Fr. Conrad Targonski on Franciscan Life, COVID Resilience, and Veteran Support

Host Jack Socha welcomes Fr. Conrad Targonski, OFM, Viterbo University chaplain and campus minister, who explains the meaning of OFM (Order of Friars Minor), the symbolism of the Franciscan habit, and his work on campus and in the community. They discuss how COVID-19 has been a time of grace, adaptation, and spiritual deepening for students and the wider community, including continued masks and precautions even after vaccination. Fr. Targonski shares his 22 years as a Navy chaplain serving Marines, including Iraq and the 2004 Battle of Fallujah, and reflects on post-traumatic stress, faith in battle, and veteran pilgrimages to Assisi inspired by St. Francis. He highlights Viterbo’s veteran outreach, local resources in La Crosse, and recommends daily scriptures, Psalms, and War and the Soul by Ed Tick. The episode closes with a tribute to Captain Tom Moore.

00:00 Show Intro

00:26 Meet Father Conrad

00:49 What OFM Means

01:42 Franciscan Habit Symbols

03:08 Campus Life Stories

04:45 Faith During COVID

08:48 Students and Ministry Adapt

12:09 Zoom and Remote Outreach

13:46 Military Chaplain Journey

16:37 Iraq and Battle Faith

18:24 War and the Soul

19:55 Assisi and Healing Trips

26:06 Franciscan Ethos at Viterbo

27:42 Break and Veterans Next

28:04 Vaccine Caution Update

30:07 Fallujah Aftereffects

31:53 Building Veteran Support

39:50 Real Stories Not TV

42:03 Getting Help Locally

47:35 Faith And Veteran Mission

49:17 Strength In Recovery

51:33 Relevant Radio Thanks

53:27 Books Prayer And Psalms

58:19 Final Farewell Tribute