Tom not only felt his family should pray together, but he also felt the same way about his Catholic community. What better way for a Catholic community, such as the Seton School families, to be together than a day with their Blessed Mother.
On the last Sunday in May, for many years, Tom and Mary Ellen opened up their farm to a few hundred people for a day devoted to our Blessed Mother. Tom arranged speakers to talk about various miracles, apparitions, and teachings.
They would also have a Marian Procession with a statue of the Blessed Virgin
on a floral bier being carried around the perimeter of their farm. During the procession, people would be saying the Rosary and singing Marian hymns. One unique feature of this procession were the farm animals that watched and followed the many people as they processed in solemn community around the property.
After the procession, there would be a wonderful potluck meal. Then, while adults discussed various topics of the day, the children would romp and play with the farm animals or have games in the barn. There was more than one child that fell over, or swung on a rope into, a pile of hay.
This wonderful community activity was so joyful and appealing to all, that instead of having a customary private family gathering for their oldest son’s priestly ordination, they had another Marian Procession at their farm. Hundreds of people attended and celebrated, not only the Blessed Mother and her son Jesus, but also the Vander Woude family’s newly ordained diocesan priest.