CDA No. 1962 Holds 56th Anniversary Family Dinner, Presentations

CDA State guests and Officers of Court Annunciation No. 1962. Seated from left, State Newsletter Editor and Past State Treasurer Mary Jane Albert, State Treasurer Dela Garza, First Vice State Regent Carolyn Ritchey, State Regent Rebecca Brown, Second Vice State Regent Terrie Vacek, State Secretary Virginia Olsovsky, and State Youth/JCDA Co-Chairman Peggy Supak; Standing from left, Court Chaplain Rev. Fr. Brian Phillips, District No. 11 Deputy Janet Purdy, Court Annunciation No. 1962 officers, Recording Secretary and State Spiritual Enhancement Chairman Mary Lou Anderle, Regent Shirley Antosh, Vice Regent Carolyn Weishuhn, Financial Secretary Marilyn Kothmann, Treasurer Judy Evanicky, and State Ways and Means Co-Chairman Cynthia Novak. Photos by Jeff Wick and Brian Pierson Court Annunciation No. 1962 Education Contest winners were announced and awarded their prizes. Seated from left, Kenlie Jo Kallus, Lily Bell, Abby Cernosek, Annabelle Zoch, Aiden Harbers, Malee Kleiber, Byntlee Bishop, Lyria Hartley; Standing from left, Education Contest Chairman Rita Sulik, Abram Bernsen, Aubri Bernsen, William Bernsen, Katelyn Bernsen, Brianne Bernsen, Melinda Dunk, Ella Nygren, Andrew Garza, Mattie Muzny, Tabitha Smith, and Madison Markwardt. Unable to attend were Liam Molina, Dylan Henneke, Allyson Queen, Mason Kleiber, and Addy Bishop. CDA Texas State Regent Rebecca Brown of Angleton addressed the crowd bringing a spiritual message and information from CDA State. Charter Members were recognized and presented gifts. Seated from left, Charter members, Doris Lidiak, Lorine Bertsch, and Polly Supak; Standing from left, Regent Shirley Antosh and Vice Regent Carolyn Weishuhn. Unable to attend was Anna Mae Hajovksy. Sacred Heart Catholic School Library in La Grange received a $500 donation from Court Annunciation No. 1962. Regent Shirley Antosh made the announcement while from left, Treasurer Judy Evanicky made the presentation to Sacred Heart School Principal LaDonna Voelkel and Court Chaplain Rev. Fr. Brian Phillips. Twenty-one new members were received and welcomed into CDA Court Annunciation No. 1962. Seated from left, Kathy Winkler, Maria Benitez Rodriguez, Elvira Alvarado, Sienna Davidson, Alessandra Solorzano, Brynn Mikulenka, Lesly Garcia, and Elsa Gonzalez; Standing from left, Regent Shirley Antosh, Rylee Hatfield, Kelly Mozisek, Laura Peschke, Veronica Linaje, Shelby Stavinoha, Kelli Tavarez, Robyn Ulrich, Jordan Zapalac, Sandy Machemehl, Caroline Lauber, Juana Gonzalez, Carmen Julieta Soto, Isela Gonzalez, Membership Chairman Stacy Ryza, and Membership committee member Beatrice Ortiz. Milestone memberships of 50 and 25 years were acknowledged with members receiving pins. From left, Financial Secretary Marilyn Kothmann, Fifty Year member Stacy Ryza, Twenty-Five year members, Melinda Dunk, Cynthia Krause, Debbie Gaertner, Tammy Trlicek, Virginia Kristek, and Regent Shirley Antosh. Unable to attend: Fifty Year members Marva Jecmenek, Harriet Machala, Irene Michalsky, Barbara Niemeyer, and Margie Urban; Twenty-Five Year members Maria Barron, Judy Kirkland, Judy Langhamer, Miriam Moerbe, Cindy Stueber, and Virginia Wied. Six new members were received and welcomed into JCDA Court Annunciation No. 1962. Seated from left, Abby Cernosek, Kirtley Kallus, Kamry Ledesma, Cynthia Arsibar, Yamilet Arsibar, Angela Linaje, and JCDA Counselor Rebecca Munsch; Standing from left, JCDA Chairman Cathy Zingelmann, JCDA officers, Reporter Sienna Davidson, First Vice President Brynn Mikulenka, President Alessandra Solorzano, Second Vice President Ella Nygren, Secretary Celeine Fabre, and JCDA Counselor Peggy Supak.

Taking place at the Knights of Columbus Community Center in La Grange on Sunday, April 3, was the Annual Family Dinner and 56th Anniversary of Court Annunciation No. 1962 of La Grange, Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA). Social hour began at 3:30 p.m. followed by the Welcome given by Mistress of Ceremonies, Regent Shirley Antosh. She said, “As we look back over the year, we can reflect on how our members and our Court have touched the lives of many through our various activities. These experiences have helped us become stronger in faith, compassion, and charity, fulfilling our motto of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, ‘Unity and Charity.’”

The Invocation and Prayer before the meal was given by Court Chaplain Rev. Fr. Brian Phillips, followed by a dinner of roast beef, brown gravy, buttered onion potatoes, California blend vegetables, bread, and a variety of desserts.

After dinner the program began with Regent Antosh introducing those seated at the head table, namely, State Regent Rebecca Brown from Angleton, Court Chaplain Rev. Fr. Brian Phillips from Sacred Heart Parish in La Grange, Rev. Fr. Felix Twumasi and Deacon John McCourt and his wife Eileen from Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Plum and Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish in Hostyn, and Court Annunciation officers, Vice Regent Carolyn Weishuhn and husband James, Recording Secretary Mary Lou Anderle 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, First Vice State Regent Carolyn Ritchey from Sealy, Second Vice State Regent Terrie Vacek from Willis, State Secretary Virginia Olsovsky from Flatonia, State Treasurer Dela Garza from Houston, District No. 11 Deputy Janet Purdy from Weimar, State Newsletter Editor and Past State Treasurer Mary Jane Albert from Houston, State Youth/JCDA Co-Chairman Peggy Supak, State Spiritual Enhancement Chairman Mary Lou Anderle, State Ways and Means Co-Chairman Cynthia Novak, and Junior Catholic Daughters of the Americas (JCDA) State President Alessandra Solorzano, all from La Grange.

A reception of 21 new CDA members took place with Membership Chairman Stacy Ryza presenting the candidates, State Regent Brown assisting with candles, and Regent Antosh administering the CDA pledge.

Then a reception of six new JCDA members took place with JCDA Chairman Cathy Zingelmann presenting the candidates and administering the pledge, and JCDA officers assisting with sashes and roses for the ceremony.

Court Annunciation No. 1962 was instituted on March 23, 1966 with 36 Charter Members. While Regent Antosh read the names of the four living Charter Members and thanked them for the leadership they provided, Vice Regent Weishuhn presented gifts of appreciation to the three ladies present.

Regent Antosh thanked milestone membership pin recipients for their many years of service as they make a positive difference in our world while sharing their blessings with the CDA. As she read the names, Financial Secretary Kothmann presented the 50-year and 25- year membership pins.

Rita Sulik, Education Contest Chairman, announced the Court’s winners, while her assistant Emma Proske presented the certificates and monetary prizes for 1st place $20, 2nd place $15, and 3rd place $10 to the winners. Winning entries were displayed; and the two themes were “With God All Things Are Possible” Matthew 19:26 or “Where is God in my life when I am struggling?”. The first place winning entries were sent to be judged at the CDA State level.

The Education Contest winners: Division 1 (Grades 4-5): Essay – 1st Kenlie Jo Kallus, 2nd Lilly Bell, 3rd Abby Cernosek; Poetry – 1st Annabelle Zoch, 2nd Aiden Harbers; Art – 1st Byntlee Bishop, 2nd Lyria Hartley, 3rd Addy Bishop; Computer Art – 1st Tabitha Smith. Division 2 (Grades 6-7-8): Essay – 1st Liam Molina; Poetry – 1st Dylan Henneke, 2nd Allyson Queen, 3rd Mason Kleiber; Art – 1st Ella Nygren, 2nd Andrew Garza, 3rd Mattie Muzny; Photography – 1st Malee Kleiber, 2nd Abram Bernsen, 3rd Madison Markwardt. Division 3 (Grades 9-10-11-12): Essay – 1st William Bernsen; Art – 1st Aubri Bernsen; Computer Art – 1st Katelyn Bernsen, 2nd Aubri Bernsen. Division 4 (Adult CDA Members): Poetry – 1st Brianne Bernsen, 2nd Melinda Dunk; Art – 1st Melinda Dunk; Photography – 1st Melinda

Dunk. There were twelve Court Annunciation No. 1962 Memorial Scholarships awarded at $500 each to children of Court Annunciation members. Committee Co-Chairmen Stacy Ryza and Elizabeth Kallus announced the named Memorial Scholarships while memorial family members made the presentations. Assisting in various ways were scholarship committee members Peggy Supak, Brenda Seberger, Theresa Wolff, Marilyn Freedman, and Beatrice Ortiz. Appreciation to all supporters was conveyed.

Receiving $300 Memorial Scholarships for being Outstanding members of Court Annunciation No. 1962 JCDA were 2022 high school graduating seniors Alessandra Solorzano, Brynn Mikulenka, and Sienna Davidson. Their membership exemplifies the JCDA Threefold program of Message, Service, and Community.

A $500 donation to the Sacred Heart Catholic School Library in La Grange was given in honor of Court Chaplain Fr. Brian Phillips, Spiritual Advisor Deacon Mike Meismer, and in memory of Msgr. Harry Mazurkiewicz who had been Court Chaplain for over 40 years. Regent Antosh made the announcement while Treasurer Evanicky presented the gift to Sacred Heart School Principal LaDonna Voelkel and Fr. Brian.

Congratulatory cards of CDA Texas State Court Memorial Enrollments were received from the Texas State Court, State Regent Brown, First Vice State Regent Ritchey, Second Vice State Regent Vacek, State Secretary Olsovsky, State Treasurer Garza, State Newsletter Chairman Albert, along with monetary gifts from State Regent Brown and State Treasurer Garza.

Sending her regrets for being unable to attend was Carolyn Malik from Shiner, CDA National Director and Past State Regent.

In her message to the attendees, State Regent Brown complimented the wonderful reception of new members. She mentioned Texas CDA will be sponsoring its’ 10th State Habitat for Humanity build in Angleton later in the Fall, there will be a CDA Day at the Park at the Houston Astros game on June 11, and the CDA Texas state convention will be held in Galveston the last weekend in April 2023 with her theme being “Most Blessed Are You” Luke 1:42. In her spiritual message she said “share the grace and mercy He has given to you to others”.

All five Texas State Court officers were present for the event along with District No. 11 Deputy and they were presented thank you gifts of appreciation by the local officers.

JCDA State President Alessandra Solorzano thanked everyone for their support of the JCDA. She mentioned being a member of JCDA since she was eight years of age and how much responsibility she has learned through the program. She shared information that the JCDA State Summer retreat would take place June 25 at the Hostyn hall with the theme being “Warriors of God.” Regent Antosh presented her with a gift.

On behalf of the local JCDA Court, Alessandra, also being the local JCDA President, presented Fr. Brian with a surprise birthday gift of a Texas A&M tie blanket that the JCDA Court members had made for him.

Fr. Felix Twumasi was invited to share a few thoughts and his message focused on God is love and kind and he ended by wishing everyone well.

In her closing remarks, Regent Antosh thanked everyone for attending and extended special thanks to a variety of persons, after which she invited Fr. Brian to give the Benediction and Closing Prayer.