The Catholic Morning Show

Growing the Faith Tour with Karlo Broussard This July, Iowa Catholic Radio brings Catholic apologist Karlo Broussard to three Iowa cities for the Growing the Faith Tour, a three-night series exploring faith, happiness, and salvation: Tuesday, July 21 – Spencer Wednesday, July 22 – Creston Thursday, July 23 – Pella All three events are free; pre-registration is requested. Details, directions, and r...

Forge is a Des Moines-based Catholic men's movement with more than 50 small groups meeting across the metro area. Every six weeks, Forge hosts a large-group event to complement its ongoing small-group ministry — and this time, they're opening the door to significant others too. The Forge Hog Roast When: Friday, July 31, 6–9 p.m. Where: Wills Family Orchard, 33130 Panther Creek Rd, Adel, IA Cost: $...

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski is a Catholic author, lecturer, and longtime advocate for traditional liturgy. His new booklet, Ad Orientem: The Direction that Changes Everything , published by TAN Books, examines why the direction of worship — toward the East, symbolizing Christ — has shaped Catholic prayer since the age of the apostles. Highlights from the conversation: What ad orientem means: Priest and...

This Week on The Catholic Morning Show Bo Bonner, Alexia Baker, Brady Grimm, and Ayden Pugh welcome Deacon Mark Campbell into the studio for a full morning of Scripture, prayer, and practical faith formation. Sunday's Readings, Previewed Deacon Randy Kiel joins for his regular Thursday visit to walk through the readings for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (July 12, 2026) — Isaiah's rain-and-...

Sunday's Readings, July 12, 2026 – Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time First Reading (Isaiah 55:10-11): God's Word, like rain and snow, never returns to Him without accomplishing its purpose — a foreshadowing of Jesus as the Bread of Life. Second Reading (Romans 8:18-23): Saint Paul reflects on his own suffering and reminds us that present hardships are nothing compared to the glory to come, even as...

The Pope's Prayer Intention for July 2026 Each month, Pope Leo XIV releases a prayer intention through the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network, inviting Catholics worldwide to pray together on a specific theme. For July 2026, the intention is for the respect and protection of human life in all its stages, recognizing it as a gift from God. Bo and Alexia walk through highlights of the Pope's recorded p...

Closing Out the Ten Commandments Series Ed Van Buskirk, founder and president of If U Love Me, joins Bo Bonner and Deacon Mark Campbell to wrap up a ten-week series on the Ten Commandments with a call to action drawn from Matthew 28:19-20: go and make disciples, teaching others what Jesus has commanded. Practical Steps Ed Recommends: Test yourself: can you recite the Ten Commandments from memory?...

It's Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time, and host Bo Bonner is joined by Alexia Baker, Ayden Pugh, and Brady Grimm for a full morning of Catholic news, faith, and conversation on Iowa Catholic Radio. Summer Curiosity & Evangelization – John Gaffney John Gaffney, Team Director for Adult Evangelization and Leadership Formation for the Diocese of Des Moines, shares how the relaxed rhyt...

Bo Bonner interviews one of the newest priests in Iowa, Father Thomas Kollasch of the Diocese of Sioux City, ordained June 27, 2026. Becoming a Priest After Six-Plus Years of Formation — Fr. Kollasch describes the surreal, fulfilling experience of finally celebrating Mass and hearing confessions after years of anticipation. Small Town to Rome and Back — From Bancroft, Iowa, to the Pontifical North...

John Gaffney joins Bo Bonner for his monthly evangelization conversation on The Catholic Morning Show, this time exploring "Curiosity in the Summer Sun: How Summer Opens the Door for Evangelization." Curiosity as the Holy Spirit's Stirring — Whether it's a day trip to the Grotto, a domestic vacation, or a pilgrimage abroad, curiosity moves us — and Gaffney says that same curiosity about the person...

Two Ordinations, One Beautiful Calling This morning's show brings listeners inside two recent ordination celebrations shaping the future of the Church in Iowa. Hosts Bo Bonner, Alexia Baker, Ayden Pugh, and Brady Grimm welcome Deacon Joel Rogers and Catholic Messenger editor Dan Russo for back-to-back conversations on vocation, service, and the beauty of Holy Orders. Segment 1: Deacon Joel Rogers...

A Front-Row Seat to Holy Orders Deacon Joel Rogers sits down with Bo Bonner to reflect on his June 27 ordination to the permanent diaconate for the Archdiocese of Dubuque, celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Raphael in Dubuque. Rogers describes the liturgy as "the church on full display," beginning with a procession of nearly a hundred deacons and priests into a packed cathedral. Inside the Ordinat...

A Winding Road to the Priesthood Catholic Messenger editor Dan Russo joins Bo Bonner to share the story of Father Alfonso Pizano Jr., who was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Davenport on June 6 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Ordained at age 47, Pizano is a native of Bell Gardens, California, and a self-described "late bloomer" whose path to the altar wound through teaching, the Jesuits,...

Bo Bonner is joined by Alexia Baker, Ayden Pugh, and Brady Grimm for a full hour of faith, family, and community events across Iowa. Dr. John Cuddeback — The Intentional Household Dr. John Cuddeback, professor of philosophy at Christendom College since 1997, joins the show to discuss his new book, The Intentional Household: Living as if People Matter (Ignatius Press). Dr. Cuddeback traces how mode...

Ellen Miller and Marilyn Lane, co-founders and co-chairs of the Christ Our Life Conference, return to the show to preview this year's event: "Searching Souls," happening September 26–27, 2026 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. This year's lineup includes: Bishop William Joensen (Diocese of Des Moines) Bishop Manuel Espaillat — the Bronx's "rapper priest," now one of the youngest bishops in the U....

Dr. John Cuddeback, professor of philosophy at Christendom College since 1997, joins Bo Bonner and the team to talk about his new book, The Intentional Household: Living as if People Matter , published by Ignatius Press. Drawing on decades of teaching and his own experience raising a family, Dr. Cuddeback explains how modern life has gradually dismantled the household as the center of daily living...

Credits: Produced, Edited, and Mixed by Ayden Pugh, Alexia Baker, and Brady Grimm.   LINKS You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube! You can also find more information on our website. If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here!   Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows: - Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce Riebe - Be Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr....

From Missionary to Music Charts Sam Halligan sits down with longtime friend Seph Schlueter — Catholic singer-songwriter, worship leader, and founder of Damascus Worship, a ministry of the Damascus Catholic missionary community based in Columbus, Ohio. Seph's breakout single "Counting My Blessings" hit #1 on Christian radio, earned multiple GMA Dove Award nominations, and won the K-LOVE Fan Award f...

In This Episode Steve Ray on the Precious Blood of Jesus Author, pilgrimage guide, and Catholic convert Steve Ray — known to listeners as "Jerusalem Jones" — joins the show for his monthly visit to explain July's devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, observed on its feast day, July 1. Steve traces the biblical theology of blood sacrifice from the Passover lamb through Peter's first...

Steve Ray — author, pilgrimage guide, and host of Defenders of the Catholic Faith — joins Bo Bonner for his recurring monthly segment, this time on the Church's July devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, whose feast falls on July 1. Steve explains how the devotion, formally established for the universal Church by Pope Pius IX in 1849, connects the Old Testament's Passover sacrifice...

Fr. Daniel Adjei has served the Diocese of Des Moines since 2022, ministering at St. Francis, St. Joseph, and St. Teresa, followed by a temporary appointment at St. Pius X (2023–2025) and, most recently, St. Catherine's. Originally from the Sekondi-Takoradi diocese in Ghana, Fr. Daniel came to the U.S. in 2015 to pursue graduate studies in systematic theology at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh,...

On today's show , Bo Bonner leads two conversations at the heart of the Catholic intellectual and spiritual life — the renewal of authentic Catholic education and the witness of a future saint. Catholic Liberal Education Reborn — Fr. Dcn. Kyle Washut Fr. Dcn. Kyle Washut, president of Wyoming Catholic College , discusses his new introduction to the reprint of Truth on Trial: The Rise and Fall of t...

The Pilgrimage Dan Russo, editor of The Catholic Messenger (the newspaper of the Diocese of Davenport), invites listeners on the Catholic Messenger's Archbishop Fulton Sheen pilgrimage from Davenport to Peoria, Illinois. The Details Date: Thursday, July 24, 2026 (registration deadline July 15, 2026) Departure: Bus leaves St. Vincent Center in Davenport at 8 a.m.; you may also drive and meet the gr...

The Book Fr. Dcn. Kyle Washut, president of Wyoming Catholic College , wrote the new introduction to the reprint of Truth on Trial: The Rise and Fall of the Integrated Humanities Program at the University of Kansas, authored by Dr. Robert K. Carlson — founding dean of Wyoming Catholic College and a student and friend of John Senior. The reprint appears in The Adeodatus Series on Catholic Education...

Bo Bonner is back. After roughly six weeks away — including travel in the UK during the World Cup — Bo Bonner returns to the host chair alongside Alexia Baker, Brady Grimm, and Ayden Pugh on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. Segment 1 – The Value of Sports with Fr. Reed Flood. Dowling Catholic High School chaplain and Diocese of Des Moines assistant vocations director Fr. Reed Flood joins th...