What Color Is Prayer on Your Family Calendar? - John Gaffney - 09/09/2026

John Gaffney, director of evangelization and mission for the Diocese of Des Moines, joins Deacon Mark Campbell for his monthly segment with a September challenge for Catholic families. As schedules reset around the school year — sports, dance, band practice, work, NFL season — John suggests a simple exercise: color-code the family calendar and see where faith actually lands. If it's out on the margins, that's the sign to move it. His answer is direct: schedule family prayer as priority one.John and Deacon Mark talk through the most common objection — "I don't have time to pray" — and why we make time for what we love. John shares his own habit of getting up a little early to start the day with Iowa Catholic Radio or a prayer app before the busyness begins, and why getting kids "hooked on prayer" changes the direction of a whole household.Asked who modeled that intentionality in his own life, John points to Joe and Evie Nemec, his and his wife's sponsor couple at the Basilica of Saint John — a couple in their nineties who taught him that hospitality means more than saying welcome. They kept checking in. That lesson still shapes how he looks around at Mass for the person sitting alone, the family that never comes to coffee and donuts, the neighbor who might just be waiting for an invitation.John closes with the question a mentor once turned back on him 30 years ago, and that he has carried ever since: as you go deeper in your faith, who is Jesus sending you to? Learn more about evangelization, catechesis, and adult faith formation at the Diocese of Des Moines.Heard on the Catholic Morning Show, weekdays at 7 a.m. Central on Iowa Catholic Radio. More at IowaCatholicRadio.com.#FamilyPrayer #CatholicFamily #Evangelization #HolyHabits #DioceseOfDesMoines #CatholicParenting #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicPodcast Credits: Produced, Edited, and Mixed by Ayden Pugh, Alexia Baker, and Brady Grimm. ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Catholic Morning Show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode — and if this one was worth your time, please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. It takes ten seconds and it's the single best way to help more people find the show. 🎧 LISTEN LIVE Catch The Catholic Morning Show live, weekday mornings on Iowa Catholic Radio. Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKSYou can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website.If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio:Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & DevotionsThe Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.