Pastor Rev. Joseph Szybka at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marblehead recently awarded Schaefer Endowment Fund scholarships this year to, left to right, Kaden Conrad, Gillian Borgio, Heidi Osborne and Dylan Savona.

Trustees from the venerable Rev. August Schaefer Endowment Fund recently awarded the 2023 scholarships to allow four high school seniors who are members of St. Joseph Church for continuing education for both post secondary education and adult education.

Since its inception in 2000, more than 150 parishioners of St. Joseph Catholic Church have received a total of $1,035,582 in scholarships. This year’s scholarship winners were Kaden Conrad, Gillian Borgio, Heidi Osborne and Dylan Savona.

The scholarships were developed by the longtime pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church,

Rev. August Schaefer, who came to the United States from Germany in 1910. Rev. Schaefer became pastor of St. Joseph Church in Marblehead in 1930, retiring in 1955.

Beloved by parishioners and non-parishioners, he ministered to their spiritual and physical needs alike. Rev. Schaefer operated a successful charter fishing business, using his funds to reopen and run the Catholic school that had been closed due to the Depression.

He also provided groceries, medical and emergency aid for the needy of the Marblehead Peninsula. Rev. Schaefer remained on the Marblehead Peninsula, loved and respected, until his death in 1968 at the age of 80.