October 21, 2025 // Bishop

Bishop Meets the Saints at Mishawaka Catholic

Clare Hildebrandt

Reporter

Bishop Rhoades was met with a myriad of saints when he walked into the gymnasium at St. Monica Parish on Friday, October 17 – from medieval St. Hildegard of Bingen to contemporary St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, students, dressed in elaborate costumes, illustrated the diversity of followers of Christ.

Photo by Clare Hildebrandt
Bishop Rhoades, Father Peter Pacini (back left), and Father Jason Freiburger pose for a photo with fourth-grade students from Mishawaka Catholic School on Friday, October 17.

These fourth-grade students, like others within the diocese, were scheduled to dress as saints of their choice at the annual All-Schools Mass in South Bend, which is scheduled for Thursday, October 23. However, due to Mishawaka Catholic School’s fall break taking place that week, school officials opted to invite Bishop Rhoades for a pastoral visit, allowing students to showcase their research and costumes.

Mishawaka Catholic School formed as a result of three parochial schools merging: St. Joseph, St. Bavo, and St. Monica. Today, Mishawaka Catholic still utilizes these three campuses to house different grade levels. 

Principal Karen Salvador touched on the unique schooling situation. 

“In 2011, everyone was fighting for the same Catholic students,” Salvador told Today’s Catholic. “So, we consolidated and combined in that year – Pre-K to second grade is at St. Bavo’s campus; third grade to fifth grade is at St. Joseph; and then [sixth through eighth grades are] at St. Monica.”

Bishop Rhoades’ visit to the St. Monica Campus came on the feast of St. Ignatius of Antioch, and he took the opportunity to share with students and staff about the saint and the universality of the Church.

“As we celebrate Mass, and celebrate St. Ignatius of Antioch’s feast, Catholics from around the world are celebrating the same readings and the holy Eucharist,” Bishop Rhoades said. “There are 1 billion Catholics around the world. Isn’t that wonderful? … St. Ignatius of Antioch said we ought to be united in love for one another. We have to remember this.”

Following Mass, the fourth-grade students who came from the St. Joseph Campus eagerly awaited Bishop Rhoades so they could share their saint presentations with him.

“Every year, the fourth graders chose a saint to research,” Felicity Charpie, third and fourth grade religion and resource teacher at Mishawaka Catholic, told Today’s Catholic. “They not only learn about the life of the saint but also specifically the virtues of the saints.”

In the St. Monica gymnasium were decorated poster boards, each displaying facts about the lives of the saints. Charpie said the annual project “allows the students to take ownership and think critically and deeply about things. They can really examine how each person became a saint. They are all so different, but all became saints. This is what we are called to do: to make choices in our everyday lives that lead to sanctity.”

During his visit, Bishop Rhoades made his way around the gymnasium to stop at each student’s presentation.

Father Jason Freiburger, pastor at St. Monica, told Today’s Catholic about Bishop Rhoades’ visit.

“We are unable to be at the All-Schools Mass due to our break, but this is something one of the teachers thought of. We asked Bishop to come and see our project and who the fourth graders chose as saints,” he said, adding that the students were extremely excited about Bishop Rhoades’ visit. “They only see Bishop once a year, and this age range doesn’t have the shyness that some others may have like in middle school.”

“It is so wonderful to see how excited they are to talk about their saints,” Father Freiburger said. “[Bishop] truly has a heart for all but especially the children. He truly engages with them and relates to them on their level.”

Clare Hildebrandt is a staff writer for Today’s Catholic.