Author Maddie Cain shares the story behind The Gardener, a gentle Catholic picture book from The Little Rose Shop that helps families talk about miscarriage, child loss, and the hope of Heaven. Deacon Randy Kiel unpacks the readings for the Solemnity of All Saints, including the 144,000 in Revelation and what it means to be children of God. Nelcy Vargas of Catholic Charities explains the free, confidential domestic violence and sexual assault services available 24/7 across southwest Iowa.
Episode Notes Deacon Mark Campbell hosts this Thursday, October 29 edition of The Catholic Morning Show on Iowa Catholic Radio.
All Saints Day Readings with Deacon Randy Kiel Deacon Randy Kiel of Christ the King Parish in Des Moines previews the readings for the Solemnity of All Saints, Sunday, November 1, 2026: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14; 1 John 3:1-3; and Matthew 5:1-12a (the Beatitudes). He breaks down the biblical numerology behind the 144,000, why the white robes washed in the Blood of the Lamb point to our salvation, and how St. John answered the divisions and Gnostic errors of the early Church by calling believers to love sacrificially. Read along at USCCB.org.
The Gardener: A Picture Book for Miscarriage & Child Loss Former Iowa Catholic Radio team member Maddie Cain wrote The Gardener after her own miscarriage at seven weeks. Inspired by Mary Magdalene mistaking the risen Christ for the gardener, the story imagines Jesus as a loving Gardener who tends seeds before sending them to their families, while some remain in His garden. Maddie talks about grieving one child while expecting another, collaborating with her college roommate Raquel of The Little Rose Shop, and the hand-drawn, human-made illustrations by Catholic artist Jillian Chapman.
Domestic Violence Help from Catholic Charities Nelcy Vargas, Program Manager of Victim Services and Outreach for the Catholic Charities Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program, shares how the Council Bluffs–based program served 1,500 victims and survivors last fiscal year across nine southwest Iowa counties. Services include a 24-hour crisis line, an emergency shelter for men, women, and children, court advocacy, hospital response, and free support groups and classes. She also explains Purple Thursday, the national day of action that raises awareness and reminds survivors they are not alone.
Also on the Show
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Tomorrow: Fr. Maxwell Carson previews the Sunday Gospel at 7:00 AM.
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