Susan Moné goes to Mass in Tempe, but her Catholic identity extends far beyond that.
She knows there are plenty of other women across the country equally committed to feminine spirituality and charity. Moné, a longtime member of Catholic Daughters of the Americas, encountered many of them throughout the organization.
Its reach spans 45 states plus Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guam and the Virgin Islands. Moné is now one of nine national directors for Catholic Daughters of the Americas.
The Resurrection parishioner was elected to the position at the Catholic Daughters’ biennial national convention held in Billings, Montana, last month. She will oversee the ceremonial committee and serve on the membership and development committee. Moné will also supervise activity in Arizona, Nevada and Washington.
True to their name, faith is at the forefront of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas’ activities. The current theme: “Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do for me” (Mt 25:40).
“Most important is our spiritual growth,” Moné told The Catholic Sun midway through a national meeting. She said gatherings at every level — local chapters are called courts — begin with Mass, a rosary or other prayer service.
Moné and her mother are charter members of the Our Lady of the Desert Court based at Holy Cross in Mesa. There are currently 22 courts in Arizona — eight of them in the Diocese of Phoenix — and three junior courts that welcome girls as young as 6 years old.
Moné was about that old when women from Catholic Daughter courts sponsored key events at her Catholic elementary school. She also knew of the organization’s work from her mother and grandmother. Both were members for over 50 years.
Moné developed a devotion to the Blessed Mother, the organization’s patroness, early on in life. Her family prayed the rosary nightly after dinner. Joining Catholic Daughters of the Americas was a natural next step.
“I have remained a member because it became every bit a part of my life as a mother and grandmother,” Moné said.
She became heavily involved, relishing faith-sharing opportunities with what she called “a beautiful group of Catholic women” and ultimately held all local court and state-level positions. Her four-year term as state regent ended last year.
“Catholic Daughters made my faith a vision and made my Catholic faith a way of life,” Moné said.[quote_box_right]
Catholic Daughters of the Americas
There are 22 courts in Arizona. The organization is open to Catholic women ages 18 and up with junior courts serving girls ages 6 and older. Info: (480) 969-0447.
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Members of the organization live out their deep spirituality through prayer and service. The 70,000 members donate to charities — the national level supports five of them — administer scholarship programs and strive “to be helping hands where there is pain, poverty, sorrow or sickness,” according to a press release.
Locally, that means Catholic Daughters of the Americas members support the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Maggie’s Place, a home for pregnant women. They also sponsor a seminarian, make prayer shawls for those being cared for by Americare Hospice and donate handmade rosaries to various missions. Expect Catholic Daughters presence at the Arizona Rosary Celebration in Tucson and Phoenix next month.
Catholic Daughters of the Americas also has a legislative component, which encourages members to contact state representatives regarding issues that may influence their faith. Part of that outreach includes supporting the March for Life in Washington D.C. each year. Moné will be there in January.
