No one can accuse the Catholic Church of being stodgy. Not when it’s happy to have mass celebrated just down the road from the champion heifers, and a stone’s throw from the ferris wheel and the Tilt-A-Whirl.

According to a TV station in Vermont:

The Champlain Valley Fair is in full swing. And amidst all the fun Sunday, some Catholics observed a sacred tradition.

They celebrated Sunday Mass at the fair. For years it was held out on the fairgrounds, but moved into quieter quarters when the Expo North building opened. It gives fair workers and expo management a place to worship conveniently on one of their busiest days.

It is a full Mass with communion. The retired priest who leads the service prayed for a successful fair week.

Father John McSweeney says, “Well I guess we all pray for good weather as you may have heard my mention of it. And also we pray for the deceased people who have served this fair for so many years. They were mentioned in Mass this morning. We come to worship almighty God through the sacrifice of the Mass primarily to give honor and glory to God.”

In addition to the Catholic Mass, there’s also a non-denominational service the two Sundays of the Fair.

That strikes me as a true celebration of the holy mass — celebrating it as part of a seasonal celebration, for those who work to bring some measure of joy to others.

I think this week’s saint-of-the-moment put it best: “One filled with joy preaches without preaching.” (Blessed Mother Teresa).

See you at the fair.