Le Mars, Iowa — A former Sheldon priest has left a sizeable bequest to Gehlen Catholic School in Le Mars.
According to a news release, Gehlen Catholic School was a recipient of a $222,008.47 bequest from former pastor and Gehlen high school principal, Father John McGuirk, who passed away early last year.
Father Bruce Lawler, president of Gehlen Catholic School, says Gehlen is humbled by Father McGuirk’s generosity to the Catholic school where he was faculty from 1980-1985 while serving as pastor at St. Joseph Church in Struble. His forethought in including Gehlen and other diocesan schools serves as a wonderful example of planning and stewardship, according to Father Lawler.
The funds will be utilized in multiple ways to help current and future students at Gehlen. The majority of the bequest will be deposited into the Gehlen Catholic Endowment Fund to help the school well into the future, with some funds going to the cafeteria remodel and expansion project now underway, and a portion to assist with the daily operation of the school.
Father Lawler says Gehlen students will reap the benefits for many years to come.
Father McGuirk served as pastor at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Sheldon in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s.
Photo of Fr. John McGuirk courtesy of Gehlen Catholic School
