A decent place to raise a family

Catholics looking for a decent place to settle and raise their families ought to consider La Crosse, Wisconsin. La Crosse is usually overlooked in online discussions about orthodox Catholic communities (overlooked by traditionalists, at any rate) but I think the area has much to recommend it. The single most important consideration, of course, is the Mass: the traditional Roman Rite is offered weekly, on Sundays at 9:30am, at the incomparably beautiful Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe just a few minutes south of town. Also encouraging is the fact that the Shrine is staffed by the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, an order known and respected for its muscular orthodoxy. I would expect that the Shrine has plenty of opportunities for boys to serve at the altar, for older children and adults to sing in a choir, and for everyone to participate in extra-liturgical devotions. I would expect that these good Friars not only provide excellent spiritual direction but also inspire new vocations. Let it be noted, too, that living in close proximity to a friary opens up the possibility of establishing a Third Order community, though I don’t know whether one exists in La Crosse at present.

Unlike many diocesan Latin Mass locations, the Shrine is not an experiment. It has the feel of permanence and the Latin Mass is perfectly suited to it. It will always have the special solicitation of its founder, Cardinal Archbishop Raymond Burke, so long as he lives, and its charism will be secure for generations to come.

One consideration that young couples should be thinking about is whether they are living in a place where at least some of their children are likely to remain and thrive. It is desirable to establish a home not only for oneself, but for one’s progeny. In fact, I would argue that the suitability of a place for future generations is much more important than one’s own preferences. For some families, this consideration may rule out the smaller towns and rural areas that are often mentioned as traditionalist enclaves. La Crosse, however, is fortunate to have one of these rural hamlets within its own orbit – the village of Cashton just 28 miles away. Cashton is home to St. Mary’s church, which offers weekly and daily mass in the old rite, and is staffed by the Institute of Christ the King.

continue at Stony Creek Digest

I have had more traditionalists emailing me about Wisconsin as a place to move their families to.  I always try to balance expectations.  This is a very good place to live, and there are several solid Catholic communities across the state.  Obviously we lack a Catholic college but we do have a very solid Catholic center at the University of Wisconsin, but not a good Catholic presence at most other secular colleges though.  We know many homeschoolers and independent Catholic schools keep popping up throughout the state.