Upon This Rock

American artist John Bukaty grew up in Kansas City, yet he painted his way around the world and made his home in New Orleans. He has also traveled far in his faith life, including difficult challenges, recovery from addiction, strong friendships, and great inspirations, starting with his parents, Fred and Rita.He offers interesting insights for listeners to follow their heart and t

Father Don’s sisters, Joan and Veronica, join him on this podcast to recollect their early days growing up on a farm in western Missouri in a region with few Catholics. The sixth, seventh, and eighth children among eleven siblings were caught in the middle of older and younger family groupings that impacted them. The girls, now parents and grandparents, also speak about their hop

The Roling Family hails from the smallest of many small rural German Catholic settlements near Jefferson City, Missouri. Steve grew up there while incorporating religion with our human obligation to work for a better society; from learning political engagement while on the staff of a U. S. Senator and vice-presidential nominee in the 70s to being friends with our state’s governor

Jerry Anselmo’s life changed in September of 2008 when his son, Brian, suddenly died. He dedicates his remaining time on earth to advancing things his son did not have the chance to finish. Along with his wife, Mary Ellen, and their daughters, Julie and Lori, and a throng of friends, he honors Brian through the BMA Foundation that helps other kids, as well as their families and p

Jeff Angold and Kevin Connell have been friends since their early school days. Though they had different experiences, family backgrounds, schools, groups of friends, jobs, and activities, they stayed connected at every stage of life. After childhood, bachelorhood, fatherhood, and now enjoying the stage of being granddads, they offer commentary on what they learned from those who ga

Father Gerald Waris has been a priest for fifty-seven years. Growing up in Saint Joseph, Missouri, before the Second Vatican Council, he was nurtured by a loving family and parents who lived their faith both in praise of God and in outreach to the poor. His five parishes in the inner city, Northeast, Brookside neighborhood, KC Northland, and Cathedral in St Joseph broadened his sen

Father Greg Haskamp, pastor of Visitation Parish in Kansas City, reminisces about his upbringing, the priests who influenced him, his education, and his path to priesthood. He continues to grow and learn “on the job” through various assignments in culturally different parts of our local diocese.Returning as pastor to the two parishes in which he served decades earlier as a youn

Father Don reflects on the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony and how the church defines marriage, which is different from the way societies describe it as a civil union. Pope Francis makes this distinction when he suggests that church officials can bless people in civil unions, including same-sex unions, just as we bless children, grandparents, homes, vehicles, crops, animals, and many o

Tom Laughlin grew up in Omaha and was educated by Jesuits; after becoming a doctor, he and his wife moved to Kansas City to work and raise their children. Mike Kopp grew up in KC at Visitation Parish, where his father served as a deacon, and his mother nurtured her eleven children. These friends now straddle the generation before them when discipline, order, and respect reigned wit

Lane Lucas and Father Don discuss the church’s existence in our time, which is dominated by social media and online interactions. Lane served as a communications and marketing professional for the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese before doing the same for St. Charles Borromeo Parish in KC’s northland. He now performs this service for the Bishop Sullivan Center, which offers emerg