Making it Personal with Bishop William Joensen

Bishop William Joensen, Jeanne Thill

Bishop William Joensen of the Diocese of Des Moines gets personal with his guests discussing both their personal and spiritual life.

  1. 5d ago

    Newly Ordained Fr. Stan Asjes Shares the Joy of His Ordination, with Family Friend Fr. Frode Eikeness – 07/04/2026

    Bishop Joensen and Jean Thill open on Independence Day, marking America's 250th anniversary and Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the lone Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. The Bishop remembers Father Dan Gaylor and Father David Smith of Shelby County and previews the upcoming candidacy rite at St. Patrick in Council Bluffs for Sean Daley. He then welcomes Fr. Stan Asjes, newly ordained for the Diocese of Des Moines, and Fr. Frode Eikeness of Oslo, Norway — the priest whose friendship with the Asjes family began over a quarter century ago in Stavanger, where Fr. Stan was born and baptized while his father served on a NATO assignment. Fr. Asjes describes the overwhelming love he felt during his ordination, the lengthy acclamation, the anointing of his hands with sacred chrism, and the maniturgium presented to his mother. Fr. Eikeness then opens a window onto Catholicism in deeply secularized Scandinavia, citing Bishop Erik Varden's observation that, with little left to secularize, the only direction left is upward — pointing to rising adult baptisms and converts. He traces Norway's thousand-year Christian history, the legacy of Saint Olaf (feast day July 29), and the coming 1,000-year baptismal jubilee in 2030. Bishop Joensen connects the discussion to Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas and the Church's call to draw near to the wounds of humanity. Fr. Asjes shares the joy of his first confessions, anointings, and Masses in his early days as a priest, including concelebrating with Fr. Eikeness. Fr. Eikeness reflects warmly on two wonderful weeks in America, a vibrant and countercultural Church, and a presbyterate of nearly eighty good and holy men. The conversation looks ahead to World Youth Day in Seoul, Korea, in August 2027. Support for the show is provided by Serra Vocations Ministry — learn more at joinSerra.org. Hear Making It Personal with Bishop William Joensen every week on Iowa Catholic Radio and at IowaCatholicRadio.com. #MakingItPersonal #BishopJoensen #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicPodcast #Catholic #Priesthood #Ordination #Vocations #DioceseOfDesMoines #CatholicChurch #Norway #Catholicism #Faith #SaintOlaf #PopeLeoXIV #CatholicRadio #NewlyOrdained #SerraVocations Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows: Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr. Fabian MoncadaCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonMaking It Personal with Bishop William JoensenMan Up! with Joe StopulosSunday Dive with Katie PatrizioThe Catholic Morning Show with Dr. Bo BonnerThe Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleWant 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.

    26 min
  2. Jun 27

    From Advertising to the Altar: A Homilist's Journey with Fr. Richard Veras - 06/27/2026

    In this Full Show, Bishop William Joensen and co-host Jean Thill welcome Father Richard Veras, Director of Pastoral Formation and associate professor of homiletics at Saint Joseph's Seminary in Dunwoodie, New York. Father Veras was in the Diocese of Des Moines for the ordination to the transitional diaconate of Luke Moen, a seminarian he is helping to form, and he shares the spiritual depth behind decades of preaching, teaching, and writing. Bishop Joensen's opening reflections: Recent ordinations across the diocese, including Deacon Luke Moen's transitional diaconate and the priestly ordination of Father Stan at the Cathedral of Saint Ambrose. Father Stan, warmly supported by his home Basilica Parish, begins his ministry at Saint Patrick's in Council Bluffs under first pastor Father Joel McNeil — greeted by a bus of fifty parishioners. The local Biking for Babies ride, starting from Saint Luke's and following the High Trestle Trail to Woodward and back, supporting InnerVisions, Martha's House of Hope, Ruth's Harbor, and Agape. To sponsor a rider or give to these central Iowa pregnancy resource centers, visit bikingforbabies.com. The close of confirmation season — including Saint Theresa's 75th anniversary Mass and confirmation at Saint Mary's in Hamburg — and the nation's upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations. In conversation with Father Veras: The art of preaching: why a homilist must "preach like himself" and find an authentic voice rather than a formal "preaching voice," and how literature and the humanities give a preacher a human heart. An unexpected vocation: studying English at Hofstra, writing advertising copy for a toy company, and discovering — through the lay movement Communion and Liberation — that the parish priesthood was anything but "humdrum." Forming the Des Moines seminarians in New York, where assignments in prison ministry, hospice at Calvary Hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Hispanic ministry at Saint Brendan's in the Bronx stretch and strengthen them. Ministry at Ground Zero: Father Veras recalls September 11 from St. Joseph-St. Thomas on Staten Island and serving a shift at Ground Zero weeks later. Magnificat and mentorship: writing for Magnificat since 1999, succeeding Father Peter Cameron as homiletics professor, and his latest book, The Word Made Flesh: Foreshadowed, Fulfilled, Forever. Support for Iowa Catholic Radio and Making It Personal is provided by Serra Vocations Ministry. Learn more at joinSerra.org. Learn more and listen to past episodes at IowaCatholicRadio.com. #MakingItPersonal #BishopJoensen #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicPodcast #CatholicRadio #FatherRichardVeras #Homiletics #Preaching #CatholicPriest #Seminary #Vocations #Magnificat #DioceseOfDesMoines #CommunionAndLiberation #PriestlyFormation #CatholicFaith #Evangelization #StJosephsSeminary #Catholic #Faith   Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows: Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr. Fabian MoncadaCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonMaking It Personal with Bishop William JoensenMan Up! with Joe StopulosSunday Dive with Katie PatrizioThe Catholic Morning Show with Dr. Bo BonnerThe Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleWant 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.

    26 min
  3. Jun 20

    Faith That Crosses Generations: Inside Intergenerational Faith Formation with Jenni Lihs - 06/20/2026

    This week on Making It Personal, Bishop William Joensen and co-host Jean Thill welcome Jenni Lihs, Director of Faith Formation at Saints John and Paul Parish in Altoona, for a conversation about intergenerational faith formation — a model the parish has been running and refining for 23 years. Jenni traces her own path from ten years teaching preschool special education and a season at home raising her family to a "you didn't stand a chance" call into faith formation, rooted in a childhood love of Vacation Bible School and a formative TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) retreat. She explains how Saints John and Paul adopted the John Roberto intergenerational model more than two decades ago and how it has stayed faithful to its core while evolving season to season. Highlights from the conversation include: The monthly rhythm — the whole family gathers one Sunday and one Wednesday each month (the same program, repeated). Each gathering opens with supper, moves into prayer and an activity, sends kids to age-appropriate groups while the adults stay together, then reunites everyone for closing. Community first — randomized table seating and gentle "getting to know you" icebreakers lower anxiety so families, including those new to the faith or with one non-Catholic parent, feel welcome learning side by side. Parishioners as presenters — adults consistently say their favorite sessions are when fellow parents share from lived experience. This year's theme: the parables — adults worked through eight parables (including the workers in the vineyard) at their own depth while children explored the same Scripture at theirs. Year-round youth — youth groups begin in third grade to keep kids connected across the parish's many school districts, alongside catechists who often say they receive more than they give. Jenni's encouragement for parishes considering this model: start small. Add a couple of simple family nights a year, keep the meal easy (hot dogs one month, pizza the next), and let community grow from the mustard seed. Learn more about the parish and its faith formation programs at SSJohnPaul.org. Around the Diocese of Des Moines, Bishop Joensen previews a full weekend: the Iowa March for Life at the Iowa Capitol, reflections tied to the nation's 250th anniversary, and Hispanic Leadership Institute graduation sending Masses — Saturday at 6:00 p.m. at St. Ambrose Cathedral and Sunday with the Corpus Christi cohort in Council Bluffs, plus the Hispanic Christian Family Movement Mass at Sacred Heart in West Des Moines. He also gives thanks for the transitional diaconate ordination of Deacon Luke Mohan of St. Francis of Assisi, and welcomes Jean's grandkids to the studio. Hear Making It Personal with Bishop William Joensen every week on Iowa Catholic Radio and at IowaCatholicRadio.com. Support for Iowa Catholic Radio and Making It Personal is provided by Serra Vocations Ministry. Learn more at JoinSerra.org. #CatholicFaith #FaithFormation #IntergenerationalFaith #CatholicFamily #Catechesis #Discipleship #DioceseOfDesMoines #IowaCatholicRadio #BishopJoensen #MakingItPersonal #CatholicParenting #Parables #YouthMinistry #VacationBibleSchool #CatholicEvangelization Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows: Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr. Fabian MoncadaCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonMaking It Personal with Bishop William JoensenMan Up! with Joe StopulosSunday Dive with Katie PatrizioThe Catholic Morning Show with Dr. Bo BonnerThe Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleWant 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.

    26 min
  4. Jun 13

    From Classroom to the USCCB: Faith, Formation & Family Life with Maria Parker – 06/13/2026

    Bishop William Joensen opens the episode with reflections on a full week ahead — upcoming confirmations at Saint Mary of Boca and Saint Patrick Walnut, and a prayer of consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus inspired by the recent gathering of U.S. bishops. The prayer, available at usccb.org, is offered for listeners who may not have had the opportunity to join their parish for the consecration. Upcoming Diocesan Events: Ordination of Luke Mohan (from Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Grinnell College alum and former pole vaulter): Friday, June 19 at 5:00 PM at Saint Francis of Assisi — all are welcome. Diaconate Ordination of Deacon Stan to the priesthood the following week at Saint Ambrose Cathedral. Iowa March for Life: Saturday, June 20 at 1:00 PM at the Iowa State Capitol. Festivities begin one hour prior. Guest: Maria Parker, USCCB Maria serves as Assistant Director of the Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. She grew up in Southampton, PA, formed by lay teachers at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish and later the Sisters of Saint Basil the Great. Her academic background includes an undergraduate degree in theology from Mount Saint Mary's in Emmitsburg, a master's in school counseling, and a doctorate in educational leadership — with dissertation research focused on lay formation in Catholic schools. After serving as a FOCUS missionary and spending years in Catholic secondary education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Maria joined the USCCB in 2022. In her current role, she liaises with national youth organizations including the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) and supports the bishops' new framework for forming and mobilizing young Catholics. Bishop Joensen and Maria also reflect on the Alpha Conference in London (May 2026), highlighting Alpha's ecumenical spirit, kerygmatic approach, and small-group model as a proven vehicle for parish evangelization. Maria enthusiastically recommends Alpha materials for parishes and dioceses and expressed willingness to help connect interested youth ministers with Alpha leadership. Learn more about the Sacred Heart consecration prayer and other USCCB resources at usccb.org. For Serra Vocations Ministry (episode sponsor): joinSerra.org #CatholicRadio #MakingItPersonal #BishopJoensen #CatholicYouthMinistry #USCCB #CatholicEducation #AlphaProgram #SacredHeart #FaithFormation #IowaCatholic #CatholicFaith #Evangelization #FOCUS #NationalCatholicYouthConference #IowaMarchForLife #LayFaith #CatholicWomen #DiscipleshipMatters #SmallGroupMinistry #CatholicPodcast Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows: Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr. Fabian MoncadaCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonMaking It Personal with Bishop William JoensenMan Up! with Joe StopulosSunday Dive with Katie PatrizioThe Catholic Morning Show with Dr. Bo BonnerThe Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleWant 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.

    26 min
  5. Jun 7

    Building Communities of Belonging: A Conversation on Disability Ministry with Patty Origer – 06/06/2026

    Bishop William Joensen and co-host Jean Thill welcome back Patty Origer — Evangelization and Catechesis team member and Disability Coordinator for the Diocese of Des Moines — for a wide-ranging conversation on disability ministry, belonging, and the spiritual dignity of every person. Patty, who has served the diocese for over six and a half years, reflects on her personal calling to this work as the mother and longtime advocate of her son Jeremy, who has cerebral palsy. She shares highlights from her tenure, including: Parish Advocates Program – Twelve parishes now have designated advocates who serve as local points of contact for disability-related needs, connecting parishioners with resources and raising awareness. Sensory-Friendly Masses – Designed for individuals with intellectual, developmental, or anxiety-related disabilities, these Masses feature softer lighting, quieter music, and a more accommodating environment. A recent one at St. John's in Adel drew moving responses from attendees. Night to Shine – Two diocesan parishes, Sacred Heart in West Des Moines and St. Mary's in Shenandoah, host this Tim Tebow Foundation-sponsored celebration for people with disabilities. Caregiver Support & Mental Health Ministry – Patty helped launch caregiver support groups and mental health ministry resources across the diocese. The ASK Resource Center (based in Johnston, Iowa) is a recommended resource for families navigating disability services, educational supports, and life transitions. Learn more at AskResourceCenter.org. Upcoming Webinar: Accompanying Aging Populations Hosted by the National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD), this virtual summer intensive runs Monday, June 8 through Thursday, June 11, noon–3 PM CT. Topics include spirituality and aging, caregiving, dementia support, end-of-life care, mental well-being, and ministry of consolation. A Spanish-language option is available later in June. Diocese of Des Moines affiliate discount code: 2026-AFFILIATE15 (15% off) Clergy discount code available — email Patty at DMDiocese.org for the code (60% off for clergy) Register and find the event link at DMDiocese.org under Events. https://www.ncpd.org/events/ncpd-summer-intensive-accompanying-aging-populations For more on disability ministry in the Diocese of Des Moines, visit DMDiocese.org/disabilityministry Learn more about Iowa Catholic Radio at IowaCatholicRadio.com #DisabilityMinistry #CatholicChurch #BelongingNotJustInclusion #DiocesOfDesMoines #MakingItPersonal #BishopJoensen #CatholicRadio #SensoryFriendlyMass #NightToShine #CatholicCaregiving #FaithAndDisability #IowaCatholic #CatholicCommunity #AgingWithFaith #NCPDWebinar #InclusiveChurch #CatholicFaith #IowaChurch Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows: Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr. Fabian MoncadaCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonMaking It Personal with Bishop William JoensenMan Up! with Joe StopulosSunday Dive with Katie PatrizioThe Catholic Morning Show with Dr. Bo BonnerThe Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleWant 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.

    26 min
  6. May 30

    Confirmation Preparation and Discipleship with John Gaffney | Making It Personal with Bishop William Joensen - 03/30/2026

    Bishop William Joensen and co-host Jean Thill welcome John Gaffney, Director of Evangelization and Mission for the Diocese of Des Moines, for an important conversation about preparing young people for the Sacrament of Confirmation. John shares how a diocesan task force of pastors, parents, deacons, educators, and parish leaders prayerfully discerned the move toward sixth-grade Confirmation in Southwest Iowa. The discussion explores the cultural realities facing families today, the impact of the National Eucharistic Revival, and why earlier sacramental formation may better help young people encounter Jesus and remain connected to the Church. Listeners will also hear how parents and sponsors will play a deeper role in the new discipleship-focused process, what the transition timeline will look like, and how the Diocese hopes to strengthen lifelong faith formation beyond Confirmation. Plus, Bishop Joensen and Jean reflect on priest anniversaries, parish life, vocations, upcoming diocesan events, and the joy of Catholic community. Learn more about the Diocese of Des Moines: Diocese of Des Moines Listen to more local Catholic programming from Iowa Catholic Radio #MakingItPersonal #BishopWilliamJoensen #JeanThill #JohnGaffney #Confirmation #CatholicConfirmation #CatholicParenting #Discipleship #Evangelization #DioceseOfDesMoines #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicPodcast #EucharisticRevival #CatholicFormation #Sacraments #CatholicFaith #CatholicChurch #YouthMinistry #CatholicFamilies #SouthwestIowa Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows: Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr. Fabian MoncadaCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonMaking It Personal with Bishop William JoensenMan Up! with Joe StopulosSunday Dive with Katie PatrizioThe Catholic Morning Show with Dr. Bo BonnerThe Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleWant 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.

    26 min
  7. May 23

    Body and Identity: A History of the Empty Self with Dr. Angela Franks - 05/23/2026

    On this episode of Making It Personal, Bishop William Bishop Joensenand Jeanne Tille sit down with Angela Franks, associate professor of theology at The Catholic University of America and author of Body and Identity: A History of the Empty Self. Together they explore: The modern crisis of identity and the “empty self” Social media, anxiety, and liquid identity The relationship between body, soul, and personhood Faith, philosophy, and the search for truth How Christianity shapes authentic human freedom Parenting, vocation, and discovering God’s call Dr. Franks also discusses how contemporary culture often separates identity from reality, why people feel increasingly disconnected despite constant self-expression, and how the Christian vision restores meaning, dignity, and purpose. Learn more about Dr. Franks and her work at:AngelaFranks.com Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows: Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr. Fabian MoncadaCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonMaking It Personal with Bishop William JoensenMan Up! with Joe StopulosSunday Dive with Katie PatrizioThe Catholic Morning Show with Dr. Bo BonnerThe Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleWant 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.

    28 min
  8. May 16

    Servant Leadership in a Distracted World with Dr. Dan Ebener - 05/16/2026

    On this episode of Making It Personal with Bishop William Joensen, Bishop Joensen and Jeanne Thill visit with leadership consultant, educator, and author Dr. Dan Ebener about the transformative power of servant leadership, emotional intelligence, and humble inquiry. Drawing from decades of experience working with churches, nonprofits, businesses, and dioceses, Dr. Ebener explains why the best leaders listen first, cultivate vulnerability, and create environments where people feel heard and valued. The conversation explores diocesan strategic planning, Pope Francis’ call to synodality, leadership in the modern Church, and the growing need for authentic human connection in an age shaped by technology and AI. Bishop Joensen and Dr. Ebener also reflect on: The importance of listening before leading How emotional intelligence shapes effective ministry Empathy, discipleship, and servant leadership The Diocese of Des Moines strategic visioning process Synodality and “conversations in the Spirit” Building trust and communion within the Church Learn more about Dr. Dan Ebener and his work at:https://www.danebener.com/ Learn more about Serra Vocations Ministry:https://joinserra.org/ Listen to more programs from Iowa Catholic Radio:https://iowacatholicradio.com/ #MakingItPersonal #BishopJoensen #DanEbener #CatholicLeadership #ServantLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #CatholicPodcast #IowaCatholicRadio #Synodality #CatholicChurch #LeadershipDevelopment #HumbleInquiry #CatholicLife #Discipleship #FaithAndLeadership #CatholicMedia #Vocations #CatholicConversations #PopeLeo #PopeFrancis Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows: Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr. Fabian MoncadaCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonMaking It Personal with Bishop William JoensenMan Up! with Joe StopulosSunday Dive with Katie PatrizioThe Catholic Morning Show with Dr. Bo BonnerThe Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleWant 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.

    27 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Bishop William Joensen of the Diocese of Des Moines gets personal with his guests discussing both their personal and spiritual life.

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