Father Martin hosts Connecting the Diocese for the Diocese of La Crosse, highlighting the June 6 diaconal ordination at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman and the significance of Corpus Christi. Guest Christopher Ruff, Director of Ministries and Social Concerns, describes his 25+ years serving the diocese, his role in restarting and shaping deacon formation and the Lay Formation Institute, and the diaconate’s scriptural roots in Acts as a ministry of humble service and charity. He outlines the five-year formation structure, growth in fraternity, and practical joys and challenges for deacons and their families, emphasizing balance and the importance of saying no when necessary. The conversation also covers St. Vincent de Paul’s home-visit model, humanitarian aid efforts to Ukraine through Chalice of Mercy, and La Crosse’s formation program serving Madison and Superior, concluding with reflections on discerning God’s ongoing call.

01:30 Chris Ruff Background

05:06 Diaconate Origins

07:11 Growth and Formation Path

11:38 Discernment and Diaconate Office

14:57 Program Evolution

19:04 Life After Ordination

22:25 Charity and Parish Collaboration

28:10 Impact and Formation Fruits

32:14 Lay Service Rising

32:48 Vincentian Spiritual Charity

33:27 Home Visits and Growth

35:03 Serving with Joy

36:26 Ukraine Relief Drives

37:15 Deacon Formation Expands

38:31 Hearing Gods Call

41:52 Adventure of Discipleship

43:08 Corpus Christi Readings

45:25 Never Forget the Lord

47:54 Eucharistic Miracle Memory

51:48 Healing of Memories

53:33 Receiving Like Children

56:17 Prepare and Receive

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Father Sam Martin hosts Connecting the Diocese with guest Tom Reichenbacher, Superintendent for Catholic Schools, to discuss what makes a Catholic school distinct: a focus on God and helping students build a relationship with Jesus through prayer, Scripture, and especially staff witness across all roles. They note academic expectations being pushed to earlier grades, technology’s impact on information and critical thinking, and a reassessment of one-to-one devices after a major tech disruption. The conversation highlights how Catholic schools support students in both celebrations and crises, aiming to form graduates marked by prudence and love, and explains the Bishop’s Medalist as a model of faith and servant leadership. The episode then shifts to Trinity Sunday reflections with Father Weller on the readings and the mystery of believing “into” God.

01:31 What Makes Schools Catholic

04:29 Witness and Relationships

07:36 Role Models and Conversion

09:06 How Education Has Changed

12:29 Why Choose Catholic Schools

14:05 Faith in Crisis and Grief

18:46 Marks of Exemplary Schools

22:03 Mission and Sacraments

23:25 Technology and Discernment

27:58 Wonder Over Screens

30:17 Graduation and Virtue Goals

30:41 Choosing Love and Prudence

31:33 Hope in a Redeemed World

32:23 Bishops Medalist Explained

35:06 Holiness and Servant Leadership

37:32 Bears Helmet and Competition

40:18 Eight Minutes or Less

41:49 Mosaic of Salvation Story

43:07 Trinity Sunday Readings

46:03 John 316 and Trinity Love

47:10 Aquinas Through Flannery

49:50 Believe Into and Trust

53:34 Universe Made for Others

54:54 Belonging to the Trinity

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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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