Catholic Rural Life

Catholic Rural Life Promoting Catholic life in rural America. Father Edwin V. This study confirmed his belief that the Catholic Church was weak in rural areas. Louis University.

Catholic Rural Life, November 11, 1923, on the third day of a gathering of bishops, priests, lay women and men in the St. Louis University Library who shared concerns about Catholic rural life and determined that it was time to form a permanent organization. O'Hara, Director of the National Catholic Welfare Conference's Rural Life Bureau, was the man who called this group of people together. He wa

s the spirit behind this conference and became the energetic guide of the new organization during its first decade. After a stint as Chaplain in World War I, Father O'Hara was asked to conduct a study of rural Catholic education. He found that the rural Church was under served in terms of priests, churches, hospitals and Catholic schools -- part of a pattern of overall neglect in which Church authorities gave little attention to the social, economic or religious problems of rural Catholics. Father O'Hara made recommendations to the bishops to remedy the problem. By November 1923, he had generated enough interest in Catholic rural life to call for the first Catholic Rural Life Conference - the one held at St. When the organization of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference came into being, he became its executive secretary and brought his energetic abilities with him.

Happy National Food Bank Day!When we think about food insecurity, we may picture large cities, but hunger affects rural ...
09/04/2026

Happy National Food Bank Day!

When we think about food insecurity, we may picture large cities, but hunger affects rural communities, too.

In small towns and rural areas, access to food resources can be especially challenging. Long distances, limited transportation, and fewer nearby food shelves can make it harder for families and individuals to get the help they need.

Today, let’s shine a light on food insecurity in rural America and support the organizations already working to nourish their neighbors.

Consider donating to your local food shelf, food pantry, or food bank, or delivering food to those who lack transportation access. Every contribution—large or small—can help ensure that no neighbor goes without the food they need.

Together, we can strengthen our rural communities by making sure everyone has a place at the table.

Save the date for our Rural Life Summit! Today we introduce another one of our keynote speakers, Dan Venteicher, the "Io...
09/02/2026

Save the date for our Rural Life Summit! Today we introduce another one of our keynote speakers, Dan Venteicher, the "Iowa Dairy Farmer"! With 2.5 million followers, Dan is one of the largest agricultural influencers in the world. He advocates for the dairy industry, capturing the hearts of millions with his educational and humorous social media posts. Dan is also a revert to the Catholic faith.

The Summit will bring together rural clergy, lay leaders, ministry professionals, educators, and others committed to strengthening Catholic life in rural America. We will offer opportunities for formation, conversation, networking, and practical insight for those serving and leading in rural communities.

April 16, 2027 — mark your calendar!

More information about speakers, programming, registration, and the event schedule is coming soon. Stay tuned!

A dry field needs water. A thirsty soul needs God.In this past Sunday’s Psalm, the psalmist recognizes the deep human ne...
08/31/2026

A dry field needs water. A thirsty soul needs God.

In this past Sunday’s Psalm, the psalmist recognizes the deep human need for God, comparing the soul’s longing for Him to dry, parched land without water.

Anyone who works the land knows what drought can mean. When the rains do not come, crops suffer, livelihoods are threatened, and the future can feel uncertain.

Our souls can experience a similar dryness. We can search for fulfillment in countless places, but until we recognize for whom we truly thirst, our deepest longing remains unmet.

The good news is that God never runs dry.

Let us continually return to the Lord, the fount of living water, and allow Him to refresh our weary souls.

Lord, give us the grace to thirst for You.

Today we remember the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist, a saint whose life and death point us directly to Christ.Aside ...
08/29/2026

Today we remember the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist, a saint whose life and death point us directly to Christ.

Aside from our Lord, the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, St. Peter, and St. Paul, St. John the Baptist is one of the few saints honored with more than one feast day.

John recognized Jesus as the true Lamb of God, sent to take away the sins of the world. And in his death, John’s life became another powerful witness to Christ’s Passion: he was killed because he refused to remain silent in the face of sin and continued to speak the Truth.

St. John the Baptist reminds us that following Christ requires courage, and that the Truth is worth defending, even when it comes at a cost.

St. John the Baptist, pray for us!

As Make-A-Will Month comes to an end, a friendly reminder that in just a few minutes, you can take an important step tow...
08/28/2026

As Make-A-Will Month comes to an end, a friendly reminder that in just a few minutes, you can take an important step toward caring for the people and causes that matter most to you! It's easy and free through our partnership with MyCatholicWill.

Create your will today:
https://mycatholicwill.com/CRL

A little planning today can bring peace of mind to your loved ones tomorrow.

Introducing our fourth podcast partner, the Cottager's Podcast!Join Mathew and Carissa Winters on the Cottager’s Podcast...
08/28/2026

Introducing our fourth podcast partner, the Cottager's Podcast!

Join Mathew and Carissa Winters on the Cottager’s Podcast, for conversations and interviews about rural living, homesteading, small-scale farming.

Matthew and Carissa started Cottage Pastures, their farm in the hills of southern Indiana, in 2022. Their approach to farming is regenerative, rooted in faith, and focused on family. On the Cottager’s Podcast they share the many lessons they’ve learned in the last four years as well as drawing on the experience of farmers and homesteaders from across the country.

Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/

Happy Feast of St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church!What looks barren to us is never beyond God’s power to restore.St. Au...
08/28/2026

Happy Feast of St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church!

What looks barren to us is never beyond God’s power to restore.

St. Augustine’s life is a powerful testament to God’s grace and the beauty of conversion.

For years, Augustine’s soul was like a barren field, hardened and unable to bear the fruit God desired. But through God’s grace and the prayers of his mother, St. Monica, Augustine experienced the transforming power of forgiveness and conversion.

God did not simply restore what was lost. He brought forth an abundant harvest.

From Augustine’s conversion came a life devoted to Christ and a wealth of teaching on the mysteries of the Faith, fruit that continues to nourish the Church more than 1,600 years later.

Whatever seems barren in our lives, God can restore. Whatever seems beyond hope, He can make fruitful.

St. Augustine, pray for us!

Happy Feast of St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine of Hippo!St. Monica reminds us of the power of persistent prayer, esp...
08/27/2026

Happy Feast of St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine of Hippo!

St. Monica reminds us of the power of persistent prayer, especially when the answer seems far away.

For years, Monica prayed for the conversion of her son, Augustine. She could not yet see the beautiful harvest God was preparing through her faithful prayers.

Her story reminds us that we often see only the seed, while God sees the harvest.

We plant the seeds of prayer. God gives the growth.

Because we experience life moment by moment, we cannot see how God is working through circumstances we do not understand. But God sees all things and, in His providence, works everything toward the good.

So when you pray and nothing seems to change, do not give up. Trust that God is working, even when you cannot yet see the fruit.

May St. Monica inspire us to pray with perseverance, patience, and complete trust in God's providence.

St. Monica, pray for us!

We were grateful to help sponsor a clergy formation day for the priests and deacons of the Diocese of St. Cloud on Augus...
08/26/2026

We were grateful to help sponsor a clergy formation day for the priests and deacons of the Diocese of St. Cloud on August 21 in Alexandria, Minnesota!

The gathering focused on mental wellness and equipped clergy with practical, faith-filled tools for caring for their own well-being as well as supporting the flock entrusted to their care.

Catherine DiNuzzo explored mental wellness from a Catholic perspective, including anxiety, transition and grief, healthy boundaries, and the importance of self-care. Clergy also had opportunities for discussion and reflection on how they can foster both the mental and spiritual health of those they serve.

Let us continue to pray for our priests and deacons!

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