Catholic Rural Life-Victoria

Catholic Rural Life (CRL)-Victoria was officially formed in the Diocese of Victoria on Friday, June 22, 2018. CRL-Victoria is a local chapter of the national organization and is the first chapter established in the State of Texas. Father Stephen Vacek has been appointed Director and Deacon Larry Hoelsher has been appointed Chairperson by Bishop Brendan Cahill. 

What is Catholic Rural Life?

Catholic Rural Life (CRL) is a national,Catholic nonprofit organization dedicated to the vitality of the American countryside. Since 1923, CRL has been applying the teachings of Jesus Christ for the social, economic, and spiritual development of rural America, strengthening and sustaining the Church in the countryside by educating and inspiring leaders and advocating on their behalf.

Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, CRL is a membership-based organization, that has a rich history spanning 90 years. It is comprised of dedicated bishops, laity, and religious who are joined in a common effort to serve the rural Church, rural people, and their communities. Bishop Brendan Cahill is one of the Board of Directors for CRL.

For more information: https://catholicrurallife.org

Catholic Rural Life – Victoria Chapter


We Choose the Country...

We believe that:  Farming is a noble Christian occupation.  The farm home is a most suitable place to rear a Christian family.  The good earth is the greatest material gift of God to man. 
 
We know that:  In this vocation we country people work closely with God in producing the essential elements of life.  By making ourselves aware of the special graces and opportunities of this way of life, and by cooperating with them, we and our families can most readily give glory to God and grow in holiness and happiness.  The earth returns greatest honor to God when through our care and labor, it brings forth an abundance for our family’s needs and those of society, for this generation and for those to come.
 
We proclaim that:  We will strive always to appreciate and hold fast to the spiritual values of our vocation and to prevent the materialism of this age from blinding us to them.  We will model our homes on that of Nazareth; by working, learning, playing and especially praying together we will strengthen our faith in God and our mutual love and unity; we will fulfill our obligation to be good neighbors, faithful parishioners, loyal and active citizens.  We will regard our land as God’s land; as stewards of His bounty we will conserve and improve it so that it will increasingly continue to give glory to Him.
 
We pray that:  Through God’s grace we may have wisdom and strength to grow constantly in the virtues necessary for holy rural living:  Faith, Hope firmly founded in knowledge of God’s wisdom and providence, Love, Patience with the slow deliberate cycle of seasons and years, Fortitude, Temperance, Compassion, Mercy, Zeal. 

 Taken from The Rural Life Prayerbook, a publication of Catholic Rural Life, written and compiled by Alban J. Dachauer, S.J.