Court Annunciation No. 1962 Holds Family Dinner, Celebrate 57th Anniversary

Five new members were received, membership pins presented, and Charter Members acknowledged at the Court Annunciation No. 1962 family dinner. Seated from left, Court Chaplain Fr. Brian Phillips, State Treasurer Janet Purdy, Second Vice State Regent Virginia Olsovsky, First Vice State Regent Mary Jane Albert, State Regent Carolyn Ritchey; Charter Members – Doris Lidiak, Anna Mae Hajovsky, Lorine Bertsch, and unable to attend was Marian “Polly” Supak; and 25-year pin recipient Kathryn Gardner. Standing from left, local Court officers – Regent Shirley Antosh, Recording Secretary Carolyn Weishuhn, Financial Secretary Marilyn Kothmann, and Treasurer Judy Evanicky; new members – Maricela Moya, Lois Ruether, Mindy Markwardt, Lesley Wied, and Robin Zapalac; 50-year pin recipients – Mary Baca and Doris Citzler; 25-year pin recipients – Laurie Janda, Teresa Schneider, Cheryl Supak, and unable to attend were Madeline Schneider and Debra Hajovsky; and Membership Chairman Stacy Ryza. Photos by MaKenzie Givan CDA State guests and Officers of Court Annunciation No. 1962. Seated from left, State Treasurer Janet Purdy, Second Vice State Regent Virginia Olsovsky, First Vice State Regent Mary Jane Albert, State Regent Carolyn Ritchey, Immediate Past State Regent Rebecca Brown, and Court Chaplain Fr. Brian Phillips. Standing from left, Court Annunciation No. 1962 officers, Treasurer Judy Evanicky, Recording Secretary Carolyn Weishuhn, Financial Secretary Marilyn Kothmann, Regent Shirley Antosh, State Youth/JCDA Co-Chairman Peggy Supak, and State Ways and Means Co-Chairman Cynthia Novak. Court Annunciation No. 1962 Education Contest winners were announced and awarded their prizes. Seated from left, Emma Wilkerson, Kirtley Kallus, Hannah Garza, Madison Markwardt, Eliana Anzaldua, Maddox Kleiber, Zach Kocian, Henry Gross, and Lyla Westberry; Standing from left, Fr. Brian Phillips, Kenlie Jo Kallus, Lyria Hartley, Annabelle Zoch, Tabitha Smith, Makenna Emmel, Melinda Dunk, Debbie Greene, Presenter Laurie Janda, Regent Shirley Antosh, and State Regent Carolyn Ritchey. Unable to attend were Cody Cernosek, Riley Breeden and Lyla Cowan. Sacred Heart Catholic School library in La Grange received a $500 donation from Court Annunciation No. 1962. Presenting the donation to Court Chaplain Fr. Brian Phillips of Sacred Heart Parish was Treasurer Judy Evanicky. Court Annunciation No. 1962 Scholarship Committee members who assisted with the Memorial Scholarship presentations were from left, Peggy Supak, Brenda Seberger, Marilyn Freedman, State Regent Carolyn Ritchey, and Co-Chairmen Stacy Ryza and Elizabeth Kallus. Not pictured were Beatrice Ortiz and Theresa Mueller. National CDA Priest Appreciation Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in June. Regent Shirley Antosh presented Court Chaplain Fr. Brian Phillips a gift on behalf of Court Annunciation No. 1962. Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA) Texas State Regent Carolyn Ritchey of Sealy and Junior Catholic Daughters of the Americas (JCDA) Texas State President Ale Solorzano of La Grange.

Taking place at the Knights of Columbus Community Center in La Grange on Sunday, June 4, was the Annual Family Dinner and 57th 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…I invite each and every one of you 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, and a variety of cakes.

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, Seminarian Chinh Ngo from the Austin Diocese, State Regent Carolyn Ritchey and husband Frank of Sealy, JCDA State President Ale Solorzano of La Grange, and Court Annunciation officers, 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, First Vice State Regent Mary Jane Albert and husband Merv of Houston, Second Vice State Regent Virginia Olsovsky of Flatonia, State Treasurer Janet Purdy of Weimar, Immediate Past State Regent Rebecca Brown of Angleton, State Youth/JCDA Co-Chairman Peggy Supak, State Ways and Means Co-Chairman Cynthia Novak, and unable to attend was State Spiritual Enhancement Chairman Mary Lou Anderle, all of La Grange.

The program began with a trifold tribute to membership: new members received, milestone pins presented and Charter Members recognized.

On March 23, 1966, Court Annunciation No. 1962 was instituted with thirty-six Charter Members. Throughout the next fifty-seven years, receptions of new members have been held to become an active and vibrant Court with currently over 300 members. The importance of membership retention is recognized and members achieving 25and 50- year membership status receive a special pin signifying their milestone.

Membership Chairman Stacy Ryza was called upon to present the five candidates for the reception of new members: Mindy Markwardt, Maricela Moya, Lois Ruether, Lesley Wied, and Robin Zapalac. State Regent Ritchey assisted with candles, and Regent Antosh administered the CDA pledge and welcomed the new members.

Regent Antosh thanked membership pin recipients for their 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 Fifty- year pins to Mary Baca and Doris Citzler, and the Twenty-Five-year pins to Kathryn Gardner, Laurie Janda, Teresa Schneider, Cheryl Supak, and unable to attend were Madeline Schneider and Debra Hajovsky.

Of the thirty-six ladies who joined together in 1966 to begin Court Annunciation, there are four living members. Recording Secretary Weishuhn presented gifts of appreciation to these members while Regent Antosh introduced them and recognized the officer positions they have held: Lorine Bertsch, Anna Mae Hajovsky, Doris Lidiak, and unable to attend was Marian “Polly” Supak.

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. In the absence of Education Contest Chairman Rita Sulik, Leadership Chairman Laurie Janda announced the Court’s winners, while Peggy Supak assisted by handing out the awards. Winning entries were displayed; and the two themes were, “We walk by faith, not by sight” 2 Corinthians: 5:7 or “When do I have to lean on my faith more than sight?”. The first-place entries had been sent for judging at the CDA State level; and Court Annunciation had two state winners.

The local Education Contest winners: Division 1 (Grades 4-5): Essay-1st Lyla Westberry, 2nd Cody Cernosek; Poetry-1st Henry Gross, 2nd Zach Kocian, 3rd Maddox Kleiber; Art-1st Hannah Garza, 2nd Kirtley Kallus, 3rd Emma Wilkerson; Computer Art-1st Tabitha Smith, 2nd Annabelle Zoch, 3rd Riley Breeden. Division 2 (Grades 6-7-8): Poetry-1st Eliana Anzaldua, 2nd Madison Markwardt; Art-1st Madison Markwardt, 2nd Makenna Emmel; Photography-1st Lyla Cowan, 2nd Lyria Hartley, 3rd Kenlie Jo Kallus. Division 4 (Adult CDA Members): Poetry-1st Debbie Greene, 2nd Melinda Dunk; Art-1st Melinda Dunk; Photography-1st Melinda Dunk.

State Education Contest winners were Eliana Anzaldua, 3rd Place in Division 2, Poetry and Melinda Dunk, 3rd Place in Division 4, Art.

A $500 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 Treasurer Evanicky presented the gift to Fr. Brian.

There were eleven Memorial Scholarships awarded at $600 each to children of Court Annunciation No. 1962 members. 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.

National CDA Priest Appreciation Day is celebrated the first Sunday in June. Regent Antosh presented Fr. Brian with a gift thanking him for his support of the CDA.

Congratulatory cards of CDA Texas State Court Memorial Enrollments were received from the Texas State Court, State Regent Ritchey, First Vice State Regent Albert, Immediate Past State Regent Brown (who also gave a monetary gift), and Immediate Past Second Vice State Regent Terrie Vacek.

Sending regrets for being unable to attend were Carolyn Malik from Shiner, CDA State Parliamentarian, Past National Director and Past State Regent, Fr. Felix Twumasi, Deacon Mike Meismer, and Deacon John McCourt.

In her message to the attendees, State Regent Carolyn Ritchey said she admired Court Annunciation members’ love of CDA and their many years of service and leadership…and how great it is that the Court has an event that brings families together to celebrate awards and achievements… that members go out of the way to make her feel a part of the Court Annunciation family…her heart is filled with love and appreciation… and to never stop doing what we are doing. After her talk, gifts of appreciation from the Court were presented to the five State CDA guests by the local CDA officers.

JCDA State President Ale Solorzano thanked everyone for their support of the Junior Catholic Daughters of the Americas. She shared information that the JCDA State Convention will be held June 30 – July 2 in Round Rock with the theme being “Let Your Light Shine.” Ale was presented a gift 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.