Catholic Schools award honors late priests

October 7, 2004

For the past seven years, the Diocese of Sioux City has honored presented a special award called the Leadership in Catholic Education award. At this years 8th annual Bishop's Dinner for Catholic Education on October 17, that special honor will be officially renamed to the Msgr. James K. Lafferty Leadership Award.

Msgr. Roger J. Augustine, administrator of the Diocese of Sioux City, says the decision to change the name of the award is a fitting tribute to the late priest who passed away September 21 at the age of 76. "Msgr. Lafferty's name was synonymous with Catholic education in the entire state of Iowa," said Augustine. "When it came to Catholic schools, there was no stronger proponent than Msgr. Lafferty."

The Hinton native served as superintendent of schools in the Diocese of Sioux City for 22 years. During that time, Msgr. Lafferty was instrumental in almost every critical piece of legislation that impacted parochial schools. Prior to his emergence in the halls of the Iowa legislature, state aid for children in parochial schools was non-existent. The work of Msgr. Lafferty led to changes in state laws that government everything from busing, tuition tax credits to textbook assistance.

The first recipient of the Msgr. James K. Lafferty Leadership Award will be Karen Waldschmitt of Remsen.

The 8th Annual Bishops Dinner for Catholic Education will be held on Sunday, Oct. 17, at the Sioux City Convention Center. Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr, Bishop of the Diocese of Duluth, Minn., will be the featured speaker at the dinner. Tickets are priced at $125 each and are available by calling (712) 233-7524. Proceeds are used to support all of the Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Sioux City.