2021 Rural Life Mass

The Rural Life Mass was held on August 11, 2021, at St. Mary Parish in Hearne. Bishop Joe Vásquez celebrated the Mass, which celebrates the recent harvest.

This year’s recipient of the Rural Life Award for an individual is someone who has dedicated his life to faith, farming, and his family. Farming is his passion. He has been a cotton farmer and rancher since 1952. He has served his church well and is a former Finance Council member. He graduated from Hearne High School in 1945 and from Texas A&M with a degree in petroleum engineering in 1949. He is an amazing and supportive family man. He and his wife Mary raised Mary, Martha, Anthony Jr., Edward and Luke and are blessed with 15 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. This year’s deserving recipient of the Rural Life Award goes to Anthony Scamardo.

And now to award the Rural Life Award to a clergy. Our recipient this year was ordained on April 21, 1999, in the Diocese of Loikaw. He has been an Associate Pastor at St. Francis in Franklin for 7 years and at St. Mary’s in Bremond for two years. He farms the land behind the rectory for six years by growing all sorts of vegetables. I’m sure many have enjoyed the fruits of his labor. I would like to present the Clergy Rural Life Award to Fr. Richard Dee Du.