LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim October 18, 2015, as Catholic Daughters Day in the State of New
York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official
days set aside to increase awareness of those illustrious religious
organizations of the State of New York whose worthy endeavors have a
substantial impact on the quality of life in their communities; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorial-
ize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 18, 2015, as Catholic
Daughters Day in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, The Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA) was founded in
Utica, New York in 1903 by John E. Carberry and several other Knights of
Columbus as a charitable, benevolent and patriotic sorority for Catholic
ladies; originally called the National Order of Daughters of Isabella,
it is dedicated to the principles of Unity and Charity, the Order's
motto; and
WHEREAS, By 1908, CDA had 90 courts and had grown from a membership of
less than 100 to more than 10,000; this membership encompassed 69 cities
in 18 different states; in March of 1913, this vital organization
purchased a building in Utica belonging to the Knights of Columbus for
use as its official headquarters; and
WHEREAS, One of the oldest and largest organizations of Catholic women
in the United States, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas donate to
charities, administer scholarship programs, and strive to be helping
hands where there is pain, poverty, sorrow or sickness; and
WHEREAS, CDA has a continuous working relationship with Habitat for
Humanity International in building affordable housing for those in need;
they were one of the first women's organizations to complete a house in
Habitat's seven day "Blitz Build"; and
WHEREAS, In addition, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas is a
member of the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) and donates
generously to the seminary training programs for priests at the North
American College at the University of Louvain in Belgium; and
WHEREAS, After more than a century, CDA currently has nearly 75,000
members in 1,250 local chapters in 45 states across the country and in
Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guam and the Virgin Islands; in addition, girls and
young women ages 6-18 can join the Junior Catholic Daughters of the
Americas; and
WHEREAS, The Catholic Daughters of the Americas stands on the thresh-
old of tomorrow, prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades
while retaining that spiritual resolve which characterizes its past;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 18, 2015, as
Catholic Daughters Day in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York and to the Catholic Daughters of the Americas.