Alicia Nagy, center, listens to a speaker with her children Julia, 3, and John Bosco, 1, during the Rally for Religious Freedom on Friday, March 23, 2012, on Jon R. Hunt Plaza in downtown South Bend. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
A woman prays during the Rally for Religious Freedom on Friday, March 23, 2012, on Jon R. Hunt Plaza in downtown South Bend. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock stopped in South Bend on Thursday to announce an endorsement from the Indiana Right to Life PAC. Mourdock is campaigning against fellow Republican and incumbent U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar in Indiana’s May primary. The winner of the primary will face U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., in the general election.
Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock answers a question during a news conference with Mike Fichter, chairman of the Indiana Right to Life Political Action Committee, on Thursday, March 22, 2012, at the Right to Life offices in South Bend. Mourdock, who is hoping to unseat incumbent Richard Lugar in the Republican primary for Lugar's U.S. Senate seat, received an endorsement from the organization. Fichter said the organization decided to endorse Mourdock due to concerns over Lugar's votes for "activist" Supreme Court judges. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock answers a question during a news conference on Thursday, March 22, 2012, at the Right to Life offices in South Bend. Mourdock, who is hoping to unseat incumbent Richard Lugar in the Republican primary for Lugar's U.S. Senate seat, was in town to announce an endorsement by the Indiana Right to Life Political Action Committee. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
Larry Davis, right, president of Daman Products, points out a machine as he gives a tour of the facility to U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., and local business leaders and officials on Friday, March 16, 2012, at the Mishawaka manufacturing company. Pence was in town as part of a statewide tour meeting with businesses as he runs for governor. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg shares a laugh during a ceremony to open a new home for Oaklawn patients on Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at the home along West Jefferson Boulevard in South Bend. The home was designed by the South Bend Heritage Foundation, built by DeVon Custom Homes and funded in part by a grant from the city. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
Last week I spent part of my afternoon photographing at Dodd’s Sugar Shack near Niles, Mich. The reason I was there was for a story about above-normal syrup production levels thanks to the unseasonably warm temperatures. I followed around Don Dodd, the owner, for a while as he worked during what was a very busy day for him. My favorite moment came shortly before I left when he leaned up against a door in his barn and took a break from the hectic day.
Don Dodd leans on a barn door on Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, at his syrup farm near Niles, Mich. Warmer than usual temperatures have kept Dodd's Sugar Shack busy with a steady stream of sap flowing from hundreds of taps in and around the farm east of Niles. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
Here’s a frame from a recent story about a new bill evaluating teachers in the state by categories ranging from “highly effective” to “ineffective.”
Jeanine Reynolds, a second-grade teacher at Emmons Elementary, smiles as she looks over work from Nykeria Harper, left, and Riley Penrod during a free-write session on Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, in Mishawaka. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
Had the opportunity on Monday morning to cover the All Schools Mass at the University of Notre Dame. The mass included 5,000 local Catholic school students who packed into Notre Dame’s Purcell Pavilion where the Irish basketball teams play. I’m not Catholic, and I can probably count the masses I’ve been to in my life on one hand. That said, I’m fascinated by the ceremonies and always enjoy shooting them when given the chance. Religious ceremonies always seem to lead to good pictures because they open people up, exposing some very telling moments about the characters of the worshippers. Below are a few pictures presented in black and white, but I also put together a gallery in full living color.
The Most Rev. Kevin C. Rhoades, Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, makes his way into the Purcell Pavilion in a procession during the All Schools Mass on Monday, Feb. 27, 2012, at the University of Notre Dame. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
Riley Niedbalski, left, Sarah Wood and Harley Pankiewicz, all 6 year olds from Mishawaka Catholic School, sing during the All Schools Mass on Monday, Feb. 27, 2012, in the Purcell Pavilion at the University of Notre Dame. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
Students file into the gymnasium before a school assembly celebrating Webster Elementary receiving a four-star school award from the state on Friday, Feb. 24, 2012, in Plymouth. It's the second straight year the school has received the distinction. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
Volunteer Jack Gibboney grabs a few bags of food donations as he takes them to the back of a panel truck to be placed in bins during the Neighbors in Need donation drive for the Food Bank of Northern Indiana on Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, morning at the WSBT studios in Mishawaka. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
Bags of food donations sit on a table during the Neighbors in Need donation drive for the Food Bank of Northern Indiana on Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, morning at the WSBT studios in Mishawaka. (James Brosher/South Bend Tribune)
Anti-abortion activist Randall Terry campaigns on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012, outside of the downtown Cheyenne Starbucks. Terry is planning to air graphic anti-abortion television ads during this year's Super Bowl in several states, and hopes to split enough support for President Barack Obama among evangelicals and Catholics to unseat the president. "I think history will record that during the general election I will cause the defeat of Barack Obama," he said. (James Brosher/Wyoming Tribune Eagle)