September 26, 2025 // Bishop

Saint Joseph Students Make Pilgrimage to Fort Wayne

Clare Hildebrandt

Reporter

On Friday, September 19, students from Saint Joseph High School in South Bend packed their bags, hopped on the bus, and traveled to the “City of Churches” to tour the Catholic sites in Fort Wayne. The day included a guided tour by Bishop Rhoades of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Diocesan Museum, and Archbishop Noll Center. He also celebrated Mass for the students in the Mother Guérin Chapel, located on the Cathedral grounds.

Bishop Rhoades detailed the German architectural style within the cathedral and noted many artifacts in the Diocesan Museum.

To finish the tour, he brought the students up to his office on the eighth floor of the Archbishop Noll Center.

Joseph Neeser, a senior at Saint Joseph, told Today’s Catholic that he “really enjoyed listening to [Bishop Rhoades] talk about architecture. I am a big fan of gothic architecture. It was very interesting to see the crypt and the woodworking. I’ve seen the crypt at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart [on the campus of the University of Notre Dame], but that crypt is very different from the one we have here.”

The tour prompted Nesser to reflect on his theology course at Saint Joseph. 

“I am taking a Great Catholic Thinkers course right now. A lot of what we are reading about is … commentary on diversion – and diversion in thinking about the faith. Walking into the cathedral, you see the tabernacle right away. The architecture is a stark contrast to human indifference, to this whole concept.”

Mary Maher, also a senior, told Today’s Catholic: “I really loved [the visit]. I’m a sucker for stained-glass windows. Sitting and listening to the story of the diocese is really cool. I loved all the commentary Bishop Rhoades had to add.”

Maher related the trip to her Dignity of Women class as Bishop Rhoades spoke about the women who accompanied Jesus in his homily.

“The homily and everything [Bishop Rhoades said] played perfectly into what we are talking about [in class],” Maher said. “It is nice to have those moments when you point out those figures who were always there but maybe they weren’t talked about as much.”

Emma Shakour, the school’s assistant principal for academics, admitted that “this is my first time in Fort Wayne, which is part of the reason why I wanted to join the students on this pilgrimage. The cathedral is beautiful. … It has been so cool to learn more about our diocese.”

Shakour continued: “Thinking about the geographic footprint of our diocese and how large it is, having this opportunity to come to the other side is important for building unity for both sides. I hope students take away spiritual fruits, and I think they are grateful for the time Bishop Rhoades is taking out of his schedule today,” she finished.

Clare Hildebrandt is a staff writer for Today’s Catholic