McGowans to chair 2004 bishop's dinner

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
June 10, 2004

The 8th Annual Bishop's Dinner for Catholic Education chaircouple will be Dr. Gerald and Sheryl McGowan of Sioux City.

This year's dinner, the major fundraiser for the Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Sioux City, will be held on Oct. 17 at the Sioux City Convention Center.

An individual or couple that have a strong belief in Catholic schools heads up the bishop's dinner each year.

"We are happy to help," said Sheryl McGowan. "Our family has been blessed and enriched by our Catholic school system. We hope that our efforts will make Catholic education a reality for many other families in the diocese."

The McGowans are parishioners at Blessed Sacrament in Sioux City. Their children attended Blessed Sacrament Grade School and Heelan High School in Sioux City. Sheryl McGowan commented that now their grandchildren are starting through Catholic schools.

"We feel that Catholic schools provide an exceptional educational value," said Dr. McGowan. "In addition to an outstanding academic curriculum, they also emphasize and foster essential moral and ethical principles. We are both beneficiaries of a Catholic education, as are our children. We are convinced that Catholic schools provide young people with the support for their faith and the knowledge and vision necessary in both their personal and professional lives."

In the past, the McGowans helped with the ball and auction at Heelan while their children were attending. They were involved with the ball when it first got started and continued to help when it went from the ball to the auction. They have been on other committees throughout the years to show their support of Catholic education.

"Catholic education provides the level of discipline, and demands the degree of respect children need," said Dr. McGowan. "The school uniform and the code of conduct are distinctions that help promote an atmosphere conducive to learning."

Other committee members and the keynote speaker will be announced in the coming weeks.

"The bishop's dinner is an outstanding event to celebrate and acknowledge the sacrifices made by so many selfless teachers, administrators, religious leaders, financial supporters and parents for the benefit of our children, our families and our faith," said Sheryl McGowan.

Proceeds from the dinner will be distributed on a per-pupil basis to all of the Catholic schools in the diocese. Tickets for the 8th Annual Bishop's Dinner are priced at $125 per person and will go on sale in late summer.

For more information, contact the diocesan Office of Development at (712) 233-7524.