Connecting the Diocese

Host Jack Sochaa welcomes Father Woody Pace, Director of the Missions Office for the Diocese of La Crosse, back to Connecting the Diocese to discuss major changes during the past year: his move from pastoring parishes in Independence and Whitehall to La Crosse, his new role as vicar for clergy, and celebrating his 25th ordination anniversary amid COVID restrictions. They reflect on how parishes rapidly expanded livestreaming and social media, how volunteers stepped up, and which pandemic-era practices may remain. Father Pace explains the missions office, the disruption to the Missionary Cooperation Program, and ongoing needs worldwide, including challenges in vaccine access, poverty, and weakened medical infrastructure. He notes priests from Ghana, the Congo, and India serving in the diocese and shares ways to help missions, including donations and mass stipends.

00:00 Show Opens and Welcome

00:48 Catching Up After COVID

03:58 New Role Vicar for Clergy

07:29 Church Goes Digital Fast

12:30 Why Priests Get Reassigned

14:30 Missions Office Overview

17:27 Global Needs and Partnerships

25:43 How Mission Work Began

31:47 Grief Faith and Hope

41:24 How to Support Missions

45:41 Closing Thanks and Signoff

46:46 Host Reflections From Home

51:47 Catholic Music Worldwide

54:15 Final Farewell

Host Jack Socha speaks by phone with Ann Lankford, Director of the Diocese of La Crosse Department of Catechesis and Evangelization, about the relationship between evangelization (ongoing encounter with Jesus) and catechesis (teaching to deepen that relationship) and the need to share faith gently in a culture often hostile to religion. They discuss how diocesan work adapted during COVID through remote meetings, webinars, and virtual conferences, including a large August event on overcoming spiritual discouragement with Fr. Timothy Gallagher and related resources still available. Ann describes RCIA, notes her 40-lesson catechist binder, and explains the diocese’s preference for a longer 15-month to two-year process, along with varied parish approaches during lockdown. She also previews Franciscan at Home, a free online workshop system for parishes and schools, expected to launch after mid-June.

00:00 Show Introduction

00:50 Catechesis and Evangelization

03:51 Everyday Evangelization

07:48 Pandemic Work Shifts

11:12 Zoom Formation for Parishes

13:59 RCIA Overview and Purpose

17:53 RCIA as Lifelong Formation

21:35 Break and Vocations Message

23:59 RCIA During Lockdowns

29:13 How to Join RCIA

31:29 COVID Still Looms

31:53 Planning Fall Programs

32:28 Parents Lead Faith

35:23 Family Life Wins

36:56 Franciscan At Home

38:34 Launch And Logistics

41:41 Break And Sports Story

43:51 Tech And Ministry Praise

47:40 Virtual Conference Impact

49:35 Spiritual Discouragement Tools

52:01 Wrap Up And Archives

53:01 Baba Yetu Discovery

55:55 Final Song Sendoff

Host Jack Socha welcomes Bishop William Patrick Callahan to discuss the Solemnity of Corpus Christi and the Church’s teaching on the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, referencing John 6, the Last Supper, and transubstantiation, and noting that research shows many Catholics do not understand this belief. They reflect on returning to parish life after pandemic restrictions, the value of gathering for Mass, and the challenge of misinformation and relativism online, encouraging attention to sound sources, homilies, and practices like Lectio Divina. The episode highlights diocesan life and support for Catholic Charities, the Bishop’s Annual Appeal, and gratitude to Relevant Radio. Upcoming items include diocesan calendar events, the Cathedral organ recital series, the June 24 Chrism Mass, and the June 26 ordinations of three priests, alongside guidance on continued COVID caution, vaccination, and the reinstatement of the Sunday Mass obligation.

00:00 Show Welcome

03:48 Weekend Hope Returns

05:15 What Is Corpus Christi

06:40 Real Presence Explained

10:32 Bread of Life Scripture

12:12 Transubstantiation Basics

12:55 Why People Come Back

15:29 Fighting Misinformation

18:16 Internet Distractions

20:19 Gathering Again at Mass

21:38 Diocesan Events Calendar

23:45 Pandemic Stories and Guests

25:36 Catholic Charities Spotlight

28:25 Annual Appeal and Support

30:30 Vocations and Evangelization

33:24 Relativism in the Public Square

36:50 Truth Online and Trusted Sources

38:14 Homiletics Explained

41:28 Lectio Divina Practice

44:41 Supporting Relevant Radio

46:45 Chrism Mass and Ordinations

49:14 COVID Guidance and Sunday Obligation

52:05 Prayer Blessing and Farewell

53:08 Hymn Story and Final Signoff

On Memorial Day weekend, host Jack Socha opens Connecting the Diocese by reflecting on the meaning and history of Memorial Day, sharing his visit to the Houston, Minnesota Veterans Memorial and his own experience processing casualty reports during the Vietnam War, and urging listeners to remember the fallen and those lost during the pandemic. The program includes an official Diocese of La Crosse statement that Bishop William Patrick Callahan has asked Fr. James Altman to resign as pastor of St. James the Less Parish and that the diocese will proceed according to canonical process. Jack then interviews Chris Ruff, Director for Ministries and Social Concerns, about pandemic impacts, lay and deacon formation adaptations, a June 5 virtual Theology of the Body conference, parish social ministry and immigrant outreach, religious freedom concerns including the Equality Act, and support for the Bishop’s Annual Appeal, concluding with Memorial Day observance and A Soldier’s Prayer.

00:00 Show Intro Memorial Weekend

00:45 Memorial Day Origins

02:44 Veterans Memorial Reflections

04:47 Personal Vietnam War Memories

06:04 Break Diocesan Statement

08:13 Pandemic Catch Up

10:24 Hybrid Formation Programs

14:51 Theology of the Body Event

16:49 Virtual Conference Q and A

22:05 Zoom Lessons and Lay Formation

26:52 Monks And Isolation

27:55 Annual Appeal Pitch

28:48 Parish Social Ministry

32:01 Immigrant Outreach

35:11 Religious Freedom Week

36:02 Equality Act Concerns

40:41 Gender Dysphoria Compassion

43:09 Hopeful Legal Trends

45:23 Show Notes And Audio

46:02 Why Phone Audio Varies

48:53 Memorial Day Covid Warning

51:23 Memorial Day Remembrance

54:09 Soldiers Prayer Closing

Host Jack Socha opens this Pentecost weekend episode of Connecting the Diocese (Diocese of La Crosse) with seasonal reflections, a farmer story about cooperating with God, and encouragement to support local farmers’ markets, then speaks by phone with Bishop William Patrick Callahan about Pentecost, the Holy Spirit’s power, recognizing “God moments,” the sacraments (especially Eucharist and reconciliation), and openness to vocation. Jack also discusses pandemic updates, vaccination realities, and cautions for immunocompromised people and unvaccinated children. He welcomes back Relevant Radio’s Paul Sadek to talk about his daily devotion program Daybreak, how Catholic radio continued through COVID, and Pentecost imagery and meaning. The episode closes with appeals for charitable giving and the Bishop’s Annual Appeal, ways to contact the show, and a reminder to be kind to workers navigating mask policies.

00:00 Pentecost Weekend Welcome

03:53 Springtime Stories and Farmers Markets

05:48 Bishop Callahan on Pentecost

06:54 Confirmation Storm Memory

11:43 Recognizing God Moments

16:41 Grace in Confession and Sacraments

19:36 Pandemic Pentecost Update

21:37 Meet Paul Sadek and Daybreak

22:47 COVID Parody Songs and Radio Life

25:38 Vaccines and Masking Realities

27:51 Pentecost Languages Explained

32:04 Radio Still Matters

32:52 AM Radio and Emergencies

34:42 Freeplay Crank Radio Story

36:00 Daybreak Show Milestones

37:07 Listener Support and Feedback

38:48 Good News and Local Events

40:39 Memorable Guests and Missions

46:04 Holy Spirit Through Pandemic

48:51 Vocations and Faith Adventure

51:18 Appeal and Closing Blessing