A POPE OF THE PEOPLE...JOHN PAUL II
COMES TO DES MOINES
A visit from the Bishop of Rome is an unparalleled honor.. one that is surrounded by preparations and proprieties. However the real essence of a visit by Pope John Paul II is more than the beauty of a festival celebration, or the enthusiasm of the throngs flocking to see him. The real significance of the Holy Father's visit is his quiet, loving concern for all humanity. He spoke directly to the people, the poor, the workers, the farmers. He spoke to them of their own human dignity and the church's concern for sacredness of life. They were touched!
He sees the land as a treasure of which we are stewards. He sees in our families and our natural resources the capability of diminishing the world's hunger. And he quotes:
"The agricultural world has great importance and great dignity. It is that which
offers society the products necessary for its nourishment. It is work, that deserves
the appreciation and grateful esteem of all, a recognition of the dignity of those
who work the land."
It was while watching the evening news with his pastor at the parish rectory one July of 1979, that the idea first came to Joe Hayes, (raised north of Murray on a farm owned by his parents, Bill and Jennie Hayes) to invite Pope John Paul II to Iowa on his first visit to America. The Pope accepted, and the wheels were put in motion in our capitol city, Des Moines, to welcome the Holy Father, a native of Poland.
No sooner had the official announcement been made that the Pope was coming to Des Moines than the reporters began to appear at Joe Hayes door. On October 4, 1979, the Hayes family were among the first people to greet Pope John Paul II when he arrived at Living History Farms. They also participated in the presentation of gifts at the papal mass. Several days later, Joe Hayes and his wife Ann were at the White House to attend the presidential reception for the pope on the White House lawn, guests of President and Mrs. Jimmie Carter.
Hopeville and Vicinity feel proud that fame was brought to some of our local families, especially to a man who tilled the soil. It was no millionaire, nor politician, nor oil magnate, that moved the Pope of Rome. It was a small time, honest to God farmer, whose religious beliefs matched that of the Pope's so reminiscent of the Lord who
said "My father is a farmer".
Joe Hayes came south of Hopeville to court and win the hand in marriage of Ann, daughter of Lowell and Ruby (Glazebrook) Adams. The Adams at one time operated the grocery store on the east side of Hopeville, lived south of that little berg about three miles, where they raised their family, attended the M.E. Church at Hopeville, and where Ruby was active in the Ladies Aid Society.
Joe and Ann Hayes moved to Truro, Iowa on the farm where Joe was quoted as saying" What inspires me is walking in new-tilled earth, looking over my new calves or seeing a new field of row crops." The state of Iowa will always be grateful to Joe Hayes for being the one who brought the Pope to us. It was one of the most inspiring times in our history and will never be forgotten by those of us who witnessed the festivities.
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Last revised November 14, 2013