Junior Directress

Latest News | Resources | Transitioning from Junior to Senior Daughter | Policies | What Junior Chapters Do | How to start a Junior Chapter and FAQ |

Latest News

  Junior Directress Manual

Great News!! The new 2011 Junior Directress Manual is here!  The Manual contains everything a senior Daughter or Directress needs to know to start or maintain a Junior Chapter. It also contains a lot of helpful hints, suggestions and ideas. The Manual is informative, inspirational and empowering. Print your copy today!

2014 Junior Directress Retreat

Set the date - August 7-10, 2014

We will be meeting at Camp Allen, Texas, this time. It will be our accustomed warm and sandy environment, however, the sea will not be conveniently at hand.

We will be working on putting together a National junior Daughters Quilt for Triennial. I will be asking each Junior Chapter to create a quilt square and send it in. We will begin the process of assembling those squares into a quilt. More information will be coming out about the requirements and requests for the quilt squares.

We will also be planning for Triennial. Rumor has it that we will be going somewhere a bit different and able to have a new approach to our Triennial retreat. When I have more information I will pass it along, but you should start creatively thinking about what you would like to see us do this Triennial.

We also need to look over our forms and manuals to see if we need to update any of them. So if you see something that might need to be changed or updated please let the Junior Daughter Chair (jrdaughterschr@doknational.org) know.

Spanish Junior Daughter Handbook

Great News!! The 2009 Junior Daughter Handbook has been translated into Spanish! It is available in draft form for now. If you would like a digital copy please contact Emily Thrasher, International Chair (emilythrasher@doknational.org), or Susan Keith, Junior Chair (JrDaughtersChr@doknational.org).

Resources

Prayer

Prayer is an essential part of our ministry as Junior Directresses. Always seek the Lord's guidance and strength as you begin and continue the journey. Ask your clergy and senior chapter for prayer support as well.

Communication

Directresses are encouraged to contact their Diocesan, Provincial and National Junior Chairs for assistance. Click here for a list of contacts.

It is strongly encouraged that Directresses join the yahoo group. This online group provides many resources and puts you in contact with Directresses from all over the world. It is also a great way to get ideas, share concerns and get the latest news involving Junior Daughters. Contact the National Junior Chair (JrDaughterChr@doknational.org) for invitation to join.

It is also a good idea to sign up to receive Cross+Links, the monthly online newsletter of the Order.

Encourage your Juniors to join the Junior Daughter Facebook page. It's a great way to see what other chapters are doing.

Materials

There are a lot of materials to help Junior Directress in this ministry. Here is a list:

The Junior Directress Manual

The Directress Manual provides the information a senior Daughter or Directress needs to know to begin and maintain a Junior Chapter. This valuable resource is a wealth of information of all things related to the Junior ministry. The manual is inspirational as well as informative.

The Junior Daughter Handbook

Available in English and Spanish; it can be purchased from the National Office.

Additional Materials can be found on the Forms Page of the website and include:

• The Leader's Study Guide for the Primary Grade and Youth Study Guides

• The Primary Grade Study Guide for girls ages 11 and under

• The Youth Study Guide for girls 12 and older

• The National Transition Study guide for Juniors transitioning to senior members Forms

Click here for a list of all the forms related to Junior Daughters, what they're used for and where they're sent.

Financial Assistance

Obtaining the financial means necessary to do chapter activities and service projects can sometimes be a challenge. Click here for a list of ideas.

The Alpha Fund

The Alpha Fund was established at the 2009 Triennial Convention in Anaheim, California. Named in honor of the first Junior Chapter, the Alpha Fund is used to provide financial support to Junior Daughter Directresses in their efforts to extend Christ's kingdom especially among young women and girls through the ministry of the Junior Daughters of the king.

The Fund can be used to:

• Obtain Materials or supplies for starting a chapter and reactivating chapters.

• Defray transportation costs related to visiting chapters, attending retreats, or other events.

• Assist in the cost of retreats and other events.

• Provide funding for education, study materials, activities, retreats and program materials.

• Provide materials for service projects.

September 5th is the in-gathering day for the Alpha Fund. This date was selected in honor of the ay Mother Teresa died in 1997.

Junior Directresses are encouraged to fill out an application. The Alpha Fund committee reviews and approves all applications. Checks will be payable from the National Office.

Links to the application and guidelines for applying are below. Send the completed application to Jen Mariano at jenmariano@doknational.org.

Alpha Fund Guidelines

Alpha Fund Application

Sample Alpha Fund Application

Transitioning from Junior to Senior Daughter

A Junior Daughter may prayerfully consider joining the Order as a senior member when she is 16 years old. Transitioning is a very personal and often challenging decision. It is important she discuss this decision with her Directress, senior chapter president and her parents.

Click here for the Procedures for Transitioning from Junior to Senior Daughter.

Meditation by a recently transitioned Junior Daughter

Interview with a recently transitioned Junior Daughter

Policies

The Junior Policies were approved by the National Council of the Order of the Daughters of the King ^® in October 2008. They serve to provide continuity among and guidelines for the Junior Chapters worldwide.

Click here for the Policies of the Junior Daughters

What Junior Chapters Do

A Junior Daughters Chapter is under the guidance and support of a Senior Chapter at the church where it is formed. A Junior Chapter may be organized by first obtaining approval of the clergy of the parish; second, finding a Senior Daughter to serve as Directress, and third, bringing together three or more baptized girls. Junior Daughters are baptized girls and young women from 7 to 21 years of age.

• Encourage member to grow in their relationship to Jesus Christ through personal and group prayer and Bible study
• Provide opportunities to serve their church and community
• Provide a loving and supportive Christian community to strengthen members for service to and love for Jesus Christ

What Junior Daughters Do

• Make a promise of daily prayer and service to our Lord Jesus
• Make a promise to be Christ’s faithful servants and to extend His Love to all people
• Work to grow in our Christian faith and commitment through fellowship, prayer and Bible study

How to start a Junior chapter and FAQ 

Ask yourself, am I called to be a Junior Directress?

Has the Lord touched your heart to reach out to the girls and young women of your parish?

Would a Junior chapter really benefit your parish?

Does the clergy support Junior Daughters?

Is it the time right for you and your Senior Chapter?

If the answer to these questions is yes, then prayerfully consider saying yes to God’s call.

 

OK, so you’re called to be a Junior Directress, now what?

Congratulations and thank you. That may have been the hardest part. Now contact the Membership Coordinator at the Margaret J Franklin (MJF) Center and ask for a Junior Charter Kit.  The Charter Kit provides a lot of information to help get you started. She will also contact your Diocesan and Provincial Directress as well as the National Junior Directress so they can offer their help and support.

You may also consider either downloading a Directress Manual or purchasing one from the National Office. The Manual contains all the information you need to know to start and maintain your Junior Chapter.

Many dioceses require that anyone working with children must take a course in Safeguarding God’s Children or some other form of child sexual abuse prevention training. Please check with your clergy or diocese to find out where and when you can take this course.

How to start a Junior Chapter?

• Pray for guidance.
• Obtain approval from the clergy of the parish.
• Find a Daughter to serve as Junior Directress. The Directress must be a current member of the Order, or she may serve her three-month preparation for membership during the formation of the Junior Chapter.
• Bring together three or more baptized girls ages 7-21 interested in becoming a Daughter of the King.
• Contact the National Office and request a Junior Daughter Charter Kit. The Charter Kit contains the Application for a Charter, a Junior Daughters Handbook, and contact information for the Diocesan and Provincial Directresses and Presidents.
• Download The Junior Directress Manual from the National website or purchase one from the National Office. The Junior Directress Manual contains a great deal of information to help start and maintain a chapter.
• Announce or publicize that a Junior Chapter is forming and that an interest meeting is being held.
• Hold the Interest Meeting with the girls and their parents.
• Order a Junior Daughters Handbook for each girl interested.
• Obtain the appropriate age Study Guides and a Leader's Guide either from the National website or National Office.
• Post and distribute a notice of scheduled meeting in the parish newsletter, bulletin, announcements, etc.
• Set a date for the Candlelight Service. Make sure to coordinate the date with the Clergy.
• Conduct the study sessions.
• Coordinate with the Clergy a date for the Services of Institution and Admission, and publicize it.
• Assist the girls in picking a name for the new chapter and elect officers, if appropriate.
• Complete the Charter Application, an Application for Membership for each new Junior, a completed order form and admission fees. Mail everything to the National Office 6 weeks ahead.
• Have fun!

Contact your National Junior Chair if you have questions.

What do I do for their Preparation period?

Every girl or young woman thinking about becoming a Junior Daughter must complete a time of study.  During this time the girl develops her personal relationship with Jesus and grows in her love and commitment to God, and His church.  The candidate learns about the Order, the Rules of Prayer and Service, and begins practicing them in her own life.

For candidates 11 years old and under, use the Study Guide for Primary Grades.  For candidates 12 years old and older, use the Study Guide for Youth.  A Leader’s Guide is available for both and includes lesson objectives, activities and guidance for discussion questions.  You can either download them from this website (on the Forms page) or purchase them from the National Office.

Further, the Junior Handbook has a section called “Resources for Study” that you may find helpful.  Directresses should feel free to follow the inspiration of the Holy Spirit when leading these young sisters in Christ.

How do I connect with other Junior Chapters?

Contact your Diocesan and Provincial Directress, the Membership Coordinator or the National Junior Directress to provide you further information. (Click here for the list) They will have the contact information for other Junior Chapters in your area.

Where do I go for help?

Whenever you have a question about starting or maintaining a Junior Chapter, general or specific, other Directresses are always willing to help.  The National Junior Directresses’ charge is to provide you with support in prayer and resource and is available to assist you in any way she can.

There is also a yahoo group for Junior Directresses.  This group consisting of Directresses from all over the world, communicate and share ideas and concerns that relate to Junior Chapters. It also has a lot of resources to help in your ministry.

Please contact the National Jr. Chair for an invitation to join. We hope to see you there!