Antoinette Alexander, Montana state regent, and Carolyn Smith, regent of St. Theresa Circle #542 in Helmville, represented the Montana delegation at the international convention of the Daughters of Isabella on Aug. 3-6 in St. Louis, Mo. Smith was elected to the post of international director for the United States for a two-year term.

The three days of the convention were filled with renewing old friendships and meeting new friends amid business meetings and evening activities, Alexander said.

Spiritual activities included visits to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and an evening trip to the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows across the Mississippi River in Belleville, Ill. Mass was offered daily, with one day in English and the next in French for the Canadian delegates. Alexander was selected to read the Prayers of the Faithful at the Aug. 5 Mass.

An ongoing baby shower was held throughout the convention for a local pregnancy center, and a walk-a-thon for breast cancer awareness took place Aug. 5. Many members were up and ready to walk at 6 a.m., Alexander reported.

One highlight of the convention was the first viewing and purchasing of the Daughters of Isabella 110-year history book “Daughters of Isabella: Our Legacy, Our Future” written by Carol Dorr Clement, Ph.D. A copy of the Charter of Our Lady of Victory Circle #512, Butte, was included.

Alexander said the Our Lady of Victory Circle was formed May 22, 1930, and is the oldest active circle in Montana. Other circles in Montana are located in Anaconda, Helmville, Kalispell and Missoula.

Of the seven resolutions approved, one was in honor of Pope Benedict XVI. Each member of the Daughters of Isabella was asked to live by example, join in the sacred journey and be challenged to be a promoter of the “Message of Hope” by doing what is right and good, and hear the call of the Holy Father, renewing the commitment to proclaim the hope of Christ to our nation.

Four resolutions were in support of Church teachings on marriage, immigration, the environment and the seamless garment of life. One was in support of Catholic schools, and the final resolution was a challenge for all members to promote the Daughters of Isabella.

A Memorial Mass for all deceased members and chaplains of the Daughters of Isabella was the closing event on Aug. 6. Each state regent went forward when called and lit a candle in memory of her state members and chaplains who have died; all the lit candles formed the shape of a cross and crown.

For more information on the Daughters of Isabella, please contact Alexander at P.O. Box 603, Bonner, MT 59823 or call her at 258-5378.


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 24, No. 8, August 15, 2008.