Catholic Daughters of the Americas Regina Coeli Court celebrates 100th anniversary

Celebrating 100 years of service through world wars, the Great Depression, eight popes and five bishops in the Diocese of Metuchen, the Regina Coeli (“Queen of Heaven”) Court of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, based at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Dunellen, commemorated its history and its future with pride on Feb. 23. Originally a group of 38 women, the Court today has 68 members and is led by Regent Martha Pizzigoni.

Past regent and head of the centennial celebration planning committee Nina DiQuollo described the event, highlighted by a Mass celebrated by Bishop James F. Checchio, as “fabulous!” The Court was joined at mass by a reunion choir from St. John Parish, an honor guard from the Knights of Columbus chapter in Dunellen, and concelebrant Father Alphonsus Kariuki, Regina Coeli Court chaplain and pastor at St. John.

“It was very uplifting,” said DiQuollo. “I knew it would be a great celebration, but I didn’t expect it to be as great as it was. The Bishop was very engaged and social – he wanted to meet and greet our members.”

The Regina Coeli Court received letters of congratulations from Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington, D.C., on behalf of the Pope, and the national Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters organizations. The anniversary was recognized as well by secular leaders throughout the state, with proclamations from the New Jersey governor and the mayor of Dunellen.

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas, formed as a national organization only 22 years before the Regina Coeli Court, focuses on its mission of “unity and charity.”  The organization boasts 55,000 members in 1,150 courts in 45 states and in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.

Its website explains the women’s mission: “They embrace the principle of faith working through love in the promotion of justice, equality and advancement of human rights and human dignity for all.”

Throughout its history, the Regina Coeli Court has sponsored seminarians, provided high school and college scholarships, participated in social programs like the Linus Project and Habitat for Humanity, and filled over 100 “boxes of joy” in each of the past two years to bring Christmas to children who go without.

Interested women can belong to any convenient court, DiQuollo said, and there are initiatives to fit the interests of Catholic women of all ages. Current members in the Regina Coeli Court, which meets monthly, come from many local parishes. “Women are invited to attend a meeting as a guest” to see if it is a fit, DiQuollo said, and can then pursue membership by application. Annual dues are $35.