Bo Bonner and Deacon Mark Campbell open Thursday on the Memorial of Saint Hildegard of Bingen, with Deacon Randy Kiel previewing Sunday's first and second readings from Isaiah 55 and Philippians. Cross Catholic Outreach President Michele Sagarino shares how Box of Joy is closing in on one million Christmas gifts delivered to children in poverty, and how groups can sign up as leaders before the October 30 deadline. Deacon Nicholas Elliott previews the Archdiocese of Dubuque's third annual Rural Life Mass at the Lichty Family Farm near Waterloo, plus Thursday news, Iowa Cubs and MLB scores, Friday night football, and central Iowa weather.
Bo Bonner and Deacon Mark Campbell open Thursday on the Memorial of Saint Hildegard of Bingen — the Sibyl of the Rhine, mystic, composer, herbalist, and correspondent of four popes, named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. Mass today at noon at Saint Patrick's in Corning (90.9 FM).
Deacon Randy Kiel returns for his weekly look ahead to Sunday's readings, walking through Isaiah 55's call to "seek the Lord while he may be found" and the summons for the wicked to turn to a generous, forgiving God — a passage he ties directly to the Lord's Prayer and to our obligation to reconcile with one another. He then turns to Philippians, written under house arrest as Saint Paul weighed his own death against unfinished work for the Gospel, closing on Paul's charge to conduct ourselves in a way worthy of the Gospel of Christ.
Michele Sagarino, president of Cross Catholic Outreach, joins to talk about Box of Joy with 99 days to Christmas on the clock. Michele explains how group leaders — parishes, Catholic schools, Knights of Columbus councils, and families — pack shoebox-sized Christmas gifts for children in eight countries, with a rosary and a story of Jesus added to every box at the clearing center. Cross Catholic Outreach provides the boxes and brochures; group leaders need to sign up by October 30 at BoxofJoy.org. Michele notes the ministry is approaching one million gifts since its 2014 launch, and that Iowa already has ten participating groups — she'd like to see fifteen. Cross Catholic Outreach is also marking its 25th anniversary, having provided close to $5 billion in aid across more than 90 countries: CrossCatholic.org.
Deacon Nicholas Elliott, co-coordinator of Rural Life Ministry for the Archdiocese of Dubuque, previews the third annual Rural Life Mass — Friday, September 18 at 10:30 a.m. at the Lichty Family Farm, 8110 Ansborough Ave, Waterloo, with a recognition program and free-will lunch to follow. Archbishop Thomas Zinkula will celebrate Mass and bless the seeds, the crops, and the animals. The Mass happens rain or shine, with a canopy added as a last-minute contingency. Deacon Nicholas also explains how the ministry connects farmers and rural families with spiritual, financial, and mental health resources in partnership with Catholic Charities. More at dbqarch.org/rural-life.
Also in this episode: Deacon Mark recaps a family faith night at Saint John the Apostle in Norwalk with Fr. Dan Kirby and director of faith formation Monica Pugh, and opens an invitation to any parish, Knights of Columbus council, altar and rosary society, or Catholic Daughters group that would like an Iowa Catholic Radio team member to come speak — reach out through IowaCatholicRadio.com.
Listen live weekdays at 7 a.m. Central on Iowa Catholic Radio, or catch up anytime at IowaCatholicRadio.com.
#CatholicMorningShow #IowaCatholicRadio #BoxOfJoy #CrossCatholicOutreach #RuralLifeMass #CatholicCharity #SaintHildegard #DowlingCatholic #CatholicPodcast #CatholicFaith