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The Catholic Aid Association was founded in January 1878 as a financial support system to German Catholic immigrant families. Today, the association's membership is open to Catholics from any nationality living in the five-state area.

It has grown to become the 13th largest fraternal insurance company in the nation. It serves approximately 70,000 members and has 170 active fraternal councils in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Local councils of the Catholic Aid Association include: St. Margaret Catholic Aid Council at St. Margaret Catholic Church in Lake Henry (president Leo Hemmesch); St. Louis Catholic Aid Council at St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville (president Mary Ann Meyer); Holy Family Catholic Aid Council at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Roscoe (president John Mehr Jr.); St. Martin Catholic Aid Council at the St. Martin Catholic Church (president Deborah Olmschenk); and St. Michael Catholic Aid Council at St. Michael Catholic Church in Spring Hill (president Anton Gruenes).