The Catholic Morning Show

Fr. Dan Kirby of St. John the Apostle Parish in Norwalk previews this Sunday's readings for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, the greatest commandment: love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. He explains why the first commandment still applies today, how possessions, pleasure, and politics can become our idols, and how the Mass, prayer, Scripture, the sacraments, and good...

Allison Franz and Tonia Martin of Mary's Helping Hands join Deacon Mark Campbell to preview the annual Born to Run 5K and 1-mile fun run, a timed race and family-friendly morning that supports moms, dads, and caregivers of young children across central Iowa. Race details: Saturday, November 14, at 9 a.m. at Confluence Brewing Company, 1235 Thomas Beck Rd., Des Moines. The 5K and 1-mile fun run sta...

Bishop Andrew Cozzens of the Diocese of Crookston, Minnesota, who chaired the historic 10th National Eucharistic Congress in 2024, the first in more than 80 years, joins Deacon Mark Campbell following the announcement that the 11th National Eucharistic Congress will return to Indianapolis in July 2029. Bishop Cozzens shares why the decision was a difficult one: organizers seriously considered othe...

Deacon Mark Campbell, Brian Egan, and Ayden Pugh close out the week on Friday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time, the Memorial of Saint John of Capistrano, the Franciscan preacher and patron saint of judges. Today's Mass is at 8:15 a.m. at St. John the Apostle in Norwalk. Fr. Dan Kirby of St. John the Apostle Parish in Norwalk previews this Sunday's readings for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordi...

Forty-seven years after St. John Paul II celebrated Mass on a hillside at Living History Farms, Fr. Greg Leach, a retired priest of the Diocese of Des Moines, shares his story. Fr. Leach discusses: His assignment that day: as a seminarian, he rehearsed carrying the papal staff up and down the steps, until a Vatican master of ceremonies placed him directly behind the Pope, landing him in photos he...

Deacon Mark Campbell welcomes Very Rev. David Esquiliano, rector of the Cathedral of the Epiphany, pastor of Cathedral Parish, and judicial vicar of the Diocese of Sioux City. Fr. Esquiliano discusses: What "Very Reverend" means: a title that comes with certain offices in the Church, like cathedral rector and judicial vicar, not personal merit His vocation story: growing up in a parish in southern...

Deacon Randy Kiel of Christ the King Parish, Des Moines, joins Deacon Mark Campbell to prepare for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Deacon Randy discusses: Exodus 22:20-26: God reminds Israel that they were once foreigners in Egypt, and that he rescued them so they could lead others to him Why "molest" here means deeply wounding another person's soul, and why God's "wrath" sounds like a parent pu...

It's Thankful Thursday on the memorial of St. John Paul II. Deacon Mark Campbell and Brian Egan reflect on gratitude in the midst of life's storms, share what they're thankful for, and remember the Pope who came to Iowa. In this episode: Sunday readings preview with Deacon Randy Kiel (Christ the King Parish, Des Moines) — In Exodus, God reminds his people where they came from and calls them to pro...

Katie Patrizio, director of faith formation at Saint Francis of Assisi in West Des Moines and host of Sunday Dive, joins Deacon Mark Campbell to talk about the growing number of people entering the Church through OCIA, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. Nearly every pastor and OCIA leader she talks with says this year's group is the biggest yet, and most inquirers at her parish are young...

Fr. Travis Crotty, vocations director for the Diocese of Sioux City, joins Deacon Mark Campbell from his new assignment as parochial administrator of St. Patrick Parish in Estherville, Holy Family Parish in Emmetsburg, and Immaculate Conception Parish in Graettinger. With Fr. Crotty and Fr. Shane Deman, the diocese's director of seminarians, both now leading parishes, the vocations office has adde...

Deacon Mark Campbell, Brian Regan, and Ayden Pugh open Wednesday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time on the Memorial of Saint Ursula and Companions, early martyrs venerated at Cologne. Today's Mass is at 8:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart in Melcher with Fr. Hoffman, who Deacon Mark crossed paths with last night as his group made a pilgrimage to Saint Francis of Assisi in West Des Moines, marking 800...

Deacon Mark Campbell welcomes Msgr. James Shea, president of the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, since 2009 and a priest of the Diocese of Bismarck. Msgr. Shea discusses: What's new on campus: 65 tuition-free scholarships, including the Nursing, Accounting, and Elementary Education Academies; the annual Day of Service, North Dakota's largest one-day volunteer event; and construction...

Bo Bonner talks with Elyse Risovi, a Dowling Catholic High School senior and member of the Student Philanthropy Council who serves on this year's Pancake Breakfast committee. Elise discusses: What the Pancake Breakfast is and how ticket sales support Dowling Catholic clubs and activities Her four years helping with the event, including last year dressed as a pancake How much work goes on behind th...

Bo Bonner and Deacon Mark Campbell, with producer Brian Egan, open the show on the memorial of St. Paul of the Cross, founder of the Passionists. In this episode: Msgr. James Shea — University of Mary — The president of the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, shares what's driving growth on campus: 65 tuition-free scholarships, including the Nursing, Accounting, and Elementary Education...

For Respect Life Month, Maria Campbell joins her husband, Deacon Mark Campbell, for a heartfelt conversation about miscarriage, stillbirth, and how the Church can accompany grieving families. As many as one in five known pregnancies ends in miscarriage, yet few parents know what to expect or what options they have. Maria shares her own story, two miscarriages in 2002 and 2003 and a stillbirth at 2...

Deacon Mark Campbell and Brian Regan open Monday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time on the Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, and Companions, the French Jesuit missionaries martyred in North America between 1642 and 1649. Deacon Mark begins by leading prayer for Fr. Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, a Redemptorist priest and pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Guayaquil,...

Bo Bonner talks with Danny Akright, director of communications for Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity, about the Pope Leo Village build. Bishop William Joensen blessed the site in April, and walls for six new affordable homes go up on Tuesday in Des Moines' River Bend neighborhood. Danny discusses: How one anonymous donor, inspired by the start of Pope Leo XIV's papacy, launched Pope Leo Vill...

The St. Thomas More Center in Panora is home to Catholic Youth Camp, but its mission of forming missionary disciples runs year-round. Gigi Wilwerding, the center's first full-time retreat coordinator, joins Deacon Mark Campbell to talk about the retreats it hosts on campus and brings to parishes. Gigi discusses: What "retreat life" means, and why stepping away from the phone is a skill young peopl...

Deacon Mark Campbell welcomes Deacon David Penton of Divine Mercy Catholic Parish, based in Algona and spanning seven churches across Kossuth County and West Bend. Deacon Dave also serves as Coordinator of Formation for the Office of the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Sioux City, after years of teaching high school theology. Preparing for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 18), he ex...

Bo Bonner is back in the studio with Deacon Mark Campbell and producer Brian Egan to close out the week on the memorial of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Apostle of the Sacred Heart. In this episode: Deacon David Penton — Sunday Gospel reflection (Divine Mercy Catholic Parish, Algona; Coordinator of Formation for the Permanent Diaconate, Diocese of Sioux City) — The coin bears Caesar's image, but we...

Deacon Mark Campbell welcomes Dr. Matthew Breuninger — the author whose book helped Deacon Mark through a season of healing — ahead of his talk for the Catholic Medical Association St. Pius X Guild's St. Luke Feast this Sunday, October 18, at St. Augustin Church in Des Moines. The event is free and open to the public, with a freewill offering. Dr. Breuninger, who holds a master's in theology from...

Less than three weeks after suffering a cardiac emergency on the way to a road game, Dowling Catholic freshman head coach Claude Wilkins joins Deacon Mark Campbell to share his story. Coach Wilkins — 17 years on the Dowling staff, 15 as head coach at the freshman level — describes a game day that began like any other, the decision to invite athletic trainer Blake Willey to sit beside him at the fr...

Deacon Mark Campbell and Deacon Randy Kiel of Christ the King Parish in Des Moines prepare for Sunday, October 18 — the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Deacon Randy explores: Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 — God's surprising word to Cyrus of Persia, a pagan king anointed to free Israel from Babylon, and the reminder that all power comes from the one true God 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b — St. Paul, Silvanus, and Timoth...

On the memorial of St. Teresa of Jesus (St. Teresa of Ávila), Deacon Mark Campbell and producer Brian Egan bring you a show about healing, grace, and being chosen. In this episode: Sunday readings preview with Deacon Randy Kiel (Christ the King Parish, Des Moines) — Isaiah's prophecy of the pagan king Cyrus and St. Paul's encouragement to the Thessalonians reveal a God who chooses, anoints, and wo...

mily Jaminet joins Deacon Mark Campbell for her monthly visit to talk about turning busy homes into houses of prayer, especially during October, the Month of the Holy Rosary, as Pope Leo XIV encourages the faithful to pray the rosary every day. Emily shares the habits that have shaped prayer in her own family of seven children: setting a peaceful tone by dimming the lights and lighting a candle ne...