On a breezy spring evening at Rocking Chair Ranch in Wall, Bishop Michael Sis wrapped up the Diocese of San Angelo’s annual Rural Life Mass with a blessing of farm implements, seeds, produce, and animals. Just as the bishop uttered the word “animals” in his prayer, the ranch owners’ dog, Buddy, darted in front of the altar, eliciting chuckles from the crowd gathered.

Buddy’s perfectly timed appearance was one of several pieces comprising the flawless picture that was this year’s Rural Life Mass. For the first time in years, the Mass was held on May 15, the Feast Day of St. Isidore, the patron saint of farmers. A group of about 50 people, including the bishop, clergy, a choir, and ranchers and farmers, gathered under a canopy of pecan trees along a sprawling, spring-fed pond while mayflies bobbed overhead.

In his homily, Bishop Sis discussed Saint Isidore and his wife, Saint Maria, and the miracles surrounding the couple. Isidore and Maria always kept a pot of stew cooking because Isidore was known to bring home hungry people after a day of work plowing the fields. One day, Isidore brought home more people than usual, and Maria fretted that they had run out of stew. Isidore urged her to check the pot again, and when she did, she found enough stew to feed everyone.

Another time, Bishop Sis said, Isidore was on his way to the grinding mill with a sack of wheat. He took pity on the pigeons looking for food and fed them half of the wheat, despite the onlookers who teased him for it. When Isidore arrived at the mill, his bag was inexplicably refilled and produced twice the flour it typically did.

“They were very generous in service to the poor,” Sis said in his homily. “This couple had a deep spirituality, which many of you also have.”

Bishop Sis said Isidore and Maria provided examples of how to live, among them: Human work has dignity; any of us can practice spiritual contemplation in our daily lives; and the simple life is conducive to happiness and holiness.

The bishop referenced Psalm 1:3 which states, “That person is like a tree planted near streams of water, which yields its fruit in season, and whose leaf does not wither – whatever he does prospers.”

“We sit here near this beautiful spring-fed lake with these majestic pecan trees,” he said, looking around him. “Like the trees, which draw up nourishment from the water, we too can flourish if we sink our roots into God, Sis said, adding, “These trees are an example for us of how we need to live our lives.”

Following the Mass, as parishioners dug into a hamburger supper, Sis explained the importance of the annual event, which marked its 16th year. “Agriculture is a part of our way of life in our diocese, and agriculture sustains human life, and our farmers and ranchers acknowledge their dependence on God when they come together for the celebration,” he said.

The bishop said the Rural Life Mass moves each year from East to West within the Diocese’s 29 counties. Last year’s Mass was held at the Tom Ranch outside Stanton. Next year, Sis said, he hopes to have it at a vineyard near Fort Stockton.

“By moving it around, different churches get to host it so the leadership changes and no one gets burned out, and it gives our parishioners an opportunity to visit a beautiful variety of changing venues,” he said.

Loyd and Carol Whitehead, members of St. Ambrose, hosted the event this year at their ranch in Wall.

“It’s humbling,” Carol said. “It’s wonderful to have the bishop here and offer it up and have it blessed. Having an outdoor Mass is a wonderful thing. It’s inspirational.”

Johnnie Mae Stice, music director at St. Ambrose, said the Rural Life Mass gives the diocese’s ranching and farming community an opportunity to pray for God’s blessings upon their livelihood.

“We’re asking God’s blessings for rain and a fruitful harvest, and also (the Mass is) thanksgiving for all the many blessings God has bestowed on our land,” Stice said.