June 5, 2026 Vol. LXII, No. 4
One Church, East to West: Loving Jesus, Serving Jesus, Sharing Jesus
DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD—CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI
FIRST WHEAT HARVEST MASS
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honors ‘unsung’ farmers as stewards of God’s country the seed sprouts and grows, but early 250 farmers and community he does not members gathered among tractors understand how it happens.” and trucks on Sun., May 31, at Bishop Hulshof Farms in rural Scott County as Rice drew from the Most Rev. Edward Rice celebrated the Catholic teaching Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau’s on rural life, first Farmers’ Mass for the wheat harvest. Attendees of all ages sat in lawn chairs quoting a 1946 address by Pope under white tents. One man watched from Pius XII to the open cab of his tractor. The family’s farmers in Rome. red barn formed the backdrop as Bishop Rice, of the largely rural diocese, called the The pope referred to farmland as liturgy “a dream come true.” “sweet fields” and He said he has received the magazine, noted that “all Catholic Rural Life, for a decade while hoping to bring the altar into the fields and people depend on the class of With most parishes sitting in small towns and make clear how important farmers and farmers as your others in agriculture are, describing them farming communities, Bishop Rice longed to as unsung heroes whose work feeds others. lives are dedicated hold a Farmers’ Mass, the goal of which was to bringing forth The Mass, held on the Solemnity of to thank God for the land and affirm farmers, from the depths the Most Holy Trinity, drew priests from truck drivers, and others tied to agriculture the of the earth the local parishes, seminarians from the importance of their labor. abundant riches Diocese and beyond, and families from which the hand of across southeast Missouri. Twins Will and to the land, but it ain’t my ground. This is God has hidden there for you.” Wyatt Stinnett, of the band Double Take, God’s country. We pray for rain, and thank The homily highlighted Pius’ from Portageville, MO, provided music for him when it’s falling because it brings the insistence that soil “is never to be the occasion. grain and a little bit of money. We put it exploited,” and repeated a line he called back in the plate. I guess that’s why they call Homily links mystery of Trinity a hallmark of the address: “God gave man it God’s country.” the earth for his cultivation as the most to mystery of farming Bishop Rice said he hopes every Preaching on the Holy Trinity, Bishop Rice beautiful and honorable occupation in the farmer believes this truly is “God’s told farmers that “mystery” is not confined natural order.” country” and that they see themselves as He connected that teaching to Pope to theology. He compared the mystery stewards of creation who “cooperate with Francis’ 2015 document, “Laudato Si” of “one God in three persons” to the God in feeding the hungry,” echoing Pius’ (“On Care for Our Common Home”), uncertainty that governs life on the land, praise of working these “sweet fields” as an which warns that “it is the only one we from buried seed to harvest, to weather “honorable occupation.” have,” and to Pope Leo XIV’s more recent and markets. Citing the Gospel for Sunday’s feast of address marking the 80th anniversary Citing the parable found in Mark’s the Holy Trinity — “God so loved the world of World Food Day. In that talk, the pope Gospel, Bishop Rice reminded those that He gave us His only Son” — Bishop called hunger “a mortal wound that afflicts gathered: “The Kingdom of God is like a Rice said the Mass was meant to remind the whole human family” and insisted, farmer who scatters seed on the ground. farmers they are not alone, that they have “Food must never be used as a weapon… Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, “family, community, and Church,” and especially toward their priests and bishop supporting them women and children.” “in this mystery of life as you till the soil Bishop Rice told and harvest the crops.” the crowd that farmers He closed with another passage from live that responsibility Pius XII’s “On Rural Life”: “Let the Church daily and said he often remain the heart of the farmers. Sunday wonders how farmers after Sunday, may the (Church) gather the make it given rain, faithful. … There, may they lift their minds drought, infestations, above material things to the praise and hail, fuel costs, market service of God and to ask for strength to swings, and the wider think and live in a truly Christian manner economy. Seeing crops during the coming week.” still come off the fields, he said, “has to be the An idea, a magazine & a quick work of God.” yes He quoted singer BLESSING OF FARM EQUIPMENT—Assisted by Brock Hulshof and Fr. Daniel For Brock Hulshof, the Diocese’s Blake Shelton’s song, Belken, Bishop Edward Rice blessed a John Deere tractor and other farm summer intern, newly-accepted equipment on May 31 that local farmers brought to the 2026 Farmers’ Mass “God’s Country”: seminarian, and son of Patrick and Robin “I’ve got a deed held at Hulshof Farms. (Photo by Leonna Heuring) Continued on page 5... By Leonna Heuring
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Benton, MO