Holy Apostles celebrates 25 years as Idaho Catholic parish

By Mary A. Wax

Holy Apostles, Parishioner

For the ICR

Those who are new to Idaho might think that the Holy Apostles community has been around for as long as Idaho has been a state (July 3, 1890, if you are interested).

But, while the parishes that united to create Holy Apostles were first formed in 1920 and 1944, Holy Apostles Catholic Church is still young in Catholic Church years. Dedicated on June 6, 2001, by Bishop Michael Driscoll (1999–2014), this Catholic community is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

The idea for Holy Apostles grew out of the mid-1990s priest shortage. There was a need for more priests to serve the expanding Idaho communities, and Bishop Tod Brown (1989–1998) decided on the creative solution of merging existing Catholic churches.

Combining parishes

Holy Apostles began as two separate parishes in two different towns: Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Meridian and St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Eagle. Holy Spirit commenced in 1944 under the direction of St. John’s Cathedral and was named Mother Frances X Cabrini Mission in 1946. The community was later renamed Holy Spirit Catholic Church in 1974, following a move to Cherry Lane and the construction of a new church building and rectory.

From left, Monsignor Falk, Father Tim Ritchey and Bishop Tod Brown are at the groundbreaking for Holy Apostles in 1998. (ICR photo/Archives)

Similarly, St. Matthew’s opened in 1920 as St. Mary’s Catholic Mission—a mission of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist—attaining status as a mission church in 1927. It was renamed St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in 1971 to avoid confusion with St. Mary’s in Boise.

Both parishes had vibrant, active and growing communities. However, when St. Matthew’s lost its pastor in 1998, there was no priest in the diocese to replace him. It was then that the proposal of merging the two communities came into play. Father Timothy Ritchey, pastor of Holy Spirit, was tasked with leading this new combined community. From 1998 to 2001, Father Tim and fill-in priests—Fathers Don Riffle, William (Bill) Dodgson and John O’Sullivan, and Monsignor Dennis Falk—helped one pastor serve two parishes.

The resulting merger became Holy Apostles Catholic Church (a nod to the Holy Spirit guiding the selection of St. Matthew as an Apostle). Property at the corner of Chinden Boulevard and Meridian Road was secured, the pastoral councils of both churches united, and plans began to bring the two Catholic parishes together.

As one can imagine, it wasn’t an easy process to unite Catholics from established communities. In fact, it was difficult. There were many duplicate ministries that needed to become one. Musicians, liturgical ministers and even staff members were taxed with the problem of “how?”

Bishop Michael Driscoll anoints the altar with Monsignor Wassmuth in the background. (ICR photo/Archives)

When the 10,000-square-foot nave opened, the pews hadn’t even arrived yet, but the people came. Folding chairs and lawn chairs were set up where the pews are today, and Masses began. The first Mass was celebrated at the Easter Vigil in 2001. The Easter weekend Masses, with Father Tim presiding, were accompanied by Deacons Ralph Flager, Jack Pelowitz, Charlie Rasmussen and Jerry Pera. Attendance at the Easter Vigil and the first Easter Masses averaged about 1,000 people at each of the three Eucharistic celebrations.

A unique crucifix

The sanctuary crucifix inside that nave tells a story of local history. John Muir, known as “Father of the National Parks,” gave Emile Grandjean (after whom Grandjean, Idaho, was named) a sequoia sapling from California. Emile planted it at what is now the northeast corner of St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center. The tree flourished and grew to be one of the tallest trees in Idaho. In the 1990s, the tree became diseased, and the top was cut off in an effort to save it. A log from the top part of the tree was obtained and crafted into the sanctuary cross. The corpus (Body of Christ) was sculpted in Italy to complete the uniquely Idahoan crucifix to be suspended above the altar at Holy Apostles.

Father Ben Uhlenkott was assigned as parochial vicar at Holy Apostles during Father Tim’s final year as pastor. In 2007, Father Len MacMillan was assigned as pastor of Holy Apostles. Father Ben was given a new assignment and Father Tim took a year-long sabbatical.

As a parting gift, Father Tim left Father Len with a significant advantage: a fully paid-off loan for the new 24-hour Adoration chapel and columbarium on the west side of the property. This meant the new pastor would not have to launch a capital campaign—at least, not immediately.

Parish grows

Under Father Len’s 14-year pastorate, the parish exploded along with the Treasure Valley. As homes were built, the population at Holy Apostles grew. What began as approximately 700 Holy Spirit families and 300 St. Matthew’s families today totals about 3,500 families. To put that in perspective, that equals around 14,000 individuals being served—from newborns to those over 100 years old. This growth required physical expansion.

To the left of the main church building of Holy Apostles Parish is the perpetual Adoration Chapel and columbarium. In the back is a garden with the Stations of the Cross. (Courtesy photo/Holy Apostles)

In 2014, church offices were remodeled after the St. Vincent de Paul food bank moved into a mobile unit on the east side of the property. More significantly, a Catholic school in Meridian—a long-held dream for parishioners—became a reality. St. Ignatius Catholic School opened its doors on Aug. 22, 2017.

The altar in the sanctuary at Holy Apostles holds a first-class relic of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. It gives one pause to realize that Mother Cabrini—who founded dozens of institutions, including schools and hospitals across the United States—is present through this relic in our very altar, perhaps even interceding for the mission of our own school nearby.

During Father Len MacMillan’s long tenure (2007–2021), Holy Apostles was often managed by him as the sole priest, supported heavily by a robust team of deacons and visiting priests. Eventually, Father Dat Vu was assigned as parochial vicar, followed by Father John Legerski.

In 2021, Father Len was transferred to North Idaho, and a new pastor was assigned to the largest parish in Idaho: Father Vitalis Onyeama of the Religious Order of Sons of Mary, Mother of Mercy (SMMM) in Nigeria.

St. Ignatius Catholic School, built in 2017, is the parish school for Holy Apostles. (Courtesy photo/Holy Apostles)

Father Vitalis has introduced the spirit of Nigerian Catholicism to Holy Apostles. By prioritizing a personal connection with parishioners and sharing his deep love for the Church, he carries forward the legacy of hospitality established by the original two communities. A hallmark of this welcome is the song from his home country that he taught the congregation, now sung each weekend as he greets guests: “You are welcome in the name of the Lord …”

Through further capital campaigns, he has successfully guided the building of a new rectory, the addition of classrooms and facilities to St. Ignatius Catholic School, and, still to come, the building of an outreach center that would include renovation of the St. Vincent de Paul section building with additional meeting space.

Today, under Father Vitalis, Holy Apostles has been served by three parochial vicars: Father Emmanuel Chinedu, SMMM (now pastor in eastern Idaho); Father Goodluck Ajaero, SMMM; and Father Roger Fernando, ordained in Sri Lanka. This summer, Father Benjamin Onyemachi, SMMM, is appointed the new parochial vicar as Father Fernando is retiring.

The rapid growth of Meridian stands as a testament to the shifting landscape of the Treasure Valley—and at its center is Holy Apostles Catholic Church. This well-grounded parish serves the people of Meridian, Eagle, Star, Middleton and Horseshoe Bend.

The 25th anniversary Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Peter F. Christensen at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 31.

Many thanks to Bob Frohwerk for his extensive parish history and parish timeline. You can read both in detail at holyapostlesmeridian.net/about/about-our-parish.