Bishop Michael McGovern talks with parishioners before the Spring Farm Blessing at the Ruppert home (David Wilhelm photo).
Bishop Michael McGovern presided over his final Spring Farm Blessing in the Diocese of Belleville on a sunny and pleasant April 23 at the Lonnie and Melinda Ruppert home on Tulip Road in rural Coulterville.
During his five-year stay as bishop, McGovern also conducted Fall Harvest Blessings at farmsteads in the diocese.
Indications are that McGovern might be in for more of the same after he is installed as the sixth archbishop in the Archdiocese of Omaha, Neb., an area of the country rich in flat farmland, much like Illinois.
The installation ceremony in Omaha was scheduled for May 7, after this edition of The Messenger was printed.
When it was announced March 31 that Bishop McGovern would become Archbishop McGovern, the topic of farm blessings was broached, and McGovern indicated a desire to begin them in Nebraska and said they had become enjoyable events on his calendar.
Media members from Omaha requested photographs of McGovern leading farm blessings.
So … stay tuned.
Bishop McGovern welcomed more than 100 attendees, including a contingent of students from St. Bruno School in Pinckneyville, to the Ruppert farm and began with a blessing of the people. Then he led them around the property, making stops to bless the land, the seed, the animals — a cow, four chickens and two piglets were in attendance — and the machinery and tools.
The Rosary preceded each stop along the procession.
Bishop McGovern was assisted by deacon and Rural Life Coordinator Mark Kabat and Fr. Godfrey Mullen, OSB, and others.
The Ruppert Farm was built by Lonnie and Melinda, who still live on the premises. Their son, Jon, his wife Cortnie and their children, Emily and Henry, work the farm.
The farm operates mostly on row crops, although a few head of cattle are on site, too. Cover crops, no-till and soil management are practices used on the farm.