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Diocese of Boise Seminarian Ian Willnerd shakes hands with Pope Leo XIV during a General Audience at the Vatican in January of this year. (Courtesy photo/St. Paul's Seminary, Minnesota) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Seminarian Ian Willnerd describes his life before seminary as “normal.” “I was born and raised in Boise,” Ian said. He was baptized in St. Mark’s Parish in Boise. After a move to the east side of Boise, his family transferred to the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, where he received his First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation. But during a Sunday evening Mass, his “normal” led to the extraordinary. Seminarian Ian Willnerd, far right, is with friends, from left, Diocese of Winona-Rochester Seminarian Gabriel Rysavy, Diocese of St. Cloud Seminarians Mark Nosbush and Scott Kahler on a road trip down the Oregon Coast in August of 2025. (Courtesy photo/Ian Willnerd) “I had a profound encounter with our Lord at Mass when I was in high school,” Ian said. “I just knew the Lord was there and that He loved me.” Because of that experience, Ian wanted to be Confirmed. “I just really wanted to know God more and experience Him more,” he said. For his Confirmation saint, Ian felt drawn to choose St. Simeon, the prophet who greeted the Holy Family when the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph dedicated the Infant Jesus. He especially loved St. Simeon’s words from the passage in the Gospel of St. Luke 2:29-32: “Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation . . .” From left, Father Daniel Barnett, Diocese of Boise Seminarian Ian Willnerd, Archdiocese of Seattle Seminarian Evan McKenzie, Father John Murphy, SJ, and Father Patrick Baraza prepare Thanksgiving dinner at Bishop White Seminary in 2020. (Courtesy photo/Ian Willnerd) “It resonated for me because Simeon spent his whole life waiting for the Messiah. Then once he held Jesus in his arms, he basically said, ‘Lord, this is it. I can go now.’ And I think my own encounter with God in high school was like that: ‘Lord, this is what I wanted. Now, You can do whatever You want with my life.’” After his Confirmation, Ian felt an openness to do whatever God wanted of him. He began asking God, “What are You asking me to do with my life?” The idea of becoming a priest didn’t come as a demand, but as a “gentle knock on the door” of his mind, he said. His senior year of high school, he reached out to Father Caleb Vogel, who was vocations recruiter, currently vicar general, for the Diocese of Boise. Ian also met with discernment groups led by Father Nelson Cintra, who, at that time, was a seminarian serving his pastoral year at St. Paul’s Parish in Nampa. Seminarian Ian Willnerd, third from left, is with fellow seminarians, including Boise Seminarian Nathan Ribb (second from left), from Bishop White Seminary on fall mission trip to central Washington in 2022. (Courtesy photo/Ian Willnerd) “It was during that time that the question in my mind went from, ‘God, are you calling me to be a priest?’ to ‘Why are You calling me a priest?’” he said. Ian wrestled with the question of ‘why’ and fears of his ability to be a good priest, until later that fall at a youth group retreat in McCall. While there, he decided to go to the altar to receive prayer during a time of praise and worship. As soon as he knelt down, he poured out his heart to God while a youth leader prayed over him. Seminarian Ian Willnerd is with Deacon Simon Stehr of the Archdiocese of Seattle at Olympic National Park in August of 2025. Deacon Stehr will be ordained to the priesthood this year. (Courtesy photo/Ian Willnerd) “In prayer, I asked God, ‘What if I’m unhappy? What if I’m not holy enough? What if people don’t like me? What if I’m a bad preacher?’ It was a litany inside my mind that just went on for a while,” Ian explained. “Then the man who was praying over me suddenly stopped and said, ‘I think the Lord wants me to tell you to follow the path that’s been laid before you so you can help others.’” The man’s words broke through all of Ian’s fears. He felt the Lord say, “Go and be a priest.” Ian chose to attend Bishop White Seminary after his high school graduation in 2019. “It’s a smaller seminary and a really good experience. It’s where I took the initial first steps of really becoming a full-grown, Christian man.” While there, he also enjoyed aspects of campus life at Gonzaga University. His senior year of seminary he was president of the Gonzaga pro-life club. In the fall of 2023, he went to St. Paul’s Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he began his theology studies. “Picking a favorite class at St. Paul’s is almost like asking to pick your favorite children,” he said. “The classes just blend so well together: dogmatic theology, grace, fundamental theology, Mariology, Christology . . . It’s really hard to choose.” Seminarian Ian Willnerd, right, is with Father Joseph Taphorn, middle, rector at St. Paul's Seminary in Minnesota, and Seminarian Jack Tyrell, right, before the 2025 Twin Cities Marathon. (Courtesy photo/Ian Willnerd) One of the most difficult things about seminary has been realizing the call of who God wants him to be and the reality of how much he needed to grow into that call. “God made me to be so much more than I want for myself. The transformation process has been difficult at times: receiving His grace and then trying and failing and trying again.” In the process of this spiritual growth at seminary, however, the consolation of God’s love has been constant. “The best part about seminary is receiving the love of God the Father through all the difficult places in the journey. He has poured it out through the Sacraments. Also, His grace has been through the priests who have formed me and my wonderful brother seminarian brothers.” The community within seminary has been a great support, not just in growth, but also in camaraderie and fun. Outside of classes, Ian hiked, ran marathons and skied with his fellow seminarians. In January of this year, he studied in Rome. “The best part was meeting Pope Leo and being able to speak with him briefly,” Ian said. “Another major highlight was going to Bologna to visit the tomb of St. Dominic.” Ian is a member of a chapter of the Third Order Dominicans. “I have a lot of peace and feel the presence of a spiritual father when I pray with Saint Dominic. His entire life was driven by his zeal for souls and to draw souls back to the Church and to Christ.” Ian also likes passing time reading books. “I love reading and enjoy good literature. I read a good number of novels a year.” Diocese of Boise Seminarian Ian Willnerd, left, is with Diocese of Fargo Seminarian Paul Zach at the tomb of St. Dominic in Bologna, Italy. Ian has a devotion to St. Dominic and is a member of a chapter of Third Order Dominicans. (Courtesy photo/Ian Willnerd) Stories, he said, help shape how a person sees life. “It’s good to approach your life as in a wonderful adventure story. Your life is a gift from God, and God has so many surprises in store for you. Also if we think about the best adventure novels or movies, the quest is great, and it’s also difficult. There are challenges along the way, but we have to embrace the plan that God has revealed to us through our prayer and the events and people in our lives.” Seminarian Ian Willnerd holds the paschal candle at Easter Vigil in 2025 at the Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church in Saint Paul with Father Rolf Tollefson, center, and Deacon Don Tienter, right. (Courtesy photo/Ian Willnerd) Men who are considering seminary have nothing to fear, Ian said, because God is with them in the adventure of their lives and in their discernment. “God loves you all along the way. He will lift you up when you’re done, and you’ll find that He’s most present when you are hurting the most. His faithfulness in seminary is how you know that He will sustain you in your priestly vocation.” Ian’s ordination to the transitional diaconate is at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 27 during a Mass celebrated by Bishop Peter Christensen at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise. Following his ordination to the transitional diaconate, Ian will serve at St. Mary’s Parish and St. Augustine’s Student Center and Parish in Moscow. His time during the academic year will be spent between classes at St. Mary’s, St. Augustine’s and St. Paul’s Seminary.

By Philip A. Janquart ICR Editor JEROME—San Francisco was the place to be during the height of 1960s counterculture, and Dave Johns grew up right in the middle of it. But decades later, in April of this year, he found himself in the quiet grace of the Easter Vigil at St. Jerome Parish in Jerome, Idaho. “I wasn’t raised religious at all, nothing like that,” Johns told the Idaho Catholic Register. “My journey was quite ‘the journey.’” Born in 1959 and raised in the Bay Area, Johns came of age during a period of dramatic cultural change. One of his earliest and most formative Dave Johns is baptized memories came at age 10, when he spent the summer of 1969 living with his older sister in a commune near Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco. “We’re talking ground zero of the hippie movement,” he said. The experience left a lasting impression, though not in the way some might expect. “I learned that I did not like hippies at all,” he said, chuckling. “I thought they were stinky and lazy—but I loved their music.” That summer also introduced him to live rock music, Johns attending his first concert—the Rolling Stones—and later witnessing performances by Jimi Hendrix and The Doors. “Not many people can say that,” he said. Faith was not a part of his early life. Instead, Johns gravitated toward martial arts and the philosophical ideas that often accompany them. While he encountered elements of Buddhism, he said it was more about practical wisdom than religious commitment. “It was more in the teaching sense,” he said. “Things like discipline, mindset—not worship.” A turning point came in 1979, when Johns enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. During his six years of service—including time in the reserves—he began to encounter Christianity on a deeper, more personal level. The first steps One moment in particular stood out to him. It was a visit to a friend’s home, where he noticed a poster of the poem “Footprints in the Sand.” The poem is about a person walking along a beach with God while scenes from his life appear in the sky in a vision. In the sand, he notices there are two sets of footprints—his own and God’s. During the hardest moments of his life, however, he sees only one set of footprints, triggering feelings of abandonment and causing the person to ask God why He left him in times of suffering. God responds, saying that those were the times when He picked up the man and carried him. “I started tearing up,” Johns said. “I didn’t understand why, but something was happening.” Soon after, another encounter deepened that experience. A blacklight image of Christ on the cross, accompanied by the words, “How much did I love you? This much,” struck him in a powerful way. “That hit me again,” he said. “I just knew I had to look into this.” He began attending a Methodist church, marking his first sustained step into Christian faith. But the path was not linear. When the congregation eventually closed, Johns drifted away from regular church attendance, though he continued to read Scripture and reflect on spiritual questions. After leaving the Air Force in 1985, Johns moved to Idaho, settling in Jerome after first encountering the state during military exercises. “I fell in love with Idaho,” he said. “I knew I needed to get away from the concrete jungle.” A simpler life Eager to build a life in his new home, Johns immersed himself in the outdoors—hiking, climbing and exploring. He became an accomplished “caver,” discovering and mapping more than 300 caves for the Bureau of Land Management. At the same time, he worked a wide range of jobs, from cartography at the county courthouse to warehouse management, while also pursuing his talents as an artist. “I did whatever I needed to do to support my family,” he said. Spiritually, however, he was still searching. Influenced by friends, Johns spent time exploring The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While he appreciated the sincerity of those he met, he found himself wrestling with questions. “The more I studied, the more I realized it (The LDS Church) wasn’t really it,” he said. “I was looking for something consistent—something that didn’t change.” That search eventually led him to reconsider Catholicism, a faith he had previously heard about but never committed to exploring. His introduction came in part through online interactions and in part through his volunteer work at a local soup kitchen operated by St. Jerome Catholic Church. “I was already helping there, and I just thought to ask, ‘Do you have classes I can take?’” he said. What began as curiosity quickly became conviction. Within less than a year, Johns enrolled in formation classes and prepared to enter the Church. “It just made sense,” he said. “And more than that—it felt like home.” A new life That sense of belonging culminated at the Easter Vigil this year, when Johns was baptized, confirmed and received the Eucharist for the first time. “It was one of the most spiritual experiences I’ve ever had,” he said. “There was a warmth that covered me.” Receiving the Eucharist, he added, was especially profound. “It felt like I was in the presence of Christ,” he said. “I’ve never experienced anything like that anywhere else.” Now retired, Johns continues to live in Jerome with his wife, Jan. The couple share a Christian faith, and while health challenges have delayed Jan’s own participation in Catholic formation classes, he said she hopes to begin the process in the near future. Johns also remains deeply committed to service. He continues to help coordinate volunteers for the parish’s weekly meal program, which provides food to those in need. “I enjoy serving,” he said. “That’s something I’ve always wanted to do.” He is also considering joining the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic fraternal organization known for its charitable work and support of parish life. “With my background, that kind of brotherhood and service really appeals to me,” he said. Finding truth Looking back, Johns sees a clear thread running through his life—a gradual movement toward truth and stability after years of searching. “I think a lot of people are looking for something solid,” he said. “Something that doesn’t shift.” For him, that foundation is now firmly rooted in the Catholic faith. Reflecting on his journey, Johns said he hopes others who may be searching will remain open to where God is leading them. “He’s constantly calling us,” he said. “No matter what you’ve done, no matter where you’ve been—He wants you to come home.” After decades of exploration, Johns believes he has finally answered that call. “I just feel at home,” he said.

Catholic Extension Society invita a la comunidad hispana a participar en dos programas diseñados para fortalecer y brindar un mejor acompañamiento a las comunidades hispanohablantes: Consejeros Católicos para Comunidades Hispanohablantes y Encuentro y Misión, dirigido a jóvenes adultos latinos de entre 21 y 35 años interesados en crecer en la fe, el lide- razgo y el servicio comunitario. Para el programa de Consejeros Católicos el objetivo es brindar ayuda a través de servicios integrados de atención pastoral y social a las comunidades rurales que atraviesan por dificultades como traumas generalizados, separaciones familiares o problemas de salud mental. Este programa se llevará a cabo en asociación con el Instituto Católico Psicología y Fe y un equipo de consejeros católicos titulados que brindarán servicios integrados combinando principios psicológicos basados en la evidencia con la riqueza de la Tradición de la fe Católica. Este equipo especializado aplicará un enfoque de varios niveles para promover la resiliencia, la sanación emocional, la formación en la fe y una esperanza renovada dentro de la comunidad. Esta oportunidad de financiación está especialmente dirigida a familias inmigrantes en crisis debido a separaciones familiares, etc. Primer nivel: retiros para toda la comunidad: Cada iniciativa de participación comunitaria comenzará con un retiro diseñado específicamente para abordar los retos más acuciantes que afectan a esa comunidad en el momento del servicio. El retiro incluye principios psicoeducativos estructurados, cuidadosamente integrados con la doctrina católica y la formación espiritual. Este enfoque garantiza que los participantes reciban tanto herramientas prácticas de psicoeducación como una orientación con raíces espirituales. Segundo nivel: asesoramiento grupal específico: Mientras se llevan a cabo las sesiones del retiro, el equipo profesional y pastoral realiza simultáneamente entrevistas individuales. Los participantes seleccionados para estas entrevistas serán identificados de antemano por líderes comunitarios de confianza que reconozcan a las personas o familias que necesitan apoyo adicional. Estas evaluaciones iniciales permiten al equipo identificar a quienes requieren una intervención más personalizada y centrada en sus necesidades específicas. Tercer nivel: atención psicológica individualizada: Tras el proceso de admisión, el Instituto Católico Psicología y Fe ofrecerá: • Asesoramiento católico virtual individual para participantes que necesiten apoyo personalizado por parte de profesionales certificados. • Asesoramiento católico virtual en grupo para personas que se enfrentan a retos similares, fomentando el apoyo entre iguales, la sanación compartida y la solidaridad comunitaria. • Además de la entrevista de eva- luación inicial, tanto los servicios de asesoramiento individual como los de grupo seguirán un modelo estructurado a corto plazo que consta de aproximadamente ocho sesiones por participante. • Este marco de duración limitada está diseñado para proporcionar una intervención significativa, al tiempo que se mantiene la accesibilidad y el uso responsable de los recursos del programa. • La estructura de ocho sesiones permite: la evaluación, el estable- cimiento de objetivos, la intervención de asesoramiento, el desarrollo de habilidades, la integración espiritual y la evaluación de resultados. • Cuando esté clínicamente indicado, se proporcionarán derivaciones para la atención continuada o recursos comunitarios adicionales con el fin de garantizar la continuidad adecuada del apoyo. Inmersión en teología y misión para jóvenes adultos latinos El segundo programa ofrecido por Catholic Extension Society es «Encuentro y Misión», una experiencia única de formación teológica e inmersión misionera dirigida a jóvenes líderes adultos latinos. El programa incluye un curso en línea de cuatro semanas impartido por el Instituto Pastoral del Sureste, la orientación de antiguos alumnos del programa y una experiencia misionera inmersiva y supervisada en una comunidad marginada. Los candidatos seleccionados deben cumplir el siguiente perfil: Jóvenes adultos latinos de entre 21 y 35 años que hayan completado un programa de formación, estén vinculados a su parroquia y estén considerando involucrarse más profundamente en una vocación de servicio o cursar estudios teológicos. Los estudiantes deben ser bilingües (inglés/español), Trabajar con la comunidad hispana, se anima a los «soñadores» (DACA) a participar. Los estudiantes deben estar disponibles para participar en todos los cursos de formación virtuales y en la experiencia de inmersión del jueves 13 de agosto al domingo 16 de agosto. Los estudiantes deben cursar el curso en línea «Herramientas Pastorales y Palabra Encarnada», impartido por el Instituto Pastoral del Sureste en español con diálogo bilingüe (inglés/español). Las clases se impartirán semanalmente a través de Zoom, los miércoles, del 12 de julio al 5 de agosto Experiencia de inmersión misionera: los estudiantes viajarán a la Diócesis de Birmingham, Alabama, para participar en una experiencia de formación e inmersión misionera de 4 días. Para más detalles, favor de comunicarse con Guillermo Gutiérrez, Director del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Boise con el correo mgutierrez@rcdb.org.

Welcome to Idaho Catholic Register, the official source for Catholic Media provided by Diocese of Boise. Featured News Bishop Peter Christensen’s 2026 Easter message/Mensaje de Pascua de 2026 del obispo Christensen The Resurrection reminds us that the Church is not called simply to maintain what already exists. Rather, we are sent into the world with a mission. Before ascending to the Father, the risen Christ entrusted His disciples with a clear command: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” This command remains at the heart of the Church’s life today. Each baptized Catholic shares in this call . . . Bishop Peter Christensen Apr 21 8 min read Catholic News Articles Bishop Peter Christensen’s 2026 Easter message/Mensaje de Pascua de 2026 del obispo Christensen The Resurrection reminds us that the Church is not called simply to maintain what already exists. Rather, we are sent into the world with a mission. Before ascending to the Father, the risen Christ entrusted His disciples with a clear command: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” This command remains at the heart of the Church’s life today. Each baptized Catholic shares in this call . . . Apr 21 8 min read Oportunidades para la comunidad hispana Catholic Extension Society invita a la comunidad hispana a participar en dos programas diseñados para fortalecer y brindar un mejor acompañamiento a las comunidades hispanohablantes: Consejeros Católicos para Comunidades Hispanohablantes y Encuentro y Misión, dirigido a jóvenes adultos latinos de entre 21 y 35 años interesados en crecer en la fe, el lide- razgo y el servicio comunitario. Para el programa de Consejeros Católicos el objetivo es brindar ayuda a través de servic 9 hours ago 3 min read A new breath of life Jn 20:19-23 Pentecost Sunday We celebrate the birth of the Church and the fulfillment of Easter with the coming of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus promised His disciples before His passion when He assured them,“I will not leave you as orphans.” Originally an agricultural festival, Pentecost now commemorates the historical event of the covenant (50 days after the Exodus). It is the feast of the gift of the Spirit, which inaugurates the New Covenant on earth. The Spirit is given s 9 hours ago 2 min read Novena Intercontinental Guadalupana Por Vero Gutiérrez Editora Asistente El 12 de diciembre de 2031 celebraremos 500 años de las apariciones de la Virgen de Guadalupe a San Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, en el cerro del Tepeyac. Como preparación a este gran acontecimiento en el año 2022, el Papa Francisco dio inicio en el Va- ticano a la Novena intercontinental Guadalupana, que se estará realizando a lo largo de estos nueve años previos a la celebración del centenario de las apariciones de Nuestra Señora de Guada 9 hours ago 5 min read 500 years since the apparitions at Guadalupe and 2,000 years since the redemption of the world This article was written by Father Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Carballeda, a priest of the Archdiocese of Puebla in Mexico, and was published by Vatican News. The Church is gradually approaching two significant dates: the 500th anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Saint Juan Diego in Mexico in 2031 and the 2,000th anniversary of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in 2033. In the realm of faith, both of these anniversaries are closely linked and should not b May 4 5 min read 500 años del suceso Guadalupano y 2000 años de la Redención del mundo Por Padre Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Carballeda, sacerdote de la Arquidiócesis de Puebla, México Este artículo fue publicado originalmente en Vatican News Poco a poco, la Iglesia se acerca a dos fechas de enorme significado: en orden cronológico, viviremos el V Centenario de las apariciones de la Virgen María al santo Juan Diego en México, en 2031 y, dos años después, en 2033, el II Milenio de la Muerte y Resurrección de Jesucristo, nuestro Salvador. Ambas recurrencias, íntimam May 4 6 min read More Articles Subscribe to the Register Join the Register and be the first to know about Diocese of Boise news. Subscribe for as little as $20 a year, but if you can give more, you will greatly assist our mission to inform, inspire and teach. You can also subscribe through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. 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