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October 12, 2026by DAWN PROSSER
Director of Communications
Nearly 450 supporters of Catholic education from northwest Iowa and beyond gathered last night at the Bishop’s Dinner for Catholic Schools - Rooted in Faith, Forming Saints and Scholars. It is the first Bishop’s Dinner scheduled since the 2022 event.
Highlighting the contributions of the 14 diocesan Catholic school systems, the dinner was held at the Marriott Riverfront Convention Center in South Sioux City, Nebraska, just across the river from Sioux City.
The Bishop’s Dinner raises funds for diocesan Catholic schools for enhancement grants through the Catholic Schools Foundation. Schools write grants for items including staff development, marketing, mental health and wellness, technology, inclusion and other areas.
Photo gallery
“Tonight is a celebration of the people who make our Catholic schools truly special – our students, who are at the heart of all we do, our dedicated teachers, administrators and staff, and the families, volunteers and supporters who make it possible for our schools to thrive,” Heidi Probasco, diocesan director of stewardship and development, said to those gathered at the dinner. “Together, you help create places where young people can grow in faith, pursue excellence and become the people God is calling them to be.”
Bishop Keehner with chair couples Matt and Allyson Dirksen (left) and Jeff and Jackie Arens (right)Bishop John E. Keehner was the keynote speaker for the event. Chair couples were Jeff and Jackie Arens of Le Mars and Matt and Allyson Dirksen of Danbury.
Father Doug Klein, pastor of All Saints Parish in Le Mars, and the Arens’ pastor, offered the invocation.
Superintendent message
Just prior to the distribution of awards, Dr. Dora Jung, superintendent of Catholic schools, introduced herself to the attendees as she began her role in July. Jung said her passion for Catholic schools comes from her own experience attending and graduating from Catholic schools in Mexico.
“I experienced firsthand how a foundation built on faith elevates both character and career,” she explained. “Recently, as I toured our 14 diocesan school systems I was deeply moved to find that same unmistakable warmth and community spirit alive in every building.”
The superintendent offered her thanks to the Catholic school volunteers, teachers, administrators, staff and donors for their positive impact upon the students enrolled in the diocesan schools.
“As the new superintendent, I want to express my gratitude on behalf of our students and staff to the communities at each of our 14 locations across for your unwavering support of Catholic education,” she said. “We truly are stronger when we stand together.”
Awards
Two Excellence in Education awards were presented to Carla Johnson, English educator at Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City and Kathleen Jones, fifth grade educator at Sacred Heart School in Boone.
Three Good Shepherd Awards were presented to Chris Bork, Bishop Heelan High School principal; Sara Bormann, Humboldt St. Mary principal and Michelle Davis, custodian at Bishop Heelan High School.
Two special awards were also presented at the dinner. Retired priest Father Craig Collison was honored with a Clergy Award for his lifetime of dedication to Catholic schools including serving as an educator, administrator, coach and athletic public address announcer.
Award winners from left with Bishop Keehner and Superintendent Dr. Dora Jung: Kathleen Jones, Chris Bork (back row), Sara Bormann, Michelle Davis, Carla Johnson and Father Collison. Richard Seivert of Le Mars and former Gehlen Catholic School educator, counselor, coach and humanitarian was posthumously awarded with a Volunteer Award. He initiated the Gehlen Mission Honduras program and became involved in the Then Feed Just One (TFJO) organization that packages food for those experiencing hunger in other nations. Many diocesan schools have offered their own TFJO events with Seivert’s assistance in recent years.
He died April 28 after a brief battle with cancer. Seivert’s family members and close friend Carolyn Bickford accepted the award on his behalf.
“Dick’s legacy lives on through the students he influenced, the people he served and the many lives changed because he was willing to say, ‘Yes, I can help,’” Probasco said of the humanitarian.
Bishop’s keynote
In his keynote, Bishop Keehner noted that other than his seminary studies, he attended only public schools. He shared that in 1971, his public school kindergarten teacher – Mrs. Delesky – would start the school day with a simple prayer.
“I distinctly remember that upon returning from Christmas break that something was missing. We no longer were able to say that simple prayer of gratitude together,” he said. “It was then, I assume, that the 1963 Supreme Court ruling on the separation of church and state in public schools filtered its way down to Mrs. Delesky’s classroom at John W. Davis Elementary School in Austintown, Ohio.”
Bishop KeehnerAlthough he received a good education, “the Catholic part was completely missing.”
He stressed the profound impact that all teachers have upon students, adding that Catholic school teachers have a unique role of impacting the faith lives of the young people in their classrooms as well as academics.
“I am firmly convinced that teaching is not just a job. It is a vocation from God, just as much as being ordained a priest or deacon or living a life of consecration as a member of a religious order or society of apostolic life is a vocation from God,” Bishop Keehner pointed out. “(A Catholic school) teacher is called by God to be a messenger of hope – hope for the future of humanity – that we can make the world a better place, one person at a time.”
As it is important that students know facts about Christ, his life and ministry, the bishop said it is more important that students personally encounter him. Catholic school educators help foster this relationship by serving as role models and witnesses to the faith. This responsibility does not rely just upon religion educators but teachers of any subject, coaches, administrators and staff.
“Being a Christian is about coming to know Jesus personally – not just knowing about him, but knowing him, and being in a living, life-giving relationship with him,” Bishop Keehner explained.
As a pastor of parishes with schools, the bishop experienced “tension” between those who believed the primary focus of Catholic schools should be academic excellence while others felt the focus should be on forming disciples. Bishop Keehner said he asked why the schools can’t focus on both.
“Why can’t we create an environment in which our students are both saints and scholars?” he asked, noting schools can educate students to prepare them for careers as well as faithful followers of Christ.
Within the Diocese of Sioux City, the bishop has made an effort to visit the Catholic schools in northwest Iowa since coming to the diocese including during his first Catholic Schools Week last January.
“I was amazed at how vibrant even the smaller schools were, at how even the larger schools had a sense of community. Let me be clear – we have wonderful schools in our diocese,” Bishop Keehner said.
He said he was impressed at every stop by the students, staff, educators, administrators, chaplains and pastors and that he is thankful for their dedication to the academic and faith growth of the students in their buildings.
“We have so many persons to who we owe our gratitude for working to ensure that our students can be scholars and saints, for working to ensure that our schools are not just places where students learn those things that will make them successful citizens but also faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, who came into our world not to be served but to serve,” Bishop Keehner said.
The Bishop’s Dinner for Catholic Schools will now be held every other year, with the next event planned for 2028. Probasco also said that the dinner will move to different communities in the diocese to allow for more supporters outside of Sioux City to attend. (Location and date to be announced.)
Throughout the 14 school systems, there are 6,420 students enrolled for the current academic year. Schools include:- Bishop Garrigan Schools in Algona
- Sacred Heart School in Boone
- Kuemper Catholic Schools in Carroll
- Danbury Catholic School in Danbury
- St. Rose of Lima School in Denison
- Emmetsburg Catholic School in Emmetsburg
- St. Edmond Catholic Schools in Fort Dodge
- St. Mary School in Humboldt
- Gehlen Catholic Schools in Le Mars
- Pocahontas Catholic School in Pocahontas
- St. Mary Schools in Remsen
- Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools in Sioux City
- Sacred Heart School in Spencer
- St. Mary Schools in Storm Lake