Bishop Callahan’s COVID Breakthrough Recovery, Holiday Health, and Helping Those in Need

Host Jack Socha interviews Bishop William Patrick Callahan of the Diocese of La Crosse as he recovers from a vaccinated COVID-19 breakthrough case, thanking listeners for prayers and urging common-sense precautions, vaccination, and boosters amid variants and waning efficacy. Callahan shares the heartbreak of missing his goddaughter’s wedding due to isolation and notes supportive, orderly travel experiences during a recent Rome trip with Father Woody Pace. The episode highlights rising costs and the need for generosity to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal and Catholic Charities, especially as church attendance dips and COVID adds expenses. They discuss supporting homeless services and Afghan refugees at Fort McCoy with warm clothing, socks, underwear, and children’s items, plus pet food donations for food-insecure households. The show also previews flexible parish Advent/Christmas Mass planning and ends with a seasonal prayer and reflections on local, resourceful holiday giving.

00:30 Bishop Health Update

02:12 Vaccines Breakthroughs

03:31 Reinfection Booster Advice

07:39 Missing Wedding Story

11:40 Holiday Season Small Talk

13:43 Appeal Rising Costs

15:46 Thanksgiving Military Refugees

17:42 Donating Coats Socks

22:30 Rome Trip Travel Rules

28:06 Media vs Reality

28:53 Kindness During COVID

30:22 Maximum Stress Season

31:17 Keeping Parishes Open

33:16 Advent and Christmas Plans

35:48 Patience and Flexibility

38:09 Break and Pet Food Drive

40:41 Supply Chain Holiday Gifts

46:30 Prayer Blessing and Wrap

48:33 Boosters and Vaccine Update

51:37 Handmade Local Treasures

54:23 Happy Autumn Sendoff