A Romanesque Sanctuary on the North Side of the River
St. Monica Catholic Church sits at 222 West Mishawaka Avenue, on the north side of the St. Joseph River in Mishawaka, Indiana. The current church building was consecrated in 1927 by Archbishop John Francis Noll, and it remains one of the only Romanesque-style Catholic churches in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. From its baldacchino over the altar to its side shrines, the building was designed as an image of heaven and a setting for the liturgy, and the parish family has tended it with that intention ever since.
The parish was founded in 1915 as the fruit of years of dreaming and hard work by the Catholics on the north side of the river. Its first worship space was a former Baptist church along Mishawaka Avenue. The school was built in 1917, and Mass was offered in a basement chapel there until the great influx of immigrants from southern Italy swelled the Catholic population and the present church was consecrated. The school was expanded in the 1950s and again in the 1990s. The parish is served today by Fr. Jason Freiburger as pastor, with Jackie Moody as pastoral associate, Jessica Roberts as director of liturgical music, and a staff that keeps the parish office, school, and grounds running.
The Building and What It Holds
Inside the church, the baldacchino (canopy) over the altar is meant to call to mind the wedding bed where the union of love brings forth life, and at the altar the sacrifice of love made present in the cross of Christ produces the Bread of Life. Just to the side of the sanctuary stands the Altar of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, with a relief of the Holy Souls in Purgatory being comforted by the merits of Christ poured out for them. Around the edges of the building are shrines to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Infant of Prague, St. Ann, St. Christopher, St. Rocco, St. James, St. Anthony, Our Lady of Loreto, and the Pieta. The lower level houses Columbus Hall, where most parish meals, meetings, and gatherings take place.
Mass, Adoration, and Confession
The liturgy is the heartbeat of parish life. Sunday Mass is offered at 7:00 a.m., 8:30 a.m., and 10:30 a.m. Weekday Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 8:15 a.m., and Saturday at 8:15 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. On Holy Days, Mass is offered at 8:15 a.m., 12:05 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. Worship aids at the church doors contain the Responsorial Psalm and any music not in the hymnal, as well as translations of the Latin sung by the choir or cantor, so the congregation can take part in the fullest way possible.
Eucharistic Adoration is held on Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The sacrament of Reconciliation is offered during that Thursday hour, on Saturday mornings from 9:00 a.m. until the last penitent is heard, and on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. during Advent and Lent, with Vespers prayed at 6:00 p.m. Confessions are also available by appointment through the parish office, and Fr. Jason will hear confessions before or after any Mass when asked.
The Seven Sacraments
St. Monica prepares parishioners for and administers all seven sacraments recognized by the Church. Infant baptisms (for children seven and under) are scheduled through the parish office and normally take place after the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass, with a preparation session for first-time parents. Children over seven and adults seeking baptism join the OCIA process led by Jackie Moody. First Eucharist is typically received at the age of reason, and Confirmation is conferred by the bishop in a parishioner's eighth-grade year; for those entering the Church through OCIA, Fr. Jason confers the sacrament at the Easter Vigil.
Couples preparing for marriage meet with Fr. Jason, and the diocese asks for at least six months of preparation. Those discerning a call to Holy Orders are encouraged to contact Fr. Jason and to explore the diocesan vocation page. Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick are offered throughout the year; the Anointing is not only for the hour of death but for any grave illness or surgery requiring anesthesia, and can be arranged by calling the parish office, with an emergency line for anointing at any hour.
Sacred Music at the Center
Music ministry at St. Monica is treated as a treasure, not background. The program is led by Jessica Roberts and includes a 10:30 Choir that rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and sings at the 10:30 Sunday Mass, a Chant Schola, a handbell choir, a children's choir that sings seasonally, cantors for the Saturday 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Masses, and instrumentalists who also play for Praise and Worship gatherings and Taize prayer services. Praise and Worship is held on the second Sunday of each month at 4:00 p.m. and on the fourth Thursday at 6:00 p.m., blending contemplative contemporary music with the parish's repertoire of sacred song.
Parishioners are encouraged to learn the Latin responses of the Mass so they can join their voices with Catholics around the world, and the parish points worshipers toward podcasts such as Square Notes, the Relevant Radio app, and reflections on Gregorian chant and the spirituality of sacred music. The parish has hosted talks from the Church Music Association of America and regularly links to Vatican coverage of Pope Leo XIV's remarks on sacred music.
Faith Formation for Every Age
Children in preschool through second grade are formed in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), a Montessori-inspired approach in which children gather weekly in a specially prepared room called the Atrium to work with hands-on materials and enter more deeply into the liturgy and Scripture. The Level 1 Atrium serves children who are three by August 1 and potty trained, and Level 2 introduces six- to nine-year-olds to salvation history. Children in grades 3 through 8 who do not attend a parochial school attend Religious Education, which meets twice a month on Sundays from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. in the school. Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation is folded into both programs.
For adults and families seeking to enter the Church or complete their initiation, the parish runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). Classes meet on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. from mid-September through the Easter Vigil, with two reflection days and a Holy Week retreat. Sponsors walk alongside candidates through the journey, presenters offer catechetical talks, and parishioners provide weekly meals. The whole community is encouraged to support those going through OCIA with their prayers, conversations, and warm welcome.
Antioch: A Community of Teen Disciples
Antioch is the parish's high school youth ministry, a year-round community of teenagers seeking to live as intentional disciples of Christ through prayer, formation, community, and service. Antioch meets on Thursday nights, beginning with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in St. Monica Church from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. and continuing with a gathering from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in Columbus Hall. Fall and spring retreat weekends are staples, and MANtioch and Daughters of the Queen (separate guys and girls groups) meet several times a year. The parish welcomes high schoolers to drop in, and parents and adults can support the ministry by donating a snack or meal, hosting a sleep home on retreat weekend, joining the adult ministry team, or signing up to spend an hour in adoration while the teens are away.
For middle schoolers, the Emmaus Youth Group meets on the second Saturday evening of each month for faith, fun, friends, and pizza. The program is led by Tom and Jen Towers.
Women's Ministry and Mornings with St. Monica
Women of the parish gather in several overlapping communities. Mornings with St. Monica is a series of mini-retreats held in Columbus Hall, running on the rhythm of the school year with dates such as late August, October, December, February, March, and April. The format is simple: attend daily Mass at 8:15 a.m., spend time with Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration, then head down for a light breakfast and fellowship beginning at 9:15 a.m., followed by a speaker and short reflection, ending by 11:00 a.m. The 2026 to 2027 theme is Sacred Sisterhood: Walking with the Women of Scripture, walking through the lives of Mary, Martha and Mary, the Samaritan woman, the hemorrhaging woman, the women at the cross, Lydia, and Priscilla. Cathi Kennedy coordinates the series.
She Shall Be Called Woman (SHE), a Paradisus Dei program, meets on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. beginning in September, bringing women together for food, fellowship, vibrant conversation, authentic speakers, and prayer. The Women's Book Club meets on the second Monday of each month for a 6:00 p.m. meal and 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. discussion, hosted by Maria Siqueira. The Moms Group meets every Monday at 7:00 p.m. in Columbus Hall, alternating between book discussion and praying the Rosary with fellowship, and provides play dates, children's Adoration, and Stations of the Cross throughout the year. The Rosary Society, led by Karen Baldini, brings together women of all ages to pray the rosary and run fundraisers for the parish's sacramental needs, meeting the first Tuesday of each month from September through May.
Men's Ministry and Fraternity
Catholic men 18 and older can join the Knights of Columbus, which meets regularly to plan charitable works and assist the pastor in strengthening the parish. The St. Monica Council supports Hannah's House, Special Olympics, Mishawaka Catholic, Marian High School, and scholarships, and all men of the parish are welcome at the monthly planning meetings.
That Man is You (TMIY) is an interactive men's program that blends modern science with the teaching of the Church and the wisdom of the saints. TMIY meets on Saturday mornings from 6:30 to 8:00 a.m., beginning with breakfast at 6:30 a.m., starting in mid-September. Mark Havard coordinates the program. In summer, the men's Bible study moves outdoors for Bibles, Burgers, and Brew in Father's backyard on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m., with parishioners 21 and older bringing a dish to share. Exodus 90, a program of prayer, asceticism, and fraternity, runs periodically with men from the parish.
Young Adults, Seniors, and Fellowship
The Young Adult Community, for ages 19 to 39, gathers monthly for a first-Sunday brunch at noon in the Sr. Pat room in the school, weekly for games and volleyball, and for retreats, pilgrimages, and small groups. Coffee and Donuts after Sunday Masses in Columbus Hall is a long-running fellowship tradition supported by volunteers and donations. The Garden Club keeps the parish grounds beautiful through the year, with zone captains working on their own schedule and full parish cleanup days scheduled on Saturdays. The Young Adults, the Young Adult Group, and Coffee and Donuts each welcome newcomers at any time.
Service to the Needy
St. Vincent de Paul runs the parish food pantry and delivers food and monetary donations to needy neighbors, making home deliveries and providing special holiday deliveries. The St. Monica chapter meets on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Sr. Pat Meeting Room, and a second-Sunday collection supports the pantry year-round. Walking with Moms in Need partners with local organizations and parishes that serve those struggling in the community.
Homebound Visitors serve as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, bringing the Body of Christ to parishioners who cannot leave their homes or assisted living facilities, and Nursing Home Coordinators maintain the parish's connection to local facilities where Fr. Jason regularly visits and celebrates Mass. Grief Support welcomes anyone dealing with the loss of a loved one, a marriage, a job, a child, or anything else; the ministry shares in the suffering of those who come, no matter the cause. Prayer Blankets are sewn by volunteers who pray over each one, then blessed and delivered to those who are sick, suffering, or grieving. Funeral Luncheons are coordinated in Columbus Hall after funeral Masses to give families a place to gather, honor, and share memories of their loved one.
Parish Festival, Faithful 5K, and the Novena
The parish festival unfolds over several days around the Feast of St. Monica on August 27, opening with the St. Monica Novena prayed at 6:00 p.m. for nine consecutive evenings in the church. The festival itself includes Rock the Rectory (a 21-and-older party), a corn and sausage roast, bounce houses, games for kids and adults, a car show in the municipal parking lot at 220 West Mishawaka Avenue, a dessert bake-off, bingo, and the Faithful 5K, a professionally timed 3.1-mile run along the Mishawaka Riverwalk beginning at the Battell Park Bandshell at 8:00 a.m., with a 1-mile Family Fun Walk at 9:00 a.m. All money raised supports the maintenance and upkeep of the parish grounds. A special Mass for the Return of Adult Children to the Faith is celebrated on the Feast of St. Monica, followed by the rosary and reflections.
The St. Monica Novena is the heart of the parish's identity. St. Monica is the patron saint of mothers, especially those with wayward children or children who have left the faith; she is also the patron of married women, victims of abuse and adultery, and alcoholics. The novena is prayed for any intention, especially for wayward children, and parishioners unable to attend in person are invited to pray it at home. The Litany of Tears and the Prayer for the Conversion of Sinners are central to these devotions.
Mishawaka Catholic School
The parish school, Mishawaka Catholic School, shares the parish grounds and is the natural partner for sacramental preparation and faith formation. Families can reach the school at 574-255-5554 or info@mcmish.org and at mcmish.org. The parish itself is at 574-255-2247, with office hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9:00 a.m. to noon on Friday (summer hours close at 3:00 p.m.). Online giving is available through the parish's OSV Hub giving portal, and the SCRIP gift card program returns a percentage of each purchase to the parish and school families as tuition credit.
Diocesan Synod and Looking Forward
The parish is participating in the first Diocesan Synod in 100 years, convened by Bishop Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. The synodal question at the heart of the parish's reflection is how St. Monica is called to live the mission of Christ today and in the years to come, and parishioners gather to discern that call together. As the parish enters its second century, the Romanesque sanctuary on Mishawaka Avenue continues to be the place where the Catholics of the north side of the river come to worship, to be formed, to serve, and to pray for one another.