Connecting the Diocese

Host Jack Socha talks with Ann Lankford, Director of Catechesis and Evangelization for the Diocese of La Crosse, about Franciscan at Home Online Learning from the Catechetical Institute at Franciscan University of Steubenville. They explain the workshop format (short video segments with practical tasks), the range of formation tracks (including parenting, Catholic schools, RCIA, catechists, Scripture, and the four pillars of the Catechism), and that free access is available to anyone in the Diocese of La Crosse through parish registration, with low-cost options elsewhere. A sample audio segment features Dr. Petroc Willey on the Trinity and God’s love. They share how groups can participate in person or via Zoom, provide registration links and contact information, note current participation numbers, and mention the October 23 Men of the Cross conference, “Walking With Saint Joseph.”

00:32 Meet Ann Lankford

01:02 What Catechesis Does

02:15 Need for Trusted Resources

03:29 Franciscan at Home Launch

04:33 Tracks and Free Access

06:43 Why Online Works Now

09:01 Pricing and Availability

10:59 For Parishioners Too

11:51 Vetted Against Misinformation

13:23 Trinity Workshop Preview

18:48 Sample Teaching on Trinity

30:13 Reaction to the Clip

30:17 Affordable Tech Setup

31:44 Group Workshop Format

34:38 Hybrid Zoom Participation

35:29 Break and Vaccine Misinformation

38:13 Tablet Translation Story

39:54 How to Register Fast

42:25 Best Workshops and Teachers

48:34 Program Impact Numbers

50:29 Closing Thanks and Signoff

51:06 Diocese Work and Stewardship

53:01 Finding Links and Calendar

54:25 Mens Conference and Psalm

Host Jack Socha opens with reflections on the start of fall and recent events, including concerns about Washington, DC demonstrations and a fully automatic civilian spaceflight that safely returned to Earth, plus a visit suggestion to the Tommy Bartlett Exploratory’s Mir space station replica. He then replays and comments on extended excerpts from Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli Tutti on fraternity and social friendship, addressing the pandemic’s exposure of failed global cooperation, rising nationalism, weakened community, a “throwaway” culture, unequal human rights, conflict and fear, and the harms of digital hostility, misinformation, and “information without wisdom,” while urging dialogue, listening, and hope. Socha highlights local needs served by Catholic Charities, including help for Afghan immigrants, the homeless, and those facing evictions or utility shutoffs, and promotes free financial counseling. He warns of hospitals rationing care amid COVID-19 and encourages vaccination, noting bishops and the Pope approve it, before closing with a Psalm 91-based song, “Under His Wings.”

00:31 Fall Arrives Fast

01:07 Spaceflight Reflections

04:25 Mir Station In Wisconsin

06:35 Fratelli Tutti Setup

07:54 Local Needs And Charity

09:47 Encyclical Opening Quotes

16:24 Dark Clouds Chapter One

33:19 Breather And Context

35:33 Illusion Of Communication

45:12 Paths Of Hope

47:36 Dialogue For New Culture

50:40 COVID Crisis And Vaccines

52:43 Closing Encouragement Song

Host Jack Socha opens with end-of-summer banter, thanks Relevant Radio for airing nearly 485 episodes, and highlights welcome.us as a resource for helping Afghan refugees at Fort McCoy. He then interviews Monsignor Joseph Hirsch from Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II near Lima, Peru, discussing winter weather, Peru’s COVID situation, vaccination limits (about age 30+), and strict protocols protecting the 70–80 children (average ages 10–15). Hirsch previews his October–November U.S. visit, parish schedule, a men’s conference talk on St. Joseph and fatherhood, and a sponsor dinner November 5 at Blessed Sacrament. He shares his missionary vocation story, advises seekers to read saints, go on retreat, and ask “Lord, what do you want?”, and updates needs like internet upgrades, infrastructure repairs, laptops/tablets for online schooling, and oxygen tanks. Socha closes with a COVID wake-up call urging vaccination and a final segment inspired by private citizens orbiting Earth, introducing Moonlight Sonata.

00:32 End of Summer Banter

01:51 Station Thanks and Refugee Help

04:04 Meet Monsignor Hirsch

04:22 Peru Weather Update

05:23 COVID and Vaccines in Peru

09:55 Travel Plans and US Surge

11:30 Mens Conference on St Joseph

13:04 October-November Parish Tour

15:00 Call to Mission Story

21:34 Finding Gods Direction

25:39 Who Is Father Francesco

27:43 Visa Run Retreat

28:52 Francesco Finds His Groove

29:47 Urgent Infrastructure Needs

31:43 Tech Donations For School

35:49 Casa Hogar Family Units

37:56 Graduates And Second Chances

41:20 Oxygen Crisis And Sister Carla

46:19 Mission Office And Fall Visit

48:58 Family Prayer Consecration

50:01 Thanks And Farewell

52:24 COVID Wake Up Call

53:55 Moonlight Sonata Sign Off

In this special edition of Connecting the Diocese, host Jack Socha features Bishop William Patrick Callahan, a Franciscan friar, discussing the life of St. Francis of Assisi and Franciscan spirituality. Callahan recounts Francis’ background as the wealthy son of cloth merchant Pietro Bernardone and Lady Pica, his capture and imprisonment after fighting Perugia, and the turning point of embracing a leper. He describes Francis’ call at San Damiano to “rebuild my church,” his break with his father, early followers, the Portiuncula, and the founding of the Friars Minor, Poor Clares, and the Third Order. The bishop explains the mendicant tradition, papal approval by Innocent III, later canonization by Gregory IX, and Franciscan ideals of poverty, chastity, obedience, and devotion to the cross, while noting local charitable outreach and offering a closing prayer and blessing.

01:36 Fall Reflections to Francis

05:23 Francis Early Life and War

09:37 Leper Encounter Conversion

12:19 San Damiano Rebuild Call

18:05 Three Orders and Rome

24:16 Franciscans Today and Pope

29:09 Habits Belts and Legends

31:33 Bishop Lost Habit Story

37:16 Callahan Vocation Journey

40:39 Franciscan Spirituality Basics

44:05 Diocese Franciscan Roots

On a Labor Day weekend episode of Connecting the Diocese, host Jack Socha reflects on those working through the holiday, highlights the humanitarian response for Afghan refugees at Fort McCoy (including donations and items like yoga mats for prayer), and notes the broader impact of the end of the 20-year war and possible post-traumatic stress for veterans. He urges vaccination against COVID-19, warns against misinformation and misuse of ivermectin, and describes how unvaccinated hospitalizations strain emergency care, calling basic precautions a moral responsibility. He reports that Cardinal Raymond Burke was hospitalized with COVID-19, is off a respirator, and expects rehabilitation, with messages routed through the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Socha previews Catholic Life Magazine and shares conversations with Bishop William Patrick Callahan about new priests, seminary vocations, diocesan ministry, and navigating masks, health guidance, and autumn’s spiritual rhythm.

00:12 Labor Day Reflections

01:23 Notebook and Disclaimer

02:09 Afghan Refugees at McCoy

04:12 Donations and Prayer Rugs

06:02 War Ends and PTSD

09:05 Vaccine Hesitancy and Ivermectin

11:37 Radio Misinformation Tragedy

15:24 Hospitals Overwhelmed Ethics

17:29 Cardinal Burke Update

18:41 Catholic Life Magazine Highlights

20:40 Bishop Callahan Replay Begins

22:17 New Priests and Mentoring

25:31 Chaplaincy and Afghan Mission

29:12 COVID Return and Parish Planning

33:43 September Slow Down

35:47 Pumpkin Spice Arrives

36:47 Autumn Memories

40:21 Church Colors Meaning

43:39 Classmates Reunions

48:37 Fall Events Ahead

50:11 Autumn Wrap Up

51:28 Love Against Racism

53:17 Twilight Time Reflection