On this episode of Making It Personal, Bishop William Joensen and Jeanne Thill are joined by Catie Wilwerding, a senior at Dowling Catholic High School and a speaker at the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC). Catie shares her journey of faith, her leadership on the National Youth Advisory Council, and what it means for young people to live as protagonists of faith in today’s Church.

Catie reflects on her family’s strong Catholic foundation, her involvement in small-group faith formation, and her role in helping restart Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) retreats in the Diocese of Des Moines. She also recounts her powerful experience traveling to Ghana with Catholic Relief Services, where she witnessed the global Church in action and encountered Christ through service and solidarity.

Bishop Joensen offers reflections on Advent, discernment, vocation, and the importance of creating spaces where young people can encounter Christ through retreat, prayer, and accompaniment. This episode is a hopeful and encouraging look at how the Holy Spirit is at work in the next generation of Catholic leaders.

#MakingItPersonal #BishopJoensen #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicRadio #CatholicFaith #Advent #CatieWilwerding #NCYC #CatholicYouth #YoungCatholicLeaders #DowlingCatholic #YouthMinistry #TECretreat #FaithInAction #NextGenerationChurch

Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows:

• Be Not Afraid with Fr. PJ McManus
• Be Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr. Fabian Moncada
• Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson
• Making It Personal with Bishop William Joensen
• Man Up! with Joe Stopulus
• The Catholic Morning Show with Dr. Bo Bonner
• The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith
• The Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud Marr
• Faith and Family Finance with Gregory Waddle

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On this episode of Making It Personal, Bishop William Joensen and Jeanne Thill welcome Shelley Jerke, Manager of the Sobering Center at St. Vincent de Paul in Des Moines. Shelley shares how the center serves individuals struggling with alcohol or substance-related crises by offering a safe space, medical supervision, and connections to essential community resources. She explains how the center partners with local agencies, operates 24/7, and has already made a significant financial and human impact on emergency services and law enforcement.

Shelley also discusses the dignity-driven mission behind the work, the compassion of her medical team, and the powerful personal stories that reflect God’s grace at work even in moments of hardship. Bishop Joensen reflects on Advent themes of mercy, hope, and waiting on the Lord—connecting the spiritual season to the healing work happening at the Sobering Center.

#MakingItPersonal #BishopJoensen #SoberingCenter #StVincentDePaul #IowaCatholicRadio #CommunityCare #HopeAndHealing #AdventSeason #MercyInAction #CatholicRadio

Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows:

• Be Not Afraid with Fr. PJ McManus
• Be Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr. Fabian Moncada
• Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson
• Making It Personal with Bishop William Joensen
• Man Up! with Joe Stopulus
• The Catholic Morning Show with Dr. Bo Bonner
• The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith
• The Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud Marr
• Faith and Family Finance with Gregory Waddle

Want to support your favorite show? Click Here

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On this Feast of St. Nicholas, Bishop William Joensen and Jeanne Thill speak with Maria Campbell, founder of Miscarriage Ministry at the Basilica of St. John. Maria shares her deeply personal journey of losing three children—two early miscarriages and one stillbirth—and how the Lord transformed that suffering into a ministry of consolation and dignity for grieving families.

Together, they explore:

The distinctions between miscarriage and stillbirth

The emotional and spiritual impact on both mothers and fathers

Parents’ rights regarding the remains of their child

The importance of compassionate accompaniment

Parish and diocesan initiatives to support grieving families

The hope we find in Christ during seasons of loss

Maria offers practical insight into her ministry’s miscarriage support kits, burial resources, and her growing vision for dedicated “Little Souls” burial areas within the diocese.

This is a tender and hope-filled discussion for anyone seeking support after pregnancy loss or wishing to better minister to those who grieve.

#CatholicRadio #MakingItPersonal #BishopJoensen #CatholicFaith #Advent #HopeInChrist #CatholicFamilyLife

Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows:

• Be Not Afraid with Fr. PJ McManus
• Be Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr. Fabian Moncada
• Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson
• Making It Personal with Bishop William Joensen
• Man Up! with Joe Stopulus
• The Catholic Morning Show with Dr. Bo Bonner
• The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith
• The Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud Marr
• Faith and Family Finance with Gregory Waddle

Want to support your favorite show? Click Here

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.