Deacon Mark Campbell welcomes Janelle Menz, Iowa Catholic Radio's new Director of Mission Growth, for her first appearance on the Catholic Morning Show since joining the team a little over a month and a half ago. Janelle grew up in Dubuque in eastern Iowa, graduated from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, and moved to central Iowa before a stint back near Benedictine — before most recently returning home to Iowa with her family.

Janelle traces her connection to Iowa Catholic Radio back to her years as a listener, when Fr. John Riccardo's homilies helped carry her through difficult seasons, including job changes. She jumped straight into the deep end in her new role, helping lead the "Growing the Faith" tour featuring Catholic Answers apologist Karlo Broussard through Spencer, Creston, and Pella — an experience she says confirmed how much communities outside Des Moines want the station to show up in person, not just over the airwaves.

As Director of Mission Growth, Janelle's focus is building relationships with parishes and communities throughout the state — from the Iowa Great Lakes region to Mason City to southern Iowa — bringing speakers, events, and a stronger local presence to places Iowa Catholic Radio hasn't been able to reach as consistently. She closes by reflecting on how becoming a wife and mother has deepened her understanding that a fruitful faith life starts with giving ourselves to God rather than simply asking what we get out of it.

Listeners with an event or community interested in connecting with Iowa Catholic Radio can reach Janelle directly at [email protected]. Watch for her at the Christ Our Life Conference this September (ChristOurLifeIowa.com) and at her home parish, St. Pius X, in Des Moines.

Heard on the Catholic Morning Show, weekdays at 7 a.m. Central on Iowa Catholic Radio. More at IowaCatholicRadio.com.

#JanelleMenz #IowaCatholicRadio #DirectorOfMissionGrowth #MeetTheTeam #CatholicRadio #CatholicEvangelization #GrowingTheFaith #CatholicPodcast

Credits: Produced, Edited, and Mixed by Ayden Pugh, Alexia Baker, and Brady Grimm.

ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Catholic Morning Show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode — and if this one was worth your time, please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. It takes ten seconds and it's the single best way to help more people find the show.

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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

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Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ

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Bo Bonner and Deacon Mark Campbell open the show on the Memorial of Saint Monica, with Mass today at 8 a.m. at Saint Mary's in Oskaloosa (95.7 FM).

As always on Thursday, Deacon Randy Kiel joins to preview this Sunday's Mass readings (22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time). This week's focus is the first reading, Jeremiah 20:7-9 — the prophet's raw, agonized complaint to God, "You duped me, O Lord" — which Deacon Randy unpacks as a picture of the consuming, purposeful fire of the Holy Spirit at work in a faithful life, even amid mockery and rejection. Full readings at USCCB.

Janelle Menz, Iowa Catholic Radio's new Director of Mission Growth, joins for her first on-air appearance. Originally from Dubuque and a graduate of Benedictine College, Janelle shares how Fr. John Riccardo's homilies drew her to the station as a listener, how she landed the new role after moving back to central Iowa, and her vision for connecting Iowa Catholic Radio to communities beyond the Des Moines metro — from the Iowa Great Lakes region to Mason City to southern Iowa. She points to this summer's "Growing the Faith" tour with Catholic Answers apologist Karlo Broussard (stops in Spencer, Creston, and Pella) as a glimpse of what's possible, and invites listeners to reach out at [email protected]. Watch for Janelle at the Christ Our Life Conference in September (ChristOurLifeIowa.com) and at her home parish, St. Pius X, in Des Moines.

The hosts also preview a relaunched Iowa Catholic Radio app arriving Monday, September 1 — iOS users will update automatically, while Android users will need to download the new version from the Android app store. The rebuilt app adds a full podcast library, an updated player, a live program schedule, the Sacred Music channel, and an easier-to-find Donate/Give button ahead of the station's fall fundraiser.

To close the show, Bo and Deacon Mark discuss why the Church asks the saints to intercede for us rather than praying to God alone, then turn to Saint Monica's own story — 17 years of prayer and tears for her son Augustine's conversion, and the well-known account of the bishop of Milan, St. Ambrose, telling her that "the son of these tears" could not be lost. They reflect on a noticeable shift in the prayer requests Iowa Catholic Radio collected in its prayer box at the Iowa State Fair this year — fewer petitions for a child's return to the faith, and more stories of health struggles and of prayers already being answered — and encourage listeners still carrying that particular grief to remain steadfast in prayer. Prayer requests can be sent any time to [email protected] or by text to (515) 223-1150.

Also in this episode: a first-time team member intro; the Iowa Catholic Radio booth's wrap-up notes from the fair; and tonight's Heartland for Kids benefit concert for Mary's Meals, 5:30–8:30 p.m. at Jasper Winery, 2400 George Flagg Parkway in Des Moines, featuring Nashville musicians Phoenix Mendoza, Josh Leo, and Kitty Steadman, with food from the Knights of Columbus and a free-will donation. More at IowaCatholicRadio.com. Forge's evening with former Navy SEAL officer Sam Blair is Monday, September 14 at Smash Park in West Des Moines (doors 7:30 p.m., talk at 8 p.m., tickets $25) — MyForge.org.

Listen live weekdays at 7 a.m. Central on Iowa Catholic Radio, or catch up anytime at IowaCatholicRadio.com.

#CatholicMorningShow #IowaCatholicRadio #SaintMonica #SaintAugustine #IntercessionOfSaints #JanelleMenz #DowlingCatholic #LittleLeagueWorldSeries #CatholicPodcast #CatholicFaith

Credits: Produced, Edited, and Mixed by Ayden Pugh, Alexia Baker, and Brady Grimm.

ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Catholic Morning Show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode — and if this one was worth your time, please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. It takes ten seconds and it's the single best way to help more people find the show.

🎧 LISTEN LIVE Catch The Catholic Morning Show live, weekday mornings on Iowa Catholic Radio. 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

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Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ

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Dr. John Huynh, Director of Social Justice for the Diocese of Des Moines, joins Bo Bonner for his monthly segment to explore why Pope Leo XIV keeps returning to the theme of unity — from his inaugural Mass in St. Peter's Square to a recent address at the Communion and Liberation gathering. Dr. Huynh distinguishes unity from uniformity, explaining that the theological model for unity is the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as distinct persons who are perfectly one. Genuine communion, he argues, requires real difference — not sameness masquerading as peace.

Dr. Huynh connects Pope Leo's teaching to Catholic social teaching on polarization, noting that division often reflects a wound in the human heart before it's a political problem: sin turns people inward, makes them quick to spot others' faults and blind to their own, and tempts believers to treat those who disagree with them as an "other" rather than a person made in God's image. He's careful to note this doesn't mean every position is equally true — but it does mean judging an idea is different from denying someone's dignity.

Practically, Dr. Huynh recommends three habits for healing division at the personal level: recovering the art of face-to-face conversation instead of arguing online; deliberately maintaining friendships that cross political and social lines; and adopting a "hermeneutics of charity" — assuming the best in others — rather than a hermeneutics of suspicion. Learn more about the work of the Diocese of Des Moines' Office of Social Justice and find upcoming parish events at DMDiocese.org.

Heard on the Catholic Morning Show, weekdays at 7 a.m. Central on Iowa Catholic Radio. More at IowaCatholicRadio.com.

#PopeLeoXIV #ChristianUnity #CatholicSocialTeaching #DioceseOfDesMoines #Polarization #Solidarity #CatholicPodcast #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicMorningShow #CatholicFaith

Credits: Produced, Edited, and Mixed by Ayden Pugh, Alexia Baker, and Brady Grimm.

ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Catholic Morning Show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode — and if this one was worth your time, please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. It takes ten seconds and it's the single best way to help more people find the show.

🎧 LISTEN LIVE Catch The Catholic Morning Show live, weekday mornings on Iowa Catholic Radio. 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

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Fr. Brian Hughes, a retired priest of the Diocese of Sioux City who studied sacred architecture, joins Bo Bonner and Deacon Mark Campbell to talk about the meaning behind church design. Fr. Hughes's own master's thesis in architectural history at the University of Virginia was titled "Sermons in Stone: The Ecclesiastical Design of William L. Steele," examining the Sioux City architect who designed a number of Catholic churches across northwest Iowa in the early 20th century. Fr. Hughes was drawn to the program at the request of then-Bishop Lawrence Soens, who wanted a priest equipped to guide the diocese's church construction and renovation projects.

Fr. Hughes explains the sacramental logic behind church architecture: just as the Church uses water, bread, wine, oil, and gesture to express invisible spiritual realities, so too can stone, iron, glass, and mosaic be crafted to "express the invisible realities of heaven." He traces how mid-20th-century church architecture, especially after World War II, often lost that sense of transcendence, and reflects on his own path — a teenage interest in architecture that led, after ordination, to formal study and eventually to coordinating the major renovation of the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City.

For listeners hoping to see this history firsthand, Fr. Hughes recommends a northwest Iowa church tour: the Gothic Revival Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City; smaller Gothic Revival churches in Remsen, Willey, and Roselle; William Steele's Sacred Heart Church in Fort Dodge, Holy Name Church in Marcus, and St. Joseph's Church in Milford; a Rambusch-designed church in Vail with windows depicting St. Anne; St. Mary's in Storm Lake, with stained glass and Stations of the Cross by Fr. Edward M. Catich, a Diocese of Davenport priest who founded the St. Ambrose University art department; and the contemporary 1960s-era St. Patrick's Church in Estherville. More on church architecture and design is available at LumenMedia.org.

Heard on the Catholic Morning Show, weekdays at 7 a.m. Central on Iowa Catholic Radio. More at IowaCatholicRadio.com.

#SermonsInStone #ChurchArchitecture #FatherBrianHughes #WilliamSteele #DioceseOfSiouxCity #SacredArchitecture #CatholicArt #CatholicPodcast #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicMorningShow

Credits: Produced, Edited, and Mixed by Ayden Pugh, Alexia Baker, and Brady Grimm.

ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Catholic Morning Show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode — and if this one was worth your time, please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. It takes ten seconds and it's the single best way to help more people find the show.

🎧 LISTEN LIVE Catch The Catholic Morning Show live, weekday mornings on Iowa Catholic Radio. 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

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Bo Bonner and Deacon Mark Campbell open Wednesday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time, with Mass today at 5:30 p.m. at Saint Mary's in Greene (89.3 FM). It's also the feast of Our Lady of Częstochowa, the Black Madonna icon with deep roots in Polish Catholicism and a special devotion of Pope John Paul II, who visited the shrine four times during his pontificate.

The hosts pay tribute to country music icon Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday in Nashville at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer. They reflect on her nearly 60-year marriage to Carl Dean, her eleven Grammy Awards and more than 100 million records sold, her role in bringing country music to a national audience, and her lifelong, unapologetic Christian faith — recommending listeners seek out her gospel music, especially her rendition of "Power in the Blood."

Retired Diocese of Sioux City priest Fr. Brian Hughes joins to talk church architecture, explaining why buildings are sometimes called "sermons in stone" and how sacred architecture uses the things of the earth — stone, glass, iron, mosaic — to express the invisible realities of heaven. Fr. Hughes studied architectural history at the University of Virginia at the request of then-Bishop Lawrence Soens, focusing his research on Sioux City architect William L. Steele, and recommends a northwest Iowa church tour that includes the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City, Sacred Heart Church in Fort Dodge, Holy Name Church in Marcus, St. Joseph's Church in Milford, and the contemporary St. Patrick's Church in Estherville.

Katie Patrizio previews this Sunday's Gospel, Matthew 16:21-27 — Jesus's first prediction of his passion and Peter's rebuke, "Get behind me, Satan" — unpacking the wordplay between Peter as "rock" (Petros) and "stumbling block" (skandalon) just one paragraph after his confession of faith. Catch the full episode of Sunday Dive at SundayDive.com or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Dr. John Huynh, Director of Social Justice for the Diocese of Des Moines, returns for his monthly segment to unpack Pope Leo XIV's repeated calls for Christian unity, rooted theologically in the Trinity rather than uniformity. Dr. Huynh discusses how polarization turns people inward, and offers practical steps — recovering real conversation, deliberately maintaining relationships across divides, and choosing a "hermeneutics of charity" over suspicion. Learn more about diocesan events at DMDiocese.org.

Listen live weekdays at 7 a.m. Central on Iowa Catholic Radio, or catch up anytime at IowaCatholicRadio.com.

#CatholicMorningShow #IowaCatholicRadio #SermonsInStone #ChurchArchitecture #PopeLeoXIV #ChristianUnity #DollyParton #DioceseOfSiouxCity #CatholicPodcast #CatholicFaith

Credits: Produced, Edited, and Mixed by Ayden Pugh, Alexia Baker, and Brady Grimm.

ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Catholic Morning Show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode — and if this one was worth your time, please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. It takes ten seconds and it's the single best way to help more people find the show.

🎧 LISTEN LIVE Catch The Catholic Morning Show live, weekday mornings on Iowa Catholic Radio. 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

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Mary Stastny, Iowa Catholic Radio's summer intern for two years running, joins Bo Bonner before packing up for her sophomore year at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. Mary walks through her daily work behind the scenes — recording and editing the station's podcasts, editing the daily Masses from Saint Theresa, Saint Pius, and Saint Francis, and serving as assistant producer to Ayden Pugh — and describes how a summer spent recognizing patterns in audio waveforms has sharpened her editing instincts.

A general communications major, Mary shares how her coursework (this year including photography, interpersonal communications, and Intro to Narrative) is shaping how she thinks about storytelling, truth, and communicating a good message well. She also reflects on how her time at the University of Mary has deepened her devotion to the Blessed Mother, including a recent pilgrimage — the university's "Charge of Champion" — to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion, Wisconsin, the only Church-approved Marian apparition site in the United States.

Mary will continue doing remote production work for Iowa Catholic Radio throughout the school year.

Heard on the Catholic Morning Show, weekdays at 7 a.m. Central on Iowa Catholic Radio. More at IowaCatholicRadio.com.

#CatholicRadio #BehindTheScenes #UniversityOfMary #CatholicMediaInternship #OurLadyOfGoodHelp #CatholicPodcast #IowaCatholicRadio #FaithAndMedia

Credits: Produced, Edited, and Mixed by Ayden Pugh, Alexia Baker, and Brady Grimm.

ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Catholic Morning Show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode — and if this one was worth your time, please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. It takes ten seconds and it's the single best way to help more people find the show.

🎧 LISTEN LIVE Catch The Catholic Morning Show live, weekday mornings on Iowa Catholic Radio. 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

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Bo Bonner and Deacon Mark Campbell open Tuesday on the Feast of Saint Louis IX, with Mass today at 8:30 a.m. at Saint Anthony in Knoxville (95.7 FM).

Deacon Mark Campbell, drawing on his own vow as a permanent deacon to pray Lauds and Vespers daily, walks through the history and structure of the Liturgy of the Hours — from its roots in the Temple in Jerusalem, through the Benedictine monastic tradition of praying eight times a day, to the streamlined 1970 reform still used today. He and Bo discuss Pope Leo XIV's recent call for families to bring the Liturgy of the Hours into their prayer life, and Bo shares how discovering the Psalms and the Church's ancient prayers helped shape his own conversion to Catholicism. For listeners who want to start praying the hours, the hosts recommend the Revised Grail Psalms commentary from the Benedictine Monks of Conception Abbey (translated by Abbot Gregory Polan), the free Universalis app, and physical prayer books available through Divine Treasures — with a new translation of the Liturgy of the Hours expected in 2027.

Before that, Bo and Deacon Mark reflect on a record-setting 2026 Iowa State Fair, which drew more than 1.2 million fairgoers over eleven days — shattering the 2024 record by more than 36,000 visitors, with four individual single-day attendance records and a record grandstand crowd despite Rod Stewart's canceled concert. The hosts unpack why the fair's growth points to a deeper human hunger for community and tradition, and thank the volunteers who staffed the Iowa Catholic Radio booth throughout the eleven-day run.

Summer intern Mary Stastny also joins the show before heading back to the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, to begin her sophomore year studying general communications. Mary reflects on two summers producing and editing for Iowa Catholic Radio, growing in her Marian devotion (including a recent pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion, Wisconsin), and what she's learned about telling truth well through story.

Listen live weekdays at 7 a.m. Central on Iowa Catholic Radio, or catch up anytime at IowaCatholicRadio.com.

#CatholicMorningShow #IowaCatholicRadio #LiturgyOfTheHours #PopeLeoXIV #IowaStateFair #CatholicPrayer #SaintLouisIX #DowlingCatholic #CatholicPodcast #CatholicRadio

Credits: Produced, Edited, and Mixed by Ayden Pugh, Alexia Baker, and Brady Grimm.

ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Catholic Morning Show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode — and if this one was worth your time, please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. It takes ten seconds and it's the single best way to help more people find the show.

🎧 LISTEN LIVE Catch The Catholic Morning Show live, weekday mornings on Iowa Catholic Radio. 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

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Bo Bonner and Deacon Mark Campbell open a new week on the Feast of Saint Bartholomew, with Mass today at 7:15 a.m. at Saint Francis of Assisi in West Des Moines (105.5 FM).

Catholic therapist Justin Derry joins the show to unpack the psychological benefits of confession — from grounding ourselves in the objective reality of God's mercy to using the sacrament as a model for reconciling our own relationships. Justin previews his talk at the second annual Mercy and Forgiveness men's retreat, open to any adult man, Saturday, September 19 at Saint Anthony Church in Hospers, beginning at 6:15 a.m. with the rosary, morning prayer, and Mass, followed by talks, adoration, confession, and lunch. More information and registration at Lumen Media.

Alexia Baker recaps eleven days at the Iowa State Fair, where she tried a slice of the nearly 80 new foods and drinks on offer for her "Where's Alexia" series, sharing behind-the-scenes looks at vendors like The Depot's dirty sodas and Campbell's corn dogs. Her top three: the Cajun Cluck and Chaos sandwich, the affogato at the Biscuit Bar, and the peanut butter and jelly corn dog. Catch the full video series and follow along at @iacatholicradio on Instagram and TikTok, and Iowa Catholic Radio on Facebook.

Also in this episode: a look back at Saturday's record-breaking single-day fair attendance of 30,654 people, with final 2026 totals expected to fall just short of 2024's all-time record of 1,182,682 fairgoers; first-day-of-school well-wishes for students across the Des Moines metro (Saint Luke the Evangelist in Ankeny starts Wednesday); and a lighthearted look at a San Diego man dressed as Darth Vader making the rounds at city council meetings to mock surveillance "flock camera" technology.

Listen live weekdays at 7 a.m. Central on Iowa Catholic Radio, or catch up anytime at IowaCatholicRadio.com.

#CatholicMorningShow #IowaCatholicRadio #Confession #MercyAndForgiveness #CatholicTherapy #IowaStateFair #WheresAlexia #SaintBartholomew #CatholicPodcast #BackToSchool

Credits: Produced, Edited, and Mixed by Ayden Pugh, Alexia Baker, and Brady Grimm.

ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Catholic Morning Show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode — and if this one was worth your time, please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. It takes ten seconds and it's the single best way to help more people find the show.

🎧 LISTEN LIVE Catch The Catholic Morning Show live, weekday mornings on Iowa Catholic Radio. 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

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Alexia Baker joins Bo Bonner and Deacon Mark Campbell to recap eleven days at the Iowa State Fair, where she launched a new social media series tasting her way through nearly 80 new foods and drinks for 2026. Alexia's top three picks: the Cajun Cluck and Chaos sandwich, the affogato at the Biscuit Bar, and a peanut butter and jelly corn dog. Along the way, she got behind-the-scenes looks at how vendors like The Depot (dirty sodas) and Campbell's (corn dogs) run their operations, and connected with fairgoers who followed the "Where's Alexia" series throughout the run.

Alexia reflects on how the series grew into something bigger than food reviews — a chance to build community and meet people where they are, echoing this year's record-breaking fair: Saturday alone drew an all-time single-day record of 30,654 fairgoers, with 2026's final attendance expected to land just behind 2024's all-time record of 1,182,682 fairgoers.

Catch the full "Where's Alexia" video series and follow Iowa Catholic Radio at @iacatholicradio on Instagram and TikTok, and Iowa Catholic Radio on Facebook. Find the Iowa Catholic Radio booth at the fair each year near the Bill Riley Stage.

Heard on the Catholic Morning Show, weekdays at 7 a.m. Central on Iowa Catholic Radio. More at IowaCatholicRadio.com.

#IowaStateFair #WheresAlexia #IowaStateFair2026 #StateFairFood #CatholicRadio #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicPodcast #DesMoines

Credits: Produced, Edited, and Mixed by Ayden Pugh, Alexia Baker, and Brady Grimm.

ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Catholic Morning Show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode — and if this one was worth your time, please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. It takes ten seconds and it's the single best way to help more people find the show.

🎧 LISTEN LIVE Catch The Catholic Morning Show live, weekday mornings on Iowa Catholic Radio. 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

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Bo Bonner and Deacon Mark Campbell wrap up a blessed week at the Iowa State Fair on the Memorial of Saint Pius X, patron of the Diocese of Des Moines, with Mass today at 8:30 a.m. at Visitation Parish in Stacyville (89.3 FM).

Making his first appearance on the show, Deacon Dan Rouse of St. Patrick's Parish in Cedar Rapids (Archdiocese of Dubuque) previews this Sunday's Gospel, Matthew 16:13-20 — Peter's declaration that Jesus is the Christ. Drawing on a 2023 pilgrimage to the site of Caesarea Philippi (Banias) in the Holy Land, Deacon Dan unpacks why Jesus chose a former pagan "Gate of Hell" shrine to declare that Peter is the rock on which he'll build his Church, and asks listeners not just who they say Jesus is, but why.

Dr. Ryan Allen, president of the FIRE Foundation of Northwest Iowa (Families for Inclusive Religious Education, also known as Ignite the Fire), shares how the birth of his daughter Sawyer, who has Down syndrome, sparked a mission to include students with disabilities in Catholic schools throughout the Diocese of Sioux City. Ryan explains the foundation's major grants (due each January, funding positions like interventionists and special-education resource teachers) and micro-grants (up to $1,500, available year-round for curriculum, technology, and staff training), and invites listeners to the 6th Annual Ignite the Fire fundraiser at a new venue — the Sioux City Distilling Company — on Wednesday, September 16 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tickets and more info at FIRE Foundation of NW Iowa.

Legendary Iowa Catholic Radio voice Mark Amadeo joins to mark a double milestone: 50 years of Iowa Catholic Radio and his own 45th season calling Dowling Catholic football. Mark previews a Dowling defense and offensive line loaded with Division I talent, breaks down the season opener — the Battle of West Des Moines against Valley at Valley Stadium, Friday, August 28, pregame around 6:20 p.m. and kickoff at 7 p.m. — and looks back on how the broadcast has evolved from press-box phone jacks in 1981 to today's internet and cell connections. Sponsorship opportunities for the Dowling broadcasts are still available; reach out to Mike at IowaCatholicRadio.com to learn more.

Also in this episode: a preview of Bishop Johnson's Making It Personal (airing Saturday at 8 a.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m.), featuring seminarians Duncan Kyle and Parker Corwin on their propaedeutic year of silent retreats, poverty immersion, and life without technology; and a lighthearted look ahead to The Uncommon Good's take on the rising belief in UFOs (UAPs) — including a new survey showing 54% of younger Americans are more inclined to believe in aliens after recent news coverage.

Listen live weekdays at 7 a.m. Central on Iowa Catholic Radio, or catch up anytime at IowaCatholicRadio.com.

#CatholicMorningShow #IowaCatholicRadio #IgniteTheFire #FireFoundation #DowlingCatholic #CatholicEducation #DownSyndrome #IowaStateFair #SaintPiusX #CatholicPodcast

Credits: Produced, Edited, and Mixed by Ayden Pugh, Alexia Baker, and Brady Grimm.

ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Catholic Morning Show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode — and if this one was worth your time, please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. It takes ten seconds and it's the single best way to help more people find the show.

🎧 LISTEN LIVE Catch The Catholic Morning Show live, weekday mornings on Iowa Catholic Radio. 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.