MORGANTOWN—Students, benefactors and leaders in Catholic education from across West Virginia will convene for the 16th annual Bishop’s Dinner for Catholic Schools March 21 at the Waterfront Place Hotel in Morgantown. Bishop Michael J. Bransfield will present the Bishop’s Cross to four lay persons and one priest and the Aquinas Medal, the highest award a student can receive from the diocese, to 33 students.

This year’s Bishop’s Cross recipients are Brann Altmeyer, Father Colombo F. Bandiera, Mary Grace Peck, Thomas N. Rafferty and Marilyn “Sis” Richardson.

“This year’s Catholic Schools Week theme highlights the dividends yielded by Catholic school education: faith, knowledge, discipline and morals. It is impossible to know this year’s honorees and not recognize those profound and living values in each of them,” said Sister Elaine Poitras, CSC, Ph.D., superintendent of the Department of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.

“Through their very lives, those receiving the Bishop’s Cross or the Aquinas Medal attest strongly to the value and to the very mission of Catholic school education and remind us of its essential importance both in assuring the vital future presence of the church in West Virginia and in enriching the civic community,” Sister Elaine continued. “In light of the contributions made by the Bishop’s Cross honorees and the quality of character and service that characterize the Aquinas Medal winners, these awards are especially significant in a year when Catholic school communities nationwide are celebrating the benefits that are derived from a Catholic education. Those being honored this year are another span extending the bridge that connects generations whose lives have been positively influenced by the mission and ministry of Catholic school education.”

The Bishop’s Cross is presented to individuals who, through their lives and works, have demonstrated, in extraordinary ways, their commitment to the mission of Catholic education in West Virginia. Bishop Bransfield will present each recipient with a replica of Bishop Emeritus Bernard W. Schmitt’s pectoral cross, representing his role and responsibility as teacher.

Altmeyer has been involved with the Catholic schools of the diocese, in particular St. Michael Parish School in Wheeling for the past 25 years. He is currently president of the St. Michael School Board, chair of the Diocesan School Board and a member of the St. Michael Parish Finance Committee. Altmeyer has served as president of the Central Catholic High School Board and helped with the promotion of the stewardship members program at St. Michael Parish. Altmeyer resides in Wheeling with his wife, Helen, and their four children, Jacob, Flynn, Leelyn and Libby.

Father Bandiera was ordained to the priesthood in 1952 and has been a fervent supporter of Catholic education. He served at parishes in Clarksburg, Fairmont, Westover and Wheeling. He most recently came out of retirement to oversee the construction of the new St. Francis de Sales Parish and the neighboring St. Francis de Sales Central Catholic School in Morgantown. Father Bandiera is recognized as a counselor, teacher, priest and close friend of Catholic education. His personal involvement in the day-to-day life and administration of Catholic schools has transformed generations of students in north central West Virginia into men and women who carry on his legacy of gentle compassionate living within the church.

Peck has been a teacher at St. Francis de Sales School in Beckley for 23 years. She has dedicated her career to teaching children and, with each new class, she adapts her teaching style to meet the needs of her students while maintaining the core curriculum. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she acts as assistant principal as needed. For the past four years, Peck has been the chairwoman of the North Central Association Committee for Accreditation. She has served as a eucharistic minister at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Beckley for many years. Peck currently resides in MacArthur with her husband, Mike, and their two children, Madeline and Samuel.

Rafferty has had a lifelong commitment to Parkersburg Catholic schools. He has served in the Parkersburg Catholic Elementary PTO as treasurer and president. Rafferty has been a Boy Scouts den leader, a scorekeeper, a treasurer of the Parkersburg Catholic School Board of Education and is currently president of the board. He has served as parish council president at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Parkersburg, where he is a lifelong member. Rafferty has volunteered for numerous fundraising, athletic and social activities and has supported and served on many committees and campaigns. He lives in Parkersburg with his wife, Kim, and their three children, Meagann, Patrick and Sean.

Richardson has been a principal in Catholic schools for the past 23 years. Presently, she is the principal of St. Michael Parish School, where she has been the principal for the past 15 years. Richardson was instrumental in the creation of a transitional kindergarten at the school. She has served as the president of the Principals’ Association and is currently a member of the diocesan policy handbook committee and chairwoman of the Wheeling Area Parochial League. She lives in Wheeling with her husband, Andy, and their two children, Samantha and Andrew.

Bishop Bransfield will also present the Aquinas Medal to 33 students from Catholic schools throughout the diocese. Medal recipients have been chosen in recognition of their outstanding qualities of faithful discipleship, academic excellence, leadership and service to school, parish and community, reflecting the ideals of Catholic education epitomized by St. Thomas Aquinas, the Catholic patron saint of students.

Bishop Bransfield will celebrate Mass at St. Francis de Sales Parish at 10 a.m. March 22. Immediately following Mass, the formal program will begin with a reception at the Waterfront Place Hotel in Morgantown and will conclude with a dinner and the presentation of the awards.

The West Virginia Knights of Columbus are the primary sponsors of the dinner and have contributed almost $152,000 over the past 15 years. Other generous benefactors have made contributions toward the dinner as well. Proceeds from the dinner are deposited into the Great Futures Fund, which advances student programs in each of the 32 diocesan Catholic elementary and secondary schools as well as Wheeling Jesuit University, the only Catholic institution of higher education in the state.

Reservations for the dinner and award ceremony are required and may be made by contacting your local Catholic school or the diocesan Department of Catholic Schools at 1-888-434-6237, ext. 316, or by sending an e-mail to dclark@dwc.org.