Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools hold Big Hoopla

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
August 24, 2006

Hundreds of parents and students from Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools in Sioux City packed the bleachers at Memorial Field for a big event on Aug. 19. It wasn't a pre-season football game or summer track and field event.

The event was advertised as The Big Hoopla Celebrating Our Schools.

Members of the Catholic school system came together to celebrate a sacrament that is central to their faith. They attended a 5:30 p.m. Eucharistic liturgy that was celebrated by Bishop R. Walker Nickless. The Mass was concelebrated by Father Patrick Walsh, president of Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools; Father Matthew Hewitt, associate pastor at Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City and Father Al McCoy.

"We are so pleased to be able to celebrate your presence and the presence of God in each one of you," said the bishop in opening comments.

Bishop Nickless was the homilist.

"I was so pleased to be asked to be the celebrant of this Mass this afternoon. It gives me a chance to be with some of my favorite people - people who love Catholic schools."

He mentioned that he would preach a regular homily because it was their Sunday Mass.

The bishop told the story of a permanent deacon who had been very worried about his college-aged daughter and her connection to the church. Raised in a strong Catholic family, once in college she began to wander away from the church and dabbled in various other religions, even witchcraft.

"Of course her parents were very worried and concerned." He said, "One thing that the daughter did keep was the love of her father's love of music. Despite her wandering away from the church, she found a formal, Catholic choir in which to sing - not to worship."

One day a non-churchgoing friend of the girl went up and received Communion. When she came back to the choir loft, she commented on the tasteless wafer and wondered what people saw in it.

"The deacon's daughter replied, 'That wafer is the Body of Christ and you shouldn't be going to Holy Communion because you don't believe in the Eucharist and you are not Catholic,'" said Bishop Nickless.

In the middle of trying to explain the sacrament that she had left, the deacon's daughter started to cry and realized what the Eucharist meant to her.

"Many Catholics drift away from the Eucharist. If we truly understand what the Eucharist is, it is a difficult thing to believe. Many Catholics fail to deeply understand what the Eucharist is all about." The bishop added, "They go to Communion and they don't really know what's going on because they never stop to think about what they are doing and what they receive."

He mentioned that in the Gospel, John 6:51-58, Jesus provided Catholics with the basis of the Catholic belief in the real presence of Christ in the bread and wine. It is the flesh and blood of the Risen Christ.

"It assures us that whoever eats this bread will live forever," said Bishop Nickless, who stressed that it is "God whom we receive in Holy Communion and God is eternal. We share in that eternal life."

He mentioned that sometimes people say it is hard to see Jesus in that white piece of bread, but he thinks it's even harder for people to see Jesus in other people after they receive Holy Communion.

"We thank God today for this gift and for the gift of our faith," said Bishop Nickless.

Along with gathering to celebrate the Eucharist, the bishop said they also came together to celebrate Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools.

"The name change is an effort to make a clear statement about who we are," he said. "Catholic schools are one in the city of Sioux City and together as one school system we commit ourselves to the best in Catholic education from preschool to beyond high school."

The bishop said the gathering was a chance for all of the people - students, parents, teachers, administrators and friends of Catholic education - to recommit to what they are about: furthering the Gospel message and the values of Jesus Christ, pride in the Catholic faith and excellence in education.

"Catholic schools are an important part of our Catholic faith," he said. "Catholic schools have proved without a doubt to be the best way to promote our beliefs and values as Catholics. In the arts, in sports, in classrooms, we seek to make room for Jesus Christ and our belief in him."

He thanked everyone who sacrificed to make Catholic education a reality in the city and the diocese.

"We pray today that our efforts be blessed abundantly by the Lord and this new school year may be a wonderful academic year for our students and faculty and that all of us continue to grow as Jesus did in wisdom, age and grace," said Bishop Nickless.

As Mass concluded, Father Walsh thanked those involved in planning the celebration - the staff of his office and the long-range marketing committee.

After the liturgy, faculty and students from Bishop Heelan High School, Holy Cross Grade School, Mater Dei Grade School and Sacred Heart Grade School gathered for a Parade of Excellence.

"We have a terrific turnout tonight," said Father Craig Collison, who served as the master of ceremonies for the Parade of Excellence. "We are excited to kick off the 2006-2007 school year together and this celebration."

Some of the faculty members and administrators carried the large Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools banner at the start of the procession.

Bishop Heelan High School marched after the banner. Father Collison spoke about updates to the facility, service projects of the students and other accomplishments of the student body.

Grade school students walked in groups by their grade - starting with middle school students and concluding with the kindergartners.

Raising his voice in excitement, Father Collison said, "Finally, we welcome our newest class to the Catholic school system. Please welcome the class of 2019."

Like with the other grades, the priest announced what the new students would learn in the coming year.

"There are 172 dedicated and talented faculty and staff in the school. Nine faculty and staff have been in the system for more than 30 years, 17 have dedicated over 20 years and 40 have been with Catholic schools for over 10 years," noted Father Collison. "Not only are they dedicated and passionate, but they know their stuff. We are blessed to have them."

When all of the students and faculty and staff were out on the football field, the students released balloons in celebration of the new name for the school system.

Students and parents alike were appreciative for the opportunity to come together in celebration of their schools.

Abby McCarthy, a second grade student from Holy Cross, said she liked the parade best of all.

Derek Hill, a parent of two students in the system, said, "I thought it went very well. It was very inspiring."

He liked the chance to get together as a unified system and wishes they could do something like this more often.

His daughter, Kasha Hill, a fifth grade student at Holy Cross, liked the parade and the chance to celebrate Mass outdoors.