Over 500 attend Bishop's Dinner

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Posted Oct. 24, 2002

Nearly 550 people attended the Sixth Annual Bishop's Dinner for Catholic Education held Oct. 20 at the Marina Inn in South Sioux City, Neb.

Father Gerald Feierfeil, pastor at the Church of Nativity in Sioux City, served as the master of ceremonies.

In opening comments, Father Feierfeil introduced Kevin Vickery, the new superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Sioux City, and acknowledged Sister Joan Stoffel, the former superintendent who presently serves as diocesan curriculum director, for her years of service to the schools and church.

Karen Waldschmitt of Remsen chaired this year's dinner.

"I consider it a special honor to do so during the centennial year of our diocese," she said. "When I was asked to chair this event, it was my hope that we could have participation from all school communities in our diocese. I am extremely happy tonight to report that we have achieved that thanks to all of you." She also extended gratitude to the bishop's dinner committee and others who helped organize the event.

The keynote speaker for the evening was the Honorable Jim Nicholson, United States Ambassador to the Holy See. He is a native of Struble, Iowa, and a graduate of West Point.

He mentioned that Struble had wonderful pastors in the parish when he was growing up. They helped to nourish his faith.

"Now I have had an opportunity to learn more about that faith than I've ever known. When the president asked me - after we got him elected - what I'd like to do ... I said I would like to go to the Vatican. I am only the sixth person who has been the United States Ambassador to the Vatican. It wasn't until 1984 that we established full diplomatic relations to the Vatican," explained Nicholson, who described his job as the best in the world. "I represent President Bush to Pope John Paul II, and I do it in Rome."

The Holy Father accepted Nicholson's credentials just 48 hours after the terrorism attacks, Sept. 11, 2001.

"The pope told me he had prayed about it. He said it was an attack not just on the United States, but on mankind," said Nicholson. "He recognized that we had a right, if not a duty to respond."

While the Vatican - at 109 acres - is the smallest nation state in the world, Nicholson referred to it as a "spiritual superpower. It has a global reach and is probably the most sophisticated diplomatic core in the world."

He said his job was centered on classic diplomacy as opposed to normal diplomacy because there was no commercial end or sales to it.

"We worry about human issues," Nicholson said.

For instance, he worked on negotiations to end the occupation of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

"When you represent the United States, when most things are happening in the world, you get involved because of the role we play," he explained.

He is actively raising awareness about other social justice issues such as hunger in Africa, AIDS in Africa and human trafficking. The ambassador pointed out that four million people are enslaved each year, mainly women as domestic servants or prostitutes.

Nicholson praised the U.S. for its religious freedom. He said that the Catholic Church and other churches could freely appoint its hierarchy in the United States without interference by the government. This situation does not exist in many countries - North Korea, Russia and Saudi Arabia to name a few.

Commenting on the health of the pope, he said it was very much as it appears on television. Pope John Paul II is frail physically, but is mentally acute with a sense of humor.

With the world situation in mind, the ambassador noted that the pope has said that in the face of hatred, people needed to build upon what unified them, not what divided them. A starting point is for people to accept cultural and religious traditions that differ from their own.

Nicholson said he wasn't privy to any information regarding front-runners as successors. People often comment that this pope outlives his potential successors.

Prior to the keynote speaker, an array of awards were presented.

Robert and Shirley Dahl of Boone received the Leadership in Catholic Education Award.

Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo told the Dahls that this honor was given to individuals "who have given selflessly in order to make a notable contribution to our diocesan schools. Your commitment to our schools goes well above the call of stewardship."

Speaking on behalf of the couple, Robert Dahl said they were happy to support Sacred Heart School in Boone and the schools of the diocese.

"We must keep our schools open," he said. "It is most important that we teach our children to ask for God's help, learn to respect other people and receive proper education. Until such time that the federal and state government decides that they should share in the tax money to support our schools, we are going to have to do it ourselves."

He encouraged people to support the Catholic School Foundation in order for diocesan schools to continue to have income for years to come.

Five recipients of the Bishop Lawrence D. Soens for Excellence in Education Awards were also honored. This year's winners included: Betty Benson of St. Catherine/St. Mary School in Oyens-Remsen, Karen Conlon of Sacred Heart School, Spencer; Mary Jayne Mousel of Holy Family School in Sioux City; Karen Ruterbories of Mater Dei School in Sioux City and Shirley Ann Selzer of Sacred Heart School in Spencer.

Vickery pointed out that contributors from throughout the diocese gave generously to establish an endowment in 1999 to make the $1,000 monetary gift attached to the teacher award possible.

Also during the dinner, school volunteers from every Catholic school in the diocese were recognized.

"Early on in the planning process for the 2002 bishop's dinner, it was determined that we would honor a special person from every school in the diocese during this centennial year," noted Vickery. "I would like to thank each of the volunteers recognized here this evening as well as those that have been and will be the main stay of Catholic education in the diocese."

These Best Friends mainly consisted of individuals who give of the time, talent and treasure to keep the schools strong.

The Best Friends honorees included: Steve and Marilyn McCall of Bishop Garrigan High School and Seton Grade School, Algona; Jim Kollasch of St. John's, Bancroft; Arden Collison of Sacred Heart, Boone; all community senior citizens of Christ the King School, Mount Carmel and Breda; Mary Neary, Kuemper Grade School, Carroll; Clete Windschitl, Kuemper High School, Carroll; Mary Gaukel, Danbury Catholic; Bill and Patricia Menegay, St. Rose of Lima School, Denison; Jennifer Myers, Emmetsburg Catholic; Margaret Lacey, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Fonda; Maurie Stark (deceased) and Leo Crimmons, St. Edmond Schools, Fort Dodge; Nic Hansen, Spalding Catholic Schools, Alton, Hospers and Granville; Delores Terwilliger, St. Mary's School of Humboldt; Gary and Elaine Tillman of Gehlen Catholic, Le Mars; Sister Florence Vaske and Paul Loutsch of St. Mary's, Remsen; Marie Pavik and Gertrude Urich, Pocahontas Catholic; Nancy Claar, St. Patrick's, Sheldon; Gary and Tracey Althaus, Heelan High School, Sioux City; Lori Johnson, Holy Family School, Sioux City; Keith Macziewski, Mater Dei School, Sioux City; Tim McClintock, Sacred Heart School, Sioux City; Scott Flynn, St. Michael School, Sioux City; Patricia Sutherland, Blessed Sacrament School, Sioux City; Jean Pruitt, Sacred Heart School, Spencer; Dr. Troy and Grace Ivey, St. Mary's School, Storm Lake; Nick Romey, Holy Trinity School, Templeton and Halbur; Patsy Wirtz, Sts. Peter and Paul School, West Bend; and Phyllis Luft, St. Ann School, Vail.

Bishop DiNardo said that what everyone who attended the dinner shared was a "profound, deep affection, commitment to what Catholic education means in the Diocese of Sioux City and what it will continue to mean. It is my prayer and hope that the next 100 years will be equally dedicated to the goodness, the brilliance and the importance of Catholic education in our diocese."