Connecting the Diocese

Connecting the Diocese
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Biweekly

Connecting the Diocese is one of the ways the Diocese of La Crosse seeks to facilitate encounters with Christ through stories of truth, beauty, and goodness. Produced in conjunction with Relevant Radio, this weekly program helps unite our geographically vast and predominantly rural diocese, ensuring that Catholics across our 19 counties feel connected to the mission and life of the Church.

  1. 4h ago

    The Domestic Church Movement & 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings

    This week on Connecting the Diocese, Father Sam Martin of the Diocese of La Crosse welcomes Jeff and Alice Heinzen and Brian and Karen Kostka to discuss the Domestic Church Movement as a couple-centered movement to deepen sacramental marriage through prayer and family spirituality. They share their own marriages, how the movement began locally, and its roots in Polish priest Franciszek Blachnicki, whose conversion in Auschwitz led to the Light-Life Movement and later Domestic Church, brought to the U.S. through Louisiana. The episode outlines entry through an evangelization retreat or six meetings, ongoing “circles,” and seven commitments including individual, couple, and family prayer, monthly couple dialogue, a rule of life, and annual and family retreats. A second segment features Father Steven Weller reflecting with Father Martin on the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time readings from Jeremiah, Romans, and Matthew about thirst for God, renewal of mind, and carrying the cross. 01:02 Meet the Guests 02:10 Heinzens Marriage Story 03:22 Domestic Church Discovery 07:11 Kostkas Testimony 09:22 Why Marriage Matters 11:24 What Is Domestic Church 12:04 Origins in Poland 15:44 Movement Comes to US 19:09 Modern Marriage Challenges 19:50 Prayer Habits and Vows 28:18 Retreat Overview 30:20 Couple Dialogue Purpose 31:31 Dialogue Script Tips 32:26 Family Check In 33:02 Rule of Life Examples 34:52 Retreat Oasis Rhythm 37:23 Vulnerability Come and See 38:08 Circles Support Formation 39:58 Marriage Peace Grit 41:34 Partner Priest Presence 44:02 Readings Jeremiah Fire 46:56 Gospel Cross Discipleship 48:22 Priesthood Stories Desire 54:55 Thirst and Carry Cross

  2. Aug 22

    Fraternal Correction & Identity in Christ

    On Connecting the Diocese with Father Sam Martin and Deacon Patrick Connelly, the conversation focuses on admonishing the sinner and fraternal correction as a spiritual work of mercy, stressing charity, prayer, prudence, and face-to-face dialogue, along with the need to receive correction with humility and gratitude. They discuss challenges in families, parishes, leadership, and social media, emphasizing Christian identity as beloved children of the Father and the role of sacrifice, forgiveness, and relationship in building up the Body of Christ, including healing when hurt occurs within the Church. The episode then shifts to a meditation on the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time readings (Isaiah 22, Romans on God’s wisdom, and Matthew 16 at Caesarea Philippi), highlighting Peter’s confession, the keys of the kingdom, stewardship, humility, and the Church’s need for leaders and unity. 01:01 Meet Deacon Patrick 01:34 Why Correct in Love 03:09 Marriage as Training Ground 04:44 Pray and Choose Timing 06:03 Face to Face Matters 06:36 Receiving Correction Well 09:58 Judge Not Misunderstood 11:52 Pastoral Wisdom and Presence 15:17 Fault Lines in Community 16:56 A Small Parish Example 20:28 Approachable Church Culture 23:00 Social Media and Identity 26:51 JPII and True Identity 28:46 Relationship Shapes Identity 30:06 Forgiveness and Abundant Life 31:33 Show Wrap and Follow 31:46 Mirror Narcissus Warning 32:40 Love Casts Out Fear 33:37 Sacrifice And Correction 36:55 Clergy Need Feedback 38:25 Virtues For Admonishing 42:04 Healing Church Wounds 44:32 Saints Amid Scandal 46:28 Sunday Readings Setup 47:42 Peter Keys And Steward 50:05 Who Do You Say 52:18 Eliakim Unworthy Leader 54:46 Humility And The Keys 57:03 Church Belonging Summary

  3. Aug 15

    Fr. Jesse Burish on Serving in Rome & Eastern Catholic Churches + 20th Sunday Readings

    On Connecting the Diocese this week, Fr. Martin welcomes diocesan priest Fr. Jesse Burish, ordained in 2009, who shares his vocation story, parish assignments, and current service in Rome at the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, including how dicasteries function and what his office work entails, along with reflections on living in Rome, language challenges, and occasionally seeing Pope Leo XIV. The conversation highlights how God redeems gifts like Burish’s architecture background and how dioceses serve the universal Church by lending priests for wider needs. The episode then shifts to 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time readings with Fr. Steven Weller: Isaiah’s promise to foreigners, Romans on God’s irrevocable call and mercy for all, and Matthew’s Canaanite woman whose great faith brings her daughter’s healing, emphasizing evangelization, unity, and welcoming outsiders. 01:37 Vocation Story Begins 03:15 Parish Assignments Journey 04:13 Called to Serve in Rome 05:22 Gifts God Redeems 07:17 Rome Then and Now 12:33 Life in the Dicastery 13:32 Eastern Catholic Churches 101 18:16 Workday Rhythm and Culture 23:30 Do You See the Pope 27:02 Italians View of Pope Leo 28:16 Pope Meets Newlyweds 29:32 Presence and Pastoral Listening 31:00 Rome Pilgrim Tips 33:23 Mission Over Maintenance 34:35 Humility and Asking Help 37:40 Why Priests Serve Away 43:12 Sunday Readings Overview 46:06 Outsiders Welcomed In 51:24 Unity Amid Church Tensions 55:24 Canaanite Faith and Farewell

  4. Aug 8

    Deacon Patrick Conley: From Oxford and Conversion to Catholicism to Ordination and Relevant Radio

    In this episode of Connecting the Diocese, Father Sam Martin talks with newly ordained Deacon Patrick Conley about his June 6 ordination for the Diocese of La Crosse at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman, what those first weeks of preaching, hospital visits, and assisting at Mass have been like, and how formation built deep brotherhood among the men and their wives. Conley also shares his and his wife’s conversion story, from Anglican seminary studies at Oxford and a growing hunger for history, tradition, liturgy, and sacraments, to reading the Catechism, going through RCIA at the Cathedral of St. Paul, and entering the Church at Easter 2010. He then explains how unexpected doors in ministry led him into radio, eventually becoming host of The Inner Life, and the episode closes with Father Martin and Father Steven Weller reflecting on the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time readings—God’s whisper to Elijah and Jesus meeting the disciples in the storm. 01:07 Meet Deacon Patrick 02:31 Ordination and Formation Journey 06:09 Ordination Day Reflections 07:27 First Weeks as Deacon 10:46 Conversion Questions Teed Up 12:22 Seeds of Catholic Curiosity 15:23 Oxford and The Catholic Question 18:50 No Mans Land and Ready to Convert 22:37 RCIA and Entering the Church 23:58 Faith Leap and Evangelization 27:42 Anger at God and Trusting Providence 31:20 Ministry Jobs and Radio Beginnings 32:51 Two Show Trial Run 33:26 Falling for Radio 34:22 Father Rocky Vets Him 35:23 Guest Hosting Inner Life 36:52 Becoming Permanent Host 38:00 Conversion and Callers 39:15 Formation Brotherhood 43:06 Closing Blessing 45:09 Sunday Readings Setup 46:53 Elijah Whispering Voice 48:24 Jesus in the Storm 52:21 Peter Walks on Water 54:25 Silence and Strength

  5. Aug 1

    Healing Ministry in the Diocese of La Crosse | Natalie Elskamp on Healing the Whole Person + 18th Sunday Readings

    Father Sam Martin hosts Connecting the Diocese with guest Natalie Elskamp, newly hired as Coordinator of Healing Ministry for the Diocese of La Crosse. Natalie shares her Catholic upbringing, homeschooling and homesteading family life, and her path into healing ministry. She explains her role supporting parish offerings of Healing the Whole Person, forming and mentoring prayer ministers, and ensuring healing efforts remain safe, trauma-informed, and aligned with Church teaching and diocesan guidelines. The conversation covers common experiences of healing through the sacraments and prayer, details about the John Paul II Healing Center programs and I AM training, and the importance of priests pursuing their own healing. The episode also includes a reflection with Father Steven Weller on the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time readings, emphasizing God’s abundance and spiritual fulfillment. 00:49 Meet Natalie Elskamp 01:49 Faith and Family Roots 03:18 Homesteading Life Explained 04:46 New Healing Ministry Role 07:22 What Healing Feels Like 11:17 Healing the Whole Person 14:15 JP II Healing Center Resources 17:13 I AM Training for Prayer Ministers 21:50 Priests and Parish Healing 27:28 Guardrails and Discernment 30:36 Trauma Informed Prayer 31:36 Healing Ministry Guardrails 33:05 Everyone Carries Wounds 36:05 Practical Ministry Plans 39:05 Supporting Priests Families 40:44 Making Healing Mainstream 42:33 Fears And Fruits 45:47 Sunday Readings Overview 49:09 Abundance Not Scarcity 51:14 Eucharist Desert Place

  6. Jul 25

    St. Francis & St. Clare: Vocation, Joy, Poverty, and Peace + 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings

    On a special edition of Connecting the Diocese, host Clint Berge speaks with Bishop Emeritus William Callahan, Father Conrad Targonski, and Sister Sarah Hennessey about how St. Francis of Assisi shaped their vocations and key Franciscan themes: living the Gospel, mission, the San Damiano Cross, the Canticle of the Creatures (its 800th anniversary), providence, joy amid suffering, simplicity, poverty, and being instruments of peace. They discuss Franciscan service at Viterbo University, care for creation in light of Laudato si’, the complementary vocations of priests, sisters, and secular Franciscans, and St. Clare’s pivotal role, courage, and influence on the movement. The episode closes with a blessing and a separate studio reflection on the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time readings, highlighting Solomon’s request for wisdom, Romans on providence, and Matthew’s parables of the treasure and pearl of great price, emphasizing desire and God’s love. 00:59 Callahan Franciscan Roots 04:34 Conrad Polish Vocation 07:04 Sarah Conversion Story 08:18 Gospel as Franciscan Rule 10:40 San Damiano Cross 13:27 Canticle of Creatures 16:41 Creation and Laudato Si 18:01 Viterbo Service Charism 19:11 Prayer for Peace Today 21:42 Joy and Lady Poverty 23:37 Family and Community Joy 29:03 Beauty and Secular Franciscans 30:32 Marine Story Setup 30:52 Franciscan Among Marines 31:50 Clare and Francis Bond 34:49 Clare Chooses Poverty 36:20 Keeping Original Fervor 38:08 Discernment and Renunciation 40:57 Wolf of Gubbio Story 43:15 Drawn or Driven 44:13 Franciscan Vocations Unite 46:57 Final Blessing and Farewell 48:20 Sunday Readings Overview 49:24 Wisdom and Kingdom Parables 51:24 Desire and the Pearl 53:06 God Desires Us First 54:56 Letting God Love You 57:10 Testimonies of Divine Love 58:28 Oscar Wilde Finds Treasure

  7. Jul 18

    What Is NFP? Faith, Marriage, and God’s Mercy

    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

  8. Jul 11

    Rural Life, Faith & Vocation: AnneMarie Elwing on Farming, Veterinary Work, Project Milk, and the Seed of the Word

    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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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
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About

Connecting the Diocese is one of the ways the Diocese of La Crosse seeks to facilitate encounters with Christ through stories of truth, beauty, and goodness. Produced in conjunction with Relevant Radio, this weekly program helps unite our geographically vast and predominantly rural diocese, ensuring that Catholics across our 19 counties feel connected to the mission and life of the Church.

Information

  • Creator
    Connecting the Diocese
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    250
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Connecting the Diocese
  • Show Website
    Connecting the Diocese

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