A feast of faith and gratitude: celebrating Father Pako's 15th anniversary

Father Francisco Godínez and his faithful companion, Chewy, before cutting the cake prepared by his parishioners in celebration of his 15 years as a priest. Much of the Corpus Christi community gathered to celebrate their pastor, Father Francisco Godínez, on his priestly anniversary. (ICR Photo/Vero Gutiérrez)

By Vero Gutiérrez

Assistant Editor

FRUITLAND — On Sunday, June 8, the Feast of Pentecost, the Corpus Christi community in Fruitland celebrated a grand event to mark the 15^th anniversary of the priestly ordination of their pastor, Father Francisco Godínez.

After the Eucharistic celebration, Father Godínez spoke about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which we receive from God to serve others. He also appealed to the community to be vigilant, as not only does God give us gifts, but the devil also tries to offer us his.

He urged us to be vigilant in rejecting these gifts, which seek to separate us from God's love. Through moments of Eucharistic adoration, we show Our Lord that we love him and want to spend all eternity at his side. Father encouraged everyone to spend more time in Eucharistic adoration.

After the Eucharist, the community held a surprise party for him. Most of the attendees were parishioners from Corpus Christi, as well as Hispanic-Latino and Anglo-Saxon people, and some parishioners from Saint Nicholas in Rupert, where Father Godinez was pastor before coming to his current parish.

The feast took place in the parish hall and was made possible by contributions from the community, who brought all kinds of dishes. The youth mariachi group Cantares de México entertained the guests for a couple of hours, and another musical group got everyone dancing at the end of the festivities.

Father Godínez is pictured with the young musicians of the Mariachi Cantares de México during the celebration. (ICR Photo/Vero Gutiérrez)

Father Francisco, as he is affectionately known, was ordained on June 10, 2010 by Bishop Michael Driscoll at St John the Evangelist Cathedral in Boise, Idaho. Originally from La Piedad, Michoacán, he came to Idaho in 2002 to train as a priest in this diocese.

He completed his philosophy studies at Conception Seminary College, graduating summa cum laude in 2005.

He has served at St. Pius X in Coeur d'Alene, St. Nicholas in Rupert, and Corpus Christi in Fruitland, where he is currently the pastor.

While serving as pastor at St. Nicholas in Rupert, he spent two years studying Canon Law at St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada.

He also serves as a judge for the Diocese of Boise's Canon Court. In 2023, he became a United States citizen in a ceremony held at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Boise, Idaho.