Bo Bonner and Deacon Mark Campbell open the show honoring country music legend Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday at 80, before Katie Patrizio previews Sunday's Gospel on Peter's first passion prediction. Retired Diocese of Sioux City priest Fr. Brian Hughes explains why church buildings are "sermons in stone," tracing architect William L. Steele's northwest Iowa churches, and Dr. John Huynh of the Diocese of Des Moines unpacks Pope Leo XIV's repeated calls for Christian unity amid polarization. It's Wednesday news, Iowa Cubs and MLB scores, and central Iowa weather on the Catholic Morning Show for August 26, 2026.
Bo Bonner and Deacon Mark Campbell open Wednesday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time, with Mass today at 5:30 p.m. at Saint Mary's in Greene (89.3 FM). It's also the feast of Our Lady of Częstochowa, the Black Madonna icon with deep roots in Polish Catholicism and a special devotion of Pope John Paul II, who visited the shrine four times during his pontificate.
The hosts pay tribute to country music icon Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday in Nashville at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer. They reflect on her nearly 60-year marriage to Carl Dean, her eleven Grammy Awards and more than 100 million records sold, her role in bringing country music to a national audience, and her lifelong, unapologetic Christian faith — recommending listeners seek out her gospel music, especially her rendition of "Power in the Blood."
Retired Diocese of Sioux City priest Fr. Brian Hughes joins to talk church architecture, explaining why buildings are sometimes called "sermons in stone" and how sacred architecture uses the things of the earth — stone, glass, iron, mosaic — to express the invisible realities of heaven. Fr. Hughes studied architectural history at the University of Virginia at the request of then-Bishop Lawrence Soens, focusing his research on Sioux City architect William L. Steele, and recommends a northwest Iowa church tour that includes the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City, Sacred Heart Church in Fort Dodge, Holy Name Church in Marcus, St. Joseph's Church in Milford, and the contemporary St. Patrick's Church in Estherville.
Katie Patrizio previews this Sunday's Gospel, Matthew 16:21-27 — Jesus's first prediction of his passion and Peter's rebuke, "Get behind me, Satan" — unpacking the wordplay between Peter as "rock" (Petros) and "stumbling block" (skandalon) just one paragraph after his confession of faith. Catch the full episode of Sunday Dive at SundayDive.com or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Dr. John Huynh, Director of Social Justice for the Diocese of Des Moines, returns for his monthly segment to unpack Pope Leo XIV's repeated calls for Christian unity, rooted theologically in the Trinity rather than uniformity. Dr. Huynh discusses how polarization turns people inward, and offers practical steps — recovering real conversation, deliberately maintaining relationships across divides, and choosing a "hermeneutics of charity" over suspicion. Learn more about diocesan events at DMDiocese.org.
Listen live weekdays at 7 a.m. Central on Iowa Catholic Radio, or catch up anytime at IowaCatholicRadio.com.
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