The Catholic Morning Show

Sunday Gospel Preview Alexia Baker sits down with Fr. Mike Mahoney for a look ahead to the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time — the multiplication of the loaves and fishes — and what it means to find true satisfaction in Christ alone.

Devotion to the Nine Choirs of Angels Jason Gale, VP of Content and Production at TAN Books, joins the show to discuss the newly translated Devotion to the Nine Choirs of Holy Angels by Rev. Henri-Marie Boudon — a rediscovered spiritual classic on why Catholics should cultivate devotion to the full angelic hierarchy, not just their guardian angel. Learn...

Bo Bonner talks with historian Dr. Robert Shaffern, professor of history at the University of Scranton, about his new book Peter of Galilee: Shepherd of the Early Church (Angelico Press). Shaffern explains what drew him back to Peter's story after decades of interest — including choosing "Peter" as his own confirmation name — and why he wanted to portray Peter as a working man with a business, a family, and elderly relatives to care for before he ever became the "Rock" of the Church. Drawing on Scripture, the Apostolic Fathers, and early Christian sources, Shaffern discusses how Peter's ordinary, human failings — and hi...

Jason Gale, VP of Content and Production at TAN Books, sits down with Bo Bonner to talk about Devotion to the Nine Choirs of Holy Angels: 12 Reasons for Veneration, a newly translated work by 17th-century French priest Rev. Henri-Marie Boudon. Gale walks through the three triads of angels — from the seraphim and thrones dedicated to contemplating God, to the dominions, virtues, and powers governing creation, to the principalities, archangels, and guardian angels assigned to guide us to heaven — and why Catholics should cultivate devotion to all nine choirs, not just their guardian angel. He also shares practical takeaways from the...

This Week's Gospel Matthew 14:13-21 (Cycle A) — the multiplication of the loaves and fish, proclaimed for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 2, 2026. Read the full Sunday readings from the USCCB: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080226.cfm

Fr. Mike's Reflection Fr. Mike Mahoney walks through the Gospel scene: Jesus withdraws after hearing of John the Baptist's death, but the crowds follow him anyway, and rather than sending them away hungry, he multiplies five loaves and two fish to feed them all — with twelve baskets left over. Fr. Mike reflects on that word "satisfied": how we often look...

Katie Warner has written and edited nearly twenty Catholic children's books, and her newest, Illustrated Catechism Stories, Volume One: Faith and the Creed, arrives October 27, 2026 from TAN Books. Warner and her family scoured the works of Reverend D. Chisholm — whose 1919 classic The Catechism in Examples has formed generations of Catholic readers — for their favorite, most impactful stories, then paired them with new illustrations by Leah Ballard and reflections connecting each tale back to the Creed.

Highlights from the conversation:

Deacon Randy Kiel — a Thursday regular on the show — stops by to celebrate some big news: his Catholic Mirror column, "Let's Get Psyched," earned an Honorable Mention in the 2026 Catholic Media Association's newspaper awards. Deacon Kiel, a permanent deacon at Christ the King Parish in Des Moines and a licensed mental health counselor who founded Kardia Counseling, explains how the column's title plays on both "getting psyched" and the Greek root of "psychology" — the study of the soul — reflecting his effort to integrate mental health and spirituality for readers.

Highlights from the conversation:

In This Episode

National Recognition: Dr. John Huynh Dr. John Huynh, Director of Social Justice for the Diocese of Des Moines and Catholic Charities, joins to talk about his Catholic Mirror column, Theology 101, which earned recognition in the 2026 Catholic Media Association awards. He shares how everyday moments — car rides, waiting in pa...

About This Conversation Before joining Iowa Catholic Radio's staff, Belle Marasco was a single mom of five who relied on the station to stay connected to her faith. Today, as Director of Business Development, she helps other listeners understand how their support keeps the mission going — and she joins Bo Bonner to talk through the many ways to give, with a special focus on legacy giving.

What Is Legacy Giving? Legacy giving means including Iowa Catholic Radio in a will or estate plan — whether that's a percentage of an estate, a specific dollar amount, or another planned gift...

About This Conversation Dr. John Huynh joins the show monthly, but this time Bo Bonner has extra reason to celebrate: Huynh's Catholic Mirror column, Theology 101, was recognized in the 2026 Catholic Media Association awards. As Director of Social Justice for the Diocese of Des Moines and Catholic Charities, Huynh brings both academic training and everyday accessibility to his writing on faith.

Theology 101: Finding God in the Ordinary Huynh explains that most of his column ideas come from the mundane moments of life — commuting, waiting for his kids, even sitting in silence. One recognized piece reflected on hope through th...

In This Episode

Our Lady of Guadalupe's Pilgrim Statue in Des Moines The life-sized "Pilgrim Mother" statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe is visiting Saint Ambrose Cathedral...

Meet First Encounter Band Emily Schmidt and Andy Baumert of First Encounter Band join the show to talk about the contemporary praise and worship group that grew out of First Friday Adoration nights at Saint Pius X in the fall of 2014. The band — Emily Schmidt (keys, guitar, lead vocals), Andy Baumert (bass), Pete Hack, Brian Warner, Carol Stark, Ryan Bettany, and Sean Finn (drums) — has since played events across the Diocese of Des Moines, including opening for Matt Maher at a Night Fire event in West Des Moines.

Catch Them Live at Faith and Family Day

Meet the Pilgrim Mother Statue Antonio Banuelos, who helps lead the Diocese of Des Moines' Office of Hispanic Ministry alongside his wife, introduces the "Pilgrim Mother" (Madre Peregrina) statue — a natural-sized sculpture of Our Lady of Guadalupe, complete with real hair and glass eyes, that has been touring dioceses worldwide ahead of the 500th anniversary of her 1531 apparition to Saint Juan Diego in 2031.

Where to See Her in the Diocese of Des Moines

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — Deacon Kelly & Maureen Stone Deacon Kelly and Maureen Stone join the show to explain Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), a religious formation approach rooted in Scripture, liturgy, and the educational philosophy of Maria Montessori. Rather than a textbook-based classroom, CGS uses an "atrium" — a quiet, prayerful space with hands-on materials designed for a child's developmental stage. Kelly and Maureen share moving stories of young children's relationships with Jesus, and preview a new Level 1 catechist training beginning Friday, September 11 at St. John the Apostle in Norwalk, with sessions running select weekends through February. The regi...

What Is Fit Shepherds? Fit Shepherds is a men's morning group at Epiphany Parish in Mason City that meets once a week for about a 20-minute workout — circuits of push-ups, sit-ups, jogging, kettlebell swings, and the occasional pickup basketball or soccer game — followed by prayer and fellowship. Their signature tradition is the "Burpee Rosary": one burpee for every Hail Mary. The local group was started by Colynn Black and Matt Grimmer with support from Fr. Jake Dunn, drawing inspiration from the national Fit Shepherds movement active in parishes across the country.

Why It Matters Colynn describes how the...

What Is Catechesis of the Good Shepherd? Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a religious formation approach for children built on Scripture and liturgy, delivered in an environment of silence, wonder, and prayer rather than a typical textbook or workbook setting. Instead of a classroom, children learn in an "atrium," using hands-on materials suited to their developmental stage — an approach rooted in the educational philosophy of Maria Montessori, one of Italy's first female physicians and the founder of the Montessori method.

Levels & Training

Becomi...

In This Episode

About This Conversation Jeff Lukich was born and raised Catholic in South Carolina but left the Church when he headed off to college at seventeen. Forty years later, on Christmas Eve 2022, he walked back into Mass and knew he was home. In this conversation, Jeff shares his return journey with Deacon Mark Campbell, the role of the Eucharist and Reconciliation in his reversion, how his wife's own conversion to Catholicism shaped their family, and practical advice for accompanying a loved one who has stepped away from the faith.

About the Book Jeff's book, The Long Way Home...

About This Conversation Katlyn Godwin joins Deacon Mark Campbell to share the story behind her memoir, Under the Fig Tree: God's Faithfulness in Every Season. At 29, Katlyn lost her husband, Riley, in a car accident in the Des Moines metro, leaving her a young widow and single mother. She talks candidly about walking through grief, discovering God's faithfulness in the darkest season of her life, and how that journey eventually led her into the Catholic Church, remarriage to her husband Luke, and a renewed sense of purpose helping other grieving widows.

Meet Katlyn in Person Katlyn will...

About This Conversation Ahead of Sunday's Gospel reading (Matthew 13:44–52, the parable of the pearl of great price), Fr. Dan Kirby joins Deacon Mark Campbell to help listeners prepare for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Fr. Kirby recalls a formative encounter from his seminary years at Conception Abbey: meeting Brother Dominic Maria Morgan, an elderly Benedictine brother and direct descendant of banker J.P. Morgan. A Harvard graduate with wealth, brains, and prospects, Brother Dominic walked away from a multi-million-dollar inheritance after converting to Catholicism and entering religious life — a living illustration of the Gospel's call to give up ever...

In This Episode Bo Bonner and Alexia Baker host a full Thursday show: Deacon Randy Kiel's weekly Sunday readings preview, a conversation with Dr. Peter Howard on Archbishop Fulton Sheen's upcoming beatification, and a sit-down with Catholic Answers apologist Dr. Karlo Broussard as he wraps his three-day Growing the Faith tour in Iowa. Father Nick Smith also offers the day's Gospel reflection.

Growing the Faith Tour Wraps Up in Pella Karlo Broussard's three-night Growing the Faith tour, presented with Iowa Catholic Radio, closes tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Saint Mary's in Pella with the talk "Salvation Unveiled...

Three Nights, Three Iowa Towns Karlo Broussard's Growing the Faith tour with Iowa Catholic Radio wraps up tonight, July 23, at 6:30 p.m. at Saint Mary's in Pella with "Salvation Unveiled: A Catholic Perspective in Dialogue with Protestants." Earlier stops included Sacred Heart in Spencer and Holy Spirit Parish in Creston.

What Evangelization Really Means Broussard describes evangelization as simply sharing your lived experience of Christ, and explains how leading with your own story — rather than an argument — breaks down psychological barriers in conversations about faith.

Practical Advice for Everyday Catholics Broussard offers guidance for listeners who...

About the Conference "Fulton Sheen: American Saint" runs September 23, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac Hotel — the day before Archbishop Fulton Sheen's beatification Mass on September 24. Register and find full details at FultonSheenConference.com.

Who's Speaking Keynote speaker Arthur Brooks, who wrote the foreword to Pope Leo XIV's encyclical on artificial intelligence, headlines a lineup of speakers whose lives have been shaped by Fulton Sheen's ministry.

The Pilgrimage Option A companion pilgrimage, led by Dr. Howard, Bishop Joseph Coffey, and Fr. Thomas Loya, includes conference access and beatification tickets. Le...

This Week's Readings Deacon Randy Kiel previews the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12; Romans 8:28-30; and Matthew 13:44-52. Full text of the readings: USCCB.org.

Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom God appears to Solomon in a dream and offers him anything he asks for. Rather than riches or long life, Solomon requests an understanding heart to govern God's people justly — and Deacon Randy unpacks why that request pleased God so much.

Romans 8 and the Catholic Understanding of God's Plan Deacon Randy addresses a commonly misunderstood passage, explaining how Catholic theology reads St. Paul's language of...

In This Episode Bo Bonner marks the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene and welcomes two guests: Catholic Mirror columnist Monica Pugh, celebrating a national award, and bestselling author Emily Jaminet, sharing five ways to keep Christ at the center of summer.

Monica Pugh: Catholic Mirror "On Prayer" Columnist Wins National Honor Monica Pugh, Director of Faith Formation at St. John the Apostle Parish in Norwalk, joins the show to talk about her "On Prayer" column for the Diocese of Des Moines' Catholic Mirror, which recently earned an honorable mention in the 2026 Catholic Media Awards. Monica shares the...

Episode Notes

About Emily Jaminet

5 Ways to Keep Christ at the Center of Your Summer

Episode Notes

About Monica Pugh

In This Interview

Youth Ministry with Chris Smith Chris Smith, Youth Ministry Coordinator at St. Francis of Assisi in West Des Moines, joins the show to unpack what makes youth ministry unique, how small groups help teens grow in faith together, and practical ways lay Catholics can support the next generation. Hear the full conversation in today's Chris Smith interview.

Growing the Faith Tour with Dr. Karlo Broussard Iowa Catholic Radio's evangelization tour rolls through three Iowa parishes this week — free and open to all, pre-registration encouraged:

Meet Chris Smith Chris Smith is the Youth Ministry Coordinator at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in West Des Moines, now a year into the role. He leads EDGE (grades 6–8) and FISH — Fellowship in Spirit with Him (grades 9–12) — the parish's two youth ministry programs.

What Makes Youth Ministry Different Chris explains why youth ministry is intentionally tailored to teens: giving them a say in the topics and hard questions they want to talk through, building small groups where they can be honest with each other, and helping every teen know they are loved by Jesus and not alon...

NFP Awareness Week with Dr. Gregory McKernan National Natural Family Planning Awareness Week runs July 19–25, 2026, timed each year to the anniversary of Pope St. Paul VI's encyclical Humanae Vitae (July 25, 1968). This year's USCCB theme, "Natural Family Planning: Designed by God. Guided by Love. Open to Life," lines up with Pope Leo XIV's July prayer intention for the respect and protection of human life. Dr. Gregory McKernan, a family medicine physician at Vitae Family Health Care in West Des Moines, explains why NFP isn't "Catholic birth control" — it's about restoring a couple's natural fertility and health using tools like the Crei...

Four Local Winners at the 2026 Catholic Media Awards Anne Marie Cox of the Diocese of Des Moines joins the show to celebrate four Catholic Mirror contributors recognized at the 2026 Catholic Media Awards, presented by the Catholic Media Association at its June conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey:

Cox ex...

Why NFP Isn't "Catholic Birth Control" Dr. Gregory McKernan, a family medicine physician at Vitae Family Health Care in West Des Moines, joins the show for National NFP Awareness Week (July 19–25, 2026) — timed each year to the anniversary of Pope St. Paul VI's 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae. Dr. McKernan pushes back on the idea that natural family planning is simply "Catholic birth control," explaining that a fertile body is a healthy body, whether or not a couple is trying to conceive. He walks through how Vitae evaluates and treats fertility for both men and women — including precise cycle charting, targeted hormone testin...

Newly Ordained: Fr. Thomas Kollasch on His First Weeks as a Priest In an encore interview, Fr. Thomas Kollasch — a Bancroft, Iowa native and member of Divine Mercy Parish — talks about being ordained a priest for the Diocese of Sioux City on June 27, 2026, by Bishop John E. Keehner at the Cathedral of the Epiphany, becoming the second diocesan priest Bishop Keehner has ordained. He reflects on his six-year formation journey (Bishop Garrigan High School in Algona, two years at the University of Iowa, seminary in Winona, Minnesota, and studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome), what surprised him...

A Breakout Catholic Voice Seph Schlueter has become one of the fastest-rising names in Christian music. His debut single "Counting My Blessings" topped multiple Billboard and Mediabase Christian radio charts, earned him the K-LOVE Fan Award for Breakout Single, and picked up multiple Dove Award nominations. In 2023 he signed with Provident Entertainment (Sony Music) in Nashville — all while continuing to serve as a Catholic missionary in Ohio. He shares a personal Iowa connection with guest host Sam Halligan: his father's parents were both born and raised in Dubuque, where they met.

Formed as a Missionary Before the re...

A Monthly Conversation on Canon Law Adam Storey, who works in canon law and marriage ministry for the Diocese of Des Moines, joins host Bo Bonner for his regular monthly segment on how Church law intersects with everyday life — this time turning to a timely topic: technology and artificial intelligence.

What Canon 212 Says About Communication Storey walks through Canon 212 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, which addresses the rights and duties of the faithful to communicate honestly and respectfully. He highlights three guiding principles that apply just as much to artificial intelligence and social media as to an...

Answering the Call of Matthew 25 Terry Herrman, president of the Board of Directors for Matthew 25 House, joins the show to talk about the Ames, Iowa ministry that helps formerly incarcerated men "imagine and embrace a new way of living through Christ-centered relationships that build a sense of belonging and self-worth." Terry shares how a chance conversation with a deacon at his church pulled him onto the board, what a typical week of volunteering looks like (6 a.m. devotions Monday–Friday, Saturday Bible study, and church integration for residents), and the moment that means the most to him: watching the me...

The Mission Matthew 25 House is a Christian outreach ministry in Ames that helps men transitioning out of the Story County Jail, halfway houses, or Iowa prisons. Its goal: to help formerly incarcerated men imagine and embrace a new way of living through Christ-centered relationships that build belonging and self-worth, breaking the cycle of recidivism that pulls nearly 70% of released men back to jail.

Terry's Story Terry Herman didn't set out to join the board — a deacon at his church asked him to fill in at a single board meeting, "and from that moment on, I was hooked." Un...

Save the Date: August 13–23, 2026 The Iowa State Fair returns to Des Moines for 11 days, celebrating America's 250th birthday with a "Fair Spirit" theme throughout the grounds.

Find Us at the Fair Stop by the Iowa Catholic Radio booth, just west of the Anne and Bill Riley Stage. Follow along on social media this week for the announcement of this year's Grandstand ticket giveaway.

2026's Top New Foods A panel of judges narrowed more than 80 entries down to three finalists for Best New Food, with fairgoer voting August 13–19 and the winner announced August 21:

Maria Benes: The 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage Comes Home Maria Benes, director of pilgrimages for the National Eucharistic Congress, joins the show fresh off the completion of the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, which wrapped up July 5 in Philadelphia after months on the road up the Eastern Seaboard. Timed to America's 250th anniversary, the pilgrimage began at the Our Lady of La Leche Shrine in St. Augustine, Florida — near the site of the first documented Mass in the United States — and continued through historic stops including a Eucharistic procession along Boston's Freedom Trail and a special blessing of the nation near the Wash...

Maria Benes, director of pilgrimages for the National Eucharistic Congress, sits down just after wrapping the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, a months-long journey timed to the 250th anniversary of the United States. The route began at the Our Lady of La Leche Shrine in the Diocese of St. Augustine — near the site of the first documented Mass in the country — and traveled north through the original colonies, including a Eucharistic procession along Boston's Freedom Trail and a special blessing of the nation near the Washington Monument over Corpus Christi weekend, before concluding over Fourth of July weekend in the Archdiocese of P...

Mary's Helping Hands started five years ago when two Sacred Heart moms noticed they had an abundance of gently-used baby items and wanted to get them directly into the hands of families in need. What began serving 67 clients in its first year has grown into an organization supporting thousands of Iowa households annually with maternity clothing, baby clothing sized newborn through 2T, and monthly essentials like diapers, wipes, shampoo, and lotion.

Tonia shares the story of Brooklyn, a young mother of three who found Mary's Helping Hands through a social media recommendation and has become one of...