The St. Cloud Mission Office is hosting the Fourth Annual Partnership Barn Dance Sept. 30 from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Wadena County Fairgrounds.
The barn dance is a celebration of diocesan mission partnerships, specifically the sister diocese partnerships between the Diocese of St. Cloud and the Diocese of Homa Bay, Kenya, which began about 17 years ago, and the Diocese of Maracay, Venezuela, whose roots were planted over 50 years ago.
The partnerships include delegations to and from each other’s diocese, opportunities for long-term mission and ministry to each other, sister-parish and community relationships, ongoing communication and prayer.
“Our 15 delegates from Homa Bay will be at the event with us this year, so we’ll see them do Kenyan style liturgical dance, hear from them after Mass, offer a special farewell blessing before their journey home and have the chance to interact with them throughout the evening,” explained Kateri Mancini, mission education coordinator for the St. Cloud Mission Office.
“We haven’t had delegates from our partnership at the event before, so we’re pretty excited and hope others will come to help us give them a warm Minnesotan welcome.”
Mass kicks off the event at 4 p.m. with Bishop Donald Kettler, followed by a baked potato bar with all the fixings, desserts, cabbage salad, homemade baked beans and chips, kids’ activities, hayrides and live music.
New this year are the musical stylings of two groups — the Wadena Whirlaways, a square and round dancing group, and Vista Jazz Club, a group of four musicians: Susan Schleper on vocals, Joe Meyer on string bass, Lane Trisko on percussion and Steve Bresnahan on seven string jazz guitar.
A live auction by Perala Brothers Auctioneers will also be part of the fun. Auction items include a Timber Fire Table, a re-purposed wooden door deacon’s bench, an Autumn Blaze Maple tree delivered and planted within 50 miles of Wadena, handmade quilts, a gas grill, dinner with Bishop Kettler, 25 pounds of grass fed ground beef, a bird bath and a children’s rocker.
The fairgrounds are located at 400 Ash Street, Wadena. Participants are asked to bring their own lawn chairs and to dress for the weather.
For more information, contact the St. Cloud Mission Office at 320-251-1100.