Bensalem resident Peggy Guckin re-elected as national director of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
Not many adults can say they’ve stuck with a hobby since middle school. But Bensalem resident Peggy Guckin is the exception.
In the fourth grade, Guckin joined the junior division of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, the oldest and largest organization in the country for Catholic women. Guckin found a sisterhood as she immersed herself in its charitable initiatives on local, national and international levels. Now, more than 50 years later, Guckin is about to enter her second consecutive term as one of the organization’s national directors.
The news came earlier this month at the Catholic Daughters’ 57th Biennial National Convention in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. During the event, which was attended by more than 1,200 members, voting delegates and clergy from across the country, it was announced that Guckin was re-elected as one of nine national directors.
According to Guckin, even though only nine Catholic Daughters applied for the same number of open positions, she didn’t want to take anything for granted.
“It was a shoo-in,” she said. “But you’re still biting your nails.”
As part of the organization’s top national leadership, Guckin and her fellow national directors, who are located throughout the country, set policy and establish goals. This is done for the Catholic Daughters as a whole, as well as the “courts,” or local chapters, within their assigned territories. For her first two-year term, Guckin was responsible for overseeing activity in Connecticut, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. This will most likely change come September to allow the directors to experience new areas.
Reflecting on the past two years, a proud moment for Guckin was seeing the formation of a brand new court in Exton. Looking ahead through 2020, a key goal for her is to not only open additional courts, but get more young people involved in those already established.
To aid in this mission, Catholic Daughters has partnered with select universities across the country, where young women can join Campus Courts. Guckin plans to increase awareness of these college-based chapters with the hope that students who take an early interest will be inclined to join a senior court after graduation.
In the midst of overseeing the Catholic Daughters in her assigned territories, which includes planning conventions and conducting presentations, Guckin remains highly involved in the courts located in her own backyard. In addition to being a member of Court Rose Cecilia #1641 in Philadelphia, Guckin aids Court #2230 at St. Ephrem Parish in Bensalem.
Here, Guckin volunteers her time in a number of ways, packing meals for locals in need, collecting treats for children at Christmas time, and assisting with cake sale fundraisers. Proceeds benefit various charities, including Mary’s Cupboard in Levittown, Habitat for Humanity, Covenant House, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, North American College and Disaster Relief.
These initiatives practiced by St. Ephrem are part of the Catholic Daughters’ motto — “Unity and Charity” — a simple yet powerful phrase that hasn’t changed since its founding. Formed more than 110 years ago by the Knights of Columbus in Utica, New York, the organization boasts 66,000 members in 1,150 courts across 45 states, in addition to Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, Kenya and Peru.
Guckin explained how these thousands of members are united by the sense of community provided by Catholic Daughters. Local chapters hold approximately 10 to 15 meetings each year from September to June, which usually last no longer than an hour and a half. Fundraisers and socials are sprinkled in, as well as favorite annual events.
Every year on the first Sunday in June, the Catholic Daughters attend Mass as a group and invite their pastor out to lunch afterward, where they present him with a gift of appreciation. In October, Catholic Daughters Day takes place in Germantown at the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal. During this highly anticipated event, new members of all courts in the area are officially welcomed into the organization.
Catholic Daughters also has a program entitled “Circle of Love,” which outlines seven needs of the community its members can serve — education, family, leadership, legislation, quality of life, spiritual enhancement and youth. Courts are asked to participate in one or more area of their choosing and report annually on what they’ve accomplished.
Those interested in joining Catholic Daughters can contact Peggy Guckin directly at 215–638–9217 or [email protected]. Girls and young women ages 6–18 can join the Junior Catholic Daughters of the Americas while those 18 and older can join a senior court. For information on the organization, visit catholicdaughters.org. For more on state courts, visit cdapa.com. ••
Samantha Bambino can be reached at [email protected]
