THE GLOBE
PO BOX 5079 (51102)
1825 JACKSON ST.
SIOUX CITY, IA (51105)
712.255.2550
800.352.9035
WWW.CATHOLICGLOBE.ORG

Heelan Pride Campaign uses casual gatherings to raise awareness, build support for effort

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
(Email Renee)

A volunteer-organized party was held Aug. 24 in Jackson, Neb. to raise awareness and enthusiasm for Bishop Heelan High School’s Pride Campaign which is underway to build a new school.

This gathering was hosted by and held at the home of Tom and Jeannie Lynch. It was the second party of this kind, held for the purpose of promoting the school’s campaign.

As the event got underway, Father Patrick Walsh, president of the Catholic Schools of Sioux City, extended a welcome and led those gathered in a prayer that was specially written for the campaign.

Art Silva, Pride campaign director, pointed out that he was pleased he could speak to them because it was a chance to share accurate information about what they were trying to do and he acknowledged the campaign needed their help.

“How can you help? First and foremost, pray for the success of the campaign,” he said. “Two, your treasure. Three, volunteer to help raise funds or host a party like the Lynches have done.”

Tom Lynch, a Heelan graduate, said he agreed to host the party with his wife because he feels strongly about the value of Catholic education and wanted to do something to give back to his school.

“I recognized later in life what Heelan High School did for me,” said Lynch, who noted that he was blessed to have had a good job. “I remember my mother working so hard to send eight children to Heelan – transporting us back and forth to Sioux City in the 1940s and 50s.”

Their own children also attended Catholic schools. Two graduated from Pius High School in Lincoln, Neb.; one from St. Francis Prep in Wheaton, Ill., and one from Bishop Nolan Prep in Fort Worth, Texas.

Jeannie remembers that someone in Texas once told her that they could be driving a Mercedes for what they paid in tuition. She recalled her response, “We don’t want a Mercedes; we want our children educated with Christian values.”

“For me it was an easy decision to make and I thank the good Lord every day that I was able to attend Cathedral and Heelan and that my children had the opportunity,” Tom said.

Now the Lynches have grandchildren attending Catholic schools in Omaha and Lincoln.

Silva provided a little background info, noting that in 2008 they began the silent phase of the Pride campaign.

“This campaign is already the most successful in Heelan history,” he said. “During the silent phase, the volunteers raised over $17 million in pledges.” Of that, $3.5 has come in.

The goal of the campaign is $25 million.

He explained that they plan to build the school in two phases. The first phase will include a chapel, a 700-seat auditorium, commons area, kitchen area, drama workshop and drama classrooms.

With many graduates of Heelan at the event, Silva acknowledged that he was preaching to the choir when he spoke of the quality, faith-filled education provided by the school.

“We cannot measure the return that we get on students as they go into society – what they give back,” he said.

“All we know is that we are still putting out a good product 60 years later.”

Given that the party was held in Nebraska, Silva said it provided a great example that Heelan graduates come from “both sides of the river.”

Ashley Lantz, the assistant campaign director, played a major role in organizing the gathering.