Each chapter or “court” of The Catholic Daughters of the Americas picks a project in which to be involved. In this case, it’s helping build houses with Habitat for Humanity!

They build houses with Habitat for Humanity.

March in front of abortion clinics.

Weave blankets for soldiers in Afghanistan.

Make “cancer hats” for those who have lost their hair during cancer treatments – and much more.

They are the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, one of the oldest Catholic women’s organizations in the world – and they, along with a large number of other Catholic apostolates, were at EWTN last week taping a new series called “The Church Universal,” which will air on the Network this fall.

Catholic Daughters of the Americas National Regent-Elect Shirley Seyfried & National Regent Anne Nelson filming an episode of EWTN’s “The Church Universal” with Host Fr. Joseph Mary Wolfe. The series will begin airing in the fall.

The series is your chance to learn — or hear more — about the work of some great Catholics organizations. And who knows? You may just decide to join one of them!

“Inside EWTN” will be profiling a number of these groups over the next few weeks! First up is Catholic Daughters’ National Public Relations Director Tom Panas, who works out of the organization’s New York headquarters.

“One of the benefits to a woman who might be interested in joining is that they get the support of a national organization: 70,000 women in 42 states!” Panas said. “At the same time, their charitable activity, their spiritual activity, and their ‘woman time’ activity is local and tailored to their culture. They can create or customize for themselves how they want to be Catholic Daughter.”

Two junior members carry the “Catholic Daughters of the Americas” banner during the 2014 March for Life in Washington, D.C.

During the monthly meetings, each court, as the local groups are known,

• Prays: Some say a rosary, some simply pray together.
• Decides on the charitable activity they want to support: One or more depending on the size of the group.
• Spends time socializing and sharing their faith or, as one member called it, “woman time.”

There are as many different types of additional activities as the local court wants. Some enjoy monthly breakfasts or lunches. One court recently held a social tea fundraiser, where members dressed up in the broad hats of the Victorian era! Many of the Catholic Daughters travel to Washington, D.C. each year for the March for Life and the Vigil Mass that precedes it.

And members of all the courts are invited to the biannual national convention. This year, it’s in Montana – and, as always, spouses are welcome.

Three female midshipmen at The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. are members of the Junior Catholic Daughters of the Americas.

There is also a Junior Catholic Daughters of the Americas, for youth aged 8 to 18. “They visit people in nursing homes, bring Christmas cookies to the homebound, and more,” Panas said.

Sound interesting? Check them out at www.catholicdaughters.org/.