Diocese of La Crosse
Christopher Ruff has an extensive work experience in various roles related to ministry and leadership in Catholic organizations. Christopher worked for the Diocese of La Crosse, where they held the position of Director of the Office for Ministries and Social Concerns. In this role, they developed and directed the Lay Formation Institute, coordinated the diocesan Leader of Prayer Formation Program, and served as an Associate Director and Academic Dean of the diocesan Deacon Formation Program.
Christopher also worked as a Consultant for the Evangelium Consulting Group, where they specialized in helping Catholic organizations develop effective leadership teams. In addition, Christopher Ruff served as an Adjunct Faculty Member at the Institute for Religious & Pastoral Studies of the University of Dallas and IPT of Ave Maria University, where they taught several courses in a Master of Theological Studies program.
Furthermore, they have experience as an author and publisher, with several published books in the Discipleship Series for small groups. Lastly, Christopher Ruff worked at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Minneapolis as a Lay Theologian, where they directed adult faith formation programs, coordinated events, developed small-group faith-sharing programs, and contributed to parish newsletters and bulletin reflections.
Christopher Ruff began their education in 1983 at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, where they completed a Bachelor's Degree in Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) in 1986. Christopher then pursued further studies in the field of Sacred Theology at the Pope John Paul II Institute for Marriage and the Family in Rome from 1986 to 1988, earning a Licentiate (S.T.L.) with an emphasis on Personalism and Moral Theology. In 1989, Christopher Ruff enrolled in the University of St. Thomas, where they obtained a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling Psychology in 1994.
Diocese of La Crosse
Called by Jesus Christ to “Seek first the kingdom of God;” we are the Diocese of La Crosse, a sacramental people, who worship God, teach the Catholic faith, and serve the needs of the human person. Established on March 3, 1868, our local Church, the Diocese of La Crosse, was born by decree of Blessed Pope Pius IX. Today, we are proud to serve 950,000 souls, of whom 150,000 are Roman Catholic among 159 parishes. Father René Menard had arrived within our bounds more than 200 years earlier, and after him came other missionaries, settlers, farmers, woodsman, trappers, and riverboat mariners. Since its inception, the Diocese of La Crosse has seen the growth and increase from many nations—Polish, German, Irish, Hmong, and Mexican—added to its native peoples. It has seen the heroic witness of many, including Venerable Frederic Baraga, Venerable Samuel Mazzuchelli, Blessed Solanus Casey, Servant of God Father Joseph Walijewski, and Polonia’s Guatemalan Martyr Blessed James Miller. The territory of the Diocese is nineteen counties in the west and central part of the State of Wisconsin. The western boundary of the diocese is formed by the Mississippi River. The Wisconsin River forms the southern and eastern boundary of the diocese. The northern boundary of the diocese is the southern boundary of the Diocese of Superior. The majority of the diocesan territory is rural and used for agriculture. There are six urban centers with combined populations close to 630,000. As we look forward as a diocese, Bishop William Patrick Callahan, our tenth bishop, is giving vision to our mission of building up the Kingdom of God. Called by the love of Christ we recognize the Spirit of God in one another and give witness to the value of human life by mutual respect and honor. In particular, this is represented in everyone’s call to vocation, marriage and family life, sacred worship and a deep desire to live a saintly life and thus meriting heaven.