Fr. Vakulskas visits Plymouth County fair July 29, celebrates Mass, blesses rides

By Jamie McClure, Globe Intern
August 9, 2007

It's not uncommon for people to visit carnivals and fairs this time of year. But for Father John Vakulskas, a priest in the Diocese of Sioux City, he visits surrounding carnivals and fairs to welcome the entertainers, celebrate Mass with everyone and bless the rides and games for the children. Recently, he attended the Plymouth County fair in Le Mars on July 29.

Father Vakulskas refers to this as carnival ministry and has been involved with this ministry for 38-plus years. He attended the Plymouth County fair at the request of the Dean and Lawrence McDermott of the McDermott Family Shows who run the fair. They are from Anthon and Father Vakulskas has been at their show many times and has been at the Plymouth County Fair many times as well. He also attends fairs all around the United States and takes two big trips a year to places such as California, Kentucky and Missouri.

"Along with the carnival ministry and besides the Holy Mass and blessing of the rides, we take time to have special prayer with individuals who may be experiencing difficulties in their lives at the time," said the priest. "These folks all have homes that they operate out of but they are on the road for months of the year and during the height of the fair season, their schedules are such that it is difficult to find time to get groceries, much less take care of their spiritual obligations."

Father Vakulskas also talks with the owner of the show, McDermott, to ask how the local church can help and he offers a Mass for the carnival folks at a time that works best for their schedule. He has tried over the years to visit with the local clergy (Protestant and Catholic) about this ministry. He also tries to get the word out when the carnival comes to town, and he focuses on the men and women and families who set up the rides and games and who make everything work. If a church or organization has a food stand at a fair, he asked that they show Christian hospitality and invite the carnival workers for a special breakfast or lunch.

During his homily at Mass on July 29, Father Vakulskas said, "Ask and you will receive, not might receive. Every one of us has special gifts that we were blessed with and that we should embrace."

After Mass, Father Vakulskas, pastor of St. Mary's church in Alton and St. Anthony's church in Hospers, went around to the carnival rides and blessed them with holy water. Four altar servers accompanied him as he blessed the rides. Their names are Carli Murphy and her sister Caitlin Murphy, Kimberly Streff and her sister Rebecca Streff. Father John also blessed the ticket stands to help them with their success.

While praying and blessing the rides, Father John wears an alb to cover his clothes.

"Alb comes from the Latin word albus meaning white," explained the priest. "It is symbolic to show that we are all God's children and by virtue of baptism we remain children of God. In God's eyes, we are all equal. This covers rich man's clothes or poor man's clothes."

"In the year 2000, as part of the millennium celebration, Pope John Paul II honored all in the entertainment industry as well as those who minister spiritually to this industry," said the priest. "I was one of 10 who were honored for my work in the carnival industry in the United States." The late Holy Father thanked them for providing family entertainment for all God's children.

"Doing this for the 38-plus years has been a blessing, especially now seeing the fact that I am working with the second generation of show-people," said Father John. "I am really honored and humbled, first of all that the Lord chose me to be a priest and second that the Lord chose me to do this work. I am here to push God's blessings of forgiveness, understanding and peace."

Father John stressed that all of the offerings from Mass at the Plymouth County fair do not go to his parishes or straight into his pocket, but instead they go to the Mother Theresa fund and the ministry.

"This fair is wonderful and having Father John bless the rides and hold a Holy Mass for us has been a blessing," said McDermott. "He has helped everything to become more of a success for us over the years and I don't think I even have the words to describe what it means to us to have him here."