Making it Personal with Bishop William Joensen

By Bishop William Joensen, Jeanne Thill

Bishop William Joensen of the Diocese of Des Moines gets personal with his guests discussing both their personal and spiritual life.... more

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Making it Personal with Bishop William Joensen episodes:

August 01, 2026Encountering Our Lady of Guadalupe: Giovanna Redondo on the Story Behind the Pilgrim Mother – 08/01/2026
Segment 1 — Bishop's Reflections
Bishop Joensen opens the show on the feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, honoring the presence of Fr. Bob Dufford, SJ — member of the influential St. Louis Jesuits and resident at the Creighton University Retreat Center in Griswold, Iowa — and looking ahead to the August 1 feast of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, patron of moral theologians. He reflects on St. Ignatius's own spiritual conversion and the founding of the Society of Jesus. Looking ahead, Bishop Joensen shares that he'll celebrate baptism and Eucharist at Saint Peter Vietnamese Church, and previews his upcoming trip to the Knights of Columbus Supreme Convention in Denver, hosted by Archbishop James Golka, August 3–6, 2026.
Segment 2 — Interview with Giovanna Redondo
Giovanna Redondo, general coordinator of the Pilgrim Mother pilgrimage, joins Bishop Joensen and Jean Thill to discuss the six-year journey of the Our Lady of Guadalupe statue across the United States. Redondo traces the project's roots to a 2006 visit to Chicago and shares how the pilgrimage — now marking the 495th anniversary of the Guadalupe apparitions in 2026 en route to the 500th in 2031 — was born from the devotion of lay Catholics working in communion with the Church. She details the statue's creation by Mexican sculptor Jorge Ismael Rodríguez, including its prosthetic eyes and donated human hair, and describes the roughly 45-minute bilingual devotional experience — including a narrated retelling of the apparition, music, and a ribbon-petition tradition connecting parishes to a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. She also previews the pilgrimage's next stops in California, and its eventual conclusion at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines, Illinois, under Rector Very Rev. Esequiel Sanchez.
Segment 3 — Wrap-Up and Local Schedule
Bishop Joensen closes with the full schedule for the Pilgrim Mother statue's visit to the Diocese of Des Moines:
Saint Ambrose Cathedral, Des Moines — through August 4

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Ankeny — August 6–13

Saint Boniface, Waukee — August 15–21

Saint Bernard, Osceola — August 23–September 2

Corpus Christi, Council Bluffs — September 4–11
Full schedule details: https://www.dmdiocese.org
Bishop Joensen closes with reflections drawn from Archbishop Luis María Martínez's Am I Not Your Mother? Reflections on Our Lady of Guadalupe, and shares thoughts on Mary's presence in the lives of the faithful.
Support for Iowa Catholic Radio and Making It Personal is provided by Serra Vocations Ministry.
Learn more at JoinSerra.org and IowaCatholicRadio.com.
#OurLadyOfGuadalupe #PilgrimMother #CatholicPodcast #BishopJoensen #DioceseOfDesMoines #IowaCatholicRadio #MakingItPersonal #VirgenDeGuadalupe #CatholicFaith #SaintAmbroseCathedral #MadrePeregrina #CatholicVocations #FaithJourney #JuanDiego #CatholicNews
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Sunday Dive with Katie Patrizio
Man Up! with Joe Stopulos
Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson
The Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud Marr
Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce Riebe
Be Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián Moncada
Making it Personal with Bishop William Joensen
Faith and Family Finance with Gregory Waddle
The Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos

Liturgy & Devotions
The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith
The Daily Mass from St. Francis of Assisi
The Daily Mass from St. Pius X
The Daily Mass from St. Theresa
Sunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint John
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July 25, 2026Faith, Science, and the Search for Truth: Dr. Laura Upenieks on Bridging the Divide – 07/21/2026
Segment 1: Meet Dr. Laura Upenieks
Bishop Joensen and Jean Thill welcome Dr. Laura Upenieks, Associate Professor and Undergraduate Program Director at Baylor University, whose research centers on religion and health, aging and the life course, and quantitative methods. She traces her path from a quantitative health sociology background at the University of Toronto to a faculty position at Baylor, where her Catholic faith and scholarly work intersect daily. The conversation was inspired by her recent presentation to U.S. bishops.
Segment 2: The Sociology of Faith and Science
Dr. Upenieks unpacks her February talk, delivered at a national conference at the University of Notre Dame titled "The Relation Between Science and Faith as a Pastoral Issue in an Age of Disaffiliation," co-sponsored by the USCCB Committee on Doctrine and the McGrath Institute for Church Life, held in collaboration with the Society of Catholic Scientists, running February 23–25. She discusses how the "conflict" between faith and science is a socially constructed boundary rather than an inherent one, referencing sociologist Christian Smith's critique of the discipline's secular assumptions. She also outlines three models of clergy engagement with science — critical, disengaged, and "engaged/hospitable" — and connects the conversation to Pope Leo XIV's May 2026 encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, on safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence.
Segment 3: From the Classroom to the Culture
The discussion turns to how Catholic schools can model integration between faith and science, with a nod to the work of Dr. Chris Baglow, who leads the Science & Religion Initiative at Notre Dame's McGrath Institute for Church Life, and Heather Foucault-Camm, the initiative's program director. Dr. Upenieks also references her published research with Dr. Brandon Vaidyanathan, a sociologist at the Catholic University of America, on awe, spirituality, and wellbeing among academic scientists. The episode closes with a cautiously hopeful look at recent conversion trends and what it will take to rebuild trust between the Church and the scientific community.
This episode is brought to you by Serra Vocations Ministry. Learn more at JoinSerra.org.
Listen to new episodes of Making It Personal with Bishop William Joensen every week at IowaCatholicRadio.com.
Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations
LINKS
You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website.
If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here!

More from Iowa Catholic Radio:
Sunday Dive with Katie Patrizio
Man Up! with Joe Stopulos
Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson
The Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud Marr
Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce Riebe
Be Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián Moncada
Making it Personal with Bishop William Joensen
Faith and Family Finance with Gregory Waddle
The Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos

Liturgy & Devotions
The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith
The Daily Mass from St. Francis of Assisi
The Daily Mass from St. Pius X
The Daily Mass from St. Theresa
Sunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint John
Want to support your favorite show? Click Here

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July 18, 2026The Doctor and the Eucharist: Dr. Diana Marar on Faith, Medicine, and Ministry in Council Bluffs – 07/18/2026
Segment 1: Diocesan News & Community Updates
Bishop Joensen and Jean Thill open with news from around the diocese and beyond:
The Archdiocese of St. Louis celebrates its bicentennial this weekend, with Bishop Joensen joining Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski and fellow Midwest bishops for vespers at the Old Cathedral and Mass at the New Cathedral.

The National Biking for Babies ride passed through Des Moines this week, stopping at St. Francis of Assisi Parish for Mass with over 200 gathered. The ride, founded nearly two decades ago, has raised more than $2.5 million for pregnancy resource centers, including those in central Iowa.

A special Mass for Our Lady of Mount Carmel marked the arrival of the Pilgrim Mother statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, touring the Diocese of Des Moines ahead of the 500th anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe's apparitions in 2031. The statue's diocesan tour stops include St. Ambrose Cathedral, Our Lady of the Americas, Our Lady of the Immaculate Heart, St. Boniface in Waukee, St. Bernard in Osceola, and Corpus Christi in Council Bluffs.

A special Mass at Our Lady of the Americas featured Auxiliary Bishop Silvio Báez of Managua, Nicaragua, who has been living in exile due to political persecution in his home country and currently teaches at a seminary in Miami.
Segment 2 & 3: Conversation with Dr. Diana Marar
Dr. Diana Marar, an internal medicine physician practicing at West Broadway Clinic in Council Bluffs and a member of St. Patrick's Parish, joins Bishop Joensen and Jean Thill to share her story:
Raised in a Melkite (Byzantine) Christian family in Jordan, Dr. Marar became Catholic after marrying her husband, also a physician.

She and her husband came to the U.S. on a J-1 visa, serving an underserved community in Oakland, Iowa, before settling in Council Bluffs, where they've raised five children.

Dr. Marar describes how she integrates faith into her medical practice, encouraging patients toward prayer and the sacraments alongside clinical care.

She shares the story of how she overcame cultural hesitation about touching the Eucharist as a woman, describing a conversation with Bishop Joensen that helped affirm her call.

After training with a fellow parishioner, Dr. Marar began a weekly ministry distributing Holy Communion to patients at Mercy Hospital and later Methodist Hospital in Council Bluffs.
This episode is sponsored by Serra Vocations Ministry of Council Bluffs and Des Moines, supporting vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Learn more at Serra Vocations Ministry.

#MakingItPersonal #BishopJoensen #CatholicPodcast #IowaCatholicRadio #CouncilBluffs #DiocsseOfDesMoines #CatholicFaith #Eucharist #EucharisticMinister #CatholicDoctor #FaithAndMedicine #OurLadyOfGuadalupe #PilgrimMother #BikingForBabies #CatholicNews #SaintPatricksChurch #CatholicConversion #Evangelization #ProLife #SilvioBaez
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More from Iowa Catholic Radio:
Sunday Dive with Katie Patrizio
Man Up! with Joe Stopulos
Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson
The Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud Marr
Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce Riebe
Be Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián Moncada
Making it Personal with Bishop William Joensen
Faith and Family Finance with Gregory Waddle
The Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos

Liturgy & Devotions
The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith
The Daily Mass from St. Francis of Assisi
The Daily Mass from St. Pius X
The Daily Mass from St. Theresa
Sunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint John
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July 11, 2026Gen Z On Fire for Christ: Alexis & Elik Mattis on Alpha, Marriage, and the London Leadership Conference - 07/06/2026
Segment 1: Bishop's Opening Reflections & Diocesan Calendar
Bishop Joensen opens with reflections on the Feast of St. Benedict and shares news from around the diocese:
Celebrated a quinceañera Mass for seven young women at Sacred Heart Parish in West Des Moines

Biking for Babies National Ride (Northern Route): Wednesday, July 15 — Mass at 5:00 PM at St. Francis of Assisi Parish (7075 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines), followed by a freewill-offering dinner served by the Knights of Columbus. Learn more at bikingforbabies.com/national-ride

Catholic Charities Backyard BBQ: Thursday, July 16, hosted by the Buescher family

Archdiocese of St. Louis Bicentennial: Vespers Friday, July 17 at the Old Cathedral; celebratory Mass Saturday, July 18 at the New Cathedral

A birthday shout-out to Brian Werner of St. Luke Parish in Ankeny

A nod to the Feast of St. Kateri Tekakwitha on July 14
Segment 2: Meet Alexis & Elik — Iowa Roots
Both Alexis and Elik are native Iowans. Alexis grew up in Bettendorf (Quad Cities) and studied software engineering at Iowa State University before moving to North Carolina after graduation. Elik grew up in Johnston, joined the Air National Guard as a junior in high school, and now works in Command and Control Battle Management Operations in Des Moines, helping train fellow airmen.
Segment 3: A Cross-Country Love Story
The two reconnected through mutual friends after Alexis had already moved out of state, then spent a week together on a spring break trip to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. For their first official date, they each drove nine hours to meet halfway — in Bloomington, Indiana.
Segment 4: Elik's Conversion & Finding a Home Parish
After getting engaged, Elik decided to become Catholic and began talking with Father Chinna Devaraj, pastor of Saint Boniface Parish. That same night, Father Chinna invited him to an Alpha course already in session — and Elik says that's where he truly fell in love with the faith. The couple describes church-shopping around the West Des Moines/Grimes/Urbandale area before settling at Saint Boniface Parish in Waukee, drawn by its young families and lively music ministry.
Segment 5: What Is Alpha?
Alexis and Elik describe Alpha as a "beginner's course" in Christianity open to anyone — Catholic, non-Catholic, lifelong believer, or newcomer. At Saint Boniface, the program culminates in an Alpha Day Away, a one-day retreat (9:00 AM–4:00 PM) focused on prayer, community, and the Holy Spirit.
Segment 6: The Alpha Leadership Conference in London
Father Chinna invited the couple to represent Saint Boniface at the international Alpha Leadership Conference in London — an ecumenical gathering with roots in the Anglican Alpha movement founded by Nicky and Pippa Gumbel. There, they reconnected with Alpha's international leadership team, including Rick and Jason, who had previously visited Saint Boniface for an Alpha Day Away. The couple reflects on what they learned about Gen Z's growing role in the Church's renewal, both abroad and at home.
Learn more about Alpha at Saint Boniface Parish at stbonifacechurch.org/alpha
Support for Iowa Catholic Radio and Making It Personal is provided by Serra Vocations Ministry. Learn more at JoinSerra.org
Making It Personal with Bishop William Joensen airs weekly on Iowa Catholic Radio and the Spirit Catholic Radio Network. Learn more at IowaCatholicRadio.com
#CatholicPodcast #AlphaCourse #MakingItPersonal #BishopJoensen #CatholicConversion #GenZFaith #SaintBonifaceWaukee #DioceseOfDesMoines #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicMarriage #Evangelization #HolySpirit #CatholicYouth #FaithJourney #AlphaLondon
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If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here!

More from Iowa Catholic Radio:
Sunday Dive with Katie Patrizio
Man Up! with Joe Stopulos
Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson
The Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud Marr
Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce Riebe
Be Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián Moncada
Making it Personal with Bishop William Joensen
Faith and Family Finance with Gregory Waddle
The Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos

Liturgy & Devotions
The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith
The Daily Mass from St. Francis of Assisi
The Daily Mass from St. Pius X
The Daily Mass from St. Theresa
Sunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint John
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July 04, 2026Newly Ordained Fr. Stan Asjes Shares the Joy of His Ordination, with Family Friend Fr. Frode Eikeness – 07/04/2026
Bishop Joensen and Jean Thill open on Independence Day, marking America's 250th anniversary and Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the lone Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. The Bishop remembers Father Dan Gaylor and Father David Smith of Shelby County and previews the upcoming candidacy rite at St. Patrick in Council Bluffs for Sean Daley. He then welcomes Fr. Stan Asjes, newly ordained for the Diocese of Des Moines, and Fr. Frode Eikeness of Oslo, Norway — the priest whose friendship with the Asjes family began over a quarter century ago in Stavanger, where Fr. Stan was born and baptized while his father served on a NATO assignment.
Fr. Asjes describes the overwhelming love he felt during his ordination, the lengthy acclamation, the anointing of his hands with sacred chrism, and the maniturgium presented to his mother. Fr. Eikeness then opens a window onto Catholicism in deeply secularized Scandinavia, citing Bishop Erik Varden's observation that, with little left to secularize, the only direction left is upward — pointing to rising adult baptisms and converts. He traces Norway's thousand-year Christian history, the legacy of Saint Olaf (feast day July 29), and the coming 1,000-year baptismal jubilee in 2030. Bishop Joensen connects the discussion to Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas and the Church's call to draw near to the wounds of humanity.
Fr. Asjes shares the joy of his first confessions, anointings, and Masses in his early days as a priest, including concelebrating with Fr. Eikeness. Fr. Eikeness reflects warmly on two wonderful weeks in America, a vibrant and countercultural Church, and a presbyterate of nearly eighty good and holy men. The conversation looks ahead to World Youth Day in Seoul, Korea, in August 2027.
Support for the show is provided by Serra Vocations Ministry — learn more at joinSerra.org.
Hear Making It Personal with Bishop William Joensen every week on Iowa Catholic Radio and at IowaCatholicRadio.com.
#MakingItPersonal #BishopJoensen #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicPodcast #Catholic #Priesthood #Ordination #Vocations #DioceseOfDesMoines #CatholicChurch #Norway #Catholicism #Faith #SaintOlaf #PopeLeoXIV #CatholicRadio #NewlyOrdained #SerraVocations
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More from Iowa Catholic Radio:
Sunday Dive with Katie Patrizio
Man Up! with Joe Stopulos
Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson
The Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud Marr
Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce Riebe
Be Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián Moncada
Making it Personal with Bishop William Joensen
Faith and Family Finance with Gregory Waddle
The Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos

Liturgy & Devotions
The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith
The Daily Mass from St. Francis of Assisi
The Daily Mass from St. Pius X
The Daily Mass from St. Theresa
Sunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint John
Want to support your favorite show? Click Here

Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ

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26min
June 27, 2026From Advertising to the Altar: A Homilist's Journey with Fr. Richard Veras - 06/27/2026
In this Full Show, Bishop William Joensen and co-host Jean Thill welcome Father Richard Veras, Director of Pastoral Formation and associate professor of homiletics at Saint Joseph's Seminary in Dunwoodie, New York. Father Veras was in the Diocese of Des Moines for the ordination to the transitional diaconate of Luke Moen, a seminarian he is helping to form, and he shares the spiritual depth behind decades of preaching, teaching, and writing.
Bishop Joensen's opening reflections:
Recent ordinations across the diocese, including Deacon Luke Moen's transitional diaconate and the priestly ordination of Father Stan at the Cathedral of Saint Ambrose. Father Stan, warmly supported by his home Basilica Parish, begins his ministry at Saint Patrick's in Council Bluffs under first pastor Father Joel McNeil — greeted by a bus of fifty parishioners.

The local Biking for Babies ride, starting from Saint Luke's and following the High Trestle Trail to Woodward and back, supporting InnerVisions, Martha's House of Hope, Ruth's Harbor, and Agape. To sponsor a rider or give to these central Iowa pregnancy resource centers, visit bikingforbabies.com.

The close of confirmation season — including Saint Theresa's 75th anniversary Mass and confirmation at Saint Mary's in Hamburg — and the nation's upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations.
In conversation with Father Veras:
The art of preaching: why a homilist must "preach like himself" and find an authentic voice rather than a formal "preaching voice," and how literature and the humanities give a preacher a human heart.

An unexpected vocation: studying English at Hofstra, writing advertising copy for a toy company, and discovering — through the lay movement Communion and Liberation — that the parish priesthood was anything but "humdrum."

Forming the Des Moines seminarians in New York, where assignments in prison ministry, hospice at Calvary Hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Hispanic ministry at Saint Brendan's in the Bronx stretch and strengthen them.

Ministry at Ground Zero: Father Veras recalls September 11 from St. Joseph-St. Thomas on Staten Island and serving a shift at Ground Zero weeks later.

Magnificat and mentorship: writing for Magnificat since 1999, succeeding Father Peter Cameron as homiletics professor, and his latest book, The Word Made Flesh: Foreshadowed, Fulfilled, Forever.
Support for Iowa Catholic Radio and Making It Personal is provided by Serra Vocations Ministry. Learn more at joinSerra.org.
Learn more and listen to past episodes at IowaCatholicRadio.com.
#MakingItPersonal #BishopJoensen #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicPodcast #CatholicRadio #FatherRichardVeras #Homiletics #Preaching #CatholicPriest #Seminary #Vocations #Magnificat #DioceseOfDesMoines #CommunionAndLiberation #PriestlyFormation #CatholicFaith #Evangelization #StJosephsSeminary #Catholic #Faith
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If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here!

More from Iowa Catholic Radio:
Sunday Dive with Katie Patrizio
Man Up! with Joe Stopulos
Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson
The Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud Marr
Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce Riebe
Be Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián Moncada
Making it Personal with Bishop William Joensen
Faith and Family Finance with Gregory Waddle
The Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos

Liturgy & Devotions
The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith
The Daily Mass from St. Francis of Assisi
The Daily Mass from St. Pius X
The Daily Mass from St. Theresa
Sunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint John
Want to support your favorite show? Click Here

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June 20, 2026Faith That Crosses Generations: Inside Intergenerational Faith Formation with Jenni Lihs - 06/20/2026
This week on Making It Personal, Bishop William Joensen and co-host Jean Thill welcome Jenni Lihs, Director of Faith Formation at Saints John and Paul Parish in Altoona, for a conversation about intergenerational faith formation — a model the parish has been running and refining for 23 years.
Jenni traces her own path from ten years teaching preschool special education and a season at home raising her family to a "you didn't stand a chance" call into faith formation, rooted in a childhood love of Vacation Bible School and a formative TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) retreat. She explains how Saints John and Paul adopted the John Roberto intergenerational model more than two decades ago and how it has stayed faithful to its core while evolving season to season.
Highlights from the conversation include:
The monthly rhythm — the whole family gathers one Sunday and one Wednesday each month (the same program, repeated). Each gathering opens with supper, moves into prayer and an activity, sends kids to age-appropriate groups while the adults stay together, then reunites everyone for closing.

Community first — randomized table seating and gentle "getting to know you" icebreakers lower anxiety so families, including those new to the faith or with one non-Catholic parent, feel welcome learning side by side.

Parishioners as presenters — adults consistently say their favorite sessions are when fellow parents share from lived experience.

This year's theme: the parables — adults worked through eight parables (including the workers in the vineyard) at their own depth while children explored the same Scripture at theirs.

Year-round youth — youth groups begin in third grade to keep kids connected across the parish's many school districts, alongside catechists who often say they receive more than they give.
Jenni's encouragement for parishes considering this model: start small. Add a couple of simple family nights a year, keep the meal easy (hot dogs one month, pizza the next), and let community grow from the mustard seed.
Learn more about the parish and its faith formation programs at SSJohnPaul.org.
Around the Diocese of Des Moines, Bishop Joensen previews a full weekend: the Iowa March for Life at the Iowa Capitol, reflections tied to the nation's 250th anniversary, and Hispanic Leadership Institute graduation sending Masses — Saturday at 6:00 p.m. at St. Ambrose Cathedral and Sunday with the Corpus Christi cohort in Council Bluffs, plus the Hispanic Christian Family Movement Mass at Sacred Heart in West Des Moines. He also gives thanks for the transitional diaconate ordination of Deacon Luke Mohan of St. Francis of Assisi, and welcomes Jean's grandkids to the studio.
Hear Making It Personal with Bishop William Joensen every week on Iowa Catholic Radio and at IowaCatholicRadio.com.
Support for Iowa Catholic Radio and Making It Personal is provided by Serra Vocations Ministry. Learn more at JoinSerra.org.
#CatholicFaith #FaithFormation #IntergenerationalFaith #CatholicFamily #Catechesis #Discipleship #DioceseOfDesMoines #IowaCatholicRadio #BishopJoensen #MakingItPersonal #CatholicParenting #Parables #YouthMinistry #VacationBibleSchool #CatholicEvangelization
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You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website.
If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here!

More from Iowa Catholic Radio:
Sunday Dive with Katie Patrizio
Man Up! with Joe Stopulos
Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson
The Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud Marr
Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce Riebe
Be Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián Moncada
Making it Personal with Bishop William Joensen
Faith and Family Finance with Gregory Waddle
The Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos

Liturgy & Devotions
The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith
The Daily Mass from St. Francis of Assisi
The Daily Mass from St. Pius X
The Daily Mass from St. Theresa
Sunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint John
Want to support your favorite show? Click Here

Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ

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26min
June 13, 2026From Classroom to the USCCB: Faith, Formation & Family Life with Maria Parker – 06/13/2026
Bishop William Joensen opens the episode with reflections on a full week ahead — upcoming confirmations at Saint Mary of Boca and Saint Patrick Walnut, and a prayer of consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus inspired by the recent gathering of U.S. bishops. The prayer, available at usccb.org, is offered for listeners who may not have had the opportunity to join their parish for the consecration.
Upcoming Diocesan Events:
Ordination of Luke Mohan (from Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Grinnell College alum and former pole vaulter): Friday, June 19 at 5:00 PM at Saint Francis of Assisi — all are welcome.

Diaconate Ordination of Deacon Stan to the priesthood the following week at Saint Ambrose Cathedral.

Iowa March for Life: Saturday, June 20 at 1:00 PM at the Iowa State Capitol. Festivities begin one hour prior.
Guest: Maria Parker, USCCB Maria serves as Assistant Director of the Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. She grew up in Southampton, PA, formed by lay teachers at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish and later the Sisters of Saint Basil the Great. Her academic background includes an undergraduate degree in theology from Mount Saint Mary's in Emmitsburg, a master's in school counseling, and a doctorate in educational leadership — with dissertation research focused on lay formation in Catholic schools.
After serving as a FOCUS missionary and spending years in Catholic secondary education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Maria joined the USCCB in 2022. In her current role, she liaises with national youth organizations including the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) and supports the bishops' new framework for forming and mobilizing young Catholics.
Bishop Joensen and Maria also reflect on the Alpha Conference in London (May 2026), highlighting Alpha's ecumenical spirit, kerygmatic approach, and small-group model as a proven vehicle for parish evangelization. Maria enthusiastically recommends Alpha materials for parishes and dioceses and expressed willingness to help connect interested youth ministers with Alpha leadership.
Learn more about the Sacred Heart consecration prayer and other USCCB resources at usccb.org.
For Serra Vocations Ministry (episode sponsor): joinSerra.org
#CatholicRadio #MakingItPersonal #BishopJoensen #CatholicYouthMinistry #USCCB #CatholicEducation #AlphaProgram #SacredHeart #FaithFormation #IowaCatholic #CatholicFaith #Evangelization #FOCUS #NationalCatholicYouthConference #IowaMarchForLife #LayFaith #CatholicWomen #DiscipleshipMatters #SmallGroupMinistry #CatholicPodcast
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You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website.
If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here!

More from Iowa Catholic Radio:
Sunday Dive with Katie Patrizio
Man Up! with Joe Stopulos
Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson
The Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud Marr
Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce Riebe
Be Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián Moncada
Making it Personal with Bishop William Joensen
Faith and Family Finance with Gregory Waddle
The Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos

Liturgy & Devotions
The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith
The Daily Mass from St. Francis of Assisi
The Daily Mass from St. Pius X
The Daily Mass from St. Theresa
Sunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint John
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Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ

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June 07, 2026Building Communities of Belonging: A Conversation on Disability Ministry with Patty Origer – 06/06/2026
Bishop William Joensen and co-host Jean Thill welcome back Patty Origer — Evangelization and Catechesis team member and Disability Coordinator for the Diocese of Des Moines — for a wide-ranging conversation on disability ministry, belonging, and the spiritual dignity of every person.
Patty, who has served the diocese for over six and a half years, reflects on her personal calling to this work as the mother and longtime advocate of her son Jeremy, who has cerebral palsy. She shares highlights from her tenure, including:
Parish Advocates Program – Twelve parishes now have designated advocates who serve as local points of contact for disability-related needs, connecting parishioners with resources and raising awareness.
Sensory-Friendly Masses – Designed for individuals with intellectual, developmental, or anxiety-related disabilities, these Masses feature softer lighting, quieter music, and a more accommodating environment. A recent one at St. John's in Adel drew moving responses from attendees.
Night to Shine – Two diocesan parishes, Sacred Heart in West Des Moines and St. Mary's in Shenandoah, host this Tim Tebow Foundation-sponsored celebration for people with disabilities.
Caregiver Support & Mental Health Ministry – Patty helped launch caregiver support groups and mental health ministry resources across the diocese.
The ASK Resource Center (based in Johnston, Iowa) is a recommended resource for families navigating disability services, educational supports, and life transitions. Learn more at AskResourceCenter.org.
Upcoming Webinar: Accompanying Aging Populations Hosted by the National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD), this virtual summer intensive runs Monday, June 8 through Thursday, June 11, noon–3 PM CT. Topics include spirituality and aging, caregiving, dementia support, end-of-life care, mental well-being, and ministry of consolation. A Spanish-language option is available later in June.
Diocese of Des Moines affiliate discount code: 2026-AFFILIATE15 (15% off)

Clergy discount code available — email Patty at DMDiocese.org for the code (60% off for clergy)

Register and find the event link at DMDiocese.org under Events. https://www.ncpd.org/events/ncpd-summer-intensive-accompanying-aging-populations
For more on disability ministry in the Diocese of Des Moines, visit DMDiocese.org/disabilityministry
Learn more about Iowa Catholic Radio at IowaCatholicRadio.com

#DisabilityMinistry #CatholicChurch #BelongingNotJustInclusion #DiocesOfDesMoines #MakingItPersonal #BishopJoensen #CatholicRadio #SensoryFriendlyMass #NightToShine #CatholicCaregiving #FaithAndDisability #IowaCatholic #CatholicCommunity #AgingWithFaith #NCPDWebinar #InclusiveChurch #CatholicFaith #IowaChurch
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More from Iowa Catholic Radio:
Sunday Dive with Katie Patrizio
Man Up! with Joe Stopulos
Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson
The Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud Marr
Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce Riebe
Be Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián Moncada
Making it Personal with Bishop William Joensen
Faith and Family Finance with Gregory Waddle
The Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos

Liturgy & Devotions
The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith
The Daily Mass from St. Francis of Assisi
The Daily Mass from St. Pius X
The Daily Mass from St. Theresa
Sunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint John
Want to support your favorite show? Click Here

Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
...more
26min
May 30, 2026Confirmation Preparation and Discipleship with John Gaffney | Making It Personal with Bishop William Joensen - 03/30/2026
Bishop William Joensen and co-host Jean Thill welcome John Gaffney, Director of Evangelization and Mission for the Diocese of Des Moines, for an important conversation about preparing young people for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
John shares how a diocesan task force of pastors, parents, deacons, educators, and parish leaders prayerfully discerned the move toward sixth-grade Confirmation in Southwest Iowa. The discussion explores the cultural realities facing families today, the impact of the National Eucharistic Revival, and why earlier sacramental formation may better help young people encounter Jesus and remain connected to the Church.
Listeners will also hear how parents and sponsors will play a deeper role in the new discipleship-focused process, what the transition timeline will look like, and how the Diocese hopes to strengthen lifelong faith formation beyond Confirmation.
Plus, Bishop Joensen and Jean reflect on priest anniversaries, parish life, vocations, upcoming diocesan events, and the joy of Catholic community.
Learn more about the Diocese of Des Moines: Diocese of Des Moines
Listen to more local Catholic programming from Iowa Catholic Radio
#MakingItPersonal #BishopWilliamJoensen #JeanThill #JohnGaffney #Confirmation #CatholicConfirmation #CatholicParenting #Discipleship #Evangelization #DioceseOfDesMoines #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicPodcast #EucharisticRevival #CatholicFormation #Sacraments #CatholicFaith #CatholicChurch #YouthMinistry #CatholicFamilies #SouthwestIowa
Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations
LINKS
You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website.
If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here!

More from Iowa Catholic Radio:
Sunday Dive with Katie Patrizio
Man Up! with Joe Stopulos
Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson
The Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud Marr
Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce Riebe
Be Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián Moncada
Making it Personal with Bishop William Joensen
Faith and Family Finance with Gregory Waddle
The Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos

Liturgy & Devotions
The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith
The Daily Mass from St. Francis of Assisi
The Daily Mass from St. Pius X
The Daily Mass from St. Theresa
Sunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint John
Want to support your favorite show? Click Here

Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
...more
26min

FAQs about Making it Personal with Bishop William Joensen:

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The podcast currently has 320 episodes available.