Catholic Rural Life

In the Old Testament, the Feast of Weeks — known in Greek as Pentecost — was celebrated fifty days after the Feast of First Fruits. The people brought the first harvest of grain as an offering to the Lord in thanksgiving for His provision. It was also the day Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. But Pentecost would come to mean something even greater. As we await the Solemnity of Pentecost, we await a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit — the One who writes God’s law upon our hearts and fills His people with the fruits of wisdom, knowledge, understanding, counsel, piety, fortitude, and fear of the Lord. Just as the earth receives rain to bear fruit, our souls need the Holy Spirit to bring new life within us. May we prepare our hearts with expectation, openness, and prayer for whatever God desires to give us. Come, Holy Spirit.

Happy Feast of St. Isidore the Farmer, our very own patron saint and all who work the land! Through his humble life of labor, prayer, and trust in God’s providence, St. Isidore reminds us of the deep dignity found in honest work and prioritizing a relationship with the Lord. Even in the midst of long days and hard labor, he kept his heart rooted in prayer and service to others. Today, we give thanks for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities whose work nourishes the world each day. St. Isidore the Farmer, pray for us.

St. Isidore, patron saint of farmers and rural communities, pray for us!

Last week, deacons from across the country gathered at St. Meinrad for our Thriving in Rural Ministry retreat. It was a time for rest, prayer, and reflection, offering space to renew their call to serve the Church in rural communities. Throughout the week, Fr. Jim Schmitmeyer and Deacon Mike Linnenbrink shared insights and stories that encouraged meaningful conversation and deeper connection among participants. Our Executive Director, Jim Ennis, and Program Manager, Emily Dalsky, were blessed to join this inspiring group of deacons and witness the faith, dedication, and joy they bring to their ministry. Please keep all deacons in your prayers, especially those serving in rural areas, that their witness may continue to strengthen the Church and the communities they serve.

“Thus, it is necessary to proclaim and promote the dignity of work... especially of agricultural work, in which man so eloquently "subdues" the earth he has received as a gift from God and affirms his "dominion" in the visible world.” -Pope St. John Paul II, Laborem Exercens, 21 St. John Paul II is remembered as a shepherd who led the Church with courage and joy, but he also had a deep love for God's creation: from his outdoor excursions, to his support of the agricultural worker in his Encyclical, Laborem Exercens, "On the Dignity of Work." Whether tending fields, raising families, or serving our communities, our daily labor has eternal value when offered to God. On this feast, let’s thank God for the gift of work, and for all those whose hands help feed, care for, and build up the world.

“When Angelus is at twelve then the clock is set right.”

St. Paul of the Cross discovered the deep love of Christ not in comfort, but in the Cross. He understood that, just as a seed must break open in the soil before new life can emerge, our suffering can become the very ground where grace grows. He founded the Passionist community to help others remember this truth: God never wastes pain. Every hardship can become a harvest when united with the love of Christ. For those who work the land, this message rings especially true. The seasons of toil, waiting, and trust mirror the rhythm of the Cross, where death gives way to life, and sorrow to joy. May St. Paul of the Cross inspire us to find hope in our trials and to let God’s love bear fruit in the soil of our daily lives.

There’s a deep longing in every human heart, a thirst that no success, comfort, or possession can satisfy. Our souls long for the presence of the living God. In prayer, in the quiet of nature, and in the love we share within our communities, He quenches that thirst and renews our spirit. May we take time today to seek the One who alone can refresh our hearts.

Happy World Food Day! Today we give thanks for the hands that plant, harvest, prepare, and share the food that sustains us all. From the farmer rising before dawn to the family gathered around the table, every meal tells a story of creation, community, and grace. As people of faith, we’re reminded that food is more than nourishment, it’s a sign of God’s abundance and a call to care for one another and the earth that provides. How do you see God’s goodness in the food you grow, cook, or share? Tell us below!

When the prophet Isaiah spoke these words, the people of Israel were living in exile: far from home, feeling the weight of their own failures to keep God’s commandments. Yet even in their distance, God remained faithful. Through Isaiah, He promised deliverance and renewal, both for His people and for creation itself. In time, Israel returned from Babylon... but the promise went even deeper. It pointed to the greatest liberation of all: freedom from sin and death through Christ. Even today, this prophecy speaks hope into our dry and weary places. God still brings life to what seems barren, and joy where there once was sorrow. He makes the desert bloom.

On this week's "Sermon on the Ranch" Fr. Lungren discusses the importance of faith, servitude, and maintaining one's peace amidst the chaos of the world. Check it out! catholicrurallife.org/man-your-post/…

This Thursday, September 18, the @DBQArch is hosting their second annual Rural Life Mass to honor those who live and work close to the land. Archbishop Thomas Zinkula will preside over Mass at the Stalzer family’s farm with blessings for crops, animals, and farm equipment along with an awards ceremony and lunch. Read more and plan to attend: cbs2iowa.com/news/local/rur…

From the soil that feeds us, to the crops in our fields, to the livestock we tend, creation itself shares in the longing for redemption. While only we can worship God with mind, heart, soul, and voice, Scripture reminds us that even nature “knows” its Creator in a mysterious way. Jesus said that if His followers were silent, even the stones would cry out in praise. Creation waits, groans, and hopes right alongside us, for the day when all things will be made new in Christ. #Romans8 #CatholicRuralLife #FaithAndFarming #CareForCreation

Happy Labor Day! Today we honor the dignity of work and give thanks for all who labor, especially farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers whose hands help feed the world. Their daily work reminds us that labor is not just toil, but a true participation in God’s creative plan.

Don't forget to listen to this week's "Sermon on the Ranch" with Fr. Bryce Lungren! catholicrurallife.org/the-path-to-pe…

One of our members, Jim O'Hara, is the great-nephew of Archbishop Edwin O'Hara, founder of our organization in 1923! The family had long been in farming and agriculture, and Jim's own father was close with the Archbishop himself...evidenced in letters between the two of them that Jim has kept. We’re grateful for members like Jim who keep alive the legacy of faith, family, and rural life that Archbishop O’Hara began more than a century ago.

Don't forget to listen to this week's "Sermon on the Ranch" with Fr. Bryce Lungren from the Diocese of Cheyenne (WY)! Sign up on our email list and never miss a weekly Sunday homily: catholicrurallife.org/anguish-and-ho…

Ezekiel saw a vision of living water flowing from the Temple. Wherever it went, the land flourished: polluted waters turned fresh, trees bore abundant fruit, and fish filled the seas. Fishermen found great life at its banks. This river foreshadows the Blood of Christ, poured out from His side on the Cross. Just as water restores the soil, His Blood restores our souls. Just as living water sustains creation, His mercy sustains us for eternal life. May we draw deeply from this river of grace, the true source of abundance.

Celebrating Rural Life in the Diocese of St. Cloud, MN! Our Thriving in Rural Congregations Manager, Laurie, went to the St. Cloud Diocese's Rural Life Mass this past Sunday! The Mass, celebrated by Bishop Patrick Neary, was held at the Hellerman Farm in their beautifully decorated hayloft. Bishop Neary highlighted award-winning farms, some of which are over a hundred years old and contribute well to their community. We are grateful for these opportunities to come together and celebrate God's gift of the land. Were you at the St. Cloud Diocese Rural Life Mass? Feel free to share your pictures and takeaways below!