Eighteen individuals, couples, or families will be recognized at the Harvest Mass of the Diocese of Peoria on Sunday, Nov. 23, as recipients of the 2008 St. Isidore Award for living out their faith in the rural community in an exemplary and responsible manner.

The award is named for the patron saint of farmers. The recipients were nominated by their pastors.

Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, will give each recipient a plaque of St. Isidore during the Harvest Mass, which will take place at St. Mary’s Cathedral beginning at 10:30 a.m. The public — from both rural and city areas around the diocese — is invited to gather to thank God for the bounty of this year’s harvest.

A luncheon will follow in the newly constructed Spalding Pastoral Center.

Bishop Jenky said the St. Isidore Award was created to “further our devotions to the generations of rural families who have built our churches and schools and continue to support our parishes.”

“We want to celebrate and encourage all the many dimenstions that make up the rural culture that produces and abundance of food and fiber for the world,” he wrote in a September letter to pastors seeking nominations.

Following is the list of 2008 St. Isidore Award recipients:

Daniel and Elinor Ahearn, Streator, Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Eagle Township; Leroy and Jean Blindt, Smithshire, St. Patrick’s Parish, Raritan; Frank Butzen, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Streator; Joseph and Jill Buysse Family, Prophetstown, St. Anthony Parish, Atkinson; Robert and Ann Carmody, Towanda, Epiphany Parish, Normal; Alvin and Ethel Decker, St. Thomas Parish, Philo; Thomas and Julia Deutsch Family, Cameron, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Galesburg; Vic and Phyllis Fehr, Sacred Heart Parish, Farmer City; Elmer and Renee Grebner Family, Metamora, St. Mary of Lourdes Parish; Dewey and Marie Haag, Emington, St. John’s Parish, Cullom; Steve and Robin Hettinger, Philo, St. Mary’s, Pesotum; The Kelley Family, Normal, St. Patrick of Merna Parish, Bloomington; Leo and Anna Mae Kelly, St. Teresa of Avila, Earlville; John and Betty Murray Family, St. Matthew’s Parish, Champaign; John H. “Jack” and Margaret Peifer, Holy Family Parish, Lincoln; Jerry and Mary Ryan Family, St. John the Baptist Parish, Clinton; Mary Snyder, Dunlap, St. Jude’s Parish, Peoria; Timothy and Cynthia Sullivan Family, St. Paul’s Parish, Macomb.