Being Catholic: Saint Isidore the Farmer; and 24 Photos from 2010

Statue of Saint Isidore, Our Lady of Angels church, Sauk Centre, Minnesota. May 15, 2010.

Saint Isidore and Blessing Seeds

That's my parish's statue of Saint Isidor. Saint Isidore the farmer is part of this parish's life, particularly for the last several years.

The statue isn't always in front of the altar. May 15 is Saint Isidore, patron of farmers and gardeners, day: and is also in 'planting season' around here. The odds are that you know of him as Saint Isidore the Laborer, and that's another topic. Topics.

Not many folks in this parish are farmers, but some of us have gardens: and that's why the basket is there. Seeds put in the basket will be blessed during the week.

The idea isn't to grow magic beanstalks, or ward off garden pests. Here's part of what's on the back of a prayer card that I picked up:

"...O great Saint, help all farmers and gardeners spiritually to see the wonders God has strewn on this earth...."

Sauk Centre, Minnesota, has light manufacturing industries, communications and retail businesses, and enough professionals to keep this community of 4,000 going. And all of it relates, directly or indirectly, to the farms and farmers in this area.

Saint Isidore of Seville, Anachronisms, and the Domestic Church

Isidore of Seville lived in Spain, near Madrid, about 900 years ago. He certainly didn't wear overalls, and that's yet another topic:

• "St. Isidore, the Domestic Church, and the Good Shepherd"
  (May 15, 2011)

Faith and photos

Saint Paul's, Sauk Centre, November 13, 2009.

These posts are usually heavy on words and light on pictures. Today I'm switching it around: with mostly photos, and not many words. Here's what being Catholic looked like to me, more or less, in 2010:

Being Catholic in Sauk Centre: 2010

Our Lady of Angels church. Lent was more than two weeks away, but we were already collecting palms from the previous Easter. January 31, 2010.


Our Lady of Angels. The bulletin board near the church entrance. January 31, 2010.


Our Lady of Angels. That's Father Statz, our parish priest, on the floor. He hadn't fallen: that posture indicates the way we see what my Lord did on Golgotha. February 21, 2010.


Crucifix, keyboard, and prescription bottles. Prayer is a vital part of being Catholic. Maintaining health is important, too: and we're not expected to ignore technology or science. March 4, 2010.


Our Lady of Angels, before Mass. March 7, 2010.


Our Lady of Angels' Gospel Book. This is the old Gospel Book, before someone stole it. It's gone, we've got a new one, and forgiveness is important. March 7, 2010.


Our Lady of Angels bulletin board: another week, another set of announcements. March 7, 2010.


A reminder of what Jesus did for us. For me. March 14, 2010.


Artwork and a book by Deb Holt, a local artist. March 29, 2010


Father Sylvester Kleinschmidt's 60th year as a priest. We don't generally have that many priests and deacons at the altar, but this was a special occasion. March 29, 2010.


Part of the Marian garden between Our Lady of Angels church and rectory. I like that place. It's (fairly) quiet. June 28, 2010.


Being Catholic means being at Mass regularly. September 5, 2010.


Sometimes being Catholic also involves clearing out the shed. September 5, 2010.


Our Lady of Angels' Marian garden, again. It's a good place to stop and think. August 5, 2010.


St. Paul's, the other Catholic church in town. That's a statue of (now Saint) Faustina Kowalska. August 21, 2010.


Saint Paul's altar. This is the 'German' church. I go the 'Irish' church, and there's a story behind that. August 21, 2010


Divine Mercy shrine in St. Paul's. August 21, 2010.


My household likes to have 'Catholic' art in view. I like it: and think it's a good idea. August 31, 2010.


Family photos: but that 'Last Supper' picture is at the room's focal point. August 31, 2010.


That's near my home's front door. It's a sort of reminder. August 31, 2010


Someone else took this photo. I'm the bald guy, neat the center of the picture. We were getting together with folks from Kenya. September 18, 2010.


Adoration Chapel, near St. Paul's. I really should spend more time there. October 25, 2010.


Inside a book-and-gift shop in Sauk Centre, Hidden Treasure. We're a very 'Catholic' community, and that affects what's on the store shelves. December 1, 2010.


Our Lady of Angels, starting another cycle of the Church year. December 5, 2010.

Related posts:

• Priests and parishes
  • "Lenten Chaplet: From Venezuelan Wood to Metal and Synthetics"
    (March 25, 2011)
  • "Praying Before Mass, and Stuff From the Shed"
    (September 5, 2010)
  • "60 Years as Priest: Father Sylvester Kleinschmidt"
    (June 3, 2010)
  • " 'Just Routine: Nothing Special' - a Priest in a Small Town"
    (April 30, 2010)
  • "The Seven Sacraments and Life in the Trinity: Charming Book, Local Author"
    (April 26, 2010)
• Neighbors
  • "Diversity in Unity: Two Millennia and Counting"
    (April 18, 2012)
  • " 'We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites...' "
    (August 5, 2011)
  • "Hope, Joy, and Working for a Better World"
    (September 13, 2011)
  • "Loving Neighbors: Even the One Who Stole Our Gospel Book"
    (September 4, 2011)
  • "Local Parishes, Universal Church, and Living in Minnesota"
    (June 16, 2011)
• Kenya, mostly
  
  • "It's the Catholic Church in America; Not the American Catholic Church"
    (November 9, 2010)
  • "Watches, Time, and Ugali"
    (September 20, 2010)
  • "News from Kenya: Cause for Beatification of Cardinal Otunga"
    (June 1, 2010)
  • "Experiences in Homa Bay"
    (July 19, 2009)
  • "Migori, Kenya, and Sauk Centre, Minnesota: Pencils, Partnership and Prayer"
    (July 19, 2009)
• Being Catholic
  • "Marching Through Time"
    (April 1, 2012)
  • "Global Economics, Fundamental Rights: 'It's Complicated' "
    (March 19, 2012)
  • "Ancient Style and Today's Discussions at the 'Vatican Science Academy' "
    (October 2, 2011)
  • "Minnesota Bishops, Immigrants, Papers and Justice"
    (June 30, 2010)
  • "My Chaplet, Magic, Prayer and Catholic Beliefs"
    (March 4, 2010)