Carnival priest shares blessings, spreads Gospel

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
July 22, 2004

Amid the food stands, midway rides and assorted games at area carnivals, you just might spot Father John Vakulskas, a priest of the Diocese of Sioux City known as the carnival priest.

For the last 35 years, Father Vakulskas has been providing pastoral outreach to carnival workers. It's not something he really planned to take up, but the ministry took root in 1969 when he was serving at a Le Mars parish and he was called to help an ill man, Henry Klein, who owned the carnival that was in town for the Le Mars centennial celebration.

"A doctor nursed him back to health and before they left town, the Kleins invited me to lunch and said it would be nice to have a priest helping to serve their spiritual needs while they were on the road," he said.

That first dabble in the carnival ministry occurred just about six weeks after he was ordained to the priesthood.

Through the years, the ministry has blossomed. In 1993, he was appointed the chaplain coordinator for the carnival ministry by Pope John Paul II. On Dec. 19, 2000, Father Vakulskas was one of 10 people from the entertainment field chosen to receive a special honor from the pope, in thanksgiving for serving the spiritual needs of the outdoor amusement business industry.

Father Vakulskas, pastor at St. Mary Church in Alton and St. Anthony Church in Hospers, recently led a prayer service and memorial service in Sioux City for workers of the Merriam Midway Show at Rivercade.

"In this business there are ups and downs," he acknowledged in his homily. "We are totally dependent on God's graces and God's blessings - you know this better than I do because you move from place to place."

The priest reminded them that God was counting on them to make a difference in this world.

"I heard on the radio the other day that 15 percent of the population is on some sort of tranquilizer here in the United States and that doesn't include alcoholic beverages. Many people are looking for some brightness, cheer and joy in their lives and whether you know it or not, you are helping to provide it," he stressed.

Father Vakulskas told the workers that they were performing a very valuable function in the lives of the people.

"Now, who will take care of your anxieties and worries? That is where the Lord comes in big time," he said.

The priest pointed out that one of the reasons he took up the ministry was because he knows that being on the road can be a tough life. He asked them to always remember that God was with them.

During the service they remembered two carnival workers who were murdered in the past year as well as other loved ones who had died or were ill.

Two of the people who attended the service are parishioners at St. Mary's Church in Storm Lake. Char and Kenny Carter pointed out that they have games that are part of the show and this keeps them from their home all summer.

"I was impressed that he came," said Char.

The Carters said it was nice to know that someone cared enough to try to minister to their spiritual needs. They had met Father Vakulskas several times at fair conventions, but this was the first time they have attended one of his services.

Judy Cummings, a Baptist from Tennessee, was also at the service. She commented that she liked the service and was thankful for it because not many people take the time to minister to them "because they think you are low-life."

Shelly Barry, a Lutheran from Minnesota, said she thought the service was great because they rarely get the opportunity to go to church services because they are always working.

Another individual on hand for the service was Dale Merriam, former owner of the carnival. He mentioned that he liked what Father Vakulskas had to say about all of the workers forming a family of sorts. The priest's talk, he added, helped to further cement good feelings and relationships among the workers.

Interestingly, Merriam noted, this is one of the few occupations where workers will tattoo the name of the company on their arms because there is generally such a sense of belonging and pride in the company.

"One of the interesting things about the carnival business especially here in the Midwest is that there are several analogies between the carnival and the family farm," he noted. "You almost never enter the carnival business on purpose just like a young man growing up in Detroit would probably never say he plans to be a farmer in Iowa when he grows up. You have to grow up in the business and it is a life-long, inherited type of business."

Merriam, who was born and raised in Ogden of Boone County, noted that the business was started by his father and grandfather. Dale Merriam bought the business in 1974 and then sold it to his son, Todd, and the son's wife, Robby, a year ago.

Following the service, which was held in a tent in the parking lot of the Sioux City Auditorium, Father Vakulskas blessed the rides and games with holy water. He also took the opportunity to pray with workers who had special intentions.

Depending on the religious background of the workers, the priest sometimes will celebrate Mass. Through the years, Father Vakulskas has baptized numerous carnival workers and led many memorial services.

Like Dale Merriam, the carnival priest noted that carnival workers have much in common with farmers in that it is often a family business, they are dependent on the weather, they rely on their own skills to fix things on the spot and most people don't want to work as hard as these jobs demand.

According to Sister Charlotte Hobelman, SND, coordinator of Migrant Ministries of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, pointed out that ministries such as Father Vakulskas' are important because there are thousands of Catholics in the United States that are unable to be part of a local parish community during their work season because they are moving constantly.

"The schedules that they keep make it very difficult for them to try to participate in Mass at a local parish, so we try to coordinate a ministry where instead of having the expectation of people coming to the church, the church goes to the people," said Sister Hobelman.

In addition to people involved in the carnival industry, this branch of the U.S.C.C.B. ministry serves people who may be involved in such things as the circus industry and auto racing. Her office also ministers to migrant farm workers and their families.

"As Catholics, they want to participate in the sacraments like anyone else. They want to grow in grace and holiness in their lives and they need the sacraments to do that. They also have children that they want raised in their faith," stressed Sister Hobelman. "They want the opportunities for religious instruction for their children and also adult faith formation for themselves."

Given Father Vakulskas' carnival apostalate, in 2002 he was appointed to the U.S.C.C.B.'s national advisory board for the Office of Migration and Refugee Services. He will serve on this board for three years.

Next month, he will minister to carnival workers at the Iowa State Fair. Father Vakulskas did stress that his parish obligations do come first so this means he has to turn down many requests. With that in mind, he invites people of the diocese to extend "true Christian hospitality" to carnival workers. For example, if a church hosts a food stand at the fair they may offer a free breakfast to the workers one day.

"This ministry is like a missionary effort. It shows outreach to all of God's people," he said. "Even the pope this outreach is to everyone - to all people of goodwill and not just Catholics. He told me to thank the industry for providing family entertainment."