Polka Mass keeps the beat of long tradition

Watching the weather closely were many, many volunteers who made this church fundraiser pos- sible. Organizers of the event thanked the many volunteers who made this event such a success.
A staple of the celebra- tion is the making of 725 dozen filled biscuits. This Czech custom does not die. The biscuits came in the flavors of prune, apricot and poppy seed.
There were many pre-orders, 350 dozen to be exact. The public sale began at 11 a.m. on the day of the festival. The apricot biscuits were sold out within a half hour.
The busy day of the celebration began with a Polka Mass in the Holy Trinity Catholic Church. The Knights of Columbus Men’s Choir performed prior to the beginning of the Polka Mass.
The Rev. Fr. Martin Schaefer of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona led the Polka Mass.
Schaefer praised  the members of the polka band and said the sounds  of the accordion and drums were welcome parts of the celebration.
He talked about Jesus giving everyone a brand new heart. He then related the personal experience of recently accompanying  his mother to the cardiologist.
“God’s heart is mercy and love,” Schaefer said. “God wants us to turn away from sin,” he remarked.
Following the Polka Mass, visitors traveled the grounds to consume some tasty foods and also to sam- ple some of the fun activi- ties. There were pony rides for the kids, face painting, bean bag toss, fish pond and even Chicken Poop Bingo, yes that’s right.
What was once a private school building for one day became a Used a Bit Shop and a location for silent auction items.
Some fascinating items were put on the auction block. Retired Blooming Prairie teacher Wally Wil- ke donated a homemade children’s rocker.
Wilke, who has been plagued by health prob- lems most of this year, builds the rockers in batch- es of 25 at a time.
He makes the rockers out of either walnut, oak or cherry wood. Wilke sells the rockers but also donates some to auctions, like the one at Litomysl.
The child’s rockers are about one-third the size of a full rocker, Wilke says.
As the Litomysl Summer Festival heads toward the 50-year mark, volunteers say they hope to be back next year for number 49.
 

*/