Father Sam Martin hosts Bishop Gerard Battersby on Connecting the Diocese to highlight the Diocese of La Crosse’s Rural Life Day on September 23 in Bangor, with Mass at 10:00 AM and an invitation to all. They reflect on rural stewardship, animals, creation, gratitude, and the farmer’s “dying and rising” rhythm as a Eucharistic pattern, along with the need for silence, trust in God’s promise to remain with us, and daily prayer. The bishop shares memories of farm visits, family life, pets, and Wisconsin wildlife, and notes growth in young adult faith, campus ministry with FOCUS, new religious houses, and accompaniment through small groups and movements like the Domestic Church. The episode closes with a blessing and a brief segment previewing the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time readings focused on forgiveness, healing, and belonging to the Lord.

02:08 Rural Life Day Preview

04:49 City Boy Meets Farm Life

06:32 Stewardship and Creation

09:13 Gratitude and Providence

12:33 Dying and Rising Rhythm

14:18 Hope in Hard Seasons

15:56 Be Still Trust God

19:15 Pets and Animal Lessons

22:09 Wisconsin Wildlife Wonders

26:04 Faith Growing Among Youth

28:44 Spiritual Accompaniment

29:37 What Accompaniment Means

31:27 Faith Learned Together

33:11 School Memories Detroit

34:38 Catholic Education Mission

37:16 Rural Life Day Invite

39:49 Fulton Sheen Beatification

42:34 Weekend Readings Preview

46:05 Forgiveness And Healing

46:51 Let Jesus In Basement

50:38 Vulnerability And Growth

51:46 We Belong To God

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