‘Your only love, your only treasure, is the Heart of Jesus’

Verbum Spei Brother Juan Vargas becomes an Acolyte and professes final vows

Bishop Peter presides at the Rite of Institution of Acolytes for Brother Juan at Verbum Spei’s Boise monastery, Our Lady of Ephesus. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham)

By Emily Woodham

Staff Writer

When Jesus told His disciples that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life (Jn 14:6), He was not allud­ing to something allegorical or obscure.

“He is not giving a set of directions, or some­thing you have to search for the meaning. Jesus is giving an invitation,” Bishop Peter Christensen said in his homily at the installation of Brother Joseph Vargas of Verbum Spei as an acolyte at the Monastery of Our Lady of Ephesus in Boise. “And how do we receive that invitation? Through the Eucharist.”

“Jesus wants to journey with us and be united to each of us through the Eucharist,” Bishop Peter continued. “His presence is not separate, contrary or distant. Christ’s presence is real, and it is within us.”

The world, he said, is waking up to what the Catholic Church has. “People are hungry to experi­ence the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.”

In the Roman Catholic Church, an instituted ac­olyte is a person officially appointed to serve at the altar and assist the priest and deacon in liturgical celebrations, especially during Mass. They have specific responsibilities, including preparing the al­tar and sacred vessels, and, if necessary, distribut­ing Holy Communion as an extraordinary minister. For Brother Juan, becoming an instituted Acolyte is a part of the journey to priesthood.

In the Rite of Institution of Acolytes, the bishop hands a paten with bread to the candidate and says, “Take this vessel with bread for the celebration of the Eucharist. Make your life worthy of your service at the table of the Lord and of His Church.” (ICR photo/Emily Woodham)

“Brother Juan, you are now a part of that jour­ney of coming into a deeper relationship of the transformation at the altar,” Bishop Peter said. “As priests, as celibates, Jesus becomes our all in a very special way.”

After his homily, Bishop Peter presided at the Rite of Institution of Acolytes, and Brother Juan, newly instituted, assisted at the altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Brother Juan, baptized “Jesus Vargas,” was raised in Weiser and attended St. Agnes Parish. He studied mathematics and secondary education at the University of Idaho. While completing his internship as a student teacher in Weiser, he began volunteering for the parish youth group, which led to a deeper relationship with God.

He began attending classes at Verbum Spei in 2020. In 2022, he made his First Vows. He made his Final Vows on May 17, the day after becoming an instituted acolyte.

Having finished the required period of formation to become a Religious Brother of Verbum Spei, Brother Juan professed his final vows in the presence of Father Wandrille Sevin, the general superior for the worldwide Fraternity of Verbum Spei. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham)

“It was easier to make my Final Vows than it was to make my First Vows,” Brother Juan said. “It was the grace of God. That’s the best way to put it.”

Brother Juan also credits the support of his Brothers at Verbum Spei for his decision to make his Final Vows. “Praying and working with the Brothers, time in silent prayer, and taking semi­nary classes all helped me to discern that I want to continue my life with Verbum Spei,” he said.

The laity who come to pray at the monastery are also a huge encouragement. “It’s reassuring when people say that they are praying for us,” he said. “It’s just a beautiful buildup to the consecration.”

In May, he completed his philosophy courses with the seminary at Saltillo, Mexico. He will study Theology in the Philippines, where Verbum Spei recently opened another monastery.

Brother Juan encourages others who are con­sidering Religious life to avoid focusing on the techniques of discerning a vocation. “I think it’s better to just focus on Jesus, to spend time with Him in prayer and to talk to a spiritual director. I think people should come to Verbum Spei and see what it is like.”

Brother Juan signs his name under the record of his final vows. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham)

Father Wandrille Sevin, general superior of Verbum Spei, Father Dominique Fauré, prior of the Monastery of Our Lady of Ephesus, Father Johannes Kamphuis, V.S., Father Jonathon Kil­kelly, V.S., Father Pedro Cepeda, V.S., and retired priests of the Diocese of Boise, Fathers Tom Keller and Roger LaChance, concelebrated the Mass for Brother Juan’s Final Vows.

“Your only love, your only treasure, is the Heart of Jesus,” Father Sevin said in his homily, which he addressed to Brother Juan. “But it’s not enough to just know this love; rather, you are to live this love. You can live this, if you offer yourself in an act of adoration, in an act of total confidence, in an act of love.”

“Brother, we are going to ask the Holy Spirit to take hold of your heart today and all the days of your life,” he continued. “So that there will be nothing else for you except the love of the Heart of Jesus.”

For more information about Verbum Spei, events at the Monastery of Our Lady of Ephesus and discerning Religious life, visit vsboise.org.