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Officers
Regent
Cynthia VincentVice-Regent
Gayle GuttryRecording Secretary
Bethany ArnauFinancial Secretary
Marlene DronetTreasurer
Vickie Tate -
Monthly Updates
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Newsletters
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Minutes
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Catholic Daughters: Our Search Through the Archives
On November 16, 1947, a group of Catholic women joined together in fellowship to found our present Catholic Daughters Chapter in Kaplan. This year is the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Pere Maltrait #1445. As a result, we are undertaking what we’re calling our Anniversary Project. At our June meeting, a committee was formed to search through the Catholic Daughter archives, consisting of six large plastic containers with many scrapbooks, minutes of previous meetings, newspaper articles, and correspondence over the last 75 years. Mary Faye Hardy agreed to chair the Anniversary Committee and will work alongside volunteers Mary Faye Meaux, Marlene Dronet, Vickie Tate, Bethany Arnau, and Cynthia Vincent to read and examine carefully the aged and yellowed documents discovered in the archives. In the next few months, we will chronicle the history of our organization in the form of a “Did you know?” column. Our hope is to present a piece of our history each and every week, and hopefully we will all goain an understanding of the many accomplishments of these hard-working Catholic women devted to sustaining the organization they both founded and loved.
Did you know?
Did you know?
Holy Rosary Catholic Church was founded by the Most Reverand Archbishop Chappelle in the year 1896 with Reverand A.J. Maltrait as the first pastor. In 1921 Father Maltrait returned to France, his early home, on account of ill health, and there he died on March 20, 1937. On November 16, 1947, a Court of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas was duly formed in Kaplan, Louisiana, and was named Court Pere Maltrait # 1445 to honor him, our first pastor.
The formal installation of the Catholic Daughters of America in Kaplan was held Sunday, November 16, 1947, at 10:00 A.M. in ceremonies at Kaplan High School, according to Miss Melba Meaux, secretary of the organization. The Court of St. Mary Magdalen conferred the degrees, and Bishop Jules Jeanmard of the Diocese of Lafayette and clergy from neighboring parishes were present for the ceremonies.
The candidates from Kaplan and Daughters from visiting chapters in New Orleans and the Diocese of Lafayette began the day by attending 7:30 A.M. Mass and received Holy Communion.
The gavel, to be used at formal meetings in Kaplan, was presented by Mrs. Oscar Hebert of the Court St. Mary Magdalen Chapter of the Catholic Daughters in Abbeville to the Kaplan court.
Did you know?
In our study of the Catholic Daughter archives we’ve discovered a list of the original sixty-six (66) charter members from November, 1947. These ladies were possibly the grandmothers, great-aunts, friends, or acquaintances of many of the members of our present Holy Rosary Catholic Church community. We thought you might be interested in knowing who they were:
Anne M. Abshire, Rose M. Abshire, Flavie Adams, Anita L. Benoit, Ozite B. Blanchard, Marie Louise R. Bourque, Edna D. Braquet, Ella T. Broussard, Gertrude S. Broussard, Lois M. Broussard, Myrtis G. Broussard, Effie M. Comeaux, Lilly B. Comeaux, Lucille L. Comeaux, Lucille P. Comeaux, Marie A. Comeaux, Elita D. Cormier, Rita C. Dartez, Ruth F. Duhon, Laura M. Fabre, Regina F. Faulk, Anna Belle P. Gaspard, Anite M. Guidry, Joyce D. Guillote, Annie Mae S. Hanks, Louise G. Hanks, Celine S. Hebert, Ellie Hebert, Estina H. Hebert, Hilda S. Hebert, Lillian B. Hebert, Marie H. Hebert, Ruby R. Hebert, Albertine D. Herpin, Annie Mae B. Herpin, Ella Mae L. LaBry, Therese B. LaBry, Anite V. Landry, Goldie B. Landry, Nolia R. Landry, Lucille C. Langlinais, Hilda L. LeBlanc, Inez F. LeBlanc, Melba M. Legere, Mae L. Maraist, Orina H. Meaux, Ameze H. Mire, Pauline M. Mouton, Leone W. Primeaux, Grace M. Richard, Velma F. Richard, Arthemise A. Romero, Gloria B. Romero, Diana L. Rost, Frances Schatzle, Ella B. Schexnider, Gladys H. Schexnider, Noemie B. Schexnider, Lorena G. Sellers, Laura D. Simon, Rosa Mae F. Simon, Velma T. Simon, Olite B. Theriot, Margarite C. Trahan, Lucille B. Vincent, and Zulmae M. Vincent.
Thank you ladies for all you have done!
Did you know?
On February 19, 1948, the installation of new officers highlighted the meeting of Court Pere Maltrait No. 1445. The installation followed a brief business meeting. Miss Candide Breaux, district deputy of Loreauville, conducted the installation ceremonies.
The following officers were installed: Miss Melba Meaux, grand regent; Mrs. Edna Braquet, vice-regent; Miss Grace Meaux, financial secretary; Mrs. Annie Mae Herpin, historian; Mrs. Lucille Langlinais, treasurer; Miss Therese Broussard, monitor; Mrs. Rose Mae Simon, sentinel; Mrs. Lucille L. Comeaux, lecturer; and Mrs. Mae L. Maraist organist; Mrs. Regina F. Faulk and Mrs. Pauline Mouton as one year trustees; Mrs. Marie Hebert and Mrs. Lorena Sellers as two year trustees, and Mrs. Amaze H. Mire and Mrs. Celine S. Hebert as three year trustees. At the business meeting Rev. Jules Speyrer, chaplain gave a talk on press month, asking the members to co-operate in the subscription campaign for Catholic Action of the South. It was announced that Ms. Melba Meaux will attend the 13th Biennial State Catholic Daughters Convention in Lake Charles April 23-25, 1948.
Did you know?
This information was taken from a letter written to its members on its first anniversary.
The Catholic Daughters Court Pere Maltrait #1445 celebrated it first anniversary on November 16, 1948. At the time there were 65 members. They proved that “women can have meetings without any arguments and even to our chaplain that women can keep a secret.” (direct quote from letter). They announced the addition of 35 ladies from Gueydan who joined the organization. Total membership totals now 100. The letter listed their activities for that first year: general communion once a month, orphanage collection, Perpetual Rosary for Vocation, Day of Recollection, May Shrines in the homes, consecration of families and homes to the Sacred Heart, Retreat in Grand Coteau, Seminary Gift fund, Displaced Person Donation, selling of $160 worth of chances for Father Fuselier, donation for S.L.I. Bazaar, sale of religious Christmas Cards, leadership of the raffle for the parish bazaar ($900 worth sold by CDA), and organization of the Junior Catholic Daughters with two troops formed. The theme that year was “Share the Faith” which was accomplished through various speakers like Father Speyrer, Father Leo Schexnayder, Father A.O. Sigur, Father A.L. Soulier, and Father I.A. DeBlanc.
Did you know?
At the October 12th meeting Regent Melba Meaux returned from a pilgrimage to Europe and entertained the group with many interesting stories. The group also adopted one of the expelled priests from Europe and will send him provisions of food and clothing. They also began a clothing drive to provide for the children of Europe.
They also voted to sponsor a Religious Vacation School for the children to receive four weeks of instructions by Dominican Nuns of New Orleans. The sisters in charge will be Sister Mary Paul, Sister Mary Rosary, Sister Mary Xavier, and Sister Mary Charles. Sister Mary Xavier is formerly from Abbeville, and Sister Mary Charles of Kaplan is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Victor Sellers. On November 2, 1949, the Catholic Daughters honored their Chaplain , Rev. J.C. Speyrer, with a surprise birthday and Halloween party at the parish hall. Ghosts greeted Rev. Speyrer as he entered the hall decorated in orange and black, with spooks, cats, and goblins carrying out the Halloween theme.
Did you know?
In June of 1952 the Catholic Daughters sponsored a two-hour celebration of Kaplan’s Golden Jubilee in the Kaplan High School Gymnasium to raise money to benefit the new Holy Rosary Catholic Church building fund. About 1000 people attended and enjoyed a summer pageant depicting 50 years of progress for the city of Kaplan. In the pageant some 100 elaborately costumed children, between the ages of three to eighteen (3-18), assumed the roles of early settlers and prominent persons in Kaplan’s history. The pageant included the coronation of Miss Carmen Benoit and Gerald Sellers as queen and king of the Jubilee. They were crowned by Mayor Paul Eleazar. Miss Carolyn Marie Blanchard and Herschel Reaux were presented as junior queen and king of summer and were crowned by O.H. Deshotels, Sr., Kaplan’s first settler and first mayor. Roland Simon was the narrator of the event. The entire cast included some 100 children in the roles of dancing girls, families of early settlers, the first pastor, dukes, princesses, flower girls, and members of the royal courts; all were wearing colorful costumes. Miniature replicas of the town’s important buildings were seen throughout the gym. The first wedding in Kaplan, on June 15, 1903, was re-enacted. Larry Rost portrayed Rev. Maltrait, the first pastor of Holy Rosary Catholic Church who performed the original wedding ceremony. Rayetta Broussard portrayed the first bride, Emily Ella Toups, and Louis Deshotels portrayed the groom, Elias Dupont. Mrs. Dallas Hanks was general chairperson of the event. She and the other Catholic Daughters worked on the entire program on the suggestion from Miss Elmira Montgomery that the summer pageant pay tribute to Kaplan’s 50th year of progress. A special attraction was the appearance of Julius Dubois, native son and popular entertainer. He is presently connected with television shows starring Eddie Cantor and the Andrews Sisters; he sang several old French tunes and popular selections.
Did you know?
At the February 8th meeting sixty-one members (Don’t they put us to shame, ladies!) were present to listen to two guest speakers, Rt. Rev. Msgr. P.M. Fusilier of Lafayette and Rev. Paul Thibodeaux of Gueydan. The members unanimously agreed to send a spiritual bouquet as a congratulation of each of the three girls from Kaplan receiving their Holy Habit next month. The members were invited to a Book Tea sponsored by the Junior Daughters who will present a skit on books. On February 25th the Catholic Daughters will sponsor a bingo for the benefit of the church fund. It will be held at the Kaplan High gymnasium; tickets are being sold at $ .50 a ticket for 20 games. Since it was Book Week, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Fusilier gave a short talk on the Catholic Press. Delicious refreshments, consisting of chicken salad sandwiches and hot cocoa, were served after the meeting. Fifty-seven (57) members attended the Catholic Daughter meeting on March 8th. Two new members, Miss Madeline Broussard of Gueydan and Miss Rita Schexnaider of Kaplan were introduced. It was announced that the cake bingo for the benefit of the church building fund brought in $400, and the group voted unanimously to make a donation to the Catholic charities. Mrs. Anna Mae Herpin, historian, read an interesting article on “Vocations”. Reverend Speyrer spoke on the significance of the religious ceremonies during Holy Week. The members also organized a baseball team which Rev. Speyrer will umpire for their first game against the Junior Daughters on Friday. The groups wanted to give special thanks for those who helped make their first cake bingo a success; over 400 people attended. Special thanks go to Mr. A.J. Braquet, D.P. Comeaux, Odey Vincent, and Andrew Comeaux for setting up the tables; Mr. B.J. Bordelon for the use of the gym, and Harry Primeaux for the use of his bingo cards.
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Newly Elected Officers of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Pére Maltrait #1445
Left to right: Marlene Dronet - financial secretary, Cynthia Vincent - regent, Gayle Guttry - vice regent, Bethany Arnau - recording secretary, Vicki Tate - treasurer.
The officers were installed at the CDA training session for the Diocese of Lafayette in Ville Platte on June 11, 2022.