THE GLOBE
PO BOX 5079 (51102)
1825 JACKSON ST.
SIOUX CITY, IA (51105)
712.255.2550
800.352.9035
WWW.CATHOLICGLOBE.ORG

Catholic School Foundation announces new chairperson

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
(Email Katie)

A seven-year member of the Catholic School Foundation will now head up the group that is designed to promote the well-being of Catholic schools throughout the Diocese of Sioux City.

Maureen Heffernan of Sioux City has been named the new chairperson of the Catholic School Foundation for the Diocese of Sioux City.

The Catholic School Foundation is an organization of representatives from across the diocese who work in support of Catholic schools.

Incoming chair
Heffernan, who has been a member of the Catholic School Foundation Board since 2002, has been asked to become the new chair of the board. When Bishop R. Walker Nickless extended the invitation for her to chair the board at the completion of Matt Greteman’s term, she said she was happy to oblige.

“Matt did an excellent job as chair and I know that any of our other board members could just as easily perform in that role as we are blessed to have a very capable group of individuals from around the diocese serving on the Foundation Board,” she said.

Bishop Nickless said he looks forward to welcoming Heffernan as the chairperson.

“Maureen has been involved in various aspects of supporting not only our schools but the diocese as well,” said the bishop. “She is very helpful to us. I look forward to working with her and so does the board.”
Heffernan is a partner in the Berenstein, Moore, Heffernan, Moeller & Johnson, L.L.P. law firm. She has practiced with the firm since coming to Sioux City after her graduation from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1985. 

She is married to Dan Heffernan, a 1978 graduate of Heelan, and they have three children: Elizabeth, a junior at Heelan; Michael, an eighth grader at Holy Cross School;  and Kathryn, a seventh grader at Holy Cross School. They are parishioners at St. Michael Parish in Sioux City.

“My husband and I know that we are fortunate to have had the opportunity to choose a Catholic school education for our children here in Sioux City,” she said. “My service on this Foundation Board is one way we can hopefully make that opportunity more available to others.”

Heffernan mentioned that these are somewhat challenging times for any nonprofit foundation, “but the Catholic School Foundation Board, led by the bishop and assisted by a very capable diocesan staff, is ready to meet those challenges.” 

“We take our role as stewards of the foundation’s assets very seriously with an eye toward not only providing financial assistance today for the Catholic schools and students in the diocese, but preserving those financial resources for future generations,” said Heffernan. “We are hopeful that our efforts will help strengthen and expand the opportunities for faith-based education around the diocese.”

Outgoing chair
Matt Greteman, the outgoing chairperson of the Catholic School Foundation, has served on the board for four years. He was named the chair of the Catholic School Foundation in the Diocese of Sioux City in April of 2005.

Greteman has enjoyed the opportunity “to interact with other people in the diocese with common interest and understanding the importance of a Catholic education.”

He mentioned that he has continued to serve on the board to offer help in financial analysis. His term as a board member expires in 2010.

Greteman said that the board allows for “the initiation of synergies in our schools albeit in curriculum, management and ideas that can be passed from school to school for improvements. Also the ability to fund initiatives at the schools is vital in maintaining the competitiveness in today’s education environment.”

A parishioner at St. Lawrence in Carroll, he works at Greteman Kraus Insurance and Real Estate. It is a family business with two of his first cousins and his brother. Greteman Kraus has been in business since 1950.

According to Greteman, Catholic schools bring "not only the book learning but also the moral issues into play with providing an opportunity to educate the students in a Christ-centered environment."

He is married to Peggy and has four children: Kristen, a senior at Iowa State University; Peter, a freshman at St. Louis University; Nathan, a sophomore at Kuemper; and Leah, a seventh grader at Kuemper. Kristen and Peter also attended Kuemper.

“Matt Greteman has made a great impact on the Catholic School Foundation these last four years,” said Bishop Nickless. “I am very appreciative of his leadership.”

Greteman was chairman of the foundation board when Bishop Nickless became bishop three and a half years ago.

“I have found him to be very confident and excited about our schools,” said the bishop. “Under his leadership and the work of the Catholic School Foundation, we have made great strides in helping our schools in the Diocese of Sioux City. I am grateful for his extra efforts and for his dedication to Catholic schools.”