Priests give to Guadalupe Fund, assists with tuition at Bishop Heelan

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
June 8, 2006

It was out of their love for Catholic school education that a group of priests contributed to a special fund to assist Hispanic students with tuition to attend Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City.

Msgr. Gerald Lyon, a retired priest who resides in Sioux City, spearheaded this effort. All of the priests who gave to this fund are former teachers at Heelan and they are all concerned about the number of Hispanic students who are not receiving a Catholic school education.

"I remember Bishop Daniel DiNardo once said that he believed 40 percent of the school-age children in Sioux City were of Hispanic background. Certainly, we didn't have that 40 percent in our Catholic schools," noted the priest. "So where are all of these students? They are in the public schools."

Msgr. Lyon acknowledged that the public schools can provide a fine education, but the children in that setting are not being evangelized or encouraged to have an openness to a priestly vocation.

"We wanted to help get a few more into the Catholic schools system. Because of the cost of education today, it is impossible for many of them to come to the Catholic school," he said. "Our goal was to attract students who otherwise might not be going to Heelan because of the costs."

Msgr. Lyon mentioned that there have been many sociological studies that show the value of a Catholic school education.

"We want as many students as we can to have the opportunity to attend," he said. "The problem is these days with the high tuition, so many people can't afford it."

The two recipients of the Guadalupe Fund Scholarships are Miguel A. Lopez Campos and Luis Mora, both students at Sacred Heart Grade School in Sioux City. The scholarships pay all tuition costs for four years of high school, less $500 each year that is payable by the student.

"We were planning to offer just one, but the donations that we received enabled it to do two this year," he said. "I think that's a great indication of the future."

He mentioned that they opted to have the families contribute a portion of their own tuition rather than paying it in full for them so that they have ownership in it and feel a part of it.

When the students applied, they completed a standard application that included a summary of their school and community activities and awards as well as leadership involvement. They were also asked to write a short essay as to why they wanted to attend Heelan.

Msgr. Lyon pointed out that financial need was a big part of the process.

The plan is to award at least one scholarship every year.

While the initial contributors to the fund have been priest-teachers from Heelan, all people are able to give to the fund.

Anyone desiring more information about The Guadalupe Fund or wishing to help in this ministry may contact The Guadalupe Fund, care of The Catholic Schools Foundation, Central Catholic Offices, P.O. Box 3379, Sioux City, IA 51102.