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Pride in Tradition/Our History
     
 
Father Bart Lenehan established the first Catholic School in Sioux City in 1881. The school was the converted building of  St. Mary's Church located at Seventh and Perry. It was run by five Sisters of Charity B.V.M.  In June of 1888 Father Timothy Treacy bought land at Tenth Street between Douglas and Pearl to build a bigger St. Mary's Church. It was decided to combine the new church and school. The new school building was finished in 1889.  When the Diocese of Sioux City formally established in 1902 the name was changed by Bishop Phillip J. Garrigan to Cathedral of the Epiphany.

Bishop Garrigan was a huge proponent of Catholic education and under his leadership most parishes in Sioux City had a Catholic school. He saw Catholic schools as the one guardian of a complete education that included the morals necessary for life in any profession.   

"If the Catholic Church can morally remake a man as it does at baptism and in the sacraments, she certainly has the best elements for the teaching of men and women, and for the children."

During the 30 years of Bishop Edmond Heelan, the Catholic educational school system completed its transition from rural schools into graded systems and the Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools thrived.

"The faith on which such [Catholic] schools are built, the sacrifice that sustains them, their endowment of talent, of scholarship and boundless charity which is their chief wealth, will continue to benefit the world..."

Bishop Joseph M. Mueller ushered us into the age interparochial schools, schools supported by more than one parish.

These great men and those who followed laid the foundation for today's Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools. In an effort to ensure the best possible education for all students in our community, the eight individually operated parish schools joined with Bishop Heelan High School in 1998 to form Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools.

Today each campus remains driven in their efforts to share the Gospel values of faith, knowledge, values and service. Placing the best possible learning tools and educators in each classroom for every student continues to be the driving force and the mission of the Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools.