LOWELL – From their homebase at St. Edward parish, a group of women has practiced principles of fellowship and generosity in the grand tradition of an organization that has roots in the nineteenth century. Unique to the diocese, this assemblage has grown to include a new generation of faithful.
Several women greeted each other after Sunday Mass at St. Edward, asking about each other’s Christmas and New Year’s holiday plans. As members of the lay Order of the Daughters of Isabella, each is quite familiar with the hospitality, a quality that has attracted prospective “sisters” to inquire about the organization.
“It's been a pleasure as a new member learning and growing in my faith,” said Liz Klobucar, a thirty-something Lowell resident, who with her husband Adam Klobucar, have been parishioners since 2015. “The Daughters of Isabella is an amazing group of faithful and selfless women sharing God’s love.”
Longtime Daughters of Isabella member and current president Phyllis Ludwig Reeder has grown accustomed to the camaraderie since she joined the group in the 1980s. She said she is happy to see an increase in membership in the organization that is the female counterpart to the better-known Catholic men’s group, the Knights of Columbus.
“Our new members are getting acclimated with what we are about,” said Reeder.
Looking toward her husband Chuck Reeder, with whom she recently celebrated a 60th wedding anniversary, she spoke of another distinction, “We've just received an award from the international and state Daughters of Isabella because (St. Edward) has been honored as a member for 55 years.”
The first circle, or chapter, of the Daughters of Isabella was founded in New Haven, Conn. in 1897, as an auxiliary of the Reverend John Russell Council of the Knights of Columbus. According to the organization's literature, the main purpose for the creation of the group is “uniting all Catholic women in sisterhood.”
At the group’s inception, a namesake was selected to honor the powerful and charitable Spanish sovereign who was, along with her husband King Ferdinand, heir of Aragon, instrumental in advocating for the unification of kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula as a Christian nation under the banner of the Catholic Church in the late 1400s.
Reeder said that accounts of the life of Isabella, Queen of Castile, show that she struggled to ease the political tensions in the kingdoms, while enduring the premature loss of family and friends. Her leadership helped usher in the Spanish Golden Age of arts, commerce and exploration.
In Indiana, there are several Daughters of Isabella circles where members have advocated the principles of their official motto: “Unity, Friendship and Charity.” However, only one active group remains in the Diocese of Gary, and members cite issues of demographic movement among the causes of the decline.
Members of St. Edward circle 1166 said they stemmed that tide by simply extending invitations to fellow believers through interpersonal connections, or through events such as their annual evening of reflection for women led by Deacon Bill Hathaway.
“It’s really been wonderful to see in the last year how our group has grown – lots of times you don't see that,” said new member Pat Metros, of the chapter that has grown to 33 members. “My daughter Shelley (Streeter), who’s a member, said there are more younger people coming in right after the holidays.”
According to Daughters of Isabella member Kathy Kleefisch, a longtime St. Edward parishioner, it is apparent that each of the ladies involved with the group has an altruistic commitment to their church family and greater civic community.
“I think it’s a worthwhile organization to get involved with ... I think it’s really important to get to know new people,” explained Kleefisch. “It’s a nice organization to share your Catholic faith among.”
Reeder emphasized that the group’s spiritual focus encompasses everything it means to be a Catholic woman serving God in modern times. Besides leading sacramental lives, the women sponsor religious retreats, pray novenas, work with the Knights of Columbus, and advocate for the sacredness of marriage, the unborn and women in crisis pregnancies with pro-life activism.
Daughters of Isabella display their beneficence throughout their small town and beyond. Many members actively support women’s shelters, pantries, soup kitchens and ministries that have been coordinated by the state group in Indianapolis.
Marge Zubay, an avid sports fan, said one of the only things that can pull her away from enjoying a Chicago White Sox game is the type of fellowship the Lowell-based Daughters of Isabella offer. “We’re happy to be here,” the former longtime Munster resident and recent transplant to Lowell said. “If you move somewhere the first place you meet people (at) is through your church.”
Zubay’s daughter, lector, faith formation teacher and pastoral council member Cheryl Grskovich said about the women’s group: “We have to keep it going,”
Though the sisters of the lay order do not wear regalia as the Knights of Columbus traditionally have, they do have ribbons and medals. Yet, diocesan Daughters of Isabella seem more inclined to show their affiliation in the good that they do.
Reeder and other Daughters of Isabella said as more Northwest Indiana women learn of the resurgent Catholic group, they are willing to assist them when they are ready to form a circle by contacting state-level officials.
Noting the youthfulness of some of the new members, St. Edward pastor Father Rick Holy said he is grateful for the women’s group’s contributions to the life of the parish.
“The beautiful thing about Daughters of Isabella is that here at St. Edward it’s been present literally for decades,” Father Holy said. “It’s called a sisterhood; it’s for the ladies of the parish of different ages to gather and show and grow their faith.”
Caption: Members of the Daughters of Isabella circle 1166 of St. Edward parish gather for a Christmas party on Dec. 14 at McVey's Restaurant in Lowell. The women's group, part of an international organization founded 1897 to promote unity, friendship and charity, has seen local membership grow to 33 and includes ladies of different ages, backgrounds and professions. (Provided photo)