Former Bears coach Ditka to speak at Saint Joseph’s College fundraiser
RENSSELAER, Ind. (WLFI) — Saint Joseph’s College announced the inaugural Purple Tie Dinner honoring former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka will take place in June. The dinner will be held Saturday, June 9 at the Fair Oaks Farmhouse off of I-65, north of Rensselaer.
”I enjoyed the people that I met as a Bear during the preseason workout camps in Rensselaer. They were good to me, and I look forward to seeing them again,” said Coach Ditka.
The proceeds from the dinner will support the renovation of Schwietermann Hall, which will be the first residence hall to be used with the re-opening of the Rensselaer campus.
Schwietermann Hall is named after Fr. Richard Schwietermann, C.PP.S., who lost his life while serving the Sacraments to a parishioner. In the homily the week before, Fr. Schwietermann noted that “a pastor lays down his life for his sheep.” The building was named in his honor in 1963 and served primarily as housing for the C.PP.S. Priests, brothers, and seminarians.
The Catholic school closed last year under $27 million in debt.