Bishop celebrates Mass for a good harvest

Nearly 100 of the faithful came to Holy Family Parish in Taft, some from as far as Alice, to join Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey celebrate a Mass for the Beginning of the Harvest. This is the second year that the bishop has celebrated the Mass.
 

	Deacon William Boostrom prepares the Gospel at Mass for the Beginning of the Harvest.

The Mass was celebrated on the Feast of St. Isidore, Patron Saint of Farmers and Bishop Mulvey implored St. Isidore to ask God to bless the work of those present and to provide them with the rain they need to harvest a good crop.

The bishop reminded the farmers that Jesus used the very basic items of bread and wine in the first Eucharistic celebration. These basic elements come from the Earth, he said. There is a danger in today’s society of moving away from the basics of life.

“What many of you do is work with the basic elements of life, the land, the seeds, etc.,” Bishop Mulvey said. “Farmers are so important to human life, to society.”

He told farmers that they, more than most, knew how to appreciate God because they are dependent on His gifts of rain and good weather. “What you do helps sustain others,” he said.

Father Dennis Zerr, pastor at Holy Family, concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Mulvey, and Deacon William Boostrom assisted. The bishop thanked the parish communities of Holy Family and Immaculate Conception for their participation and hospitality.

“While we are thankful for the recent rains, we need to continue to pray for the blessings of sufficient rain to free us from the ongoing drought,” Bishop Mulvey said.