Catholic Answers apologist Dr. Karlo Broussard joins Bo Bonner and Alexia Baker to close out his three-night Growing the Faith tour with practical advice on evangelization, apologetics, and answering tough questions about the faith. Dr. Peter Howard of the Fulton Sheen Institute previews the "Fulton Sheen: American Saint" conference and pilgrimage ahead of Archbishop Sheen's beatification, and Deacon Randy Kiel breaks down the Sunday readings for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Plus, headlines on Tropical Storm Bertha, RAGBRAI's final push toward Dubuque, an Iowa State Fair concert ticket giveaway, and news from the Diocese of Des Moines.
In This Episode Bo Bonner and Alexia Baker host a full Thursday show: Deacon Randy Kiel's weekly Sunday readings preview, a conversation with Dr. Peter Howard on Archbishop Fulton Sheen's upcoming beatification, and a sit-down with Catholic Answers apologist Dr. Karlo Broussard as he wraps his three-day Growing the Faith tour in Iowa. Father Nick Smith also offers the day's Gospel reflection.
Growing the Faith Tour Wraps Up in Pella Karlo Broussard's three-night Growing the Faith tour, presented with Iowa Catholic Radio, closes tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Saint Mary's in Pella with the talk "Salvation Unveiled: A Catholic Perspective in Dialogue with Protestants." Previous stops included Sacred Heart in Spencer and Holy Spirit Parish in Creston. Registration and event details are available at IowaCatholicRadio.com.
Fulton Sheen: Beatification, Conference, and Pilgrimage Archbishop Fulton Sheen will be beatified September 24, 2026, in St. Louis. On the eve of that Mass, Dr. Peter Howard's Fulton Sheen Institute is hosting the "Fulton Sheen: American Saint" conference, September 23 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac, featuring keynote speaker Arthur Brooks. Details and registration: FultonSheenConference.com. A companion pilgrimage led by Dr. Howard, Bishop Joseph Coffey, and Fr. Thomas Loya is also available: FultonSheenMovement.com.
Sunday Readings Preview Deacon Randy Kiel previews the readings for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (1 Kings 3:5, 7-12; Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 13:44-52), focusing on Solomon's prayer for wisdom and what it means to be conformed to Christ. Full readings: USCCB.org.
News, Sports, and Weather Tropical Storm Bertha is tracking toward East Texas; the FDA continues investigating a multi-state Cyclosporiasis outbreak; Chick-fil-A is notifying customers in Iowa of a June data breach; and the Iowa State Fair is a finalist in USA Today's Best State Fairs poll (voting open through July 26). RAGBRAI riders cover more than 83 miles from Marshalltown to Independence today, with the ride wrapping up in Dubuque on July 25. The Iowa Cubs are on the road in Gwinnett, and Des Moines can expect a sunny, 80-degree day with rain likely overnight.
Around the Diocese Fr. David Polich celebrates the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination this Saturday with a tour of parishes he's served across the Diocese of Des Moines, including St. Patrick in Perry and Our Lady of the Americas. Read more in the Catholic Mirror: dmdiocese.org.
Contests and Upcoming Events Enter now through August 9 for a chance to win a pair of tickets to see Rod Stewart (Aug. 14), Alabama (Aug. 21), or Josiah Queen (Aug. 23) at the Iowa State Fair Grandstand — enter at IowaCatholicRadio.com. The Christ Our Life Catholic Conference returns September 26-27 at Casey's Center in Des Moines: ChristOurLifeIowa.com. And Forge hosts a men's hog roast Friday, July 31, at Wills Family Orchard: myforge.org.
#CatholicPodcast #CatholicAnswers #KarloBroussard #FultonSheen #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicFaith #Evangelization #SundayReadings #CatholicNews