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Congratulation to Hadley Jackson, an eighth-grade student at All Saints Catholic School: Her drawing won first place nationally in the Catholic Daughters art contest on the theme “How do I feel when I forgive?” Catholic Daughters Lori Ready-Gorley and Margaret Adams presented her award.

By Peter Brophy For the ICR The tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent need for respectful, truth-seeking dialogue in our deeply divided society. While Kirk’s advocacy resonated with many, it also didn’t for others.  His death compels us to look beyond any single figure or perspective and focus on fostering civic discourse that upholds human dignity, pursues truth, and bridges divides, regardless of political or ideological leanings.   The Catholic Church teaches that natural law, as described in the Catechism, is “the light of understanding placed in us by God,” universal in its precepts and binding on all people. (CCC 1955). This law affirms the sacredness of every human life, reflecting the inherent dignity bestowed by the Creator. The Ten Commandments, as the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church affirms, are a “privileged expression of the natural law,” providing a moral framework that guides individuals and communities toward authentic freedom, justice, and the protection of the preciousness of every human life.   In today’s polarized climate, public discourse often devolves into hostility, drowning out the pursuit of truth and mutual understanding. The Church calls for communication that respects “truth, justice, and the love of neighbor,” condemning speech that profanes or scandalizes. Authentic dialogue, as outlined in the Compendium, is rooted in respect for the conscience of others, solidarity, and the common good. The assassination of a public figure like Kirk, who, regardless of one’s views on his positions, engaged fearlessly yet often respectfully, underscores the consequences of a culture that fails to prioritize civility and charity.   It challenges us to ask: how can we, as Catholics and people of goodwill, model a better way? The Church’s teachings offer a path forward. By affirming the objective moral order revealed by natural law, we uphold human rights, the sanctity of marriage, and the ethical principles of the Decalogue. Yet, these truths must be shared with humility and respect, inviting dialogue rather than division. Freedom of expression, a natural right rooted in human dignity, must be exercised in a way that builds up rather than tears down. As Catholics, we are called to engage with those who hold differing views, not with contempt, but with a commitment to the “truth that sets humanity free” (Jn 8:32).   The loss of any life to violence is a tragedy that wounds the common good. Kirk’s death invites us to recommit to a discourse that honors the dignity of every person, regardless of their beliefs. Let us pray for healing in our society and for the courage to foster conversations that reflect the love of Christ. May we strive for a world where truth and charity walk hand in hand, ensuring that no voice is silenced by division or violence.

Our Lady of Lourdes Basilica is one of the locations staff writer Emily Woodham visited during her recent trip to Europe. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer   I admit I wanted to sleep late on my last morning in France, contemplating making a lazy exit from the City of Light after 11 days of travel.   I thought of the book, The Hobbit , how Bilbo rested in Rivendell before going back to the Shire, and that maybe I should just sleep as much as I could before my journey home. But I had an important appointment for later that morning that I did not want to miss.   I had planned to embark on a shortened version of the Camino de Santiago in Spain since last February. I bought the tickets and made reservations. For months, I prayed a rolling novena to St. James, the patron saint of pilgrims, especially for the Camino. My 18-year-old son and I left Boise on Wednesday, Sept. 17 with a very well-planned itinerary. We were supposed to take a mere 100-kilometer trek from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela. Our plan was to make it in time for Mass at the cathedral in Santiago on Sept. 25 and then take a plane to Paris for two days of sightseeing.   But that’s not what happened.   When we landed in Paris on the morning of Sept. 18, our plane arrived 30 minutes late, and we missed our connecting flight to Madrid. It took just 30 minutes to create a domino effect on all our other plans. We sighed a prayer to Mother Mary, Seat of Wisdom.   If we continued on to Spain, we’d be winging it because all our reservations now had to change. Or we could wing it in France. As tired as we were, we chose to forgo another plane ride and stick it out among the French.   The saints say pilgrimages give you a new perspective on life. In the ups and downs of the journey, the twists and turns, getting lost, being found and all that lies in between, pilgrimages give us a fresh picture of our journey from birth to death and to the life to come. It’s normal on pilgrimages to encounter the unexpected, to get lost, and for many, even to get sick.   My son became sick and had to go back to the States only two days after we arrived. So, I went against the sound advice never to travel alone.   “Always take a friend with you,” I’ve told my children. “Just like in The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings,  you need a companion for your adventures!” A view of the alter inside the Basilica of St. Theresa of Lisieux. Lisieux is a small city in the region of Normandy in northern France. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) However, at one point, Frodo and Sam were separated and each had to journey alone. Bilbo also became separated from his party and had to bravely go where no one else could. There are lessons for us when we walk alone that we could not otherwise learn. To be sure, we are made for communion, but to be alone for parts of our journey with just the Lord reminds us that he alone is God. This builds our confidence and trust; it builds our courage to fulfill the mission entrusted to us.   I’m sure I will never hear the end of it from my kids, but I decided to make Jesus, Mary and the saints my only companions as I traveled in Paris, Lourdes, Rouen, Lisieux and Amiens, by foot and train, without a plan. Thankfully, on my unexpected journey, I never met an orc.   During my first days in Paris, I attended Mass at the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal, where St. Louise de Marillac and St. Catherine Laboure are interred (two of my favorite saints). I went to Mass at St. Sulpice and visited St. Etienne-du-Mont (St. Stephen’s of the Mount), which has St. Genevieve’s tomb (another favorite saint). I stumbled upon St. Severin’s Church. I attended Mass at Notre Dame and heard the newly restored bells ring out beautifully.   Despite all these wonderful, holy sites, while on the train to Lourdes on Sunday, Sept. 21, I felt a bit heavy. I was thankful to be in France and to be on my way to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, a place I had longed to visit since I was a little girl. Yet still, I wondered if I had truly done the right thing in choosing to stay in France.   All the saints say to flee from doubt and discouragement. However, I kept wondering if I was being foolish and setting myself up for something more akin to Mordor than to Rivendell. I went to the grotto, where Bernadette saw Our Lady, but my heart still struggled with a lack of confidence in my decisions. I prayed for direction and encouragement.   The next morning, I went to daily Mass at the Sanctuary. To my surprise, as I stepped into the line for Communion, Beth Ann Kavanaugh, a parishioner of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, also stepped in line from the pew opposite mine. We immediately hugged each other. The Grotto at Lourdes — officially called the Grotto of Massabielle — is the small cave in Lourdes, France, where St. Bernadette Soubirous reported 18 apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1858.  (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) We were overjoyed at our providential meeting. She was in Lourdes with her husband, Cole, to volunteer for two weeks. She was supposed to be working that morning, but the Religious Sister in charge told her to take the day off. Unsure of what she should do, she decided to attend Mass. Of course, I wasn’t supposed to be in Lourdes at all, let alone Mass at the Sanctuary. Seeing her and having lunch with her and Cole was just the encouragement I needed, that the Lord had my every step in his loving hands. I went to Confession that afternoon, and all the worry and doubt were lifted.   From Lourdes, I took the train to Rouen. I visited the Church of St. Joan of Arc and the site where she was martyred, followed by Mass at the Cathedral of Rouen. I took a day trip to Lisieux and marveled at the thought that I was walking where St. Thérèse had walked. I went to her house, her parish church (St. Peter’s Cathedral), and the basilica. Then, finally, I went to Carmel and visited her at her tomb.   I visited the cathedral in Amiens, the largest and best-preserved Gothic cathedral in France—its statues and art survived the demolition and defacing of churches during the French Revolution. I went to the cathedral specifically to see the tomb of St. Honoré, patron saint of bakers, a saint I have loved long before I became Catholic. I could have spent hours more at the cathedral learning about all their relics and art. They even have a relic of St. John the Baptist!   All the churches and relics served as a constant reminder of the importance of perseverance, especially in the little things of life. It was striking to see two churches of nearly the same age in the same city, yet one was well-maintained and looked gorgeous, despite the centuries, while the other was neglected and in disrepair. The contrast was like a parable of the importance of where we put our time, treasure and talent. It matters that we are prudent; it matters that we persevere. If we don’t take care of the little things, we will end up with big problems.   I returned to Paris on Thursday, Sept. 25, the one thing I had in my original plans from the beginning of the year.   I visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Victory and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre, and so many churches in between. With stories of saints on my mind, I walked for miles each day, praying, lighting candles and giving alms. I thought of the billions of faithful throughout time, from the first disciples of Jesus to the present day, and how for two millennia we have all found comfort in sauntering through countryside and cities to venerate relics, light candles and pray. However, there are so many churches in France, so many saints’ tombs I didn’t have nearly enough time to visit. Inside the Church of the Miraculous Medal in Paris, France. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) The night before my last day, I wondered how to spend my time. I had not visited any museums or secular historic sites. I walked past them all to follow my heart to altars and stained glass. And then I remembered that I wanted to see St. Vincent de Paul. I looked up his chapel online, and it was ablaze with an announcement for a big Mass to celebrate his feast day. I had forgotten that his feast day was Sept. 27!   This was all the more momentous because they were celebrating the 400th anniversary of his founding of the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentians).   All my ideas for other things to do during my last day in Paris vanished. I knew I had a divine appointment with yet another wonderful saint.   When, at last, I knelt down at his tomb and was face to face with St. Vincent de Paul (his body is entombed in wax), I had nothing but inexplicable joy. I arrived at the chapel early and was able to be all alone with him in the special alcove above the altar. As I looked into his face, I felt like all of time slipped away. At each sacrifice of the Holy Mass is a glimpse into eternity, and I had that same sense of the eternal as I looked at him. Then it struck me once again the importance of perseverance and how it is made possible with love.   All the saints’ lives are marked by love. Their love is not a messy, “sloppy agape” love. Their love is not a disordered love that makes idols out of people or ideologies; their love is not lazy nor scrupulous; their love was marked by courage and strength; their love was heroic.   If love is, as St. Thomas Aquinas said, to will the good of the other for the sake of the other, then it is far deeper than making people happy, and it’s far broader than any political or social agenda. After all, our true home, the ultimate end of our pilgrimage, is nothing less than heaven.   Life is an unexpected journey. May we all have the grace to persevere to the end with heroic love and courage.

Lc 17, 11- 19 Domingo vigésimo octavo del tiempo ordinario En este Evangelio la Iglesia nos invita a reflexionar sobre un episodio aparentemente común: Jesús sana a unos enfermos, en concreto a unos leprosos. Como sucede en todas las escenas evangélicas, el mensaje perdura hasta nuestros días para orientar nuestras vidas. Jesús se deja interrumpir y asediar por unos leprosos: Iba a entrar en un pueblo, cuando vinieron a su encuentro diez leprosos…” En estos casos, Jesús, nunca se negaba, ni ponía pretextos. Era “el hombre para los demás”, para los marginados y abandonados. Es necesario traer a colación el significado que tenía la lepra en el Antiguo Testamento: para la ley, la lepra es una impureza contagiosa, por lo que el leproso es excluido de la comunidad hasta su curación y su “purificación ritual”, que exige un sacrificio por “el pecado” (Lev 13-14). Esta lepra es “la plaga” por excelencia, contagiosa, con la que Dios castiga a los pecadores. Se amenaza con ella a Israel (Dt 27, 28). Los egipcios son víctimas de ella (Ex 9,9 ), así como Miriam (Núm 12, 10-15) y Ozías (2 Cr 26, 19-23). Es, pues, en principio un castigo por el pecado. Cuando Jesús cura a los leprosos (Mt 8, 1-4; Lc 17, 11-19), triunfa sobre la llaga por excelencia y cura a los hombres de ella, cuyas enfermedades (Mt 8,17). Al purificar a los leprosos y reintegrarlos a la comunidad, cancela con un gesto milagroso la separación entre lo puro y lo impuro: “Tenemos un Sumo Sacerdote que ha entrado en el mismo cielo; este es Jesús, el Hijo de Dios” (Hebreos 4,14). Jesús es el siervo doliente de la visión profética de Isaías, que, aunque inocente, carga con los pecados, que serán sanados por sus llagas (Is 53, 3-12). Jesús, respetuoso con las instituciones y normas religiosas de su época, dice a los leprosos sanados: “Vayan a presentarse a los sacerdotes …”. Después de hacerlo, solo uno de los diez, samaritano y considerado impío e indigno de Dios, vuelve para dar gracias. Este hecho nos revela la gratuidad del amor de Dios y la fe del samaritano. Jesús pregunta ¿No ha vuelto más que este extranjero para dar gloria a Dios?. “Levántate y vete; tu fe te ha salvado”. La fe nos hace ver que estamos en manos de Dios, y que todo lo que nos sucede forma parte de un plan de amor. Esta visión contrasta con la actitud mercantilista, en la que no hay lugar para lo gratuito. Todo se intercambia, se presta, se debe o se exige. Cada cual tiene lo que se merece, lo que se ha ganado con su propio esfuerzo. A nadie se le regala nada. Nuestra fe nos dice que, Dios todopoderoso, Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, nos ha liberado del pecado y nos ha dado la vida nueva por el agua y el Espíritu Santo, nos une a su pueblo para que seamos siempre miembros de Cristo, Sacerdote, Cristo Profeta y Cristo Rey. Por lo cual decimos: En verdad es justo y necesario, es nuestro deber y salvación, darte gracias siempre y en todo lugar, Dios Padre Santo, Todopoderoso y eterno.

Padre Germán Ruis Rebollo, acompañado de un grupo de cursillistas, tras su nombramiento como director espiritual del movimiento. “El Cursillo- dijo Padre Ruis,- es una forma concreta y alegre de ser Iglesia en el mundo. “Dios no se cansa de esperarnos”. Con estas palabras, el Padre Germán Ruís Rebollo resume el corazón de su misión al aceptar ser el nuevo director espiritual del Movimiento de Cursillos de Cristiandad en la Diócesis de Boise. Su historia personal con el Cursillo, que comenzó en México hace más de una década, hoy lo impulsa a acompañar a quienes buscan vivir la fe con alegría y compromiso. Fue el pasado 17 de abril de 2025, cuando el Obispo Bishop Peter invitó al Padre Germán Ruís como nuevo director espiritual del Movimiento de Cursillos de Cristiandad en la Diócesis de Boise para la comunidad Hispano – Latina. Actualmente, el Padre Ruís se desempeña también como administrador de la Parroquia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús en Emmet. Padre Germán Ruis Rebollo El Padre Germán nació el 28 de mayo de 1984 en Michoacán, México, y fue ordenado el 9 de junio de 2011 en la Arquidiócesis de Morelia con otros once jóvenes. En sus primeros siete años de sacerdocio en México, el Padre Germán estuvo ejerciendo su ministerio en diferentes parroquias y también como formador en el Seminario de aquella diócesis. Hace tres años, el Padre Germán aceptó la invitación del Obispo Peter para venir a apoyar a esta Diócesis, porque incluso tenía la residencia permanente en Estados Unidos que adquirió cuando era muy joven gracias a que su padre trabajó muchos años en Chicago. Al llegar a Idaho, fue nombrado vicario parroquial en la Parroquia de Saint John Paul II, en Idaho Falls y después como vicario de la Parroquia de Our Lady of The Valley. El 16 de septiembre de 2022, el Padre Germán se hizo ciudadano estadounidense. Cuando aún era vicario en Our Lady of The Valley, el Padre Germán comenzó a recibir comentarios y sugerencias de los fieles para apoyar al Movimiento de Cursillos, dirigido anteriormente por el Padre José Ramírez. Después de un tiempo de discernimiento y oración, el Padre Ruis aceptó este llamado, convencido de que el Señor lo invitaba a servir en este movimiento. El encuentro personal del Padre Germán con Cursillos se remonta al año 2010, en Morelia, Michoacán, México, cuando vivió su propio cursillo junto con otros seminaristas en la Casa San Luis. Aquella experiencia marcó su camino espiritual, pues le permitió profundizar en el amor de Dios y fortalecer su compromiso de vivir la fe en comunidad y en servicio a los demás. Para él, ser director espiritual de un movimiento laical como Cursillos significa caminar junto a los laicos, escucharlos, acompañarlos y recordar que todos somos discípulos en misión. “El director espiritual no está para dirigir desde arriba, sino para alentar, sostener y ayudar a discernir la voluntad de Dios en la vida cotidiana”, señala el Padre Germán. El Padre Ruis describe el carisma de Cursillos como un carisma profundamente evangelizador: llevar el amor de Cristo a los ambientes cotidianos a través de la amistad, el testimonio y la comunidad. En este sentido, subraya que el movimiento es una forma concreta y alegre de ser Iglesia en el mundo. En la Diócesis de Boise, donde la diversidad cultural plantea grandes retos y oportunidades, el nuevo director espiritual ve a Cursillos como un puente entre la Iglesia y las personas alejadas, un motor de renovación espiritual y una plataforma para la formación de líderes cristianos para que vivan su fe con coherencia y alegría en todos los ambientes. Padre Germán, reconoce también que los desafíos actuales son grandes, especialmente la indiferencia religiosa y el individualismo. Particularmente, en la comunidad latina, dijo también existen ruptu- ras familiares por el trabajo, el estudio y la cultura materialista; sin embargo, confía en la fortaleza de la comunidad hispana, y la facilidad que tiene para crear comunidad, su sentido de religiosidad. Agradeció además que cuentan con el apoyo de diáconos y sacerdotes para enfrentar estas dificultades. Los hombres del cursillo número 162 celebrado en febrero de 2025, junto con los sacerdotes Francisco Flores, Mark Uhlenkott y Nelson Cintra de la parroquia de Saint John Paul II en Idaho Falls. (Foto cortesía/ Héctor Gómez). El acompañamiento espiritual, asegura, será clave en esta nueva etapa. Para él no se trata de algo opcional, sino de un elemento esencial del cre- cimiento en la fe: escuchar, orientar, orar juntos y ayudar a cada persona a descubrir cómo Dios actúa en su vida concreta. Por eso, planea animar la vida espiritual de los servidores, líderes y participantes mediante retiros, momentos de oración, dirección espiritual en las escuelas y una formación constante. Finalmente, el Padre Ruis dirige un mensaje especial a aquellos cursillistas que se sienten desanimados o alejados: “Dios no se cansa de esperarlos. Aunque se hayan alejado, el Señor sigue creyendo en ustedes. El cursillo que vivieron no fue una casualidad, fue una semilla. Y aunque a veces parezca dormida, puede volver a florecer. ¡Vuelvan a la comunidad, vuelvan al amor de Dios!”.

El padre Germán Osorio, rector de la catedral, sostiene la cruz mientras los feligreses hispanos, conmovidos, pasan para venerar la reliquia de la Vera Cruz . (Foto ICR/Vero Gutiérrez)   Vero Gutiérrez  Editora Asistente En una jornada llena de oración, fervor y profunda religiosidad, la comunidad hispana participó en la celebración del Jubileo 2025 en la Catedral de Saint John the Evangelist. El Padre Germán Osorio, Rector de la Catedral, presidió la Misa Jubilar y durante la homilía destacó que Jesús es el fundamento de nuestra esperanza. Invitó a todos los feligreses a vivir este camino jubilar de la mano de la Virgen María, Madre de la Esperanza, y exhortó a acoger el don de las indulgencias, asumiendo el reto de vivir con una esperanza activa y contagiosa, capaz de iluminar a los demás. Tomando como referencia el Evangelio de Mateo, donde Jesús se confronta con los fariseos (Mt 21,23-27), el Padre Osorio explicó que la pregunta de Jesús —“¿Con el poder o la autoridad de quién hago todas estas cosas?”— no solo se dirigía a los fariseos, sino que sigue interpelando a cada creyente hoy. “¿De dónde procede la fuerza que guía nuestra vida cristiana? ¿Quién es el centro de nuestra fe y de nuestra esperanza?”, cuestionó. El Padre Osorio subrayó que la Iglesia invita a vivir este Año Jubilar como un tiempo de gracia, renovación y esperanza. “No es un simple aniversario, sino un tiempo de Dios —dijo— donde se nos recuerda que nuestra esperanza no está en estructuras humanas ni en cálculos políticos, sino en la autoridad y en el amor de Jesucristo resucitado”. Una familia se une en oración ante la  Cruz Jubilar que contiene una reliquia de la Verdadera Cruz, buscando fuerza y bendición a través de su fe . (Foto ICR/Vero Gutiérrez)   (Fotos del ICR/Vero Gutiérrez) La jornada jubilar comenzó a las 6:30 p.m. con el sacramento de la Reconciliación, uno de los requisitos establecidos por la Iglesia Católica para poder obtener la indulgencia plenaria. Más tarde, en procesión desde el atrio hacia el interior de la catedral, el Padre Germán Osorio y el Padre Tim Segert, vicario parroquial, cargaron la Cruz Jubilar. A mitad de la nave, los fieles se detuvieron para venerar la reliquia de la Cruz verdadera antes de comenzar la Celebración Eucarística. Esta Cruz, que permanecerá expuesta durante todo el año. Durante su homilía, el Padre Osorio explicó que durante este camino jubilar, la Iglesia nos abre el tesoro de las indulgencias.  Reconoció además que en ocasiones se malinterpreta este don, pero en realidad es un signo de la misericordia de Dios. Las indulgencias son un signo de la misericordia divina y no un premio que se gana. “Son una gracia que se recibe —dijo—, la posibilidad de experimentar más plenamente la fuerza de Cristo, que borra no solo la culpa, sino también las huellas del pecado en nuestra vida. Es como si el Señor nos preguntara de nuevo: ‘¿Con qué poder puedes sanar tu corazón?’. La respuesta es clara: con el poder de Cristo”. El reto para nosotros  Padre Osorio, con énfasis, planteó a la comunidad el reto de vivir con coherencia esa esperanza. Recordó nuevamente el pasaje evangélico de la Liturgia de la Palabra en este día, donde Jesús no discute con los fariseos para ganar una batalla dialéctica, sino para mostrar que su autoridad viene del Padre y estaba respaldada por las obras del amor.  En nuestro caso, aseguró el Padre nos toca dar testimonio de esa autoridad de Cristo en el mundo. Con una vida de oración que alimente nuestra esperanza, con gestos concretos de caridad y reconciliación, y con la decisión de acoger las gracias jubilares —confesión, Eucaristía, indulgencias— como medios para crecer en santidad.  “El reto —subrayó— es vivir de tal manera que, cuando otros nos pregunten por la autoridad de nuestra fe, puedan ver que no se trata de nuestras fuerzas, sino de la presencia viva de Cristo en nosotros”. En la parte final de la homilía, el Padre Germán Osorio indicó que hoy Jesús nos invita a reconocerlo como la fuente de toda autoridad y la raíz de nuestra esperanza. Al finalizar la Misa se realizó una Hora Santa con el Santísimo Sacramento expuesto sobre el altar hasta las 9:45 p.m., en un ambiente de cantos y alabanzas dirigidos por el Padre Germán Osorio y el responsable del ministerio hispano de la Catedral, Oscar Sánchez. Durante todo el año jubilar, la reliquia de la Cruz permanecerá expuesta en la Catedral de Saint John the Evangelist para que los peregrinos puedan obtener indulgencias plenarias. También se podrá hacer en la iglesia de Saint Joseph en Pocatello, dentro de la Diócesis de Boise.   Para obtener la indulgencia Plenaria   Es importante estar en Gracia de Dios mediante la confesión (Una sola confesión puede servir para varias indulgencias, pero tiene que estas en gracia en el momento) Comunión Eucarística (Debe recibir una para cada indulgencia), Oración por las intenciones del Papa (Se puede rezar un Padre Nuestro, Ave María y Gloria). Desapego total de todo pecado, incluso venial.

A group of friends from north Idaho parishes take time to pose for a picture while traveling to Centergurg, Ohio for the Damascus Summer Camp for youth last summer. About 35 north Idaho youth attended the camp. (Courtesy photo) By Bryan Saye For the ICR   How do 35 Catholic youth from northern Idaho end up together in the Midwest, more than 2,000 miles from home?   With the help of a few key players, involvement across several parishes and one northern Idaho apostolate, they were able to organize a weeklong trip this summer to Centerburg, Ohio, near Columbus, for the annual Damascus Summer Camp for youth.   Launched in 2001 as a parish-based initiative in the Diocese of Columbus, Ohio, Damascus is described as an ongoing mission to bring youth closer to their Catholic faith. It is named after the experience of St. Paul the Apostle, who underwent a dramatic and profound conversion to Christianity while traveling to Damascus.   “Our mission is to awaken, empower and equip a generation to live the adventure of the Catholic faith through world-class programs and an environment of encounter,” the organization states on its website.   The trip to Damascus all started with Jeff Zember, a member of both Saint Thomas the Apostle and Saint Pius X parishes in northern Idaho. He’s attended the Damascus camp privately the last few years, taking his children and a few of their friends. He describes the camp as “absolutely ‘best in class’ Catholic on all accounts.”   The camp’s mix of adventure, spirituality and encounter environment leads to transformational experiences, he said.   The camp “[It’s] situated on about 500 acres,” Zember told the [ITAL./]   Idaho Catholic Register (ICR).  “They have a bunch of high-adventure stuff … like rock climbing, swimming in the pool, a huge swing and paintball. They buckle it with a deep spiritual connection and all things Catholic – engaging in the sacrament, adoration, processions and confessions.”   Still, a campus full of activities wouldn’t be enough without devout and energetic Catholic men and women to engage the youth.   As Zember pointed out, “The missionaries are at the heart of it. The campus would be hollow if it weren’t for the missionaries … They have a very intentional faith formation in the way they serve these youth every week.”   And by “every week,” Zember referred to the nine groups of 500 youth that come through the camp every summer. That’s 4,500 people – not counting chaperones – who visit Damascus over a stretch of nine weeks.   Through simple word-of-mouth communication from Catholic youth who had experienced the excitement and spirituality at Damascus in years past, the tri-parish youth of northern Idaho, which includes Saint Thomas the Apostle, Saint Pius X and Saint Joan of Arc parishes, all jumped on board.   The trip But organizing a trip across country is a little different from just taking a few family friends. Thankfully, Zember didn’t have to do it on his own. He approached Wes Miller, coordinator for youth ministry at Saint Pius X Parish, who had also been to Damascus a few years prior.   Miller spent two and a half days at the camp, rather than the whole week, though his trip was anything but accidental. Wanting to improve as a youth minister, he’d heard about Damascus and decided to see what it was all about.   He asked himself, “Within youth ministry, how can we improve?”   “As a church, we’re trying to respond to the needs of our youth in the year 2025. I caught wind of what Damascus is doing. They’re doing it really well,” he said.   During his visit, he was able to see both the physical and spiritual elements that made Damascus work. On the physical level, he saw “the nuts and bolts behind what [they] do,” he said. “It’s a lot of high-energy activities during the day, [like] rope courses and all the water activities. [The missionaries are] trying to build relationships with the kids and have a good time.” Miller continued by describing the more spiritual aspects he witnessed during his second day at Damascus:   “[I was] seeing the spiritual component of it and getting to know the leaders, getting to pray with the different missionaries and having them pray for me,” he explained. “I’m getting to the heart of what they’re doing there. The culture that they’ve built at Damascus is so palpable – it’s the air that you breathe while you’re there. Every single person that you talk to carries a genuine love for Christ.”   While Miller didn’t act in any official capacity as coordinator of youth ministry, he was able to provide some space for Zember to speak during the youth groups. Zember introduced them to Damascus and started gathering contact information from young people and their parents who might be interested in attending.   With 35 youth signed up, the next step would be to address the logistics.   Enter Jason Chavez and his apostolate, CommunioCDA. He’d been on the trip to Damascus with Miller two years ago and shared the same desire to give the area’s youth a chance to visit the camp.   Chavez cited the communal nature of the youth of northern Idaho while planning the trip.   “It wasn’t just [one parish]; it was all these kids in north Idaho,” he explained. “It wasn’t about the parishes; it was about these kids coming together … [kids] who wanted to encounter Christ.”   With his apostolate focused on serving all Catholic youth in northern Idaho rather than any single parish, he was able to organize a fundraising event to help cover expenses. Hosted by Saint Pius X Parish, the evening featured food, fellowship, and faith formation. Youth were invited and encouraged to bring their friends along.   Despite raising nearly $2,000, Chavez wanted to highlight the communal nature of the event.   “I think the greater thing was everybody showing up, the community [coming] together, the kids talking, [and] the parents . . . kind of breaking down those walls of parishes and being there for the kids,” he said.   The team decided to choose the ninth and final week of Damascus’s summer camp schedule, Aug. 3-8. It was good timing since there were no northern Idaho sports going on to otherwise conflict with the camp.   The trip was just as successful as the organizers had hoped, the youth coming back spiritually on fire. They didn’t simply take the experience and let it settle; they came back ready to bring that spirit of evangelization and encounter.   “We had a great turnout,” Miller said, recalling the first youth group night following the camp. “These young adults and older teens came back to the youth group with a different mindset of being on mission. That’s the fruit that I’m seeing.”   He specifically recalled one young man, Joseph Girard, a 16-year-old high school student who credits the Damascus trip with a deepening of his faith. While he enjoyed the activities – specifically the “ropes course, having fun at the lake and doing paintball” – he felt an especially powerful connection to the counselors and missionaries who made it all possible.   “[I loved] being surrounded by God-fearing campers and counselors,” he said. “I don’t think I experienced such a powerful adoration in my life before.”   When asked what made the adoration so memorable, his words returned immediately to the community around him.   “It was just the people [who] were on fire for the Lord,” he said. “We were doing praise and worship while the Eucharist was being shown up close. The counselors there were really outgoing, really easy to get along with. You wanted to be friends with them and get to know them. Doing activities with your brothers and sisters in Christ made the spiritual times even more powerful, I think.”   After Damascus, he’s noticed profound changes in his personal and spiritual life, inspiring him to switch from a public high school in Coeur d’Alene to Coeur du Christ Academy.   He’s already applied to return to Damascus next summer as a volunteer. He’s excited even to work in a behind-the-scenes capacity, whether it’s cooking or cleaning, just to have a chance to get back.   On the spiritual side, he’s seen an increase in his appreciation for the Mass and prayer.   “I was still a practicing Catholic before, but it felt like I was going through the motions,” he explained. “When I was at Mass or when I was saying the rosary, sometimes it felt more like a burden than something I did devoutly. After Damascus, it’s made me appreciate the Mass more and appreciate my prayer life more.”   He finished with some words of wisdom: “I don’t go to Mass because it ‘feels good.’ I go because I love God, and I love my Creator. Damascus helped me realize that.”

Heroic Men's Conference set for Saturday, Oct. 4 By Jay Wonacott Director Marriage and Family Life Office   Recent national events, viewed against the backdrop of the decline in men’s morality within our culture, have been discouraging, to say the least.   The larger political world is aflame with what Pope St. John Paul II called the “culture of death.”   Now, more than ever, there is a great need to strengthen the Catholic men in our community.   Jay Wonacott In a world that has lost its moral bearing, we need heroic men to step forward in the family, workplace and public square to be stronger disciples of Christ and work toward justice, peace and a civilization of love. We cannot do this work alone, nor should we even try. We need other men of faith in our lives to walk this path to a better, healthier and holier culture, church and family.   On Saturday, Oct. 4, the Diocese of Boise, in collaboration with Salt & Light Catholic Radio and Catholic Men’s Leadership Alliance, will host a Heroic Men Leadership Workshop.   This is a one-day workshop for men who have a passion or interest in growing their parish-based men’s ministry. The workshop is from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and will be held at Risen Christ Catholic Church, 11511 W. Lake Hazel Road in Boise.   The day will include testimonials and keynote talks focusing on conversion, Catholic brotherhood and ministry outreach. Mass will be celebrated in addition to fellowship and food.   Speakers include Josh Dickson; Eddie Trask, executive director of Catholic Charities of Idaho; David Palmer; and Johnny Horn and Travis Wingo, leaders of the annual Idaho Catholic Men’s Conference. Joining these local men is Bill Moyer, a national leader in men’s ministry with the Catholic Men’s Leadership Alliance (CMLA) and president of the board of Heroic Men.   Moyer is co-founder and a former board member of CMLA who now serves as an advisor to Robert E. Tunmire, the organization’s CEO.   He is also co-founder of SOS Leadership Institute, an international organization committed to developing leaders who make a difference. He previously served as executive director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men and is a founding board member of the Central Texas Fellowship of Catholic Men. He is a certified spiritual director in the Diocese of Austin. He and his wife, Rose, have four grown children and nine grandchildren.   This fast-paced day will feature delicious meals, including breakfast and a special lunch of homemade pulled pork. You might come for the food, but you’ll stay for the fellowship and the valuable insights that will help you grow as a man and as a minister to men in your parish.   I am reminded of the words of Christ to his chief Apostle Peter about his need to strengthen his brothers after he turns back. This “turning back” refers to Peter’s actions after his betrayal of Christ. Later, we see Jesus forgiving Peter by asking him to feed his sheep.   Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Peter replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you even to prison and to death” (Luke 22:31-33).   As disciples of Christ, he is asking us, as men in his Church, to strengthen our resolve to strengthen our brothers even in the face of our weaknesses and betrayal of Christ. St. Peter was one of those heroic men who shows each man the way to converse with Christ and become a better disciple.   You can sign up for this Heroic Men Leadership Workshop by going to saltandlightradio.com/heroic-men . There’s a recommended donation of $25, but don’t let finances prevent you from attending.   God’s Holy Spirit may be calling you to do something great in your parish to help other men come to know Jesus more closely.   We are living in sobering and challenging times. We can no longer stand on the sidelines and not get involved in helping men of all ages and stages to better know the love of God and support one another on the faith journey of life.   I hope to see many heroic men on Oct. 4 at Risen Christ Catholic Church.

By Father Onyema Okorie Counseling Intern Idaho Catholic Charities For the ICR           The recent tragic shooting of innocent schoolchildren during a Catholic school Mass in Minneapolis sent a chilling shockwave through the minds of American Catholics.   Fr. Onyema Okorie Then the arrest of a Catholic priest for sexual battery of a minor in the city of Nampa, Idaho, left all Catholics in the Treasure Valley in shock and caused a ripple of emotions, including feelings of disappointment and embarrassment. In both cases, the U.S. Catholic Church and church officials responded in fervent prayers for the victims and their families and collaborated with law enforcement officials in the investigations.   I want to invite us Catholics to a deeper reflection on the side effects these tragic events had on us, precisely the psychological impacts.   I would like every one of us to think of him or herself as a victim of secondhand smoking. I will use the word “priests” to refer to all those involved in pastoral ministries, including parish staff and volunteers. There is no doubt priests are jack of all trades. People come to us with all kinds of problems, thinking we are experts and hoping for some resolutions.   I often tell parishioners jokingly, “I am not Jesus and I don’t perform miracles.” But he (Jesus) promised to remain always with us and assured us we will perform mighty deeds in his name (John 14:12).   The primary vocation of every priest is to save souls — salus animarum est suprema lex  (the salvation of souls is the supreme law). But, in our vocation of saving souls, we priests ended up doing more in the service of God and humanity. I also served as a military chaplain in the U.S. Air Force — 20 years of active-duty service with four deployments.   While on active-duty military service, I was exposed to traumatic situations. One of my experiences was receiving an emergency call right before celebrating Sunday Mass to give last rites to a victim/soldier whose body was 80% burned from an IED blast in Iraq.   Afterward, I remembered celebrating Sunday Mass with my hands still smelling strong from the burn (refer to an article by Kevin Dougherty, Stars and Stripes, “Chaplains: Near to soldiers wherever they go,” June 14, 2008).   I returned home from my deployments needing psychiatric and counseling help to help me process my wartime experiences and exposures.   Priests deal with so much in our ministries, making our lives so busy and susceptible to stress. According to Dr. Judy Berry, chair of psychology at Tulsa University, “Stress is an inevitable part of life and keeps us from being bored, but too much stress makes life difficult and can threaten health and psychological well-being” ( My Clients, My Students, My Patients, Myself: Self-Care Advice for Caring Professionals , Center for Learning and Leadership/College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 2012).   Also, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “In recent years much research has been carried out showing that stress is one of the truly major health problems facing Americans. Priests and bishops are by no means exempt from this problem” ( The Bishops’ Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry, United States Catholic Conference, The Priest and Stress,  1982).   The workloads for most priests come from dealing with parishioners’ life issues and concerns and traumas like accidents, illnesses, deaths, suicides and natural disasters like fire, flood, hurricanes and tornadoes.   Priests are often the first people most parishioners turn to in desperate times. Unavoidably, every parishioner we serve leaves behind an indelible footprint of their problems in our memory. Priests are very compassionate by nature and undeniably affected by the stories of those we serve — vicarious (or secondhand) trauma.   Vicarious trauma describes the side effects of every encounter we have. Those involved in human services like doctors, nurses, first responders, priests and pastoral ministers suffer vicarious trauma. Vicarious (secondhand) trauma is evident in physical, emotional, mental and spiritual fatigue and burnout, often suffered in silence. This is where seeking counseling help becomes very critical in helping us process our traumatic experiences and side effects.   The USCCB exhorts, “A priest may find, too, at critical times in his life, professional counseling to be valuable. For example, a priest should be aware that during certain periods of life, such as middle age, he may experience some emotional problems or crises which may take some form of depression or mood change. Counseling can be of great help at such times and should not be considered extraordinary. Such crises often accompany transition periods between stages of adult development. They are normal growth problems and not pathological.”   Mental health concerns such as burnout, chronic stress, frustration, irritability, lethargy, depression and alcoholism can develop and need to be addressed in professional counseling.   “We believe that admitting the seriousness of the problem of stress in the life of the priest today is the first step toward an answer” ( The Catholic Priest in the United States: Psychological Investigations,  1971, by Eugene C. Kennedy and Victor J. Heckler).   I cannot overemphasize the need for self-awareness and seeking self-care in professional counseling. Often it takes those around us to notice such symptoms as anger, irritability, impatience, emotional outburst, etc. These are easily noticeable in military personnel (and in civilians) following their return home from deployment.   It is important to listen and make proper notes of honest feedback. Every priest needs to have a counselor he can talk to on a regular basis. When I was a newly ordained transitional deacon, my bishop asked me: “Onyema, do you play golf?” I said, “No.” Then he said, “What kind of a priest are you going to be? Either you choose a healthy habit or you will turn to scotch and become an alcoholic.”   There are healthy and unhealthy habits. Continued self-growth of priests is critical and totally depends on each of us. Self-evaluation should be an ongoing process throughout our priestly career.   An article published by the National Library of Medicine revealed frontline health care workers experienced detrimental mental health impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic, including anxiety, emotional distress, fatigue and burnout ( www.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ). It is said that those who work in health care professions are the worst at taking good care of themselves. They give so much in taking care of others, but invest little or no time in taking care of themselves.   It reminds us of the wagging tongues of the chief priests, scribes and elders at the foot of the cross while mocking Jesus — “He saved others but cannot save himself” (Matthew 27:41-42). We priests are the worst at taking good care of ourselves.   We often relegate our need for self-care while taking care of others (like biblical Martha), and in the process, we pay heavy prices of stress and burnout. Self-care is the individual priest’s responsibility. Self-care is all about the well-being of the priest — Nemo dat quod non habet (“You can’t give what you don’t have” by St. Augustine). There is no room for not practicing what we preach. A Greek philosopher, Socrates, is known for his exhortation: “Man know thyself, an unexamined life is not worth living.”   The primary focus of mental health counseling is cognitive recalibration (positive psychology) — a shift from pathological (drug) treatment to psychotherapy (counseling). The healing of my mental health, including PTSD, took place at the spiritual level — putting my faith and trust in God, engaging in spiritual and religious devotions, and my ministries as a priest in the celebrations of the sacraments, the celebration of the Mass and the reception of the Eucharist.   Father Onyema Okorie  is a retired chaplain in the U.S. Air Force and is a part-time administrator at St. Joseph Station in Melba, Idaho. He holds a master’s in mental health counseling. In 2008, the U.S. Air Force named him a “Premier Combat Chaplain” and recognized him for “Amazing ministry to isolated forces,” including Special Forces units. He is currently a counseling intern at Catholic Charities of Idaho.

Presented by Salt & Light Radio, the conference, themed ‘Rejoice in Hope,’ was held Saturday, Sept. 6, drawing more than 750 in-person participants and another 300 virtually, either individually or through watch parties. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer   Embracing the call as beautiful, beloved daughters of God, renouncing lies and affirming truth were common threads at this year’s Idaho Catholic Women’s Conference.   Although none of the speakers collaborated on their presentations, each felt called in their pre-conference prayers to affirm women in their beauty, encourage them to renounce lies that mar their identity in Christ and inspire women to courageously live in Christ’s loving truth.   Presented by Salt & Light Radio, the conference, themed Rejoice in Hope , was held Saturday, Sept. 6, at Holy Apostles Parish in Meridian, drawing more than 750 in-person participants and another 300 virtually, either individually or through watch parties.   “We wanted to give people hope and for souls to be fed,” said Carol Brown, director of marketing and community relations at Salt & Light Radio. “We wanted people to experience healing and for things to go smoothly. Based on the surveys, mission accomplished!”   Mass kicks off conference Idaho Bishop Peter F. Christensen celebrated Mass to open the conference, which drew more new participants than previous years, especially young women and mothers, according to Brown. From left, Father Goodluck Ajaero, SMMM; Deacon Steven Rayburn; Bishop Peter Christensen; Deacon David Shackley; Father Caleb Vogel; and Father Vitalis Onyeama, SMMM, during the celebration of Holy Mass. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez) “These days, it seems like all of us are spending a lot of time rushing to the next thing,” Bishop Peter said in his homily. “We often forget to take the time to reflect, pray, meditate and call upon God. In doing so, we fail to let our minds and hearts be in sync with God, and our emotions become more and more raw. We become vulnerable and apt to believe lies about ourselves. Lies spoken to us from years past and piling up even today.”   Too often, he said, people focus on the negative.   “The problem is, my sisters, if we hear the negative enough, we can begin to believe it,” Bishop Peter said. “The most common lie is, ‘You are not good enough.’”   The antidote to negativity, he said, is encouragement in the truth.   “We need encouragement in our lives,” he affirmed. “Every person you and I meet has a heavy burden. Each human soul harbors unseen wounds and unspoken fears.”   Bishop Peter most recently witnessed the power of encouragement at breakfast in a hotel. He saw a young mother struggling with her baby at a table when an older woman spoke up and told her, “You are a good mother.” The young mother instantly teared up as the older woman continued to encourage her and even hugged her.   Bishop Peter waited until the young mother had left the dining room before speaking privately with the older woman about what he had witnessed.   “She called these deliberate acts of encouragement for people she meets; [they are] her ‘micro drops of joy,’” he related. “She does this simply because she feels people need to be lifted up.”   Though small, they can be powerful in bringing courage to others, he said, adding that it is also a way to fulfill a command in Scripture: “Encourage yourselves daily while it is still ‘today,’ so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin” (Hb. 3:13).   “St. Paul doesn't say encourage occasionally or just when it's convenient to do so, but daily,” he emphasized. “The culture we're living in so easily tears people down. We need to build each other up. We need to make encouragement a part of our regular flow of speech.”   Discouragement is a soul crusher, but to give encouragement is to live in the life of the Holy Spirit, he explained.   “Encouragement is a beautiful way to allow the Spirit to work through us, to collaborate with God, because God is not about tearing us down; He is building us up.”   To encourage one another is to spread truth to others and affirm their identity as a truly beloved child of God.   “The Lord says to each of you, ‘Take courage. Fear not, my beloved daughter. Fear not; I am with you.’ Let this enter into your hearts. Take this as a gift, use it and be healed.” At the opening of the Idaho Women’s Conference, Padre Pio’s relic was displayed at Holy Apostles Parish in Meridian for veneration. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez) Crystalina Evert Evert, an international speaker and author, delivered two talks at the conference. She and her husband, Jason, are co-founders of the Chastity Project, an organization dedicated to promoting chastity and healthy relationships among young people.   “I have found traveling all over the world and speaking with women that 90 percent of women are not living out the gifts that God has given them,” Evert said. “I myself am still learning my gifts and growing into them.”   Wherever she has been, she has found that women have a lot of wounds and brokenness. “There's a lot of sin that we hold on to that stifles our spiritual growth and does not allow us to actually step into what we were created for.”   Evert shared her testimony with the audience. When she was 2, her father left their family. When she was 11, her grandfather, to whom she had looked up, also left the family. The pattern of men in her family history abandoning their wives and children deeply wounded her identity, she said.   “When I was young, I learned the lie at a very young age that love doesn't last, but I couldn’t wait to find ‘the one.’ So, at the age of 15, I lost my virginity,” she revealed. “I thought having sex was going to cause this huge, emotional bond, and we'd be on cloud nine and so in love. But slowly I realized he was just using me. After a while, I realized he was cheating on me. We broke up. We went our separate ways.”   Evert felt like she was “damaged goods” after breaking up with her boyfriend. To escape the pain, she turned to partying, drugs and alcohol. “I just lost myself completely,” she said. “I was miserable. I hated myself. My friends would always say, ‘Oh, it's all fun and games.’ Well, the next day, when the fun and games were over, I was disgusted with myself.”   Her mother insisted she go to a chastity presentation at a church. Evert reluctantly went. However, she quickly realized the event had a message of redemption that she needed.   “The speaker had done the same things I had done, but he had peace, joy and confidence,” she explained. “He wasn't ashamed of himself. And it was that day that I said I was going to start respecting my body, start respecting God and get my standards out of the gutter.”   Her conversion wasn’t easy, but she knew God loved her and was calling her to a better life.   “God wants you exactly where you're at,” she said. “He wants you to invite Him into your brokenness, those wounds, all those places that you want to hide from the world. He sees it all. There's no age limit on your purpose, in your mission that God has given you.”   Evert became involved with the chastity ministry as a speaker and met her husband, Jason Evert. When they married, she felt she was having a fresh start and that life would be “happily ever after.” However, in the stress of raising children and running a household, she realized that her healing journey was not over.   “I was under construction. I was a hot mess,” she testified. “I was doing all the things: going to confession, Mass and adoration. Then one day in adoration, I heard the Lord tell me, ‘Go to counseling.’”   At first, Evert refused to seek a counselor, but eventually acquiesced. Each session, she found, was affirmation that she was fulfilling God’s plan for her, the decision becoming a pivotal moment in her journey toward healing.   “Each of us can hear God’s voice. Even when we keep ourselves distanced from Jesus and what He calls us to do, He is still speaking to us, and we can hear Him,” she said. “If you say you can’t hear Him, I don’t believe you because when I was at my worst, drunk or high out of my mind back in high school, I knew I heard God’s voice saying, ‘Leave. Stop. Don’t do that.’ My conscience was still alive, even though I felt dead inside.”   Hearing God’s voice and obeying Him is essential to our growth. Unfortunately, too often, she explained, we listen to the negative voices in our head that accuse us and tell us lies about ourselves, from our looks to our intelligence and worth.   “It’s unreal how we dissect ourselves and how we take on those lies about ourselves, but God is whispering to us to counter those lies,” Evert said.   As we allow those lies to take hold, we give way to fear.   “Fear is the seed of evil: if the devil can make you fearful and not believe what God is telling you about who you are, then you become your own worst enemy,” she said, adding that Catholic counseling helped her to discern the lies and end toxic relationships and thinking.   She also found a quick way to fight the devil’s lies, by declaring out loud, “Jesus, speak the truth to me.” Emily Wilson, another Catholic speaker, told Evert that “the devil hates the name of Jesus, and he hates the truth. And Jesus will tell you the truth.”   Through her journey, Evert found confession, adoration and counseling to be essential in her healing. “There are no shortcuts,” she said. “But you are not doing this alone. You are going with Jesus.” Through healing, women receive the freedom to be their true selves.   “Do not underestimate the power of your own testimony to the world and what God wants to do through you,” she urged. “Your light was made to shine. Your self-worth is within you and has been given to you for a purpose. Your beauty was given to you for a great reason as well. It is time to rise up unafraid of who you are and embrace who you are.”   Sister Maria Goretti Sister Maria, who belongs to the order of the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart in Los Angeles, also spoke at the conference.   “Every single one of you are absolutely ravishing to the Lord,” Sister Maria Goretti said, sharing a reflection from speaker Father John Burns of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee on the primary call of Eve in the book of Genesis.   “In the first moments of Eve's existence, the scripture says God brought her to the man,” she explained. “That means that when Eve was created, she was alone with the Father and no one else. As she was created, the only One who communicated her dignity, identity and beauty to her was the Father. As the Father created her and gazed on her, Eve gazed back at the Father alone and knew she was beautiful and knew that she was created to be a delight.”   As Eve was created, so each of us are created and affirmed with the Father’s delight.   “Ladies, you are created to be gazed upon with delight, the purest delight that there is,” she attested. “The only loving gaze that is going to be able to communicate to you your identity and your full beauty and full worth is going to be that of your Heavenly Father, because that is how we were made.”   When she was young, Sister Maria said she loved dressing up and being beautiful.   “Beauty is a part of your essence as a woman,” she said. “You need to know this about yourself, which is why God has it all over Scripture.”   When she entered the convent, her desire to be beautiful remained, but external affirmation of her beauty was no longer the source of her identity. Beauty, she said, is not something that women should be ashamed of or try to run away from.   “Our beauty is sacred. Your beauty is sacred on all levels of the way that God created you,” she continued. Each woman, body and soul, is beautiful.   There can be a shame around wanting to be delighted in because women think it’s vain to desire that, she added. “You think that's vanity, but ladies, it's holy.”   Because of the fear of becoming vain or the fear of falling into lust and using beauty in wrong ways, women can become afraid of the desire of their hearts to be delighted in and to be beautiful, she explained.   “But the Father is telling you, ‘Do not be afraid. You are beautiful. Show me your face. Let me see you. You are lovely,’” she said, adding that holiness is what makes women beautiful. “A woman who is in love radiates because she knows she's beautiful in the eyes of her beloved. That's why she's so radiant. She knows her beloved calls her beautiful. It's the same thing for us with God.”   To receive this gift of God’s gaze, we must listen to His voice. “Whichever voice you give more time to is the voice that’s going to take over,” Sister Maria said. “So, if you’re not giving primacy of place to the voice of your Father in Jesus, other voices are going to take over.”   The Father wants to speak truth to each of us, she added.   “You are beautiful. No matter what you've done, where you've been, and where you are right now, that is the way your Father sees you,” Sister Maria said. “But the thing is, you're not going to be able to fully receive that unless you're looking at Him in prayer on a regular basis.”   Receiving our true identity as beautiful, beloved daughters of God is a lifelong journey of healing. “Healing is not about being fixed. If Jesus wants to bring healing and freedom to your beautiful hearts, it's for intimacy with Himself.”   Our wounds become open doors for intimacy with Jesus Christ, but first we must give Him permission to enter in.   “Letting Jesus into these places can take time, and that is OK,” Sister Maria said. “It can take years for certain wounds in our hearts, certain things He needs to work through to heal, and that's all right because He just wants to be with you in the journey.”

Renowned musical performer and North Idaho Catholic Chris James Gootherts performed a benefit concert for the St. George building fund on Sept. 19 at St. Pius X Parish in Coeur d’ Alene. The money will help St. George Parish finish its expansion project. Gootherts leads church music at Mass at three area parishes twice a month. (Courtesy photo/Trinity Music, LLC) By Lisa Ormond ICR North Idaho Correspondent   A flurry of special fundraisers over the past five months has kept St. George Parish’s coffers in Post Falls in good health, pushing construction of the new Parish Center and Adoration Chapel closer to reality.   And the momentum hasn’t shown signs of slowing anytime soon, that is, if the church body has anything to say about it.   “The church members are pouring their hearts, souls and devotion into getting enough funds to finish the new Parish Center and Adoration Chapel,” Father Sleeva Madanu told the Idaho Catholic Register (ICR), adding that he is sure that this hope will not lead to disappointment.   “For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. This love is evident in all the volunteers who keep coming up with the fundraising ideas and the hours they are working to make the events successful,” he said.   These fundraisers have kept the dirt moving, the workers on site and the overall construction moving forward with true faith and purposeful determination.   “The entire parish is also helping us succeed in our goal with prayers and participating in each of the fundraisers,” Father Sleeva said. “We are such a blessed community.”   Project status update For over four years, St. George Parish has been planning, designing, fundraising for, and building their multi-million dollar, 14,000-square-foot construction project. The community’s capital campaign, called “Making a Place to Gather and Grow,” has been a testament and steadfast anchor in moving toward their goal.   Approximately 75% of the build is completed, which represents a vital investment in their faith and the future. It includes a gathering hall with seating for approximately 255, six classrooms, multiple parish offices, a large kitchen for ministries and a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week  Adoration Chapel for prayer, peaceful contemplation and spiritual connection.   “It will allow our parish to expand our ministries, attract young families and offer more space to learn about our Catholic heritage and deepen our faith,” Father Sleeva said.   The exterior shells of the buildings are complete, and efforts are focused on completing all outside work before winter. The Parish Center’s main meeting room upstairs, called the Great Hall, is sheet-rocked, taped and textured, with work on overhead fire sprinkler suppression just beginning, and painting is scheduled to take place in three weeks.   “If we can get sufficient funds to continue the planned building, it’s possible we could occupy the new Parish Center the first week of February,” said parishioner and volunteer construction Project Manager Bob Ellis. “The kitchen won’t be done, but we will raise money for those costs after the completion of the rest of the hall work.”   Going above and beyond With holy determination and zeal for their quest, St. George’s parish community hasn’t paused a minute to raise the monies they need, creating nonstop fundraisers as outgrowths of their dedication and devotion.   In July, the church body was laser-focused on a two-day rummage sale, the church’s united efforts bringing in much-needed dollars at a critical, good-weather period to sustain building.   St. George member Roxann Zohner served as the event coordinator.   “We came together as a church family and it was an enormous success,” she said. “Thank you to everyone for being the hands and hearts of Jesus.” Zohner expressed gratitude for the 40 parish volunteers who came forward for setup, sales and tear-down.   “So many people stepped up and wanted to help out,” she said.   And the donations overflowed the church parking lot.   “We received triple the number of items than ever before. I kept running out of tables to put all the stuff!” Zohner said. “It is such a blessing to be a member of this parish.” The future St. George Parish Center and Adoration Chapel pictured on Aug. 23. If donations continue to come in and the weather cooperates, classes and meetings could start as early as January of next year.   (ICR Photo/Lisa Ormond)  Charity from across the country While endless energy, talents and time among its own church members keep the St. George center build afloat, word apparently has spread to at least one other Catholic community across the country about their need—and it is bearing fruit.   Recently, St. George Church received an unexpected delivery at its office: a box of encouraging notes, rolled coins, loose change and other sizable donations from a rural community in Minnesota that heard about the Post Falls church’s construction project and “just wanted to help,” one letter stated.   “It was such a blessing to have this package of kindness and generosity suddenly arrive at our doorstep from people who don’t even know us,” Father Sleeva said.   It is still somewhat of a mystery exactly how this donation came about, but it is believed that someone from the Post Falls parish community traveled to this rural part of the country and shared the church’s story of need.   The donations included monies from the sale of an old farm tractor at auction, sweet corn sales grown on a farmer’s land, a St. Benedict Monastery women’s group, a local teen’s babysitting earnings and more.   “We are one Catholic family, and we need to recognize that we need to lift one another up when the road gets tough through prayer and unity,” Father Sleeva reminded.   Home-cooked Indian feast attracts donors Under the inspirational guidance and direction of Father Sleeva, many hands joined together to offer a unique fundraising culinary experience—a multi-course, authentic Indian banquet—to raise money for St. George’s Parish Hall building fund over the summer.   Two feasts were offered in early June and on Aug. 27. Both sold out quickly and served 30 and 40 donor guests, respectively.   “Each dinner was a beautiful event that showcased the generosity of our Catholic community. Plus, Father is quite the chef,” commented parishioner Susan Jacobson. Susan, along with her husband Ron, sponsored and hosted both feasts at their Post Falls home in their outside garden area.   “It was our pleasure to be able to support these important church events,” Susan said. “It offered us the opportunity to socialize, and it was a special time spent discussing our precious Catholic faith.”   The culinary dining experience showcased delectable, legendary Indian dishes such as lemon rice, raita (yogurt with onions), lentil vegetable soup, butter lamb curry, chicken biryani, tandoori chicken, potatoes and pea curry, and also included wine, drinks and desserts made by the Jacobsons.   All the food was eaten up and thoroughly enjoyed by those who came.   “I’m extremely happy it was gone!” said Father Sleeva. “I do taste-test the dishes when making them, but I don’t eat any food at the event. I like to remind everyone the spices are intended to activate your taste buds, and the yogurt can help cut the heat.”   Parishioner Bill Reindel said he “liked all” of the Indian dishes.   “This is great. I didn’t want any yogurt though,” he smiled.   “It’s fresh and good, and you can tell everything here is made with love and care,” commented St. George parishioner Serena Williams. St. George’s Father Sleeva Madanu and parish member Wayne Woodard relax and partake in sweet desserts after a long day of meal preparation at the Indian Feast fundraiser held on.  (ICR Photo/Lisa Ormond) Benefit piano concert offered A music concert was also in the mix of St. George’s fundraisers. Renowned musical performer and St. George parish member Chris James Gootherts brought the Coeur d’Alene region his blend of humor, storytelling and musical talents to raise money for the St. George building fund.   Hundreds of guests attended his solo evening show on Sept. 19 at St. Pius X (host church), where he entertained audiences of all ages. Ticket proceeds were donated by Gootherts, who twice a month lead music ensembles at three Catholic parishes in the area.   Memorial bricks and tiles for sale The newest St. George fundraiser, called “Bricks to Honor Our Loved Ones,” was launched early this month by the church’s fundraising committee.   “This is a unique opportunity to leave a lasting mark on our parish’s sacred spaces,” said Debbie Ellis, St. George’s council chair. “You will be able to purchase an engraved brick and/or tile, a symbol of faith, family or a loved one’s memory, which will become a permanent part of the church’s story.”   Anyone can purchase and then choose the personal inscription. Bricks will be displayed in the outside grotto area, and tiles will adorn the church’s new entryway. Prices range from $350 (brick), $450 (tile) or $700 for both. Please contact St. George’s parish if interested. The two-day St. George Rummage sale at the end of July on church property raised thousands of dollars for the New Parish Center and Adoration Chapel building fund. (ICR photo/Lisa Ormond)   Firm faith and belief leading the way United in God and grounded in prayer and a true belief in the Lord’s mercy and ability to deliver their finished hall and chapel, St. George has its eyes looking upward with much trust and gratitude for the blessings and graces offered to their community so far.   Purposeful determination among its members continues while giving God praise and glory.   “It’s about believing in each other and the greatness that we have as a community and maintaining that belief in the Lord and each other no matter what,” Father Sleeva noted.   Seeking support from the community Donations and prayers are still being humbly requested from local and statewide Catholics who wish to help St. George’s parish reach their goal.   “Any donation can make a real difference, and we’d be most grateful,” Father Sleeva said. “Thank you for your generosity to assist us to serve faithfully as disciples.”   To donate to the St. George New Parish Center and Adoration Chapel Fund, checks can be mailed to St. George Catholic Church, P.O. Box 10, Post Falls, ID 83877, or online through their website at www.stgeorgesidaho.com .