O Lord Jesus, you said that when we welcome your children we welcome you, assist us in our work of guiding your children. Touch the hearts of your people so they will equip us with the gifts that we need to further your love with our Juniors. Enable us to work in Your service and for Your sake. Amen
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.
What Junior Chapters Do
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
It is an honor to introduce Rev. Susan Claytor as the Chaplain for the Junior Daughter ministry. We are so thrilled she has prayerfully accepted this new position. A Junior Chaplain adds a whole new unexplored dimension to our ministry. She was a blessing to all the Directresses at our Directress retreat last year and she will be a true blessing to Directresses and Junior Daughters all across our county.
Please take a moment and read her meditation to us. God bless.
Triennial Highlights, Information and Pictures are on the Junior Daughters page. Check it out!!
The Alpha Fund was established at Triennial!
This brand new fund for the Order will now provide financial support to Junior Directresses in their efforts to extend Christ’s kingdom among young women and girls. Named in honor of the first Junior Chapter, the Alpha Fund will provide support to help begin new Junior chapters, strengthen existing one, and provide assistance for retreats, service projects and activities. The in-gathering day for the new Alpha Fund is relevant to the Junior ministry, which is often tied to the beginning and ending of the school year. The in-gathering day for donations has been named September 5th in honor of the day Mother Teresa passed away.Junior Daughters are encouraged to study her life and work.
Alpha Fund Application Process
Directresses are encouraged to fill out an application and send it either to the National Junior Daughter Chairperson or the National Office. See application. A committee of Junior Directresses, chaired by the National Junior Directress will review and approve all applications. Checks will be payable from the National Office.
The new 2009 Junior Handbook is now ready to purchase from the National Office. All Junior Daughters are encouraged to get the new Handbook as the old one is now, well, old.
We have a new (larger) Junior Cross, also available for ordering. This new cross is the same size as the small Senior cross with 'FHS' across the horizontal bar. It is beautiful! It is larger and shinier and much better quality. We sincerely thank Avery for their donation to the cover the cost of designing the new Cross. To see a picture of it go to the Margaret J. Franklin Center page of our website and click on Crosses. To order the new Junior cross use the DOK order form in the back of the Royal Cross or on the Forms page of this web site.
Transitioning from Junior member of the Order to Senior member is a very personal and often challenging decision. Below are a few ideas of how you can help make this process a little easier for your Junior.
1. Assign the Junior Daughter a mentor
This person would work with the Junior during the transition process which
would include giving her the following:
•Comparing Junior and Senior handbooks
•Existing activities of the Senior chapter
•Format and dates of meetings and proposed activities
•Expectations of the chapter for each member
•List of officers/members with contact info
2. Have a Transition Study Period
The new Policies for Junior Daughters, requires aa period of study, or discernment, for the transition. This could include one of the study options below which is agreed upon by the Junior Directress, Senior Daughter of the King President and transitioning Junior Daughter:
•Senior Daughter of King Study Guide
•Review of the Senior Handbook
•Transition Study Guide, which is under construction
3. Submit the Junior Daughter High School Graduate Information Form
Found on the Forms page, this form is used to collect information from a
graduating senior Junior Daughter to help stay in touch with her after she graduates.
This new Service is for those Junior Daughters who are to be admitted into the Order as Senior members. It is a beautiful Service that honors their time as Juniors while making their vows as a Senior Daughter.
5. Pray
Offer prayers by the Senior and Junior Chapter as she goes through this transition
period.
Meditation PDF - Meditation by a recently transitioned Junior Daughter
Has the Lord touched your heart to reach out to young women of your parish?
Would a Junior chapter really benefit the girls and 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.
2. OK, I'm called to be a Junior Directress, now what?
Congratulations and thank you. That may have been the hardest part. Now you want to confirm the support and approval of your clergy and bring together at least three baptized girls. Contact the Membership Coordinator at the Margaret J. Franklin (MJF) Center and ask for a Jr. Charter Kit. The Charter Kit will provide a lot of information to help get you started. She will also contact your Diocesan and Provincial Directress as well as the National Jr. Directress so they can offer their aid and support. 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 to find out where and when you can take this course.
3. How do I start a Junior Chapter?
Pray for guidance on chapter formation
Receive the Clergy’s approval
Identify three or more interested baptized girls
Publicize the formation of a Junior Daughters of the King Chapter
Meet with interested girls and parents
Order Junior Handbooks, Study Guides and a Leader’s Guide
Post and distribute a notice of scheduled meetings in your parish newsletter, bulletin, weekly calendar, announcements, etc.
Set a date for the Candlelight Service.Make sure you coordinate the date with your Clergy
Conduct your study sessions
Pick a name for your Chapter, elect officers, complete the Charter Application, and collect registration fees ~ Mail everything to the MJF Center (please allow 6 weeks for processing and delivery)
Coordinate with your Clergy a date for the Services of Institution and Admission, and advertise it
Contact your National Junior Chair if you have questions
4. What do I do for their Preparation period?
The girls enter a three month Preparation period, or time of study and discernment, where they experience being a Junior Daughter before prayerfully making the decision to be admitted in to the Order. The Junior Handbook has a section called Resources for Study. You may also download the Junior Daughter Study Guide on the Forms page. Be sure to download the Letter for the Leader and the Leader's Study Guide to assist you with their study. The Guides are also available from the MJF Center. While the Study Guide is not mandatory it is there as a resource. Directresses should feel free to follow the inspiration of the Holy Spirit when leading these young sisters in Christ.
5. How do I connect with other Junior Chapters?
A list of Junior Chapters in your Province and Diocese can be found on the Provincial/International page. You can also contact your Diocesan and Provincial Directress, the Membership Coordinator or the National Junior Directress to provide you further information.
6. Where do I go for help?
Whenever you have a question about starting or maintaining a Junior Chapter, whether general or specific, other Directresses are always willing to help. You can contact other local Directresses or your Diocesan or Provincial Directress for help. Additionally, 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. Also we have a yahoo group of Junior Directresses from all over the country that communicate and share ideas and concerns that relate to Junior Chapters. We welcome all Directress and those who work with Junior Daughters. Please contact the National Jr. Chair for an invitation to join. We hope to see you there!
Do you have chapter meeting ideas, service project ideas, meditations, Bible studies, prayers, poems, games, pictures, chapter happenings, Juniors going on a mission trip? We’d love to hear about it! Please send an article to the National Jr. Daughters Chair and she will post it on the website, the yahoo group website for Jr. Directresses of in a future Royal Cross or Jr. Messenger. Don’t let the great work our Juniors go unnoticed, tell us about it. We’re proud of them and all they for the Lord.
