Award winners recognized

Photo by Molly Sahm Roncalli President Joseph Hollowell (left) with Dan and Beth Elsener.

Photo by Kory Marks The Rev. Jim Wilmoth (left) with Hollowell.

The Rev. Jim Wilmoth, who serves as Roncalli’s chaplain, and Dan and Beth Elsener, the school’s 2014 St. John XXIII Award winners, were honored Nov. 5 at the Celebrating Catholic School Values: Scholarship and Career Achievement Awards at the Crown Plaza Union Station in Downtown Indianapolis. 

Wilmoth, who has been involved in Catholic schools for 50 years, celebrates Mass daily at Roncalli. He played an integral role in the building of the Sacred Heart Chapel at Roncalli, which was dedicated in December 2010.
“My life as a priest is my life,” he said. “It is not a career. It’s not a job. It’s my life.” 

The Elseners, recognized as a Community Service Honorees, are the parents of nine children, all of whom graduated from Roncalli. Mr. Elsener is the president of Marian University.

The event also served to raise money for scholarships to help low-income families enroll their children in the Catholic school of their choice.