Catholic Rural Life

What kind of laborers are we in the Lord’s vineyard?

In this past Sunday’s readings, we hear the vineyard used as an image of God’s kingdom. In Jesus’ parable, the tenants reject the vineyard owner’s authority and ultimately kill his son, a foreshadowing of Christ’s own Passion and Crucifixion.

But the parable is more than a prophecy of Jesus’ death. It is also a reminder for each of us:

Everything we have received is a gift from God, entrusted to us to steward according to His will, not our own.

We have been given the incredible gift of being called into His vineyard, the Church. But how do we respond to that calling?

Do we recognize our brothers and sisters as fellow laborers?
Do we welcome those on the margins as Christ would?
Do our words and actions build up the Body of Christ, or contribute to division when others do not see things as we do?

Christ reminds us that we will be known by our fruits.

May we become humble laborers in the Lord’s vineyard, faithfully tending what He has entrusted to us and surrendering our work, our communities, and our lives to the Master.

Lord, make us fruitful laborers in Your vineyard.

To truly love and care for creation, we must first receive and respond to the love of Christ.

Happy Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of Ecology!

St. Francis is known for his profound love and reverence for God’s creation. But creation was never the center of his life...Christ was.

Francis’ love for the land, animals, and all of God’s creation flowed from his love for the Incarnate Son, who gave His Body and Blood for our salvation.

As we celebrate this Year of St. Francis, may his example remind us that our care for creation must be rooted first and foremost in a relationship with Christ.

When we know the love of our Creator, we can see His creation with new eyes and respond with gratitude, stewardship, and love.

St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!

As we prepare for the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of Ecology, take a moment to discover the inspiring story of one of our members, Fr. Targonski, OFM, and how the beauty of God’s creation became a place of healing and encounter with God’s grace. Read his story here: https://www.catholicrurallife.org/post/a-channel-of-peace-fr-targonskis-journey-of-healing-in-gods-creation

As we celebrate this Year of St. Francis, may his example inspire us to recognize the goodness of the created world and to faithfully steward God’s gifts for His glory.

How has the beauty of creation helped you encounter God?

Happy Feast of the Guardian Angels!

God has given each of us a heavenly companion to guide and protect us throughout our earthly journey. Out of the hierarchy of angels, the guardian angels are closest to those of us on earth.

For those who live and work in the countryside, this feast day brings to mind St. Isidore the Farmer, our patron saint. Tradition tells us that while Isidore stopped to pray, angels helped with the work of plowing his fields, a beautiful reminder that our work is never separate from our relationship with God.

St. Isidore put prayer first, trusting God with the work that remained. His example invites us to do the same: to begin our days with the Lord, entrust our work to Him, and remember that we are never alone.

Today, we give thanks for our Guardian Angels, who accompany us with God’s loving care from the very beginning of our lives.

Holy Guardian Angels, pray for us!

Have you ever experienced what felt like the protection or guidance of your Guardian Angel? Share your story in the comments.

Happy Feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower!

A Doctor of the Church, St. Thérèse shows us that great holiness can grow from an ordinary, hidden life.

She was raised in a working-class family and later entered the Carmelite convent, where she lived a quiet life largely unseen by the world. Yet through her “little way”—doing small things with great love and complete trust in God—her life became a powerful witness that continues to influence the Church today.

For those who live and work in rural communities, her example offers a beautiful reminder: what is hidden from the eyes of the world is never hidden from God.

The quiet work of a farm, the faithful care of a family, a simple act of service, a prayer offered when no one else sees...these seemingly little things can become fertile ground for God’s grace.

St. Thérèse trusted God enough to become like a little child in His arms. Will we do the same, allowing Him to work through the ordinary moments of our lives?

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower, pray for us!

What “little” act of love can you offer to God today?

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword." -Hebrews 4:12.

St. Jerome devoted his life to studying, translating, and sharing the Word of God. His example reminds us that the Bible is not simply a book to be read, it is the living Word through which God speaks to us.

And for those who work the land, Scripture can feel especially close to home.

The Bible is filled with the sights and sounds of rural life: fields and vineyards, sowing and harvesting, sheep and shepherds, seeds and soil. God’s people knew the work of the land intimately. And our Lord, having become man, entered into the ordinary realities of human work and daily life.

So the next time you walk through a field, tend to livestock, plant a crop, or work with your hands, remember: God can be encountered in the midst of our daily labor.

His Word is never far away. Open the Scriptures, and discover again how deeply they speak to the realities of our lives.

St. Jerome, patron of biblical scholars and translators, pray for us!

What passage of Scripture has helped you see your work or daily life in a new way? Share it below.

Happy Feast of the Archangels! Today we celebrate Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, and give thanks for the heavenly help God gives us.

Life can bring dry seasons in our relationship with God, thorns of suffering, and weeds of temptation sown by the evil one that seek to take root in our hearts.

But God never leaves us to face these struggles alone. Through His angels, He gives us powerful intercessors and companions in the spiritual battles we face.

Saint Michael, defend us in spiritual battle.
Saint Gabriel, help us to hear and faithfully respond to God’s call.
Saint Raphael, pray for healing and guide us along the way.

Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, pray for us!

Which Archangel do you especially turn to in prayer? How have they helped you in your trials?

What a blessing it was to be in St. Louis, Missouri, for the Beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen!

We were honored to witness this historic moment for the Catholic Church in the United States alongside tens of thousands of faithful Catholics from across the country.

And one of the greatest blessings was meeting so many of you who stopped by our booth! It was wonderful to connect with fellow Catholics, and share in our common love for the Faith and for rural communities.

Thank you to everyone who came by to say hello, we’re grateful for the opportunity to celebrate this historic occasion with you!

Were you in St. Louis for the beatification? Tell us in the comments!

What does the vineyard teach us about saying “yes” to God?

In this past Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus gives us the parable of a vineyard owner and his two sons. One initially refuses his father’s command, while the other agrees to go, but ultimately, it is the one who changes his mind and does his father’s will who obeys.

The parable reminds us that our first response is not necessarily our final response.

There may be times when we resist God’s will, turn away, or fail to follow where He is leading. But God continually calls us back. What matters is that we turn our hearts toward Him and choose to follow His will while we still have time in this earthly vineyard.

The harvest is coming.

May we have the humility to change course, the courage to obey, and the perseverance to remain faithful, so that, by God’s grace, we may one day share in the eternal harvest of His heavenly vineyard.

Lord, help us to say “yes” to You, not only with our words, but with our lives.

What a beautiful day celebrating faith, family, and rural life in the Diocese of La Crosse!

This Wednesday, the Diocese celebrated its 45th annual Rural Life Celebration at Creamery Creek Farms in Bangor, Wisconsin, hosted by the Hansen and Peterson families.

Bishop Battersby presided at Mass, joined by more than a dozen priests from the Diocese who concelebrated. Following Mass, Bishop Battersby and the Rural Life Committee presented the annual Rural Life awards, including 20 Century Farm awards honoring generations of faithful stewardship.

Our Affiliates and Ministry in Rural and Small Towns Program Manager Karl Horwath also shared about our mission and programs. Representatives from Project Milk, a Diocese of La Crosse initiative, also presented on their ministry which sends more than 800 bags of powdered Wisconsin milk to orphanages in Peru each year.

The Diocese of La Crosse is one of our Affiliates, which puts on celebrations and gatherings like these to honor rural life and the beauty of our Faith. Learn more about Affiliates here: https://www.catholicrurallife.org/affiliates