Father John Paul Knopik grew up on a farm and learned firsthand what it takes to make a living as a farmer.
Now, as a rural pastor, he wanted to do something to show the farmers in the MAAA Area Catholic Community where he serves that their church cares for them and understands their challenges. He suggested a blessing of seeds last year during a meeting of the liturgy committee.
The committee planned the event for May 4, 2025. Members of the three parishes he pastors — St. Mary in Chokio, Ave Maria in Wheaton and St. Anthony in Browns Valley — were invited to bring in seeds or soil that they wanted to have blessed.
Amy Blackwelder, a member of the committee, volunteered the use of a small battery-powered tractor and trailer as a prop for the event. One of her sons is a seed dealer and had a small bag of soybean seed that fit perfectly in the trailer.
“We encouraged the parishioners to then take the blessing from God back home to where they reside, in hopes that the blessing sowed would touch the rest of their property,” Father Knopik said.
“Being a part of the agricultural community, the blessing was very meaningful to me,” Blackwelder said. “It is fitting to ask God’s blessing on the seeds and soil for the work and growing season in front of us.”
The tradition of blessing seeds is deeply connected to care for creation, Father Knopik said. From the very beginning, Scripture places humanity in a garden, invited to walk with God and entrusted with the task to “be fruitful and multiply.” That calling extends not only to human life but to the vegetation and land that sustain us, he said.
“Both God and humanity desire a good harvest, and we recognize that none of it is possible without God,” he said. “By blessing seeds, we turn to the one who cares for all of creation, asking that our work be guided by prudence and gratitude — with his blessings sprinkled on top of our labor.”
This year’s blessing is set for April 19 in Chokio, a little earlier than last year to make sure it takes place before planting begins, Blackwelder explained.
“Our ACC community is largely an agricultural community,” she added. “It is my hope that we find deep meaning in the blessing of the seeds and soil, that the blessing serves as a reminder that we rely on God for our livelihood and that we should be thankful for all that he has blessed us with.”
Father Knopik enjoys the opportunity to incorporate this deep-rooted tradition into his ministry.
“There’s a lot of work and stress that goes into farming — variables like timing, weather, equipment, labor and markets — in the hopes of making a living,” Father Knopik said. “If I can provide some air support from heaven to my parishioners in this situation, then thanks be to God.”