Marquette Diocese Bishop celebrates Catholic Schools Week

IRONWOOD - Bishop John Doerfler, of the Marquette Diocese, on Wednesday made a stop at All Saints Catholic Academy to celebrate National Catholic Schools Week with students, staff and community members.

During his visit, Doerfler held Mass in Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church with children and other members of the congregation before visiting classrooms in the afternoon.

During Mass, which celebrated Saint Thomas Aquinas, the patron saint of Catholic Schools, Doerfler asked the children what a saint was.

Some answered a saint was a "true follower of God," and then Doerfler asked them about their favorite saints, including Saint Thomas, Saint Patrick and even Saint Nicholas, which got a few laughs.

The bishop told students the importance of being like the saints, and asked if the students wanted to be friends with the saints.

"I need all the help I can get, so I want to be friends with lots of saints," Doerfler said to the children.

In the afternoon, Doerfler visited classrooms, talking to children and participating in activities.

The visit was one of many events the school hosted in celebration of Catholic Schools Week.

Today, students are invited to wear their pajamas to school and will watch movies in the afternoon.

On Friday, students are asked to wear white T-shirts for "autograph day," so other students can sign their shirts. The activity during the day is bowling, and the students are also invited to a formal dance in the evening.

The week-long celebration ends with the annual LaRosa Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday and Sunday at All Saints.

-Cortney Ofstad