If you are sick of hearing “Happy Holidays,” a local Catholic Daughters of the Americas court has a response you can wear on your lapel.
As a fundraiser, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Nativity of Our Lady No. 931, which is based at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Brockport, is selling green buttons that read, “It’s OK to say Merry Christmas to me!”
Members are selling the buttons at the parish each week during November and December, as well as during special events in Brockport throughout the fall.
Member of the court got the idea at the CDA’s biennial state convention in Syracuse. Catholic Daughters Court John Paul II No. 2554 in Sparkill, N.Y., has developed and sold thousands of the buttons downstate. The Brockport court ordered 1,000 of the buttons this year, and so far demand has been high.
“They have been very well-received,” said Noel Meyers of Clarkson, a former CDA regent, which is similar to a president. “They all think it’s a good idea, and a lot of (the public is) buying them to give to everybody in their family.”
Adorned with a festive Christmas tree, the buttons drive home a point, especially in an era when big-box retailers have instructed employees to wish people “Happy Holidays” rather than “Merry Christmas,” said Charilla Conner of Sweden, the Brockport court’s regent.
“It’s the spirit of it,” Conner said. “It’s OK — you can say Merry Christmas.”
The buttons also help to educate people about the CDA, which is a social organization within the Catholic Church. The organization was founded in 1903 in Utica by the Knights of Columbus. Members support an education contest, seminarians and a variety of charities.
“We raise money, and we give it away,” Conner said. “We promote ministries and charity and we support the food shelf and we support Daystar, and we support some national things.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: To purchase the buttons, call 585-637-6325. For details about the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, visit www.cda-nys.org or www.catholicdaughters.org or call 212-877-3041.
