3rd Lillie Jackson; Art – 1st Langley Murphy, 2nd Sophie Janda, 3rd Cooper Hartley; Computer Art – 1st Kirtley Kallus, 2nd Krislee Kallus. Division 2 (Grades 6-7-8): Poetry – 1st Camille Fabre, 2nd Madison Markwardt, Hannah Garza; Art – 1st Madison Markwardt, 2nd Hannah Garza, 3rd Alice Muzny; Computer Art – 1st Jaycee Zapalac, 2nd Annabelle Zoch, 3rd Tabitha Smith; Photography – 1st Riley Behler, 2nd Audrey Jackson, 3rd Miguel Angel Moya.

Division 3 (Grades 9-1011-12): Essay – 1st Jaylia Lucio, 2nd Angel Gonzalez-Salazar; Poetry – 1st Ella Nygren; Art – 1st Ella Nygren; Photography – 1st Jaylia Lucio, 2nd Orlando Solorzano, 3rd Angel Gonzalez-Salazar. Division 4 (Adult CDA Members): Poetry – 1st Robin Zapalac, 2nd Melinda Dunk; Art – 1st Robin Zapalac, 2nd Melinda Dunk; Photography – 1st Robin Zapalac, 2nd Melinda Dunk, 3rd Elizabeth Kallus.

A $500.00 donation to the Sacred Heart Catholic School Library in La Grange was given in honor of the Court’s Chaplain Fr. Brian Phillips and Spiritual Advisor Deacon Mike Meismer, and in memory of Msgr. Harry Mazurkiewicz who had been Court Chaplain for over forty years. The announcement was made by Regent Antosh while Vice Regent Hebert presented the gift to Court Chaplain Fr. Brian.

Memorial Scholarships of $600 each were awarded to fifteen high school graduating seniors who are children of Court Annunciation No. 1962 members; and in addition one at $300 was awarded to a JCDA Outstanding Member. Committee Co-Chairmen Stacy Ryza and Elizabeth Kallus announced the named Memorial Scholarships while memorial family members came forward and presented the scholarships. Assisting were Scholarship Committee members Peggy Supak, Brenda Seberger, Theresa Mueller, Marilyn Freedman, and Beatrice Ortiz. Appreciation was conveyed for the generous donations made by memorial families, friends, members of Court Annunciation, and the community.

Regent Antosh presented Fr. Brian with a gift for his April 15 birthday, thanking him for being supportive of the works of Court Annunciation No. 1962.

Congratulatory cards of CDA Texas State Court Memorial Enrollments were received from State Regent Carolyn Ritchey, First Vice State Regent Albert, and Second Vice State Regent Olsovsky. Sending regrets for being unable to attend were Carolyn Malik of Shiner, CDA State Parliamentarian, Past National Director, and Past State Regent; Rebecca Brown of Angleton, Immediate Past State Regent; Deacon Mike Meismer; and LaDonna Voelkel, Sacred Heart School Principal.

First Vice State Regent Albert brought a message from State Regent Ritchey and the State Court, after which gifts of appreciation were presented to the five State CDA guests by the local officers. JCDA State Second Vice President Fabre shared a message from State JCDA and Regent Antosh presented her a gift. Then JCDA members were invited to come forward and they presented a birthday gift to Fr. Brian.

Fr. Felix Twumasi will celebrate his 20th Ordination Anniversary in July and at the end of May will be leaving to begin another chapter in his ministry as a priest. A gift for his ordination anniversary and farewell were presented to Fr. Felix by Regent Antosh.

In her Closing Remarks, Regent Antosh thanked everyone for attending the annual event and extended special thanks to various persons, after which she invited Fr. Brian to give the Benediction and Closing Prayer.