Chris Rogers, director of the Office for Family Life for the Diocese of La Crosse, interviews NFP coordinator and registered nurse Kayla Hoecherl as NFP Week approaches (beginning July 19). Kayla addresses misconceptions that NFP is merely the rhythm method, explains that modern methods observe a woman’s unique fertility signs, and describes how NFP supports marriage through shared responsibility, communication, virtue, and an openness to life rooted in Theology of the Body. They discuss NFP as countercultural witness, especially among young families, and emphasize educating priests and laypeople, including clarifying that hormonal birth control is not necessary for issues like acne. The episode then shifts to Father Sam Martin and Father Steven Weller reflecting on the 16th Sunday readings focused on God’s mercy, prayer, and the wheat-and-weeds parable, stressing repentance, patience, and leaving final judgment to God.

00:40 Kayla’s Role and Background

02:04 Life at Camp and New Mom Energy

03:15 NFP Week and Common Questions

03:48 Modern NFP Methods Explained

07:42 NFP and Marriage Spirituality

09:58 Virtues and Abstinence Story

12:38 Countercultural Love and Fertility

16:58 Marriage as Witness and Hope

21:29 Marriage Trends and Cultural Pressures

24:30 Uniqueness of Pregnancy and NFP

26:20 Ministry Patience and Accompaniment

26:55 Family Witness Through NFP

27:51 Educating Clergy and Laity

29:30 Body Literacy Over Birth Control

33:07 Campus Talks and Vulnerability

37:24 Truth That Hooks Hearts

41:53 Authenticity and Domestic Church

44:57 Sunday Readings Wheat and Weeds

53:07 Gods Patience and Repentance

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Join Father Sam Martin on Connecting the Diocese as he talks with AnneMarie Elwing about growing up on a farm, how rural life shapes family, discipline, and prayer, and what it’s really like being a large-animal veterinarian serving farm families. AnneMarie shares how her faith formed her, how Lay Formation Institute helped deepen her Catholic understanding, and how she became involved with the Diocese of La Crosse Rural Life Committee. They highlight Rural Life Day (Sept. 23 near Bangor), including Mass, awards like Century Farm recognition, and the bishop’s blessings. AnneMarie also explains Project Milk, which sends whole milk powder to the diocesan orphanage and community in Lurin, Peru. The episode wraps with a reflection with Father Weller on the weekend readings (Isaiah 55, Romans 8, Matthew 13) and the parable of the sower and “rich soil.”

01:31 Father Sam Farm Roots

02:30 AnneMarie Farm Upbringing

03:26 Faith Through Drought

05:13 Veterinary Calling Begins

06:49 Discovering Rural Life

08:42 Veterinarian Life Stories

11:48 Holy Spirit and Service

15:05 Aquinas Farm Experience

19:10 Rural Life Committee Role

22:11 Project Milk Mission

27:20 Rural Life Day Preview

28:44 Planning and Awards

30:05 Rural Life Day Flow

31:26 Why It Matters

32:15 Saint Isidore Story

32:51 Lay Formation Institute

35:43 Faith Gifts And Charisms

37:26 Rural Isolation Today

41:03 Technology And Loneliness

42:40 Lay Leaders Step Up

44:54 Rural Life Day Invite

46:18 Weekend Readings Preview

48:28 Parable Of The Sower

51:16 Rich Soil And Weakness

53:57 Tilling The Heart

57:53 Final Takeaway Rich Soil

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What does it really mean to be friends with Jesus—not just “say prayers,” but actually talk with Him, listen, and let that relationship grow? Father Sam Martin and Ann Lankford (Director of Catechesis and Evangelization for the Diocese of La Crosse) share simple, down-to-earth ways to deepen daily prayer and then let that friendship naturally overflow into evangelization—gently helping others come to know and love Christ through real relationships, kindness, and timely invitations. Ann also introduces the diocesan “Welcome One Home” effort, aimed at reaching out to those who’ve drifted away and making it easier for parishes to invite them back and walk with them. The episode closes with Father Steven Weller and Fr. Martin reflecting on the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time readings and Jesus’ promise: “Come to me… and I will refresh you.”

00:55 Meet Ann Lankford

03:14 Prayerful Friendship

05:03 Stories That Move

09:13 Discipleship And Calling

14:07 Evangelization Defined

15:42 Everyday Witnessing

17:12 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton And Simple Invite

22:45 Welcome One Home

25:41 Hospitality That Sticks

27:30 Presence Changes Hearts

29:06 Keep It Simple

30:14 Why Invite Them Back

31:27 Loneliness and Simple Presence

33:12 Prayerful Outreach and Warmth

35:19 Personal Invitation Works

37:34 Welcoming Hearts in Parish

40:08 Vulnerability and Humility

41:44 Prayer and Daily Commitment

43:07 Closing Story of Invitation

44:32 Sunday Readings Overview

48:45 Sacred Heart and Rest

50:48 Hope Over Fear

52:31 Faith Hope Love in Community

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Director of Communications Erik Archer introduces an interview with Bishop Gerard Battersby as ordination season begins and Kyle Lange prepares for priestly ordination at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman. Bishop Battersby reflects on his late vocation and 1998 priestly ordination, the sacramental bond between bishop and priest, and urges priests to live self-donation in love. He explains confirmation and Pentecost as the start of public witness, describing the Spirit’s gifts and the Church’s mission, and cautions against calling confirmation a “graduation.” He emphasizes encountering Christ through sacraments, Scripture, and authentic disciples, trusting the Holy Spirit in evangelization, and recognizing God’s “winks.” The episode also connects June devotions to the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart. A second segment with Fathers Sam Martin and Steven Weller previews the 13th Sunday Ordinary Time readings, focusing on reception, baptism into Christ’s death, and worthiness.

01:29 May Milestones and Marian Devotion

02:56 Late Vocation and Ordination Joy

03:52 Bond With the Ordaining Bishop

04:54 Priestly Life Advice

05:40 Confirmation Through a Bishop

07:45 Bishop Visits and Nerves

09:19 Pentecost and Confirmation Link

10:17 Confirmation Is Not Graduation

13:11 Bringing Confirmed Back

14:32 Pentecost Birthday of Church

17:27 Becoming Credible Witnesses

19:24 Lessons From Pentecost Today

21:24 Letting Spirit Lead Evangelism

22:14 Cultivating Spirit in Parishes

23:30 Daily Prayer to Holy Spirit

24:38 God Dwells in Us

25:54 Loving Difficult People

27:31 Trust and Surrender to God

29:01 Cost of Following Spirit

30:30 How to Encounter Holy Spirit

31:34 Practical Come Holy Spirit Moments

32:39 RCIA and Family Faith Journey

32:47 Spotting Spirit Moments

33:31 God Incidents and Winks

35:04 Recognizing Holy Promptings

36:31 Pentecost as Mission Fuel

37:57 Signs of a Spirit Filled Parish

40:05 Sacred Heart Devotion

41:21 Marys Yes to the Spirit

43:56 Final Blessing and Farewell

45:38 Elisha Romans and Matthew

48:18 Receiving God and Worthiness

51:00 Declared Worthy in Christ

55:14 Ordination Worthiness Reflection

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Father Sam Martin hosts “Connecting the Diocese” from the Diocese of La Crosse with newly ordained Deacon Emilio Alvarez, who shares his background growing up in Aurora, Illinois to Mexican immigrant parents, his Catholic education, meeting and marrying his wife Emily at Loras College, their four children, and his work in campus ministry at Viterbo University after serving with Camp Gray’s SALT team. They discuss discernment, the diaconate, and how marriage and family are central to diaconal life, as well as lessons on unconditional love, healing woundedness, and recognizing God’s gentle, peaceful guidance rather than anxiety or shame. Alvarez describes ministry with youth and college students, emphasizing authenticity, belonging, and being seen, and offers practical prayer tools including making time for daily prayer, Liturgy of the Hours, and the “ARRR” method (acknowledge, relate, reflect, respond). The episode also highlights brotherhood formed in diaconate formation and concludes with Father Martin and Father Steven Weller reflecting on Sunday readings about fear, persecution, original sin, and trusting God’s fatherly love.

01:18 Faith Roots and Family

03:53 Camp Gray and Early Calling

05:21 Childhood Stories and Cooking

07:20 Marriage Discernment

11:25 Formation Strengthens Family

12:39 Discernment and Peace

14:55 Learning Unconditional Love

20:04 Grace Through Emotions

21:27 Wounds and Fatherhood

27:46 Serving Students Today

29:34 Meeting Like Jesus

30:32 Teaching Young Adults

32:13 Presence And Encouragement

35:06 Prayer Tools And ARRR

38:26 Hearing God Over Time

41:45 Brotherhood In Formation

44:55 Handing On The Faith

46:25 Sunday Readings Setup

49:09 Fear And Fatherhood

54:20 Veiling And Seeing Deeper

56:24 Naming Fear And Trust

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This week on “Connecting the Diocese”, Fr. Sam Martin speaks with Bishop Gerard Battersby and vocation director Fr. Steven Weller about the meaning and spiritual power of priestly ordination, ahead of Deacon Kyle Lang’s priesthood ordination at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman on Saturday, June 27 at 10:00 a.m. They reflect on key moments of the rite—especially the candidate being declared “worthy” and the prostration during the Litany of the Saints—as signs of dying to self, an exchange of hearts with Jesus, and being conformed to Christ for sacrificial love. The conversation also covers seminary formation as discernment and growth in freedom, the influence of holy priests and saints, the role of families and the Eucharist in nurturing vocations, and concludes with a brief Mass-reading reflection for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

00:45 Why Ordinations Move Us

02:55 Worthy to Be Slain

06:31 Prostration and Exchange of Hearts

09:57 Families and the Mystery of the Floor

11:43 Degrees of Holy Orders

13:39 Seminary Formation and Discernment

17:34 PPF6 and Freedom in Formation

21:11 Learning You’re Loved

23:45 Mentors and Priestly Eyes

28:29 Seeing with Faith Like Magic Eye

30:29 Deacon Ordinations Update

30:52 Raising Vocations at Home

32:56 Eucharist Forms the Heart

34:48 Saintly Gaze and Love

37:30 Priest Role Models

40:27 Trust God in Weakness

42:11 Mass Readings Reflection

45:30 Remember Who You Are

48:40 Worship Versus Hurry

51:21 Jesus Moved With Pity

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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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