Connecting the Diocese

Host Jack Socha opens this Connecting the Diocese episode with humorous excerpts from “top COVID-19 hits,” then shares a brief update on the UK COVID variant, urging continued precautions until more people are vaccinated. He interviews Chris Rogers, Director of the Office for Family Life, about how his family has adapted during the pandemic, including school adjustments, new hobbies like fishing, and cooking at home, as well as his wife’s interest in pursuing a teaching license. Rogers explains the diocese’s merged Office for Family Life, covering youth and young adult ministry, marriage prep and enrichment, and NFP, and describes virtual and socially distanced ministry efforts such as men’s and women’s retreats, youth and confirmation retreats, and the “Walking with Moms in Need” event. The program also highlights the Diocesan Annual Appeal, Catholic Charities’ help with impending power cutoffs, and closes with pet-themed pandemic songs and contact information for diocesan resources.

00:00 Welcome and Holy Week

00:36 Pandemic Parody Songs

05:33 COVID Variant Update

06:19 Meet Chris Rogers

06:53 Family Life at Home

13:03 School and Safety Measures

17:08 Work and Worship Changes

19:22 Vaccines and Staying Careful

23:27 Diocesan Annual Appeal Message

25:27 New Role Family Life

28:37 Virtual Retreat Highlights

29:48 How Zoom Retreats Work

30:27 Walking With Moms

31:21 Isolation And Mental Health

34:56 Men Need Friends

38:30 Tune In Tuesday Support

41:05 Marriage Prep Options

46:17 Catholic Charities PSA

50:09 Upcoming Events And Contacts

54:42 Pets And Pandemic Life

56:57 Closing Songs And Signoff

This Easter weekend episode of Connecting the Diocese (Diocese of La Crosse) opens with the Gospel account of the Resurrection from Luke, followed by the Lord’s Prayer and a blessing. Host Jack Socha welcomes listeners who may be staying home due to vaccination timing or health concerns and speaks with Bishop William Patrick Callahan about the joy of Easter, modest celebrations during the virus, and memories of celebrating in Rome, emphasizing that “God wins.” The bishop highlights the Bavarian tradition of the risus paschalis (Easter laughter) and offers a Hail Mary and blessing. Jack tells an Easter joke, features a Catholic Charities appeal with contact information and April 15 utility shutoff reminders, rebroadcasts an old-time radio dramatization of Handel’s creation of Messiah, and closes with music notes, Catholic Life Magazine mentions, and a request for diocesan support during the pandemic.

00:00 Opening Scripture Reading

02:07 Prayer And Blessing

03:00 Welcome Easter Weekend

04:11 Easter Joy And Pandemic

06:24 Easter In Rome

07:58 God Wins Message

09:32 Easter Laughter Tradition

11:27 Teachers And Humor

14:41 Liturgical Year Explained

16:09 Mary Visit And Hail Mary

17:29 Easter Joke Challenge

18:57 Catholic Charities Appeal

19:59 Utility Help Reminder

21:00 Handel Messiah Story Intro

22:22 Handel In Despair

24:42 Mysterious Woman Appears

28:55 Messiah Manuscript Gift

30:29 Music Returns To Life

37:21 Handel Gives Thanks

46:55 Music And Program Notes

47:31 Magazine And Diocesan Support

49:31 Final Hopeful Farewell

This episode opens with a 1926 reflection by Dr. James Allen on Jesus’ life and lasting impact, then host Jack Socha welcomes Bishop William Patrick Callahan of the Diocese of La Crosse. The bishop explains Vatican II’s “universal call to holiness,” emphasizing that all baptized people share Christ’s mission as priests, prophets, and kings through prayer, sacramental life, and daily witness—not only through church roles. They discuss Palm Sunday’s themes of Jesus as the Son of David and King, the crowd’s shift from “Hosanna” to “Crucify him,” and the recurring choice of “Barabbas.” Bishop Callahan encourages praying with Scripture through Lectio Divina and reading a Passion account during Holy Week. The program also addresses COVID-19 precautions, changes to Holy Week liturgies (including postponing the Chrism Mass), and offers a Catholic Charities resource for utility-bill assistance, concluding with a prayer and blessing.

00:00 A Solitary Life

02:11 Show Welcome

03:00 Universal Call Holiness

06:35 Holiness In Daily Life

09:36 Palm Sunday Meaning

11:14 Jesus The King

17:08 Lectio Divina Prayer

18:25 Choosing Barabbas Today

22:36 Holy Week Covid Caution

24:35 Pandemic Mass Changes

28:48 Holy Thursday To Vigil

36:32 Charity Power Help

38:29 Reading The Gospels

48:27 Vaccines And Gatherings

51:49 Prayer And Blessing

53:01 Lent Music Reflection

58:23 Closing Prayers And Farewell

Host Jack Socha shares updates on a new COVID variant in La Crosse County and notes Walgreens vaccine availability, urging continued masking. He interviews Monsignor Joseph Hirsch from Casa Hogar in Peru about strict quarantine, online schooling, daily Mass and holy hours, limited family contact, and how he contracted COVID after visiting his 90-year-old mother, with both recovering. Hirsch describes Peru’s ongoing lockdown, scarce vaccines, overwhelmed hospitals, oxygen shortages, and how an oxygen machine has helped save lives; he also discusses improved water purification, Holy Week plans, livestreamed Mass outreach, and technology needs for students. Jack promotes Catholic Charities help for impending April 15 power cutoffs and later speaks with development director Sarah Seery about a March 24 virtual Father Joe video event, Holy Week livestreams, and ways to support Casa Hogar. The episode closes with guidance on Mass attendance safety and a song by Hirsch.

00:00 Show Intro

00:29 Local COVID Update

01:40 Welcome From Peru

02:25 Life In Lockdown

04:08 Christmas Travel Risks

05:53 Vaccines And Variants

08:53 Quarantine Protocols

10:01 Seasons And Weather

10:53 Lent Under COVID

13:09 Oxygen Lifesavers

14:27 Clean Water Breakthrough

15:50 Holy Week Plans

18:09 Lenten Sacrifices

22:58 Streaming Mass Outreach

25:02 Internet And Devices

27:08 Graduates Helping Out

27:58 Abraham’s Work Ethic

28:52 Banana Homily Story

29:38 March Feasts and Anniversary

32:08 Donations and Stimulus Giving

33:35 COVID Scare and Family Calls

36:21 Oxygen Machines Appeal

37:19 Power Bill Cutoff Warning

39:17 Sarah Seery Returns

40:41 Father Joe Video Premiere

42:40 Holy Week Livestream Plans

44:39 Tech Needs and Fundraising

51:59 Travel Updates and Wrap Up

54:04 Holy Week Safety Reminder

56:19 Closing Song and Farewell

Host Jack Socha marks the one-year anniversary of COVID-19’s impact in the U.S., noting deaths, vaccine progress, ongoing cautions, and the need to follow CDC guidance. He reports on the start of the restoration of St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral in La Crosse. Bishop Callahan reflects on the Fourth Sunday of Lent’s Gospel of Jesus and Nicodemus, connecting Moses’ bronze serpent to Christ lifted on the cross as the remedy for sin and suffering. Sacred Worship director Chris Carstens explains diocesan Holy Week adaptations: Palm Sunday begins inside without an outdoor procession; Holy Thursday omits foot washing and the Eucharistic procession but includes adoration; Good Friday veneration is modified; Easter Vigil reduces processions, may limit baptisms, and blesses holy water; capacity can increase to 50% with local discretion, and the Chrism Mass is moved to summer. Soscia reads an extended passage from Pope Francis’ “Daring to Dream” on solidarity, service, and avoiding narcissism, discouragement, and pessimism, and closes with scheduling notes due to daylight saving time and a preview of a Casa Hogar (Peru) interview.

00:00 Show Opens and Welcome

00:32 One Year of COVID Reflections

02:41 Holy Week Plans Preview

03:23 Cathedral Restoration Update

05:04 Bishop Callahan Lenten Message

06:38 Cross as Healing Remedy

10:59 Vaccines and CDC Guidance

13:06 Chris Karstens Returns

15:47 Diocesan Holy Week Guidelines

20:05 Palm Sunday Changes

22:36 Holy Thursday Adaptations

27:12 Good Friday Cross Veneration

28:48 Liturgy Integrity Concerns

30:00 Singing Rules and Choirs

31:25 Risk Decisions and Vaccines

33:08 Strange Questions and Clarifications

34:36 Work Life and Farm Spring

36:57 Patience and Prayer Requests

39:29 Easter Vigil Adaptations

41:05 Triduum Book Recommendation

45:40 Pope Francis Daring to Dream

55:50 Schedule Notes and Wrap Up