Catholic Rural Life
Dedicated parishioners, priests, religious and bishops join together in a common purpose to the rural church, rural people, and their communities. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati is served by two Rural Life Conferences, which operate under the auspices of the Catholic Social Action Office: The Catholic Rural Life Conference of the Northern Area and that of the Southeastern Area. These conferences educate and assist parishes and parishioners about rural life concerns by identifying needs, providing resources, and advocating a moral perspective. The Northern Area Rural Life Conference covers Darke, Mercer, Auglaize, Shelby, and Miami Counties. The Southeast Rural Life Conference is organizationally located within the St. Mary Deanery and meets regularly at St. Mary Church in Arnheim, Brown County. The Southeast Deanery covers five counties in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati: Adams, Brown, Clinton, Highland, and the eastern portion of Clermont.
Ohio Catholic Rural Life Conference
This site provides Rural Life resources such as rural life prayers, legislative updates, Catholic social teaching, and more!
The conference:
- Assists parishes in organizing “rural life masses” and other observances
- Provides liturgy resources for rural parishes
- Promotes prayer, healing and reconciliation
- Monitors state and national legislation; advocates and prepares statements and provides legislators with resources on rural issues.
- Provides parishes with resources on farm, rural and environmental issues.
- Monitors and influences land use and development planning
- Works for credit and lending for farmers
- Advises and updates the Archbishop and the Catholic Social Action Commission.
Check out this article from The Catholic Telegraph:
LET EARTH BE THE BOSS: KEEPING FAMILY FARMS ALIVE
RURAL-URBAN FARM MASS
The signature events of our Rural Life Conferences each year are our Rural-Urban Farm Masses. Up north, the mass is typically held in the summer, and out east the mass is usually in the early fall. These masses are a chance for the entire archdiocese to celebrate the contributions of both our rural and urban folks living outside of our major metropolitan areas and to pray for these folks, especially as they follow God’s command to care for and till the land.
2024 Rural-Urban Farm Mass (Northwest)
The St. Augustine deaneries Catholic Rural Life Committee would like to invite all to celebrate and give thanksgiving for faith, farm, and family. During the mass Catholic families who have farmed and nurtured the same land for 100 years or more will be recognized through the Catholic Century Farm Awards. The Farm Mass will be held on Thursday, June 27th at 7:00 p.m. with Archbishop Schnurr presiding. All are welcome.
Southeast Deanery
The 2023 Mass was held on Friday, September 8, at 7:00 p.m. with Archbishop Schnurr presiding. Gary & Shirley Moran hosted the Mass on their farm at 5565 Moran Rd. in Ripley, OH.
Pictures from the 2023 Farm Mass
Century Farm Awards
Apply to have your family recognized at the 2024 Northern Rural Farm Mass. This award is to recognize Catholic families who have farmed the same land for 100 years or more and has not already been recognized. Please call Roger Hoying, 419-733-4543 for an application. This must be requested by April 14, 2024. Awards to be given on June 27, 2024, at the Rural-Urban Farm Mass.
Click here for the Century Farm Award information and application.
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s Catholic Rural Life Conference of the Southeast Deanery would like to honor Catholic families in the deanery who have had the same farm in their family for 100 years or more. There is a short application to fill out and a copy of the original deed is needed and can be found at the county courthouse.
A Lenten Journey Through Black History in Rural Ohio
On February 4, 2024, 50 people gathered at St George Parish, Georgetown, Ohio for the 15th Annual Local Foods Seminar. The purpose of the gathering was to bring local producers and potential businesses and consumers together to advance local food production in the five county primarily Appalachian area that includes Adams, Brown, Clermont, Clinton, and Highland counties.
Action Center
Catholic Social Teaching calls us to not only understand and deepen our faith but also to live our faith. Whether through advocacy, education, faith sharing, or public action, we all must practice our faith in our every word and deed. As James 2:17 says, “Faith without works is dead.” Please check back often to our Action Center for various ways that you and your community can speak out with compassion and solidarity for justice and peace.
