Hobby is a 'jar of sunshine' for retired priest
September 12, 2023
When Father Tim Fitzgerald retired two years ago, a parishioner gave him a unique gift: bees.
A priest for the Diocese of Des Moines for 48 years, Father Fitzgerald recalled how a parishioner generously offered him a beehive upon his retirement.
His final parish where he served as an active priest, Ss. John and Paul Parish in Altoona, boasted several members who were skilled beekeepers. With such experienced pros guiding him, he felt in capable hands.
“We had a beehive when I was growing up in Polk County, and I have always been fascinated by them,” said Father Fitzgerald.
“One of the parishioners said, ‘I’ll set you up with the hive, and you need to take an online beginners’ course,’ which I did. It was very helpful. This year, I have three hives, which is plenty for me, and it’s been absolutely fascinating.”
During the peak of the season, typically around the summer solstice, each hive can house between 30,000 to 50,000 bees. Just the thought of so many bees might scare away many people, and Father Fitzgerald admitted to feeling a bit timid initially. He quickly overcame his fears and grew to appreciate the bees, their lifecycle and their tireless work ethic.
“It’s astounding, they’ll die back and will reduce in numbers considerably in the fall,” he said. “The lifespan of the bees is only about six weeks.”
One aspect of raising bees that has amazed Father Fitzgerald is the connection to nature.
“You’re face to face with Mother Nature, and I think it’s what I have enjoyed because it’s a real collaboration with nature,” he said. “It’s what Pope Francis talks about … caring for all creation and more of a partnership with creation rather than seeing ourselves owning creation or above creation. In good St. Francis fashion, he talks about seeing ourselves as belonging to creation and coming to a far different disposition than that mindset.”
Father Fitzgerald is one of approximately 10,000 beekeepers in Iowa. During August, he visited his hives east of Des Moines
to harvest the honey. Wearing protective gear, he removed the frames from the hives to collect the nectar.
“The bees are such great engineers,” he said. “On the frames, they build little cells that they store the nectar in and dry it.”
He collected about 100 pounds of liquid honey from his three hives.
“I’m not too adventurous with making things with honey right yet,” he said. “I bottled up what I extracted and strained. It’s so bright, it’s like a jar of sunshine, especially if you see it in the sunlight. If the sunlight hits the jar, it’s just golden.”
The Bible features numerous references to honey. One notable instance is found in the book of Exodus (3:8), where God promises to lead the Israelites to a land flowing with milk and honey, symbolizing abundance.
Did you know that honey served medicinal purposes in ancient times?
“Traditionally, honey possessed medicinal qualities, and honey was used to dress wounds due to its antiseptic [properties] and it’s a great sealant,” Father Fitzgerald said.
Who could forget the diet of John the Baptist when he resided in the wilderness? The Bible recounts that he subsisted on locusts and wild honey.
No offense to John the Baptist, but Father Fitzgerald prefers his honey on fresh fruit.