Catholic Rural Life

10/12/2026

Happy National Farmers' Day!

From dairy and soybeans to meat and apples, farmers provide the food that nourishes our families and communities. Their hard work, dedication, and countless sacrifices help bring food from the farm to our tables.

Today, we give thanks to God for the vocation of farming and for all those who dedicate their lives to cultivating the land and feeding our neighbors.

Join us in praying for farmers and their families. May God bless their work, strengthen them through every season, and reward their faithful stewardship of His creation.

What farmer or farming family are you grateful for today? Tag them in the comments!

10/12/2026

This past Sunday’s Psalm reminds us of the comforting image of Christ as our Good Shepherd. He nourishes us, guides us along the right paths, and protects us even in the darkest valleys.

The Lord never abandons His sheep. Even when we face temptation, fear, or uncertainty, we can find strength and peace in His loving care.

May we always remain close to our Good Shepherd, trusting in His protection and following wherever He leads us.

How has the Lord been a shepherd in your life? Share your reflections in the comments!

10/09/2026

We’re grateful to have spent this week in Indianapolis at the Lilly Endowment Inc. gathering for Rural and Small Towns ministry grant awardees!

It was especially meaningful to reconnect in person with the team at Mexican American Catholic College (MACC), one of our four regional partners in promoting Catholic life in rural America.

A heartfelt thank-you to Lilly Endowment Inc. for investing in the people and ministries serving these communities. We’re excited to continue this work alongside our partners!

10/09/2026

What does our Catholic faith have to do with agriculture?

At the Diocese of Saginaw’s Rural Life Mass on September 19, Bishop Robert Gruss reflected on the sacred connection between faith, food, and the work of those who cultivate the land.

In his homily, Bishop Gruss preached on what agriculture can teach us about God, creation, work, and our dependence on Him.

Read the highlights from his homily and reflect on the deeper meaning of the food we receive and the work that brings it to our tables. https://www.catholicrurallife.org/post/food-is-holy

Bishop Robert Gruss celebrates rural life and the vocation of farming at the Rural Life Mass in Clare, Michigan, reflecting on the Parable of the Sower.

10/07/2026

We mourn the recent passing of Bishop Emeritus Frank Joseph Dewane, former bishop of the Diocese of Venice, Florida, who served as a member on our Board of Directors.

We are deeply grateful for Bishop Dewane’s years of faithful service to the Church and for his support of our mission to promote and strengthen Catholic life in rural America.

May we remember Bishop Dewane in our prayers and give thanks for his ministry and service to God’s people.

Eternal rest, grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

10/07/2026

Happy Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary! The Rosary is powerful because we come close to Jesus through the human being who knew Him best: His Mother.

When we intentionally pray the Rosary, we allow God to cultivate our hearts to receive the fruits of its mysteries. We sow seeds spiritually when we bring our intentions into these moments of the lives of Jesus and Mary, which will bring about an abundant harvest by God's grace.

Let us draw close to Jesus through Mary in the Rosary. Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!

10/06/2026

From growing up Catholic to discovering Christ in evangelicalism—and ultimately finding his way home to the Catholic Church—Dan Venteicher, known to millions as the Iowa Dairy Farmer, has a powerful story of faith and conversion.

Originally raised Catholic, Dan drifted away from the Church as a teenager. During college, he rediscovered Christ through evangelicalism before eventually returning to the fullness of the Catholic faith.

Today, Dan shares his life as a dairy farmer with millions of followers on social media, bringing the realities of agriculture to audiences around the world.

Watch Dan share his testimony of re-conversion to the Catholic faith:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SHNsHuIYuU&t=1579s

Join us for the Rural Life Summit on April 16, 2027! Dan will be a featured speaker at this gathering at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, bringing together Catholics passionate about strengthening faith and community in rural America.

We look forward to hearing Dan's story and learning from his unique perspective on faith, agriculture, and rural life!

Catholic dairy farmer and social media content creator Dan Venteich...

10/05/2026

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.

10/04/2026

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!

10/03/2026

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?