This week on Connecting the Diocese, Father Martin talks with Chris Rogers (Director of Youth Ministry and Family Life) and Father Steven Weller (Vocation Director) about Adventure Camp, a longstanding summer program in Mason, Wisconsin. They describe four Sunday-to-Friday weeks featuring outdoor adventures (rock climbing, rappelling, kayaking, ropes courses) alongside daily Mass, catechesis, small groups, adoration, and frequent confession, emphasizing community, healing, and countercultural face-to-face connection away from phones. They share traditions like open-mic faith sharing, “Stump the Priest,” talent shows, and water wars, plus testimonies of lasting impact, vocations, and leadership paths like SOGs (Servants of God). The episode also includes a Pentecost discussion of Acts 2, 1 Corinthians, and John 20, focusing on the Holy Spirit’s role in renewal, sonship, and hearing God’s voice.

00:49 Adventure Camp Origins

02:42 Camp Details Schedule

03:54 Sacraments Faith Life

05:47 Why Camp Heals

08:10 Long Term Impact

13:46 Sharing Faith Open Mic

15:51 Stump the Priest

18:09 Bonding Games Talent

21:55 Camp Memories Culture

24:22 Countercultural Connection

28:26 How to Invite Skeptics

31:10 Parents Not Fixers

32:19 Relationships Over Sales

34:42 Unexpected Joy Stories

35:36 Creation And Grace

37:07 Sign Up And Scholarships

38:03 Canoe Fails And Growth

41:37 Wildlife And Farewell

43:12 Pentecost Readings

48:15 Spirit Like The Wind

54:23 Hearing God Personally

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Father Sam Martin hosts Bishop Gerard Battersby on “Connecting the Diocese” to mark the bishop’s second anniversary as the 11th Bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse. Bishop Battersby recalls being surprised by the nuncio’s call, accepting the appointment with trust in Jesus, and the joy of his installation Mass, early confirmations, and major diocesan events like The Answer and the Eucharistic Procession, which he says deepened Eucharistic awareness and hope in the Diocese of La Crosse. He reflects on leaving Detroit, discovering the rural character and beauty of the region, and the diocese’s interdependence, including Rural Life Days and Project Milk benefiting Casa Hogar in Peru. He emphasizes reliance on Jesus, devotion to the Sacred Heart, prayer, the sacraments, and Marian devotion. The episode concludes with an Ascension-focused scripture discussion on Acts 1 and Matthew 28, highlighting mission despite doubt and Christ’s affirmation of humanity.

01:43 Called to La Crosse

03:13 Installation Day Memories

05:09 Telling Family Goodbye

08:34 New Bishop New Gifts

12:36 Early Events Surge

13:48 Eucharistic Renewal Hope

18:33 Sacred Heart Trust

23:42 Beauty of the Diocese

30:19 Forming Holy Priests

32:13 Jesus Is Enough

33:14 Carmelite Retreat Lessons

33:38 What Makes A Priest

34:13 Trust The Process

35:29 Practicing Gods Presence

37:19 Sacraments And Daily Habits

40:51 Acts And Universal Church

42:51 Great Commission Legend

45:00 Fly Interruption And Collect

46:03 Sticky Hand

48:55 The Eleven And Doubt

50:16 Do It Anyway Depend On God

52:28 Ascension Affirms Humanity

54:10 God Loves Me

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This episode features an interview with Father Biju and parishioner Chris Hollar about Father Biju’s Catholic upbringing in Kerala, India, the influence of his grandparents’ prayer life, his call to the priesthood, and his formation as a Missionary of St. Francis de Sales. Father Biju shares his years of missionary work in Northeast India, challenges like isolation during monsoons, long travel by train, and how the universal Mass connects cultures. He reflects on serving three parishes in Wisconsin, pastoral trust through moments like hearing confession during a storm, and his desire not to lose souls due to priestly attitude. The episode closes with Fathers Sam Martin and Steven Weller previewing the Sixth Sunday of Easter readings focused on the Holy Spirit, discipleship, and hope.

00:29 Father Biju’s Roots in Kerala

02:08 Home and Homesickness

03:41 Why a Missionary Order

05:04 Grandparents and Family Prayer

08:30 Serving Three Wisconsin Parishes

09:41 Belonging and Parish Community

12:28 New Pastor Transition Stories

14:43 Discernment and Seminary Formation

16:13 First Arrival in the US

20:07 Universal Church Across Cultures

23:25 Train Journeys and Mission Life

25:08 Christianity in India and Reverse Mission

27:28 Mission Schools Outreach

28:20 Touring Remote Villages

30:06 Isolation and Monsoon Trials

31:50 Priest Behind the Collar

33:00 Storm Confession Story

35:22 Parishioner Perspective

37:36 Basketball and Community

40:59 Parish Life and Support

42:00 Gardening Green Thumb

42:59 Not Losing Any Souls

46:07 Easter Readings

50:32 Holy Spirit and Saints

58:00 Do You Want the Spirit

This week on Connecting the Diocese, Fr. Sam Martin interviews Kayla Hoecherl, the diocese’s new Natural Family Planning (NFP) coordinator, about her background as a nurse, camp director at Crossroads Adventure Camp, wife and mother, and how she was called into the role. Kayla explains NFP as learning the body’s language to both achieve or postpone pregnancy, addresses common objections (effectiveness, burden on women), and shares questions from a college women’s retreat about anatomy, cycles, and coming off birth control. She highlights the ways the office currently supports engaged and married couples and is looking to grow into youth education, adoption guidance and other new resources. The episode concludes with a weekly meditation for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, reflecting on John 14, the calling of deacons, the longing for union with the Father, “living stones,” and hope for salvation.

01:07 Meet Kayla

01:28 Faith and Camp Roots

02:25 Nursing to NFP Calling

06:14 What Is NFP

08:09 Common NFP Concerns

14:20 Retreat Questions

19:57 NaPro and Catholic Clinics

22:28 Motherhood and Faith

29:18 Diocesan NFP Office

30:49 Fertility Care Mission

31:20 Adoption Support Path

31:59 Postpartum Help Resources

33:29 Become an NFP Instructor

35:40 When Spouses Disagree

40:16 Adventure Camp Formation

44:37 NFP Segment Wrap Up

47:01 Easter Readings Setup

47:55 Way Truth Life

48:33 Deacons Prayer Word

51:27 Longing for the Father

55:51 Living Stone Church

58:28 Hope of Salvation

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Father Steven Weller, Vocations Director for the Diocese of La Crosse, speaks with Bishop Gerard Battersby about the World Day of Prayer for Vocations on Good Shepherd Sunday, focusing on Christ’s invitation for all the baptized to share in his mission. They discuss humility, sinfulness, and the need for a Savior, emphasizing that God wants sons and daughters, not slaves, and that true conversion brings interior freedom to say yes or no. Bishop shares his vocation story, including years of resistance and a decisive moment in prayer that led him to contact the vocations office and enter seminary. They highlight shared discernment with the Church, the importance of prayer, Scripture, the sacraments, Eucharistic time, and saints such as Carlo Acutis. A second segment with Father Martin reflects on John 10, shepherding with charity, and healing through Christ’s wounds.

00:31 Good Shepherd Vocations

02:25 Saved by the Shepherd

04:05 Need for a Savior

05:24 Confession Breakthrough

06:41 From Slave to Son

10:20 God Provides the Tools

11:15 Bishop Vocation Story

14:13 Freedom to Say Yes

16:41 Interior Freedom Journey

20:00 Discernment and the Church

24:07 Redeeming the Past

28:44 Knowing Jesus Daily

30:25 Saints and Eucharist

33:11 Prayer and Freedom

36:46 Small Steps Practice

39:43 Easter Truth and Mission

42:24 Good Shepherd Readings

44:05 Shepherd Heart Leadership

49:19 Wounds That Heal

53:38 Gate and Discernment

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Father Sam Martin hosts Monsignor Richard Gilles, rector of the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman in La Crosse, reflecting on Gilles’ farm upbringing, work ethic, and how working in the soil still grounds him spiritually, especially in the Easter season. Gilles describes accompanying catechumens and candidates through OCIA and the joy of the Easter Vigil, explains his pastoral principle “presence is truth,” and shares ongoing campus improvements, including replacing the plaza’s slippery granite pavers (beginning April 27) and offering more than 400 usable pavers to the public as historic keepsakes. He discusses the cathedral’s growth, emphasis on sacred liturgy, music, and hospitality, efforts to unite a multigenerational parish, downtown outreach with DMI, and devotion to St. Joseph. The episode also previews an 11-day Italy pilgrimage (Sept. 28–Oct. 8) and includes a discussion of the Third Sunday of Easter readings, focusing on the Emmaus journey, Christian “wayfaring,” longing, and recognizing Jesus in the breaking of the bread.

01:11 Farm Roots and Family

03:52 Work Ethic Lessons

04:37 Gardening as Therapy

08:24 Easter and OCIA Joy

11:34 Presence Is Truth

13:58 Plaza Pavers Project

18:24 Why Cathedral Is Growing

22:57 COVID Turning Point

26:37 St Joseph and Downtown Mission

30:42 Upcoming Italy Pilgrimage

32:00 Pilgrimage Expectations

32:24 Why Pilgrimage Transforms

34:22 Italy Highlights and Holy Sites

35:27 Studying in Rome

37:21 Rome City of Saints

38:29 Spiritual Influences

43:19 Cathedral Parish Love

46:09 Easter Readings

47:21 Emmaus On the Way

50:07 Disillusion and Hope

55:41 Hearts Burning Within

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This week on “Connecting the Diocese”, Father Sam Martin interviews Bishop Battersby on the topic of Easter, reflecting on the Paschal Mystery, discipleship, and the Church’s mission to “go and make disciples.” The bishop shares highlights of his first two years as ordinary, explains his coat of arms featuring the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the Chaste Heart of St. Joseph, and describes how Holy Week liturgies—especially the Chrism Mass and veneration of the cross—move him. He recalls faith influences from praying grandparents, discusses the challenge of living charity, and offers theological reflections on suffering, atonement, and resurrection hope.

01:14 Bishop Arrives in La Crosse

03:24 Easter and Cathedral Symbols

04:37 Three Hearts Coat of Arms

09:17 Holy Week as Bishop

14:02 Faith from Family Roots

17:23 White Castle Charity Lesson

20:58 Cross and Resurrection Explained

25:02 Hope in Suffering and Atonement

27:42 Easter Humor and Book Picks

31:44 Tolkien and Eucatastrophe

32:55 OCIA and Conversion Surge

33:43 Church as Beacon

35:32 Favorite Saints

39:31 Confirmation Trail Graces

42:28 Easter Reset New Episode

43:27 Paschal Mystery Readings

44:13 Mary Magdalene Witness

46:19 Easter Sequence Glory

48:06 Les Mis Easter Shock

50:36 Mercy and Conversion Story

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Father Sam Martin hosts” Connecting the Diocese” with guests Chris Carstens, Director of the Office of Sacred Worship, and Jacob Zepp, the bishop’s master of ceremonies, to discuss Holy Week and the Triduum, emphasizing how the Church’s prayer shapes belief, the purpose of rubrics, and the ars celebrandi. They explain the Triduum as a unified three-day liturgy from the Mass of the Lord’s Supper through Good Friday and the Easter Vigil, highlighting key symbols such as light and darkness, processions, the Easter fire and candle, and the Good Friday solemn intercessions and adoration of the cross. They also describe the Chrism Mass, the blessing of oils, priestly renewal, and encourage families to participate fully. A second segment with Father Steven Weller reflects on Palm Sunday’s two Gospels, Matthew’s Passion, and themes of sin, mercy, and conversion.

01:13 Sacred Worship Office Explained

02:35 Common Liturgy Questions

03:44 Master of Ceremonies Role

04:39 Lex Orandi Lex Credendi

08:36 Why Symbols Matter

10:58 What Triduum Means

12:54 Cathedral Sets the Standard

14:15 Chrism Mass and Holy Oils

20:33 Rubrics and Praying as One

24:32 Triduum as One Liturgy

25:42 Good Friday Highlights

29:21 Praying for All Peoples

29:56 Holy Thursday Body of Christ

31:20 Learning the Liturgy

36:47 Easter Vigil Overview

37:32 Fire and Procession Symbols

40:59 Rehearsing with Reverence

42:25 Ars Celebrandi and Beauty

44:04 Triduum Emotional Journey

47:28 Holy Week Invitation

49:50 Palm Sunday Readings

51:21 Matthew Passion Themes

55:10 Barabbas and Participation

56:40 Moved by the Passion

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Called & Gifted Workshop + 5th Sunday of Lent Reflection

This week on Connecting the Diocese, Father Sam Martin interviews Ann Lankford, Director of the Office of Catechesis and Evangelization for the Diocese of La Crosse, about the upcoming Called & Gifted workshop (March 21, Saturday, at Our Lady of Peace in Marshfield) sponsored by the St. Catherine of Siena Institute. They discuss St. Catherine of Siena, intentional discipleship, and discerning baptismal spiritual gifts (charisms) for serving others, including the workshop’s process (teaching on charisms, a spiritual gifts inventory, a one-on-one interview, and small-group sessions) and how charisms bring joy, confidence, and help avoid burnout in parish life. Lankford shares her conversion story and path from Missouri to diocesan service beginning in 2002, and highlights catechesis trends like Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and family-based catechesis. The episode closes with Father Steven Weller and Father Martin reflecting on the 5th Sunday of Lent readings, especially John 11 and the raising of Lazarus.

00:48 Meet Ann Lankford

01:49 St. Catherine Spotlight

04:05 Institute and Discipleship

07:46 What Is Called and Gifted

11:07 Charisms in Parish Life

13:39 How to Discern Gifts

17:45 Joy and Mission in Church

23:57 Catechesis and Evangelization

25:29 Fires in Catechesis Today

29:53 Evangelization Made Simple

30:48 Everyday Evangelization

32:40 Small Signs Big Impact

34:01 Ann Lankford’s Conversion Story

38:32 Called Into Ministry

41:53 Diocesan Role And Charisms

43:35 Workshop Invite And Signoff

44:42 Lent Reflection Begins

45:48 Lazarus And Resurrection Hope

47:52 Gods Patience In Suffering

56:43 Untie Him And Keep Going

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Father Sam Martin interviews Chris Rogers, Director of Family Life for the Diocese of La Crosse, about how the office supports families through marriage preparation and enrichment, natural family planning, youth and young adult ministry, and building fertile ground in homes so parish life bears fruit. They highlight diocesan youth initiatives like Adventure Camp and discuss the Men of the Cross men’s conference on March 21 at Blessed Sacrament in La Crosse, featuring speaker Bart Schuchts, with Mass, adoration, confession, meals, and free admission for high school men attending with a parent or guardian; registration is at menofthecross.org. The episode also includes reflections with Father Steven Weller on the 4th Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday) Gospel of the man born blind, focusing on healing, discipleship, and the sometimes disruptive nature of grace.

02:00 Family Life Office Overview

04:47 Youth Camp And Men’s Events

05:53 Ministry On Their Level

08:35 Mens Conference Purpose

16:55 Men Of The Cross Explained

19:12 Healing And Confession

22:45 Conference Schedule Registration

26:38 Strengthening Family Habits

29:39 Bus Trips Build Community

32:16 Adventure Camp Magic

34:51 Beauty Outdoors Awakens Faith

39:11 Inviting Others Beats Loneliness

43:26 Mens Conference Details

45:53 Lent Readings Man Born Blind

51:57 Belonging to God

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