Thursday, on the solemnity of the school’s patron saint, St. John Paul II Elementary hosted a celebration of the past, present, and future of Catholic education in Mitchell.
The morning began with Mass, presided by Fr. Yamato Icochea, Superintendent. In his homily, he mentioned, “When John Paul II was elected in 1978, there were groups—countries, even—against the Catholic church. In his first Mass, in his homily, he famously said, ‘Do not be afraid.’”
Fr. Yamato called upon the school to follow that same call, pointing out that, just as St. John Paul II, as pope, continued the lineage of St. Peter, the first pope, the school’s students are called to continue the heritage of the faith in the Mitchell community.
“St. John Paul II’s mission and St. Peter’s mission and our mission are the same: We are called to lead many, in the name of Jesus, to His Church. Don’t forget that, little brothers and sisters—you are called to lead many to Jesus,” he said, encouraging students to fulfill that mission.
Following Mass, at a pep rally of sorts, Fr. Yamato announced a new mascot for the school, the St. John Paul II Defenders. As he revealed the school’s first mascot, he explained its design: “We are the Defenders, because we defend the faith,” he said. “This is why education is so important. From science to math, from literature to history, everything helps us to defend the faith, because faith and reason go hand-in-hand.”
A Swiss Guard was chosen as the mascot, he said, because Swiss Guards serve as guards to the pope. The mascot uses red and blue, the school colors that were previously selected in homage to the Mitchell Catholic parishes—Holy Family is represented by the blue, while the red stands for Holy Spirit.
The mascot’s shield bears a cross, the symbol of Christianity. “It’s on the shield because Psalm 28:7 states that ‘the Lord is my strength and my shield,’” Fr. Yamato said.
Behind the cross are the rays of a star, incorporating the design from the St. John Paul II logo, which was unveiled in 2024.
“The star helps us to remember Mary, who remained by the cross of Jesus until the very end,” Fr. Yamato explained. “She is called the Morning Star because she is there before the dawn, right before the sun rises, just like she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus.”
Nicole Fuhrer, Gift Planning Officer for the Catholic Community Foundation for Eastern South Dakota’s Mitchell region, said the incorporation of the star in the design of the logo and the Defender’s shield also honors Mitchell’s rich heritage of Catholic education, as Notre Dame High School’s name was French for “Our Lady,” another name by which Catholics call Mary.
“For 140 years, Catholic education has played an integral role in the religious formation and academic and personal development of our students,” she shared.
Below the Defender is an inscription of a new school motto—“Nolite timere,” Latin for the line both Jesus and St. John Paul used often: “do not be afraid.”
Fr. Yamato pointed out that the staff of the school had given hints toward the mascot reveal throughout the year, including with the unveiling of the school’s Defenders of Virtue program, daily Defender Assemblies, Defender Shoutouts to recognize virtuous actions by students, and the naming of the school’s former Technology Room as the Defenders’ Den.
During the presentation, Fuhrer also announced the development of a new interactive display installed at Holy Family, on the site where Notre Dame High School once stood. The large touchscreen features a digital catalog of memorabilia from the Notre Dame era of Catholic education, which also can be accessed at bit.ly/4z8BHnY. The display called the Rocket Board will eventually feature historical information and current events for the school and parishes, as well as for the Mitchell Catholic Foundation, which facilitated this gift.
The celebration also included a fifth grade recitation of St. John Paul II’s personal call to believers to respond with courage, faith and openness to Christ’s mission. The fifth and sixth grade band performed Open My Eyes. Music teacher Enock Abrokwah then introduced the crowd to the school’s new choir, who performed a revised version of the school song, John Paul II, We Love You. The song was originally written by a former music teacher around the time the school was built and Pope John Paul II was still alive. The school name was updated in recent years from John Paul II to Saint John Paul II. Fr. Yamato edited the lyrics to make the song a prayer for the intercession of the now canonized saint, St. John Paul II.
Dear John Paul II Catholic School Families,
It is with great joy and gratitude that we share an important leadership announcement for the 2026–2027 school year at John Paul II Catholic School.
After thoughtful discernment about the needs of our school community, we are excited to announce a leadership model that we believe will serve our students, families, and staff well. For the coming school year, John Paul II Catholic School will be led by a Mentor Principal / Head of School team.
We are pleased to share that Mrs. Brenda Mitzel has been hired as Mentor Principal and Mrs. Katrina Hostler has been hired as Head of School. Together, they bring a deep love for Catholic education, a strong commitment to the mission of our school, and a wealth of experience and knowledge.
As Head of School, Mrs. Hostler will provide leadership for the daily life of the school, including day-to-day operations, Catholic culture, communication with families and stakeholders, and instructional leadership. She will serve as the primary contact for the school and will work closely with students, staff, and families throughout the year.
Mrs. Hostler brings valuable gifts to this role, and we are grateful for her willingness to serve the John Paul II community in this important way. Prior to spending the last year as sixth grade teacher at our school, Mrs. Hostler she taught high school Family and Consumer Sciences and social studies, as well as middle school science, at Ethan School for 14 years. She also served as advisor of the school’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America and implemented both the Teens as Teachers and Educators Rising chapters, inspiring students to explore careers in education while developing leadership and mentorship skills. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Leadership and her Master’s in Education at Dakota Wesleyan University.
As Mentor Principal, Mrs. Mitzel will retain responsibility for the mission of John Paul II Catholic School, school governance, personnel supervision, legal and diocesan compliance, and the mentorship and support of Mrs. Hostler.
Mrs. Mitzel brings 35 years of Catholic school experience, including service as a classroom teacher and principal at Aberdeen Roncalli, Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools, and Director of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Sioux Falls. As a member of the Institute of Catholic Liberal Education Diocesan Leaders Academy, Mrs. Mitzel has been at the forefront of implementing Bishop Donald DeGrood’s vision that all Catholic schools throughout the diocese transition to a Catholic Liberal Arts Education model.
Her wisdom, leadership, and faithful dedication to Catholic education will be a tremendous blessing to our school community.
Together, Mrs. Hostler and Mrs. Mitzel are excited to lead John Paul II Catholic School into the future, building on its long history of excellence while helping students pursue truth, beauty, and goodness through an authentic Catholic Liberal Arts education.
Above all, they desire to come alongside you as parents, whom we recognize as the primary educators of your children. Their hope is not only to provide strong academic formation, but also to help form the whole person—heart, mind, body, and soul. Students will grow into young people who are articulate and thoughtful, humble and courageous, joyful and wise by cultivating wonder, curiosity, and a love for learning. Each child will be challenged to pursue excellence, think deeply, and become a lifelong disciple of Christ.
Thank you for the trust you place in John Paul II Catholic School. It is a privilege to partner with you in the education and formation of your children. On behalf of Mrs. Hostler and Mrs. Mitzel, we look forward to walking together with your family in the coming year.
In Corde Iesu,
Fr. Yamato Icochea
Pastor and School Superintendent
St. John Paul II Catholic School
Sacred Heart Pastorate will be hosting a Level I Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) Training at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Mitchell, SD in 2026 and 2027. This is a unique opportunity for our pastorate and surrounding parishes for catechists who may otherwise need to travel for a training.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, or CGS, provides formation for children in an intentionally curated “Atrium,” where the child explores their own personal relationship with Jesus through lessons, hands-on play, and prayer. Currently, our pastorate has a Level I atrium and is discerning expanding to Level II and Level III.
The training dates include the following:
- Level I, Part A: July 30, 31, & August 1 AND October 10-12, 2026
- Level I, Part B: May 14-16, 2027 AND May 21-23, 2027
A catechist may begin leading CGS sessions after completing Part A training.
Anyone from any parish who is interested in being trained in CGS may register. Costs are $285 for Part A (includes $35 fee for CGSUSA) and $250 for Part B. (Participants from our pastorate will have their fee covered).
To register and pay for training, using the following links:
Part A Online Registration Form
Online Payment Link for Part A Training
For more information on CGS, visit https://mitchellcatholic.org/education/catechesis-of-the-good-shepherd.
MITCHELL, SD, March 4, 2026--St. John Paul II School and the Catholic Community Foundation for Eastern South Dakota recently announced a transformational $1.15 million endowed gift, which will perpetually benefit teachers and school families.
The Bruce Pody Charitable Trust gifted $1.15 million to the Foundation, creating the Bruce Pody Educational Fund Endowment, specifically meant to support teacher salaries at St. John Paul II School. This will equate to an annual endowment distribution of $46,000 to St. John Paul II School in the first year alone. This gift also marks the largest estate gift in the history of the Mitchell Catholic Foundation and school.
The Bruce Pody Charitable Trust was created following the death of Bruce Pody in May 2025. Pody, a resident of Artesian, SD, farmed in the area for over 70 years.
Close family friends, Kenny and Katrina Hostler, shared that while Pody wasn’t a man of religion, he was a man of virtue.
Pody was a first-generation farmer, having bought his first acre for $40 with money he sent home to his mother while deployed in the Korean War. Pody served as a mechanic for two years in the United States Army, strategically saving money by selling his ration of cigarettes.
Pody lived conservatively–driving an old Ford Taurus with the trunk strapped down. As a mechanic, he could make anything run. In the trunk, he kept all his important documents in a briefcase and a storage of canned fruit or soup for meals. He rotated the same few pairs of jeans and shirts each day, and even if someone dished him a bit too much food, he’d eat it and waste nothing. While Pody owned a farmhouse, he preferred the quaint living quarters in his shed.
Being a child of the 30s, his frugal life allowed him to grow his farming operation and consistently overcome obstacles–losing his home to the derecho in 2022, the many farming challenges especially in the 1980s, poverty in childhood which led to being bullied, and an abusive father. After an altercation one evening with his father while defending his mother, Pody was taken to jail. He spent the evening in jail, and when he explained his situation to the judge the next morning, the judge shook his finger at him and said, “Looks like I put the wrong man in jail.” Pody thought very highly of his mother, and her impact allowed him to do the morally right thing, even if it came with consequences.
In addition to his love for farming and great work ethic, Pody had a great appreciation for education. Pody graduated from Fedora High School and was the only child in his family to complete high school. Pody’s first wife, Louise, was a devoted Catholic of Holy Family Church and a school teacher. He always felt teachers were undercompensated for the work they did. One son, Bruce A. Pody, was born to his union with Louise, and Pody married again in 1995 to Opal Stockwell.
Pody’s relationship with the Hostler family started through business. He watched their operation for a while, frequently showing up just to say “hello,” and admired their work ethic. Then in 2021, Pody invited them to rent some of his ground.
“One day, I was at the sale barn. We were selling cattle and I was leaving. And here comes Bruce around the corner,” said Kenny. “I’m sure he was looking for me because he knew we were selling cattle that day.” Pody casually asked if they’d be interested in renting ground, and Kenny said they’d be open to talking. Then early one morning (earlier than anyone should ever visit), Pody was there at the farm ready to talk.
Through Pody’s working relationship and eventual friendship with the Hostler family, Pody came to know St. John Paul II School. He would tag along to school events, including Vacation Bible School (VBS) Program, the Fall Festival, and preschool graduation. Both families, Travis and Sarah, and Kenny and Katrina, send their children to St. John Paul II School, and Katrina teaches sixth grade at the school. As the Hostlers became close to Pody, the school became important to Pody as well.
As a very frugal man, Pody did question the Hostler family at one point if paying tuition to send the children to a private school was the best financial strategy, especially since the family lives just miles from their public school district.
“Once he started coming with us to events, his mind changed,” shared Kenny.
He attended a VBS program where the children sang one summer, and that made an impact on Pody.
“He was so joyful that night,” shared Katrina. “He was so proud of the kids. He was proud of what was going on, and he left and was just beaming. He kept saying, ‘I just love what I see here.’”
While Pody was not Catholic or even religious, the Hostler family witnessed the faith to him through their daily activities–including meal prayer, taking him to church and school events, and simply involving him in their daily activity. It wasn’t always quick or easy to take an elderly man along for farm work, but they welcomed him along.
“As moms, we take our children with us everywhere, even when it’s hard or slows us down. Travis and Kenny took Bruce along,” shared Katrina. “He slowed them down, but they never ever pushed him away.”
Even at the age of 90, Pody was always in the field farming before sunrise to way after sunset. He may have been tired but never complained. He stood by for all the breakdowns, through planting, harvest, and everything in between.
“It was a purposeful season of Bruce’s life that we didn’t want to take away from him,” shared Linda Hostler. “We were family to him. And with joyous hearts, we felt the same.”
After Pody’s house blew down in the 2022 derecho, Larry and Linda (Hostler) welcomed him into their home and cared for him in his final years. Pody’s family and friends laid him to rest on May 30, 2025, his 92nd birthday, in a simple ceremony.
“He’d tell us to go get the farming done,” said Kenny.
Hostlers believe that Pody’s intention with his gift was to take care of teachers.
“He wanted good education for the kids, and he knew that to do that, you needed to take care of the people,” said Kenny.
Katrina, also a teacher, added, “When I’d go out to the field or drop something off, and we’d have a short conversation, he’d thank me for being a teacher. ‘You’re doing important work here, and thank you for being a teacher.’”
In addition to supporting teacher salaries, Principal Sarah Timmer shares that this and other generous gifts will allow the school to cap tuition through its overall impact to the school budget. There will be no increase to tuition prices for the 2026-2027 school year.
The endowment will continue to grow, as additional funds will be gifted from the trust into the endowment in subsequent years, and in turn, increase the annual distributions as well.
At the conclusion of the event, the Catholic Community Foundation served cookies and Sunkist soda--Pody's favorite drink.
St. John Paul II School is the parochial school of Mitchell Catholic Parishes and offers preschool-6th grade classes. The school is currently in a three-year transition to a classical model, and enrollment is open for the 2026-2027 school year. For more information on St. John Paul II School, visit johnpaul2.org.
The Catholic Community Foundation for Eastern South Dakota is an independent Catholic community foundation that raises, manages, and distributes God’s gifts to donor-directed ministries. To learn more about the Catholic Community Foundation and its services, visit ccfesd.org
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Article by Courtney J. Deinert, Communications Director for Mitchell Catholic Parishes
Photos by Ayrn Hollaren, Marketing & Communications Specialist for Catholic Communication Foundation for Eastern South Dakota