Rural life celebration

Bishop Donald Kettler presided at Mass during this year’s Catholic Charities Rural Life Celebration at the Joe and Toni Borgerding farm near Belgrade Aug. 13. Benedictine Abbot John Klassen was the featured speaker. Following his talk, attendees were treated to a lunch of hot beef sandwiches and fresh corn-on-the-cob. A second collection was taken during the Mass to benefit the Rural Life Fund, an emergency fund for rural individuals and families in financial hardship.

Bishop Donald Kettler presided at the Mass.
Sophia Schulz, 9, sits covered in a towel after getting wet in the rain. She is from Fargo, visiting her grandparents in the area.
Father David Grundman gives communion to Dave Borgerding.
Jessica Radermacher holds her son Austin, 4, during the Mass.
Father David Grundman reads the Gospel during Mass. He is pastor of the churches of St. Francis, Belgrade, St. Donatus, Brooten and Sts. Peter and Paul, Elrosa, the host parishes of the event.
The tent was full for the outdoor Mass despite the morning rain. By the time it was over the weather had cleared up.
Benedictine Abbot John Klassen was the featured speaker at the end of Mass.
Bishop Donald Kettler, Abbot John Klassen and Father Mark Willenbring shared a laugh after Mass.
Emma Henneman, 13, a member of Mary of the Visitation in Becker/Big Lake, cuddled with a kitten in the petting zoo.
Joe Schulz, 1, visited the petting zoo after having some fun in the mud outside.
Father Greg Mastey, pastor of the Two Rivers Catholic Community of Holdingford, Bowlus and St. Anna, was on hand representing Catholic Rural Life, a group of dedicated bishops, laity, and religious who are joined in a common effort to serve the rural Church, rural people, and their communities. Father Mastey serves on the organization's board of directors.
Jordan and Breanna Becker, members the Slew Foot Family Band, perform a song during the Rural life Celebration. The band provided music after Mass.
Bob Kampsen and Earl and William Zenzen prepared the corn-on-the-cob.