Court Lambing Anniversary

     On Sunday, May 20th, I attended the 95th Anniversary Mass and dinner at the Bishop Connare Center in Greensburg for the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, #314, Court Lambing of Scottdale.  Having served as Court Spiritual Director during my time as pastor of Saint John the Baptist parish, I was joined by their present pastor, Father George Saletrik.  Father George was celebrant and I preached, since I have known some of these women for forty years.  It was a fitting celebration, with members and guests from other Diocesan Courts, as well as some State and National officers present.  The Court was established in 1917 as an off shoot of Court Annunciata of Connellsville.  The planning committee for the entire affair did a great job (except for the music selections for Mass which would drive any liturgist over the edge - nostalgic, but not good liturgy ... forgive me, ladies).

     The Catholic Daughter were first established in 1903 as a women's branch of the Knights of Columbus, and were originally called the Daughters of Isabella.  The name change came I believe in 1921, and soon after they became an independent Catholic Women's Organization devoted to service and charity and Church.  95 years is a long time, and represents countless hours of dedicated service to the Gospel message.  One of the members present that afternoon and recognized - Thelma Haas - was born in the same year that Court Lambing was established - 1917.  The Court is named after the second pastor of Saint John the Baptist parish - Father Michael Lambing - who served as pastor there for 52 years.

     I thank the ladies of the Court for the invitation and the opportunity to celebrate with them last Sunday.

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     Earlier that morning, following the 8:30 am Mass, the Seton Men's Group of our parish hosted the second annual Women's Breakfast in our social hall.  About a hundred women (and yours truly) attended the affair which the men planned, set up for, cooked and served.  They served a wonderful breakfast, provided entertainment, and recognized the youngest lady there (five or six, I think) and the oldest who spryly came forward at the age of ninety.  These two were presented with roses, and a candle was lit and a place setting reserved for those who could not be there through death or whatever reason.  My thanks goes out to the guys for their hard work and love shown to the women of the parish.