Deacon Mark Campbell and Ayden Pugh open the first full week of October on the Memorial of Saint Faustina Kowalska with a recap of Iowa Catholic Radio's fall fundraiser and a Spam-filled cook-off with the Troops of Saint George. Austin Neal of Above + Beyond Cancer shares how Iowans facing a cancer diagnosis, and the caregivers who love them, can find free, evidence-based programs, lodging help, and real community. Plus Joe Stopulus previews Man Up, Pope Leo XIV's October prayer intention for mental health ministry, and Monday news, sports, and central Iowa weather.
Deacon Mark Campbell and Ayden Pugh open the week on the Memorial of Saint Faustina Kowalska, the Polish sister who received Our Lord's message of Divine Mercy and the "Jesus, I trust in you" image, with the Feast of Saint Bruno coming tomorrow. October is the month of the Rosary, and Pope Leo XIV's prayer intention this month is for mental health ministry, that it be established throughout the Church and help overcome the stigma faced by those with mental illness.
Deacon Mark recaps his weekend as a food judge at the annual cook-off for Troops of Saint George Troop 814 in Des Moines, where father-and-son patrols built entire meals around a secret ingredient: Spam. Fathers looking for a Catholic outdoor apostolate for their sons can find a troop (including Troop 2 in Ames and Troop 300 in the Cedar Rapids area) or start one at Troops of Saint George.
Deacon Mark and Ayden look back on last week's fall fundraiser, The Harvest Is Abundant: 261 gifts and $251,865 raised so far, highlights from guests like Curtis Brown, Dr. Stephanie Mohan and her son Deacon Luke Mohan, and Msgr. Larry Beeson and Fr. P.J. McManus. Iowa Catholic Radio is still short of its goal and a few matching dollars remain. Give by texting GIVE to 515-223-1150 or online at IowaCatholicRadio.com, where every fundraiser hour is also available on demand.
Save the date for the Iowa Catholic Radio Women's Conference, Saturday, January 23, 2027, at St. Boniface in Waukee, featuring Fr. Dan Reehil and Lisa Cotter. Tickets are $45 and include lunch; register at IowaCatholicRadio.com.
Joe Stopulus previews today's Man Up (Mondays at 9 a.m. on the Iowa Catholic Radio Network), an encore of his conversation with Very Rev. Trevor Chicoine, Vicar for Divine Worship for the Diocese of Des Moines and rector of the Basilica of St. John, on why the liturgy, its music, and its rhythms matter.
To close the show, Austin Neal of Above + Beyond Cancer talks about accompanying someone through a cancer diagnosis and the free support the West Des Moines nonprofit offers Iowans: 12-week evidence-based Optimal Living classes (yoga, meditation, cycling, hiking, and more), a hotel program for patients who travel 50 or more miles for treatment in Iowa, and community-building events. Above + Beyond Cancer celebrates 15 years at its Celebrate event on Thursday, November 12, at the Hilton Des Moines Downtown. Learn more at Above + Beyond Cancer.
Listen live weekdays at 7 a.m. Central on Iowa Catholic Radio, or catch up anytime at IowaCatholicRadio.com.
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