By Megan Erbacher, The Message editor
A large crowd of parishioners and faithful from across the Diocese of Evansville gathered outside St. Henry Church in Ferdinand April 1 for the Diocese of Evansville’s annual Rogation Mass celebrated by Bishop Joseph M. Siegel.
St. Henry and the Diocesan Office of Catholic Rural Life sponsored the Mass for farmers, gardeners and stewards of God’s creation. The Mass celebrates the importance of farming and asks for God’s blessings and mercy during the planting and harvest seasons. The service was for all who eat and care for the earth.
The celebration started outside with a procession into the church. Father John Boeglin thanked Bishop Siegel for celebrating the annual Rogation Mass as he welcomed everyone. Father Boeglin explained the celebration is to pray for favorable weather, protection from natural disasters, safety in the fields and on the roads, and for a fruitful harvest.
“It’s so important that we pray for our country, we pray for peace, but also in the land we need food, and we need protection, and also we need protection of weather,” he said.
Before everyone prayed the Litany of St. Isidore the Farmer, Bishop Siegel prayed: Lord God, all creation is yours. You call us to serve you by caring for the gifts that surround us. … Through the intercession of St. Isidore and his wife Maria, farmers of the land, grant good health, protection from accidents and favorable weather for farmers and gardeners to plant the seeds for a harvest of plenty through our Lord, Jesus Christ.
While everyone processed into the church, all prayed the Litany of the Saints before the Liturgy of the Word.
Diocesan priests who concelebrated Mass with Bishop Siegel were Father Boeglin, senior priest of the diocese and vicar for senior priests; Father Riji George, administrator of Christ the King Parish in Ferdinand; Father John Pfister, parochial vicar of Annunciation Parish in Evansville; and Father Timothy Tenbarge, senior priest of the diocese.
Deacon James King of Christ the King Parish in Ferdinand and diocesan assistant director of the Permanent Diaconate assisted during Mass, and Diocesan Director of Worship Matt Miller served as Master of Ceremonies.
During his homily, Bishop Siegel said it’s always a great joy to be with farmers and gardeners of the Diocese for the annual Rogation Mass and celebration. The Bishop said we’re encouraged to ask for God’s blessing on the upcoming growing season, for the protection of our farmers and for a bountiful harvest to enable them to provide for their families and produce the food to feed the world.
Growing up on a farm, Bishop Siegel said he learned that farming is an occupation and way of life with many mixed fortunes, depending on many factors beyond a farmer’s control. He noted in his homily that he learned all too well the sacrifices of too much or not enough rain for the success of crops and, therefore, his family’s welfare.
The Rogation Mass, traditionally celebrated around the planting season, has deep roots in church history. The word rogation comes from the Latin word meaning to ask, and the Mass is an opportunity to ask God to bless the soil and seeds and to protect farmers and their efforts to produce food.
At the conclusion of Mass, Bishop Siegel asked those present to hold their bags of soil for a blessing. From the beginning of time, he prayed, God commanded the Earth to bring forth vegetation and fruit of every kind. Bishop Siegel asked God to bless the soil and grant that it be enriched by his bounty and cultivated by human hands, may the soil be fruitful.
Bishop Siegel then requested that everyone hold their seed samples for a blessing. He asked for God’s blessing on the seeds as the farmers and gardeners prepared to place them in the Earth. May the care we show with these seeds remind us of your tender love for your people, he prayed.
Bishop Siegel then sprinkled parishioners with holy water.
After Mass, Father Boeglin said he’s been involved in the annual Rogation Mass and celebration since July 1988, when the Mass was celebrated in Ferdinand after a six-week drought.
“Let’s praise God for all the blessings we have,” he said.
Father Boeglin announced next year’s Rogation Mass will be hosted by St. Bernard Parish in Snake Run on March 24, 2026.