by Fr. Brian Wirth,
Director of Rural Life
Greetings!
My name is Father Brian Wirth. I am the Director of Rural Life for the Diocese of Lincoln. As director, it brings me great joy to serve in this position on behalf of the Diocese and all of you.
From Rulo to Benkelman and Lincoln in between, our diocese is geographically vast and diverse in its gifts, which adds to the richness of our Church. As Nebraskans, regardless of where we live, agriculture is essential to our livelihood. This way of life is a wondrous manifestation of God’s handiwork in Creation and our cooperation with Him.
I grew up on a sixth-generation farm outside Nebraska City, which continues its operation today. My home is where the farm originated, then a small farmhouse, which today serves as the family kitchen.
This modest beginning has resulted in a bountiful harvest of many physical and spiritual fruits. Undoubtedly, as many generational family farms attest, what has enabled our farm to be successful is the rich soil of the Catholic faith.
I was born and raised Catholic and was blessed to live near both sets of my grandparents, spending countless hours with them and family on and off the farm. For this, I am forever grateful.
As Director of Rural Life, the question I receive most commonly: “That’s great Father!… what does this mean???
When answering, I’m reminded of the experiences sharing my vocation story. As a priest, arguably the most frequent question I get concerns my vocation. Some may think this question gets old. The opposite is true; I always look forward to sharing my call to the priesthood.
Every time a priest shares his vocation, it is a grace for the priest and laity alike: The priest is reminded of God’s particular love for him and his family, the laity are renewed in faith, hope, and charity.
The laity also possess joy; an authentic joy that men have heard and answered God’s call to become priests for their spiritual and physical well-being provided through the sacraments. Finally, the laity enjoy thanksgiving, recognizing that God has answered their prayers for continued vocations and faithful priests.
Thus, when asked about my role as Rural Life Director, my response is similar to my vocation. Through God’s unique graces, my vocation is an ongoing revelation of God’s Face, the Face of Love and Mercy.
As Director of Rural Life, my mission is to enable our diocese to personally encounter God’s Face, the Face of Love and Mercy within Lincoln and our rural parishes via agriculture.
Equally, I desire to promote a more wholesome spiritual and physical relationship between the urban and rural parts of our diocese, through our agrarian heritage and active participation in the sacred liturgy, especially through the Mass and Eucharist.
Though never doubting God’s omnipotence, I honestly don’t know if I would have become a priest had I not grown up a cradle Catholic on the farm in Nebraska City in America’s Heartland. This statement simply highlights the particular love God has had for me, my family, and for each of you from the beginning.
Thus, the purpose of this column is to highlight God’s love for us as a rural and urban diocese through the testimonies of our faithful, to foster prayer, and to promote diocesan events.
In this manner, I hope that such witness will lead us to a further exercise of Christian understanding of our love for creation. As God’s beloved creation, together we will build solidarity as we await in hope our fulfillment in Christ. May we experience true communion by gazing on God’s Face, the Face of Love and Mercy, who has made all things well.
