On this episode of The Catholic Morning Show, Deacon Mark Campbell welcomes Catholic author Patrick Novacosky to discuss his book 100 Ways Saint Pope John Paul II Changed the World, exploring the Pope's revolutionary legacy including his historic 1979 visit to Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa. Catholic convert and filmmaker Steve Ray then joins the show to unpack the difference between the Apostolic Fathers and the Church Fathers, sharing how reading those early Christian writings led him out of the Baptist faith and into the Catholic Church. Together, these conversations offer a rich dive into Catholic history, evangelization, and the enduring foundations of the faith.
Today's show features two compelling conversations rooted in Catholic history and evangelization. First, Patrick Novacosky — author of 100 Ways Saint Pope John Paul II Changed the World (Our Sunday Visitor) — joins Deacon Mark to reflect on the saint's transformative pontificate. The book, written to commemorate John Paul II's 100th birthday in 2020, is still selling strong six years later. Topics include how John Paul II revolutionized papal travel, his historic visit to Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa in October 1979 (which drew 350,000 people — still the largest gathering in Iowa history), his deep friendship with Saint Mother Teresa, his outreach to Russia and China, and his elevation of human dignity. Patrick's forthcoming book on the relationship between Saint Pope John Paul II and Saint Mother Teresa is expected this fall. Then, Catholic convert, author, and filmmaker Steve Ray joins the show from the road to discuss the Apostolic Fathers — the earliest Christian writers who personally knew or lived alongside the apostles. Steve shares how reading their writings convinced him to leave the Baptist faith and enter the Catholic Church. His documentary Apostolic Fathers: Handing on the Faith was filmed across five countries — Israel, the West Bank (Samaria), France, Italy, and Turkey — and is available at CatholicConvert.com. Steve also discusses a free printable timeline of the Apostolic Fathers available on the homepage of CatholicConvert.com. Notably, Steve highlights Ignatius of Antioch as the most impactful Apostolic Father, and shares that he and his group are leading a Saint Paul Cruise to the sites of the Apostolic Fathers this October. For more, visit IowaCatholicRadio.com or download the Iowa Catholic Radio app.
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