Revitalizing the Spiritual, Social, and Economic Well-Being of America’s Rural Communities
Once the backbone of American society, today’s rural communities face a number of challenges, both spiritual and material. A decline of priests and religious in the countryside have left pastors of rural parishes stretched thin, hindering catechetical formation and a faith that truly lives. Simultaneously, poverty, unemployment, and an exodus of young people to urban areas have depleted America’s rural communities of its characteristic winsome vitality.
Catholic Rural Life aims to revitalize the American countryside by training and equipping rural men and women to take leadership in their communities, parishes, and households. We believe that rural living represents a way of life worthy of promotion and protection, and is naturally conducive to authentic spiritual and moral formation. We recognize the unique connection between the Church and the countryside, well aware that the majority of priestly and religious vocations come from rural communities. With this in mind, it is no understatement to say that rural communities remain vital to the well-being of not only the country, but the Catholic Church.
“The New Evangelization and Celebration of Rogation and Ember Days”
In November 2018, Catholic Rural Life (CRL) celebrated its 95th anniversary. CRL, originally called the National Catholic Rural Life Conference…
Blog
The Desert Reminds Us of the Importance of Rural Life
This week we, the CRL staff, are at a retreat center in Tucson, Arizona for our second Thriving in Rural…
Blog
St. Brigid – Patron Saint of Dairy Farmers
On February 1, we celebrate the Feast of St. Brigid of Kildare. St. Brigid is not only one of the…
Blog
Street Corner Catholic – Part 2
[Editor’s Note: This is part 2 of a two part blog series. To read part 1, click here.] Several years…
Blog
Street Corner Catholic
[Editor’s Note: This is part 1 of a two part blog series. To read part 2, click here.] I am…
Blog
A Spiritual Winter as a Season of Grace
The winter in South Dakota has gone on long enough. People say, “I am so sick of winter. I can’t…
Blog
Who Are Your Prophets?
What is a prophet? Society has changed and updated the understanding of a prophet over time. A modern definition from…
Blog
Press Release: New CRL Program
Catholic Rural Life has received a $ 1 million grant to help establish its Thriving in Rural Ministry program. This…
Blog
Rural Culture and the Church – Interview
The following is an excerpt from an interview by Matthew Maloney from Know the Faith podcast and Max Becher, a CRL…
Blog
Prayers for All Saints and All Souls
The following prayers are from the Rural Life Prayer Book. For more prayers for more Fall prayers, see our seasonal…
Blog