Court Butler 443 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas will mark its 100-year anniversary Sunday with an 11 a.m. Mass at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, 217 Franklin St. A reception will follow in St. Peter's social hall.

Founded Dec. 28, 1919, with 50 charter members, Court Butler 443 is the second-oldest court in Pennsylvania behind Mercer Court 2. The court decided to celebrate the anniversary early to avoid winter weather.

The organization was known as the National Order of Daughters of Isabella before the group voted to change its name in 1921.

Today the court has 39 members and is headed by Lorraine Laconi as regent.

“There are over 1,200 courts of the CDA and we have a couple in Puerto Rico and one in Guam,” said Laconi of Butler.

Over the years Court Butler 443 has provided benefits to its members and the community.

The group created a mortuary book to pay $200 to a beneficiary at the time of a member's death.

The court formed a drama club, a gym class and offered classes in millinery and dress making.

Court Butler 443 began a charity committee to help supply groceries and money to people in need.

The court donated to Catholic charities and provided Christmas baskets to needy families.

Laconi said Court Butler 443 remains active in supporting local charities such as the St. Vincent DePaul Society and Meals on Wheels.

Every month, the court organizes a bingo game at VA Butler Healthcare, 353 N. Duffy Road.

“Every year something different comes up that we support,” said Laconi. This year it is Smile Train, a charity that provides corrective surgery to children with cleft lips and palates.

Laconi said every court also donates to the national organization, which gives money to 15 charities.

Last year at its biannual convention, the national group contributed $268,463 to charities including Smile Train, Habitat for Humanity and SOAR (Support Our Aging Religious) which aids aging and retired sisters, brothers and priests.

In addition to its educational and charitable activities, in 1936 the Junior Catholic Drum and Bugle Corps was organized making its first public appearance during a Memorial Day parade in Butler in 1937.

The corps represented the American Bantam Car Co. in a war bond parade in Pittsburgh in 1945.

Laconi joined in 1944.

“I played the horn. I was so bad on the horn that when the bass drum player didn't show up, they put me on bass drum,” she said.

Both her daughters also joined the corps.

Corps members were girls 12 to 18. At 18 girls were aged out at the end of the parade season. Many members of the original corps went on to become members of the court.

For 40 years, the corps appeared in parades and competitions throughout Central and Western Pennsylvania.

In 1978, the junior court was closed because of lack of participation and all of its equipment was sold.

Laconi said, “You just couldn't get anybody to join anymore. You know how the younger generation is, they don't want to join anything.”

Laconi said she's hoping her daughter, Sharon Kaufman of Cranberry Township, will join Court Butler 443 once Kaufman retires.

“I tell her that's one night a month she can spend with her mother,” said Laconi.

In fact, anyone interested in joining should attend a Court Butler 443 meeting.

The group meets at 7 p.m. the second Monday of every month (except January and June) in the basement of St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 N McKean St.

They might find something special, said Laconi and Mary Ball, the financial secretary, who has been a member for seven years.

Ball said, “I just like the community, the gathering of women and the work that we do. We give to a lot of charities.

“We do a lot of good things. I like that,” said Ball.

WHAT: Court Butler 443 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas 100th anniversaryWHEN: 11 a.m. Mass SundayWHERE: St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, 217 Franklin St.INFORMATION: Reception to follow in St. Peter's social hall. Expected guests include Lisa McCann, 2nd vice state regent; Jeanette Kitch, state treasurer; and Peggy Guckin, past state regent of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas