Parish Visit

Sacred Heart Catholic Church Colby, Kansas

Traveling as a family cross-country means we make time to find a church to attend on Sunday morning. We were heading to Colorado to visit family for a long needed vacation. Day two of our drive put us in Colby, Kansas for the night.

We began our day with Sunday Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Colby Kansas. A modest sized church with a quiet robust community. The early Mass was full of families. Being visitors it can be hard to find your bearings, especially if you have a rambunctious toddler who is not being a good guest. I spent a good deal of Mass in the vestibule where I was able to take in some of the church’s personality if you will. Prayers for rain were said at the close of mass as well as prayers for vocations. There were lovely stained glass windows portraying life on the prairie. This was not a parish of lingerers, you can tell that this community is diligent with their time management.These days of active farming means every moment of daylight is used efficiently. We observed families making quick plans to gather for brunch before taking on the day’s list of farming chores. I was glad to see such a lively church with strong extended families. While other Catholic communities may be suffering big losses it is reassuring to see a parish brimming with life.

In the vestibule a statue of St. Isidore to your left greets you as you arrive in the church. St. Isidore is the patron saint of farmers and rural laborers. It was no surprise to us being in the heart of America’s farmland to see this saint having a prominent location in this parish.  He was known for his love of the poor, and there are accounts of Isidore’s supplying them miraculously with food. He had a great concern for the proper treatment of animals as he would have been in close contact with those that are so commonly found on farms. A little more about St. Isidore can help us understand the strong connection this saint has with farming communities. St. Isidore’s devotion to the faith caused presumption of his character. His habit of rising early for prayer at churches in Madrid often led to his tardiness to farm work. This tardiness was mistaken for languorousness. Being a farmer, therefore, requires patience, perseverance and focus. A lesson we can learn from St. Isidore is that if you have your spiritual self in order, your earthly commitments will fall into order also. Matthew 6:33 He married Maria de la Cabeza and together they had one child who did not survive past childhood. In spite of their personal hardships they generously helped needy neighbors. He died May 15, 1130, and was declared a saint in 1622.