In the Northwoods, Mass is as important as community. But nothing compares to a Sunday in the Northwoods when the community comes together for an hour long service, and then heads home to watch football. Those are the Sundays some people love; small town Sunday afternoon with a game or two on television and family time.

1. Your town has more bars than churches

This is entirely true in the town of Minocqua, WI especially. Why? Because in Minocqua, there are at least half a dozen bars compared to about 2 churches. Not only is this true in Minocqua, but across the Northwoods as well.

2. Your local pastor or priest lets Mass out 15 minutes early if the Packers are playing at 12 p.m.

Again, this has been the case at a local church in Minocqua, WI where Mass lets out at 11:45 a.m. and the Packers kick off at noon.

3. The collection bin at the outdoor Mass (yes, these do exist and they are awesome) is a fish net. Cash is more appreciated as coins fall out of the holes in the stitching of the net.

4. The seats at outdoor Mass are made of cut logs.

The logs are not knotty and decrepit, but carved beautifully and well enough to withstand many outdoor Masses.

5. The cross from the outdoor Mass is made out of birch wood.

Yes, a cross made of birch wood is much more gorgeous than you'd like to think, but to a Up Nort'er it is a piece of work.

6. Wild animals are eating feed behind the altar during the Mass.

Turkeys, geese, ducks, and deer have all been spotted on more than one occasion during Mass eating.

7. It is perfectly acceptable to wear camo to church, especially during deer season.

Hunters are usually coming from a long day of hunting, and even if they didn't get anything, at least they won't be looked at funny when wearing camo to church. You'll just happen to know who the hunters are.

8. It is also perfectly acceptable to wear a Packer jersey to Mass on Sunday.

No explanation needed, you come to church in a Packer jersey during the season and it happens to be a Sunday, two birds; one stone.

9. When you get to the initial Mass greeting, half of the people at the Mass are from Illinois.

This is especially true when the summer comes as the town of Minocqua swells from about 5 thousand people to about 30 thousand people, which quite frankly is a jump from a small town to one of the busiest cities in the Northwoods.

10. When you pull into the parking lot of the church, you'll see at least 1 or 2 boats hooked up to the trucks ready to go fishing after church.