Festivals Build County Faith Communities
November 26, 2025
Fun and games are always around the corner during summers in Shelby County. Four parishes in the county host annual picnics in the span of six weeks, each one drawing their community together for timeless fellowship.
St. Mary, Panama
St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Panama hosted their longtime picnic the second week of June. The picnic began with a pancake breakfast in the morning, activities for kids and adults alike throughout the day, Mass in the afternoon, and a live auction and food trucks in the evening.
The picnic not only benefits the parish and Shelby County Catholic School but also provides enriching connections with people in the community. Karen Wingert, business manager for St. Mary of the Assumption, said the festival brings people to town to work together.
St. Boniface, Westphalia
For the past 153 years, St. Boniface in Westphalia’s parish picnic has been a Fourth of July staple. The picnic began with a crowd cheering on the town’s little league teams in their baseball games. One of the games featured the 13-year-olds playing against their fathers, while another involved a neighboring little league team.
Other traditions include an auction, kids’ games, paddle wheel, and food stands.
The picnic is a labor of love with planning beginning the August prior to the picnic. But it’s worth it.
“The biggest part [of the picnic] is keeping that tradition alive of community coming together and making something so successful,” said Brittany Schaben, the parish business manager.
St. Joseph, Earling
St. Joseph Parish in Earling held its parish picnic for the first time since the pandemic. Mass started off the evening, and events included bags tournament, food stands, raffles, kids’ activities, auction, and a DJ.A group of six young families worked together to bring back the annual tradition and fundraiser for the parish.
Chris Gaul, lifelong parishioner and head of the Picnic Auction Committee, believes the dedication of St. Joseph parishioners, especially young adults, is the success of the picnic.
“I can’t tell you how incredibly proud and lucky St. Joseph is to have a group [young adult parishioners] willing and able to be leaders in the parish,” Gaul said. “It seems like everyone is struggling to find young people to fill these roles…and here in Earling, Iowa, we are thriving.”
St. Mary, Portsmouth
St. Mary Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Portsmouth hosted their picnic the last weekend of July. Their festivities include a car show, a bike ride, tent stands, a paddle stand, and an auction. This year, Blue Sunday, a music group from Omaha, played at the picnic.
Ken Stein is a lifelong member of St. Mary’s and has helped at the picnic since he was a kid, passing the tradition on to his family who also comes to the picnic each year. He sees the picnic as the perfect opportunity to keep the parish vibrant through the work of the community.
“It’s very important to our church to work together for a common goal,” Stein said. “This brings people together.”
St. Michael, Harlan
The summertime fun in Shelby County stretched into fall with St. Michael Parish’s harvest festival in Harlan Oct. 12. The festival included raffles, paddle wheel, a cake walk, bouncy houses, and a country store featuring homemade items from parishioners. Staley’s chicken Dinner was served for dine-in, takeout, or drive-through.
The harvest festival, organized by the Women’s Guild, raises funds for the parish and all faith formation activities for the next year, said Angela Buman, director of Religious Education.
Everyone in the parish has a role to play to make the festival a success. Teenagers may run the drive-through while adults donate items or run the stands, said Julie Thraen, president of the Women’s Guild.
This strengthens the community.
“God intends us to be present in our community and with other people,” Buman said. “The harvest festival supports that.”