Bo Bonner and Deacon Mark Campbell open September on the Memorial of Saint Giles with Christ Our Life co-founder Marilyn Lane, who previews the ninth biennial Catholic conference coming to Casey's Center in downtown Des Moines September 26 and 27. The hosts also unpack Pope Leo XIV's surprise appearance on Vanity Fair's best-dressed list and what papal vestments actually signify, look at how the movie Top Gun: Maverick inspired a Catholic father-son camp, and close with an in-depth conversation on choosing godparents and what that relationship really asks of us. Plus Tuesday news, Iowa Cubs and MLB scores, a Dowling Catholic football preview, and central Iowa weather.
Bo Bonner and Deacon Mark Campbell open Tuesday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time on the Memorial of Saint Giles — the Athenian hermit who fled fame for the forests of France, was accidentally wounded by a king's huntsman, founded a monastery under the Rule of Saint Benedict, and is the only one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers who did not die a martyr. He's the patron saint of people with disabilities. Mass today at 8:30 a.m. from Sacred Heart in Osage (89.3 FM).
Christ Our Life 2026 with Marilyn Lane. Conference co-founder and co-chair Marilyn Lane joins the show to preview the ninth biennial Christ Our Life Catholic Conference, Saturday and Sunday, September 26–27 at Casey's Center (formerly Wells Fargo Arena), 233 Center Street in downtown Des Moines. This year's lineup runs global: Bishop Joseph Espaillat of New York, Charbel Raish of Australia (How Islam Led Me Back to Christ), Sister Medhin Tesfay of Tigray, Ethiopia, Fr. Robert Spitzer on near-death experience research, Chris Stefanick, Gabriel Castillo, Crystalina Evert, Fr. David Michael Moses, music missionary Steve Angrisano, and Mary's Meals founder Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow of Dalmally, Scotland. Bishop William M. Joensen preaches Saturday's homily and Bishop Espaillat preaches Sunday's. Marilyn explains the two-year lead time it takes to build a lineup like this, why the entire steering committee and board are unpaid volunteers, and shares the testimonial she's never forgotten — children, seniors, religious, converts and cradle Catholics from every walk of life worshiping together for two days. Tickets, speaker bios, the full schedule, and more testimonials at ChristOurLifeIowa.com.
Pope Leo XIV, best dressed. Bo and Deacon Mark dig into the news that Vanity Fair named Pope Leo XIV to its 2026 best-dressed list in the "Originals" category, citing his White Sox cap and white sneakers. The two talk through why a pope's clothing is prescribed rather than chosen, what the mozzetta actually is, how Leo's style compares to Pope Francis's and Benedict XVI's, and why vestments are worn for the sake of everyone else rather than the person wearing them.
Top Gun: Maverick and Catholic fatherhood. The hosts look at an EWTN News story on a D.C.-based youth ministry that built a weekend-long father-son camp around the movie Top Gun: Maverick, drawing on the mentorship bond between Maverick and Rooster — and they connect it to a local opportunity for men: Forge's evening with former Navy SEAL officer Sam Blair, Monday, September 14 at Smash Park in West Des Moines. Doors at 7:30 p.m., talk at 8 p.m., tickets $25 — MyForge.org.
Godparents. The show closes with an extended conversation on a role most Catholics have and few understand. Deacon Mark, who prepares couples for their children's baptisms, explains what the Church actually requires (one practicing Catholic sponsor as witness), what "practicing" really means, and why the widespread belief that godparents are legal guardians is a myth. Bo shares how, as a convert, choosing godparents meant asking someone to safeguard his children's Catholic faith. Both offer encouragement to godchildren whose godparents have drifted from the faith.
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