Catholic Daughters of the Americas

As a part of the national Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA), Court Kavanaugh #54 is a women’s group deeply involved in parish life by sponsoring a variety of events, hosting charitable fundraisers and offering opportunities for spiritual growth.

In general, the court meets on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m., preceded by a social half-hour starting at 6:30 p.m. in St. Joseph’s Room, on the first floor of the Basiilica’s Lyceum. The court sponsors two spiritual day-retreats at Advent and Lent. Its members raise money for multiple charities including Wounded Warriors, Morality in the Media, the North American College in Rome, Covenant House for homeless teenagers, Blessed Mother Teresa sites, and the Laboure Society that encourages vocations to religious life.  In November we host an annual wine tasting called Divine Libations, our largest fundraiser of the year. We sponsor local educational awards given to students in parishes across the Arlington Diocese for various accomplishments including writing, poetry, computer art, photography and others.  The awards presentation event occurs every May in the Lyceum.

As a group, we visit local spiritual sites including the Saint John Paul II Shrine, the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the Franciscan Monastery in Washington, DC. Every fall we spend a morning of reflection at the Poor Clare Monastery in Alexandria, during which our priest-sponsor offers Mass, confession, adoration and spiritual talks.

The Junior Catholic Daughters is the youth program of the CDA. The JDCA court at the Basilica is open to all Catholic girls in grades 2 through 12. The primary goal is to promote the spiritual growth of our girls and encourage their service to the parish and local community.

The CDA’s next event: 

Everyone is invited to join the CDA at Market Square in Old Town Alexandria at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 14, 2023, to recite the rosary for our country. October 17 is the anniversary of the last apparition of Our Lady of Fatima to the children in Portugal and the Miracle of the Sun. Click here to learn more about the Miracle of the Sun. Click here to learn more about Our Lady of Fatima.

James Costello, featured in photo above, has won an award in the Catholic Daughters of the Americas National Education Contest. His poem, “I Walk by Faith,” won First Place in Poetry for Division I (Grades 4 and 5). This is a wonderful achievement and the members of the Basilica’s Court Kavanaugh are thrilled for him. The best students from across the country compete in the National Contest. All were first in their respective state CDA contests as James was in the state of Virginia. To win first place at this level of competition is truly amazing.


The CDA installed their officers for 2022-2024, which included an installation Mass on September 12, 2022 in the Basilica, which was presided over by Father Noah Morey, who was substituting for Father Hathaway, who is the the CDA’s spiritual chaplain. See photos below.

Click here to read a copy of CDA’s latest newsletter, The Chronicle. To listen to a podcast on CDA, click below:

Not even rain could deter the Catholic Daughters of the Americas from hosting a Rosary Rally on October 16, 2021, at Market Square. The rally was held in conjunction with “America Needs Fatima” Rosary Rallies held across the country. The goal of America Needs Fatima is to win the heart and soul of America for Mary by spreading Our Lady’s of Fatima message and promoting devotion to Her Immaculate Heart. (Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Scheuren)

Contact the apostolate leader Ana Terry by using this form.

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