Meet Brian Egan, the voice behind the news on The Catholic Morning Show, who shares how a prayer in Eucharistic adoration led him from a career in country radio to Catholic radio. Hannah Stetski and Carson of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Urbandale explain why their parish feels so alive, from family-centered faith formation to First Communion prep inspired by their patron saint. Plus moving listener testimonies and a Fulton Sheen minute during the Iowa Catholic Radio 2026 Fall Fundraiser, The Harvest is Abundant.
The harvest is abundant, and you can be one of the laborers! Text GIVE to 515-223-1150 or give online: https://www.iowacatholicradio.com/giving-options
Be one of the twelve: a gift of $25 a month for 12 months is less than a dollar a day, and it keeps Iowa Catholic Radio connecting people to Christ across all of Iowa.
It's the Iowa Catholic Radio 2026 Fall Fundraiser, "The Harvest is Abundant," from Matthew 9:37. Janelle Menz and Deacon Mark Campbell host this joyful hour with two in-studio conversations, listener testimonies, and a moment with Blessed Fulton Sheen.
IN THIS EPISODE
St. Pius X Catholic Church, Urbandale
Hannah Stetski (Mission Team Lead) and Carson (Young Disciple Ministry Coordinator) talk about how their parish is growing:
- Launching the faith formation year with The Rescue Project
- Moving faith formation from a classroom model to a family model so parents are formed alongside their kids
- First Communion preparation and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Why Pope St. Pius X matters to Iowa: he established the Diocese of Des Moines and lowered the age for First Communion
- Carson's conviction that young people aren't the future of the Church. They are the Church.
Meet Brian Egan, the Voice Behind the Morning News
Listeners have been asking who's reading the news on The Catholic Morning Show. Brian shares:
- His Catholic upbringing and years in country radio, from Randy Travis to George Strait
- The prayer he wrote in adoration in February asking for work aligned with his faith, and how Iowa Catholic Radio answered it soon after
- Collecting listener testimonies at the Iowa State Fair and the Christ Our Life conference
Listener Testimonies
Hear why listeners support Catholic radio, including Paul Mitchell (St. Augustine, Des Moines) on the ICR Men's Stag and Gala, Mark Chase (St. Cecilia, Ames) on Sunday Dive with Katie Patrizio, and Fr. Trevor Chicoine, rector of the Basilica of St. John, on his early ICR interviews as a seminarian in Rome.
A Fulton Sheen Minute
A listener named Jean made her gift in honor of the beatification of Blessed Fulton Sheen, so we closed the hour with 60 seconds of Archbishop Sheen on our dialogue with God.
COMING UP AND WAYS TO CONNECT
- Archbishop Thomas Zinkula of the Archdiocese of Dubuque joins us with communications director John Robbins in the 4 p.m. hour. Look for that episode in this feed.
- The ICR Women's Conference is coming up in January, along with more Growing the Faith tour stops.
- The refreshed Iowa Catholic Radio app includes a new design, CarPlay support, and adjustable playback speeds for Bible in a Year and Catechism in a Year. iOS updates automatically, and Android users can update on Google Play. Listen anytime at IowaCatholicRadio.com: https://www.iowacatholicradio.com/
- Women's Gathering: Saturday, November 14, at St. Edmond Catholic School in Fort Dodge. Cost is $30. Register: https://scdiocese.org/gathering
HOW TO GIVE
- Text GIVE to 515-223-1150 to receive a secure donation link
- Give online: https://www.iowacatholicradio.com/giving-options
- Call: 515-223-1150
- The on-air Fall Fundraiser continues through Friday, October 2.
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