Discover the Difference: Inaugural Bishop's Celebration of Catholic Schools Raises Nearly $95,000 to Support Tuition Assistance

September 14, 2022

The Diocese of Des Moines hosted its inaugural Bishop's Celebration of Catholic Schools on August 27 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Indianola, IA. This event united the Diocese of Des Moines community in celebration of the life-changing impact faith-centered education at its schools has provided for more than 120 years.

The event kicked off with a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Joensen, Fr. Chris Reising, Fr. Adam Westphal, Fr. Michael Amadeo, and Fr. Stephen Orr. Mass was followed by a dinner and awards ceremony honoring six individuals for their contributions to Catholic education. More than 250 supporters of Catholic education were in attendance that evening, and the event raised nearly $95,000.00 to support tuition assistance for students attending the Diocese of Des Moines Catholic Schools.

The event's success was a collaborative effort by the Catholic Schools Office, Office of Stewardship and Development, and the Catholic Foundation of Southwest Iowa. Event chairs included Tracy Deutmeyer and Matt Edwards, Stephanie and Spencer Cox, Annie and Andrew Salgado, and Christy and Dan Sullivan. In addition, a large contingent of volunteers helped plan and execute the event, including nine St. Thomas Aquinas Knights of Columbus members, 54 student volunteers from Dowling Catholic High School and Des Moines region Catholic elementary schools, and dozens of other volunteers from throughout the metro. Top-tier event sponsors included Mercy One, FACTS, the Catholic Tuition Organization, and Steier Group.

"My fellow event chairs and I were pleased to be part of this inaugural event," said Tracy Deutmeyer of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Ankeny. "A unifying event for all the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Des Moines to celebrate our Catholic identity and the individuals behind the mission was long desired and appreciated by all in attendance. You could sense the commitment and energy behind our schools' important work throughout the event. We want our children to better know, love, and serve Jesus Christ, and our schools, parents, and supporters are integral in that work."

Plans for next year's event are already underway, tentatively slated for September 2023. For more information on the Bishop's Celebration of Catholic Schools visit dmdiocese.org/giving/Bishops-Celebration-of-Catholic-Schools.

The Diocese of Des Moines Catholic Schools includes 16 schools in 23 central and southwest Iowa counties. Catholic schools in the Des Moines Diocese build Christ-centered, collaborative, inclusive partnerships with parents, students, and parishes to provide students with innovative academic excellence and inspirational faith formation. To learn more about Catholic schools in the Diocese of Des Moines, visit www.dmdiocese.org/catholic-schools or email ExpectMore@dmdiocese.org.