Programs & Services

Resources

Local Dirt

National Catholic Rural Life Conference

Rural Assistance Center

The Country Today Newspaper

WI Academy for Rural Medicine

WI Dept. of Ag, Trade & Consumer Protection

WI State Farmer Newspaper

Contact

Tom Nelson
Rural Life Office

Catholic Charities
702 S. High Point Road
Madison, WI 53719
P: (608) 821-3104
F: (608) 821-3125
tnelson@ccmadison.org

BIO: Tom Nelson is the Coordinator of the Rural Life Office of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Madison. Tom was formerly employed on the parish staff at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Madison, where he directed parish outreach and stewardship from 2002-2007.

Tom is married to Barbara and they have a daughter Faith who runs her own in-home health care service in the Hartland area of S.E. Wisconsin. Tom and Barbara are members of the St. Victor and St. Rose of Lima Parish in Monroe and live in Mt. Pleasant Township, between Monticello and Albany in rural Green County. Tom is an artist by training and spends each evening in his studio working on acrylic landscape paintings.

Rural Life - Helpful Links and Info

Catholic Charities Rural Life Office

Please contact Tom Nelson in our Rural Life Office at (608) 821-3104 if you have any questions, comments or need assistance.

This page is updated with information pertinent to those who live in rural areas - check back for updates.

Characteristics of Rural Faith Communities (and their members) - This list provides both a reflection and consideration for those not exposed regularly to rural living and rural churches, but are in a position to connect in the future; as well as rural folks who might find it soothing and helpful to be reminded of the gifts of rural living that sometimes become difficult to remember in times of duress.

Click here to read a paper entitled "The Sacred Act of Eating" by our Rural Life Office Coordinator Tom Nelson.

Click here to read Twelve Good Reasons to Consider Eating Locally Grown Food.

Catholic Charities' Parish Mobile Food Pantry works with the Rural Life Office to bring food pantries to rural communities. Click here for a printable schedule of food pantries held by the Parish Mobile Food Pantry. To learn more about the Parish Mobile Food Pantry, please click here to be directed to their webpage.

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