HAVERHILL — Over 300 Catholics of all ages from around the area gathered at the Stalzer Century Farm just north of Haverhill on Thursday morning for the second annual Rural Life Mass led by the Archdiocese of Dubuque followed by an awards ceremony and luncheon — despite an interruption from a heavy rainfall that began around noon.

The event was the second of its kind after a similar Mass was held last fall in northeast Iowa near Decorah. Dale Stalzer credited Father Alan Dietzenbach of the St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Marshalltown and Deacon Brian Zeman with the idea of hosting the Mass at his farm. Stalzer worked with his two brothers, Dick and Bob, and their four sons, to prepare the property.

“A lot,” Dale said when asked about how much work went into it. “We had to clean that shed out, and we were actually doing a rebuild on this design system, so we had a lot going. It’s harvest time, so we’re working on machinery and we had to do this. And of course, the girls helped with the lunch, the (Marshall County) Pork Producers are doing the patties. There was a lot of prep, and we’ve been working on this since February.”

He added that they were “very humbled” to be asked to host.

“We could’ve said no, but we didn’t. You can’t say no to the Archbishop, so here we are,” Dale said. “Our great grandfather, grandfather, dad, they all raised their families here, so it’s pretty incredible that now we have an Archbishop saying Mass here. How many people get to say the Archbishop came and said Mass on their Century Farm?”

The Mass featured special music from students at St. Francis Catholic School in Marshalltown and a homily from Archbishop Thomas Zinkula, who grew up on a farm himself and noted during his introductory remarks that it had also rained the day before.

“God provided, right? Settled the dust. (We got) some clouds, so that helps for me anyway. It invites him, and so what a glorious day to be together and worship our God,” Zinkula said.

Dale Stalzer provided the first reading from 2 Corinthians 9: 8-11, and during his homily, Zinkula spoke fondly of the setting, with seeds scattered, plants nurtured and growth multiplied around them with the promise of a bountiful harvest now on the horizon.

“While not every seed falls on good soil, when it does, it yields a harvest beyond expectation — 30, 60, 100 fold. God’s word works much the same way when received with openness and faith, it takes root in us and bears fruit in our lives,” he said.

In what turned out to be a prescient statement, Zinkula called the land itself “a teacher” and said farmers know that harvest requires cooperation with “forces beyond our control” — sun, rain and healthy soil to protect from storms.

“This reliance fosters humility, patience and trust. So it is in our spiritual lives. We plant seeds of faith. We nurture them, but the growth comes from God,” he said. “As we begin the harvest, one more harvest this year, our hearts turn naturally to Thanksgiving. Gratitude is the seed of generosity.”

He also renewed the call for Catholics and Christians around the world to care for the Earth and protect “the fragile gift of creation.”

“May this Eucharist, the great Thanksgiving, be our model. We take what is given, we bless it, we break it, and we share it. And in doing so, we participate in God’s own harvest of grace and generosity,” Zinkula said.

During a subsequent prayer, Deacon Tom Renze specifically asked God to watch over the immigrants and refugees who work on farms and in other jobs focused on providing food for the population as a whole, and the Stalzer family collected the offering before the traditional rite of Communion was performed. As the rain began to come down, attendees moved into the shed where lunch would be served, and a brief recognition ceremony was conducted with an introduction from Zeman and further remarks from Zinkula.

“On a farm, you see Catholic social teaching lived out. You see the dignity of work, the importance of family and the way neighbors step up to help one another,” Zinkula said. “We also know how valuable our immigrant brothers and sisters are to agriculture in Iowa these days. Their labor, faith and families enrich our rural communities, and we stand in solidarity with them. So today we give thanks to the land, to those who work it, and for our God who sustains us… (We) renew our commitment to care for creation, to welcome one another and to remain faithful stewards of the many gifts entrusted to us.”

Seth Forster of Catholic Rural Life and Mark Swanson, the regional director of the Growing Hope Globally program, gave a brief update on happenings within their organizations, and former State Senator Jeff Edler (R-State Center) of Saint Joseph Catholic Church received a special recognition with the “Friend of the Farmer” Award alongside the St. Isidore and Maria Award recipients, the Steve and Nicole Jonas family of Gilbert, and the Gene and Ann Elsbernd family Century Farm of Fort Atkinson, recipients of the Fr. Norm White Award.

The Stalzers were then recognized with a plaque for hosting the event, and Dale Stalzer made sure to shout out members of his family who had traveled from around the country to attend as well as his ancestors who have farmed the land for generations before he, his brothers and their sons took it over.

“Thank you, and I think they’re all smiling down on us as we celebrate the holy sacrifices of Mass on the farm they homesteaded and raised their families on,” he said.

He encouraged those in the crowd to visit the Immaculate Conception Oratory in Haverhill just down the road, the Edel Blacksmith Shop and, if their thirst hadn’t been fully quenched, the Haverhill Social Club. Stalzer closed with a prayer.

“Lord, father of us all, watch over and protect all the men and women who work in the fields during harvest. Guide and direct their efforts this time of year as they begin to reap the fruits of your bounty. Keep them safe in their work. Help drivers to be aware of equipment and trucks on the road at all times of day. Keep equipment working well, and make your yield abundant. Help us remember that you are the God of the harvest, and all praise and glory be yours, Heavenly Father, through Christ our Lord with the spirit. Amen,” he said.

Finally, Archbishop Zinkula, despite the heavy rain coming down, walked around the farm to bless the animals, the land and the machinery, and the faithful enjoyed a free will donation lunch courtesy of the Marshall County Pork Producers.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.