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Discerning technology’s dangers and limitations   By Deacon Thomas Middleton Pope Saint John Paul II Catholic Parish For the ICR   A couple of months ago, my son-in-law, who is a Ph.D. research psychologist and serves on staff at an Idaho medical institution, introduced me to Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.   He is passionate about the benefits of AI and its ability to synthesize large volumes of data from innumerable sources in an instantaneous manner. The utility of this relatively new technology in the medical community is self-evident, and doctors are finding it to be a valuable tool in the practice of medicine.   I started using a couple of different AI apps, just to familiarize myself with the technology. It is an amazing tool, and most of the information presented is reliable, including answers to complex Catholic theological questions. For example, as a test, I asked ChatGPT to write a “four-hundred-word Catholic homily in the Augustinian tradition regarding the relationship between faith and reason.” In just a few seconds, it provided a beautifully worded homily that was completely Catholic and Augustinian, including quotes from the saint, and succinct conclusions pertinent to the circumstances of our time. I have no doubt that if I had given the AI homily at Mass, it would have been regarded as one of my best! It is a telling example of the wonder but also the danger of this incredible technology.   Not human, not God The problem with my AI homily was that God was not in the loop. A homily is not just a speech or talk. It is a sacramental act of preaching and must be rooted in a lived faith. I did not pray about the AI homily. I did not meditate on the Word. I did not study Church teaching or the saints. The AI homily did not come from a heart and mind inspired by the Holy Spirit. God’s wisdom was not sought. Love for Christ and his Church was not part of the homiletic chemistry. Apart from the formation of the original question, it was a completely electronic, i.e., not human, product.   As a preacher, I am faced with an ethical decision. Do I preach the AI produced homily because of its excellence, or do I write my own homily; a homily inspired by the Holy Spirit, imperfect, but flowing from God’s love and grace? The fact that AI is so readily accessible and able to produce instant results, makes the temptation to let it do the hard spiritual work for me, and every other preacher, a serious everyday decision.   The question I must ask myself, and the Church must ask itself, is “What will we become if we allow AI to do our spiritual work for us?” The level of preaching might increase in a dramatic fashion, but it might also damage our communion with God and His Spirit. It becomes a question of choosing the good, choosing Christ, doing the right thing, over expedience.   I was talking to my 13-year-old granddaughter the other day. At her school, they are provided with electronic devices, i.e., “tablets,” to allow them to do schoolwork, including AI and other internet use. The system administrator controls internet access and blocks any sites or programs the school deems inappropriate, and rightfully so. The problem is that the students spend almost every waking moment discovering ways around the system admin blockers. Just like many young people, they have become very good at manipulating technology. A continuous game of cat and mouse exists where the school installs blockers and the students find ways to defeat them. (Image created using ChatGPT) The good and the bad The electronic battle occurring in my granddaughter’s school is not unique, and many other institutions, from government to industry, spend an extraordinary amount of time and money trying to stay one step ahead of ever-advancing technology. It makes a very real point about its nature. Electronic technology is elusive, constantly evolving and cannot be barricaded from our lives. It must not be ignored. AI is already ubiquitous and has a plethora of legitimate uses. Its growth will continue at an overwhelming rate. In a short period of time, AI will be part of everything. It is already woven into the fabric of human decision-making.   Google Maps, Siri, Alexa, smartphone cameras and chatbots are AI tools on which we have all come to rely. Platforms like Facebook, Tik Tok, Instagram and You Tube all use AI to organize your feed and recommend content. Uber and Lyft use AI to match drivers with riders. Microsoft Editor uses AI to suggest writing improvements. Tesla self-driving cars, and other newer cars, use AI for lane-keeping, braking, object detection and route planning. Like every other human technology, it can be used for good and/or evil. AI can serve the human person and human dignity or it can reduce/replace them.   It is imperative that Catholic moral thinking, Catholic ethics and Catholic critical thinking be introduced into the AI technology arena at a local level. AI is knowledge, not wisdom. The world needs Catholics, including Catholic clergy, to start educating themselves on AI capabilities to become moral and ethical thought leaders on its applications. For example, tech companies developing AI must see themselves as moral actors accountable for making moral decisions in its application.   Catholics must stand up In 2024, Pope Francis expressed serious concern about AI being incorporated into the ability to make war, i.e., autonomous weapons systems and weapons platforms. Today, that train has already left the station. To protect human goodness, Catholics have to stand up and be counted in real time. If we do not engage as the Church, AI technology is going to run over us.   In this new industrial revolution, many other areas need Catholic AI moral and ethical thought leadership at a working level – healthcare, criminal justice and law enforcement, human resources organizations, social media platforms, finance and banking, education and more. Human beings who use AI technology must be guided by principles grounded in natural law and divine revelation. AI cannot be used to replace human conscience. Human beings must remain accountable.          The developments in AI technology are not a call for panic but for discernment. Like all fruits of invention, AI is a product of the human intellect. The human intellect is good. It is created in God’s image, but it also is not God. No algorithm, no code, no technology can redeem us - only Jesus. AI can never become an idol. It cannot be something that we trust more than God’s grace, conscience or God’s truth.   Technology can assist us in our humanity, but it cannot absolve us of moral responsibility. It cannot love. It cannot pray. It cannot sacrifice for a loved one.   Faith and reason are not opposed. Faith and innovation are not opposed. Faith elevates both these things. Faith allows us to shape technology with the light of Christ in order to serve God’s truth and human dignity.

By Father Ron Rolheiser For the ICR In a book entitled “Peculiar Treasures,” the renowned novelist and spiritual writer Frederick Buechner reflects on the character of Judas, the man who betrayed Jesus with a kiss and then died by suicide. Buechner, who had lost his own father to suicide, speculates on the reasons why Judas dies by suicide. Referring to an ancient church tradition, he suggests that perhaps Judas chose suicide out of hope instead of despair, that is, he felt dammed and counted on Jesus’ mercy after death, thinking that perhaps “hell might be his last chance of making it to heaven.” Then, imagining Jesus’ descent into hell, Buechner writes, “It’s a scene to conjure with. Once again, they met in the shadows, the two old friends, both of them a little worse for wear after all that had happened, only this time it was Jesus who was the one to give the kiss, and this time it wasn’t the kiss of death that was given,” Jeffrey Munroe wrote in “Reading Buechner,” published by InterVarsity Press. As Christians, as a very article of faith in our Creeds, we believe that after his death, Jesus “descended into hell.” What’s meant by that? The popular conception of this in the language of our catechesis, in our iconography and Christian piety might be summarized this way: After the sin of Adam and Eve, “original sin,” the gates of heaven were closed, so that from the time of Adam and Eve until the death of Jesus, no one could go to heaven. However, in his death, Jesus atoned for our sins and during the time between his death on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday, he went to that place in the underworld, Sheol, where all the good people who had died throughout history were waiting, and he led them into heaven. This was his “descent into hell.” But, whatever the literal truth in that popular conception, there’s a powerful theological truth undergirding the doctrine. In essence, it’s this: The love and compassion that Jesus manifested in his death have the power to go into hell itself. That is, there is no “hell” (physical, psychological or spiritual) we can create that Christ’s love cannot penetrate so as to offer healing for the very wound which caused that hell itself. God’s love, healing and forgiveness can penetrate any hell we can create and heal the wound that caused that hell. (Image created using ChatGPT) This is perhaps the single most consoling doctrine not just in Christianity but in all religions. When we are powerless to help others or ourselves, God can still help us. It’s for this reason that Christians don’t believe in reincarnation. It isn’t needed. We don’t need to get ourselves completely right to go to heaven. When we are powerless, God can still do for us what we can’t do for ourselves. That’s a deep consolation because not everyone dies a happy death. Many of us die in anger, in bitterness, not fully reconciled with others, with unfinished business of the soul. And some of us die by suicide, imprisoned in a private hell where, due to illness and wound rather than moral fault, we believe our death is our only way to life. The doctrine of Jesus’ descent into hell is particularly helpful regarding how we might understand how those who die by suicide are met by God after their deaths. For too long we have been falsely anxious about this, fearing that suicide is a grave human and moral failure, an act of despair, unforgiveable (certainly on this side of eternity). However, in most cases, it is an illness, one not freely chosen. Like cancer, a heart attack or an accident, it takes someone out of life against his or her committed choice. For this reason, we are encouraged to no longer use the phrase “committed suicide.” Nobody “commits” cancer or “commits” a heart attack. He or she “succumbs” to it. So, too, for most suicides. With this in mind, we can better appreciate the image Frederick Buechner uses in speculating about Judas’ suicide and his meeting with Jesus in hell. In essence, this is Buechner’s image: After his betrayal of Jesus, Judas descends into a private hell wherein he senses that what he has done cannot be forgiven and he is doomed forever to live in that darkness. That falsity, that illness, that fatally misguided logic tells him that going to hell is his last chance of going to heaven. So, he takes his own life. After his death, Jesus meets him in the shadows of that misguided hell and kisses him, not in condemnation or damnation, but in unconditional love, understanding and forgiveness. This image, I believe, can help us understand what happens in suicide: the misguided logic of those taking their own lives, and God’s loving, compassionate, forgiving, invitational descent into their private hell within which they believe their deaths are a favor to their loved ones and that “hell might be their last chance to go to heaven.” Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser is a Professor of Spirituality at Oblate School of Theology and an award-winning author. He can be contacted through his website www.ronrolheiser.com. You can also follow him on Facebook www.facebook.com/ronrolheiser

Dear Catholic Faithful, As we continue in our Jubilee Year of Hope, I am pleased to share the launching of our first-ever Idaho Catholic Marriage Conference on October 18, 2025. Over the past decade, we have seen the success of Salt and Light Radio’s Catholic Men’s and Women’s Conferences. Also, we have for many years hosted our annual Idaho Catholic Youth Conference (ICYC), which is now a staple of our offerings for youth. More than ever in our culture, there is a need to uplift and support the Sacrament of Marriage, the foundation of family life. I am pleased to be offering this conference opportunity through our Bishop Peter F. Christensen Diocese of Boise Diocesan Marriage and Family Life Office. We are calling the conference: Anchored in Hope. This conference is a crucial event to support the fundamental cell of the Church, society, marriage and family. In the midst of the Jubilee Year of Hope, this a wonderful time to celebrate the eternal hope we have in Christ Jesus. Our keynote speakers for this conference are Dr. Scott and Kimberly Hahn of St. Paul’s Center for Biblical Theology and Christopher and Wendy West of the Theology of the Body Institute. Our diocese’s own Fr. John Mosier will also be one of our keynote speakers. We are pleased to have Johnny and Lorissa Horn as the emcees for this inaugural Idaho Catholic Marriage Conference. I ask all our married couples to consider attending this first-time Idaho Catholic Marriage Conference. If this event is successful, I hope it will become an annual offering. I will also be celebrating our annual Milestone Anniversary Mass at this conference. If you are a couple celebrating a key milestone anniversary (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50 and 50-plus), please consider registering. This marks the 10th anniversary of our Diocese hosting these Milestone Anniversary Masses. This year’s Mass and Conference will be held at the Boise Centre West in downtown Boise for this special conference and Mass. Prayer teams available to pray with you for the needs of your married life; a book sale and signing by our keynotes speakers during lunch time; and an after-conference social (ticketed event) to continue the conversation at the end of the conference. Please help me by encouraging one another to attend this wonderful event during the Jubilee Year of Hope. The early bird pricing will be good through the end of August. Please take the time to register for the conference this month. Use the QR code for more information and to register. I believe this will be one of the most important events of our Jubilee celebrations. I would love to fill the Boise Centre on October 18 with Catholic couples in love with Jesus and their Catholic faith. I hope to see you there. Sincerely Yours in Christ, Most Reverend Peter F. Christensen, Bishop of Boise

Purchase tickets for the 2025 Harvest of Hope Gala & Dinner now while they are still available   By Philip A. Janquart ICR Editor   For 25 years, Catholic Charities of Idaho (CCI) has supported those in need, providing services and programs rooted in the Gospel.   But the mission would fall short without Bishop Peter F. Christensen speaks during the 2024 CCI Gala and Dinner Fundraiser. (Courtesy photo) the generous donations of CCI supporters. The annual gala and dinner, the organization's most significant fundraiser of the year, is scheduled for Oct. 25, 2025, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Chateau des Fleurs, located at 176 S. Rosebud Lane in Eagle.   “Catholic Charities of Idaho is celebrating 25 years of serving Idahoans in need; let’s come together in gratitude and hope, helping support their invaluable work for the next quarter century,” said Idaho Bishop Peter F. Christensen in a statement.   This year’s gala, titled the “Harvest of Hope Gala and Dinner,” carries the theme “Anchored in Hope,” echoing Pope Francis’ 2024 declaration that 2025 would be a Jubilee Year of Hope.   Registration for the event ends Friday, Oct. 10, at 5 p.m. Mountain time. However, tickets have historically sold out quickly, so those planning to attend are encouraged to purchase well in advance.   To purchase tickets or sign up as a sponsor, visit ccidaho.org/gala , call Donor Relations Manager Shyla Rankin at (208) 350-7482 or scan the QR code.   Sponsorships Catholic Charities of Idaho Executive Director Eddie Trask said efforts are underway to secure sponsors, which are crucial components in the nonprofit organization’s ability to provide faith-based counseling, immigration legal services and social services.   “We depend on our donors and sponsors to help us continue to provide these critical services to all those in need,” he told the Idaho Catholic Register (ICR) . “This year, we are giving a nod to the saints through our sponsorship packets. There is a saint tied to every sponsorship level, from immigration to charity workers.” This year, the highest-level sponsorship is designated as the Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Presenting Sponsor.   Also known as Elisabeth of Thuringia, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, a princess of the Kingdom of Hungary and the landgravine of Thuringia, is the patron saint of charity workers. She was married at 14 and widowed at 20, but regained her dowry, using the money to build a hospital where she served the sick. She became a symbol of Christian charity after she died in 1231 at the age of 24 and was canonized on May 25, 1235. A live auction is part of the Catholic Charities of Idaho's 25th anniversary Gala and Fundraiser to be held from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Chateau des Fleurs in Eagle, Idaho on Oct. 10. (Courtesy photo)   Those committing to this highest level of sponsorship receive two tables of eight, four bottles of premium wine per table, a full-page ad in the gala program with logo/name on invitations and event signage, and a special thank you and recognition at the dinner.   This level of sponsorship impacts an average of 250 families.   Other sponsorship packages are represented by Saint John Bosco, patron of youth; Saint Damien of Molokai, patron of outcasts; Saint Dymphna, patron of mental health; Saint Francis Cabrini, patron of immigrants; and Saint Jeanne Jugan, patron of the elderly and destitute.   Expansion? Catholic Charities of Idaho currently has two locations, at 7201 W. Franklin in Boise (adjacent to Bishop Kelly High School), and 611 Wilson Ave., Suite 6B in Pocatello.   “We are not in a position to release a strategic plan, but the board has approved some pretty ambitious strategic ideas, a nod to the fact that they want to serve more Idahoans. We all have a strong desire to expand our reach.”   Rankin added that CCI is always open to ideas from the public.   “If there are things in the community that people want to see happen, we want to hear your feedback,” she told the ICR . “Don’t be afraid to call and ask questions. We don’t know unless we talk.”     Community impacts through Catholic Charities of Idaho Editor’s note: The following information was pulled from CCI’s Impact Report for fiscal year 2023-24.   People served through faith-based counseling – 170, with 14,000 counseling clinical hours provided Immigration representations – 227 People served through community education events – 304 Community legal screenings – 107 Senior housing clients – 47 Hygiene kits distributed – 63 Case management clients – 40 Family housing stabilization clients – 34 Referrals provided – 1,156 Families sponsored for Christmas giving – 100 Resettlement clients – 10 Hours providing referrals – 1,326 Diapers distributed – 13,034 Cold-weather clothing articles provided – 2,211 ($49,747) Victims of human trafficking supported – 7 ($6,403.27)

Padre Camilo García, Párroco de Saint Nicholas en Rupert y las niñas Briseida y Alesandra Gil, durante la kermes de la parroquia donde participó la estación de radio Sal y Luz . (Foto/cortesía de Mirella Silva Gil) 'No solo sostenemos una radio...sostenemos almas' La estación Sal y Luz lanza una campaña especial para invitar a sus radioescuchas y a toda la comunidad a ser parte activa de esta gran misión de evangelización a través de la radio. Tu apoyo mensual puede marcar una gran diferencia. Con una do- nación desde $20, $50, $100 o más al mes, estarás ayudando a que esta voz de fe, esperanza y consuelo siga llegando a los hogares de quienes más lo necesitan: personas solas, enfermas o imposibilitadas de asistir a su parroquia. La radio es, para muchos, el único medio por el cual pueden participar en la vida de la Iglesia y seguir cre- ciendo en su fe. Tu donativo mantiene viva esta misión. Nuestra meta es reunir los fondos necesarios para seguir al aire por mucho más tiempo y extender el alcance de este apostolado. Sé un pilar de Sal y Luz y ayúdanos a llevar la Palabra de Dios a cada rincón. Para más información, comunícate al 208-860-1024 o escribe a info@saltandlightradio.com Radio Católica Sal y Luz – Evangelizando con amor, esperanza y fidelidad

Casi  5 mil misioneros FOCUS de Estados Unidos, reunidos en Avemaría en Florida, una iglesia construida en un terreno de más de dos mil hectáreas y en su inte-  rior se puede apreciar una escena de la Anunciación de 9 metros de altura tallada en mármol. (Foto/ cortesía Mauricio Rodríguez) Graduado de la Universidad de Idaho, Mauricio Rodríguez, cambia el teclado por    la misión y parte a Colorado como misionero universitario con FOCUS. Por Vero Gutiérrez Editora Asistente   En lugar de salir de la universidad en busca de un salario competitivo, Mauricio Rodríguez eligió un camino muy distinto: dejó a un lado una prometedora carrera como ingeniero en computación para convertirse en misionero. Su meta no es hacer dinero, sino pedirlo, para poder dedicarse de lleno a evangelizar a jóvenes universitarios. Mauricio, egresado de la carrera de Ciencias de la Computación en la Universidad de Idaho, en Moscow, es el primer joven hispano graduado de esta institución que dedica dos años de su vida al servicio misionero. Su destino: la Universidad de Mesa en Denver, Colorado. Cuando Mauricio Rodríguez escuchaba sobre FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), no le llamaba mucho la atención. La idea de tener que recaudar fondos para poder evangelizar le parecía algo incómoda, incluso vergonzosa. “Eso fue lo que más me detenía... pensar que tenía que pedir dinero para poder ser misionero”, confiesa. Sin embargo, todo cambió cuando empezó a ver el impacto real de los misioneros en la vida de sus compañeros de universidad. “El año pasado todavía estudiaba Ciencias de la Computación en la Universidad de Idaho. La mentalidad que se vive ahí es: estudias, te gradúas y, consigues un buen trabajo para poder ganar mucho dinero. Yo pensaba hacer eso mismo.” El equipo de Colorado Mesa University. De izquierda a derecha Joseph Zavala, Amanda Schaul, Mauricio Rodríguez, Jaclyn Gazewood. (Foto cortesía Mauricio Rodríguez)   Durante un trabajo temporal en una planta azucarera, se dio cuenta de algo importante: aunque trabajaba en programación, alineado a su carrera, no sentía plenitud. “Ahí entendí el valor del trabajo de ingeniero, pero también que yo quería hacer algo más. No me llenaba.” Sin compromisos familiares ni personales, sintió que era el momento de entregar su tiempo para ayudar a otros. Exploró varias opciones mi-sioneras: organizaciones que trabajan con personas en situación de calle, grupos seculares que llevan agua a comunidades necesitadas... hasta que volvió a mirar a FOCUS. Después de discernir durante varios meses, y con el acompañamiento de un sacerdote, tomó la decisión. “Él me dijo algo que me marcó: en esta misión no solo puedes ayudar a las personas en esta vida, sino también  para la eternidad. Eso me dio claridad.” Rodríguez decidió seguir adelante con los ojos puestos en el grupo de misioneros FOCUS, con quienes por cierto había tenido una experiencia muy enriquecedora durante el verano de 2023. Misioneros de diferentes lugares, reunidos en Lincoln, Nebraska. (Foto cortesía Mauricio Rodríguez) En ese tiempo Mauricio era estudiante del cuarto semestre de la licenciatura en Ciencias de la Computación en la Universidad de Idaho y fue invitado por los misioneros de FOCUS para vivir una experiencia como misionero en el estado de Maine. A partir de ese momento la vida de Mauricio comenzó a tomar un giro y de ser un estudiante un poco distante de la fe, comenzó a sentir el deseo de participar asiduamente de la Eucaristía y apoyar activamente en su parroquia de St. Agustine’s Catholic Center en Moscow y después en St. Jerome su parroquia de origen. Mauricio Rodríguez en la primera fila agachado, con el resto de jóvenes que fueron seleccionados , en la reunión de la región Southwest de FOCUS , antes de salir a sus respectivas misiones . (Foto Cortesía) El siguiente paso para Rodríguez consistió en acudir a una entrevista con FOCUS en noviembre, en Denver para determinar si podía ser seleccionado como misionero. “Ver a otros jóvenes con distintos caminos de vida —algunos recién graduados, otros profesionales— me inspiró. Me llamaron poco después para decirme que había sido aceptado.” El 12 de mayo de 2025 se graduó oficialmente como ingeniero en computación. Y el 20 de mayo viajó a Lincoln, Nebraska, para comenzar su formación como misionero junto a 125 jóvenes de todo Estados Unidos. “FOCUS  tiene nueve  años en la Universidad de Idaho, pero soy el  primer hispano egresado de aquí que se une como misionero.”  El entrenamiento se realizó durante cinco semanas y se formaron en cinco áreas: humana, espiritual, intelectual, apostólica y en desarrollo de apoyo financiero. “Tuvimos clases de teología, Biblia, cómo invitar a otros a conocer a Jesús. también aprendimos cómo pedir fondos para sostener nuestra misión. El día empezaba a las 8:45 a.m. y terminaba hasta las 9 de la noche. Fue intenso y transformador.” Mauricio fue asignado a la Universidad de Colorado Mesa, en Denver. Su equipo está formado por cuatro misioneros. “Nos dieron una carta como una misión especial, luego nos encontramos en un parque para conocer a nuestro equipo. Fue muy emotivo.” Su compromiso es por dos años. En agosto se reunirá con su equipo para conocer la ciudad y prepararse para el nuevo año escolar. “Lo que más espero de este tiempo es crecer en mi relación con Dios. Ser misionero no es algo seguro ni tradicional, implica confiar mucho en Él. También quiero crecer como hombre, en paciencia, comunicación y virtudes. Y poder ayudar a los estudiantes que están perdidos, que sienten tristeza o confusión, sobre todo en ambientes universitarios donde la fe se ha apagado.” Aunque al principio sintió temor de contarles a sus padres, su decisión fue bien recibida. “Pensaba que se enojarían, como hispanos vinieron a este país con el sueño de que sus hijos tuvieran una carrera y un buen trabajo. Pero me sorprendieron. al decir: si tú eres feliz, nosotros también lo somos. Mi mamá, que ahora se involucra más en nuestra parroquia local, está feliz. Mi papá, que trabaja en una lechería, también me apoya. Ellos saben que no es fácil, pero creen en mí.” Mauricio tiene 22 años. Es el mayor de tres hermanos. Su hermana está por terminar la universidad y su hermano menor acaba de graduarse de la preparatoria. “Mis papás me enseñaron que la educación es lo más importante. Y ahora, estoy convencido de que compartir la fe también lo es.”

(Foto cortesía ACIPRENSA )                      Por el Diácono Thomas Middleton Hace un par de meses, mi yerno, que es doctor en Psicología e investigador y trabaja en una institución médica de Idaho, me habló de la tecnología de la inteligencia artificial (IA). Le apasionan las ventajas de la IA y su capacidad para sintetizar grandes volúmenes de datos de innumerables fuentes de forma instantánea. La utilidad de la IA en la comunidad médica es evidente y los médicos la consideran una herramienta valiosa en la práctica de la medicina. Empecé a utilizar un par de aplicaciones de IA diferentes, solo para familiarizarme con la tecnología. Es una herramienta increíble y la mayor parte de la información que presenta es fiable, incluidas las respuestas a complejas preguntas teológicas católicas. Por ejemplo, a modo de prueba, le pedí a ChatGPT que escribiera una «homilía católica de cuatrocientas palabras en la tradición agustiniana sobre la relación entre la fe y la razón». En solo unos segundos, me proporcionó una homilía bellamente redactada, completamente católica y agustiniana, que incluía citas del santo y conclusiones sucintas pertinentes a las circunstancias de nuestro tiempo. No tengo ninguna duda de que si hubiera pronunciado la homilía de la IA en misa, ¡habría sido considerada una de mis mejores! Es un ejemplo revelador de la maravilla, pero también del peligro, de esta increíble tecnología. El problema con mi homilía generada por IA era que Dios no estaba presente. Una homilía no es solo un discurso o una charla. Es un acto sacramental de predicación y debe estar arraigado en una fe vivida. No recé por la homilía generada por IA. No medité sobre la Palabra. No estudié las enseñanzas de la Iglesia ni a los santos. La homilía generada por IA no provenía de un corazón y una mente inspirados por el Espíritu Santo. No se buscó la sabiduría de Dios. El amor por Cristo y su Iglesia no formaba parte de la química homilética. Aparte de la formulación de la pregunta original, era un producto completamente electrónico, es decir, no humano.       (Foto cortesía ACIPRENSA ) Como predicador, me enfrento a una decisión ética. ¿Predico la homilía producida por la IA debido a su excelencia, o escribo mi propia homilía, una homilía inspirada por el Espíritu Santo, imperfecta, pero que fluye del amor y la gracia de Dios? El hecho de que la IA sea tan fácilmente accesible y capaz de producir resultados instantáneos hace que la tentación de dejar que ella haga el difícil trabajo espiritual por mí, y por todos los demás predicadores, sea una decisión cotidiana seria. La pregunta que debo hacerme a mí mismo, y que la Iglesia debe hacerse a sí misma, es: «¿En qué nos convertiremos si permitimos que la IA haga nuestro trabajo espiritual por nosotros?». El nivel de la predicación podría aumentar de forma espectacular, pero también podría dañar nuestra comunión con Dios y su Espíritu. Se trata de elegir el bien, elegir a Cristo, hacer lo correcto, por encima de la conveniencia. El otro día estaba hablando con mi nieta de trece años. En su colegio les proporcionan dispositivos electrónicos, es decir, «tabletas», para que puedan hacer los deberes, incluyendo el uso de la inteligencia artificial y de Internet. El administrador del sistema controla el acceso a Internet y bloquea cualquier sitio o programa que el colegio considere inapropiado, y con razón. El problema es que los alumnos se pasan casi todo el tiempo buscando formas de sortear los bloqueos del administrador del sistema. Al igual que muchos jóvenes, se han vuelto muy hábiles en el manejo de la tecnología. Existe un juego continuo del gato y el ratón en el que la escuela instala bloqueadores y los alumnos encuentran formas de burlarlos. La batalla electrónica que se libra en la escuela de mi nieta no es única, y muchas otras instituciones, desde el gobierno hasta la industria, dedican una cantidad extraordinaria de tiempo y dinero a intentar adelantarse a los avances tecnológicos. Esto pone de manifiesto una realidad muy importante sobre su naturaleza. La tecnología electrónica es escurridiza, está en constante evolución y no puede ser excluida de nuestras vidas. No debe ser ignorada. La IA ya es omnipresente y tiene una gran cantidad de usos legítimos. Su crecimiento continuará a un ritmo abrumador. En poco tiempo, la IA formará parte de todo. Ya está integrada en el tejido de la toma de decisiones humanas. Google Maps, Siri, Alexa, las cámaras de los teléfonos inteligentes y los chatbots son herramientas de IA en las que todos hemos llegado a confiar. Plataformas como Facebook, Tik Tok, Instagram y YouTube utilizan IA para organizar tu feed y recomendarte contenido. Uber y Lyft utilizan la IA para emparejar a los conductores con los pasajeros. Microsoft Editor utiliza la IA para sugerir mejoras en la redacción. Los coches autónomos de Tesla y otros coches más nuevos utilizan la IA para mantener el carril, frenar, detectar objetos y planificar rutas. Como cualquier otra tecnología humana, puede utilizarse para el bien y/o para el mal. La IA puede servir a la persona humana y a la dignidad humana, o reducirlas o sustituirlas. Es imperativo que el pensamiento moral católico, la ética católica y el pensamiento crítico católico se introduzcan en el ámbito de la tecnología de la IA a nivel local. La IA es conocimiento. No es sabiduría. El mundo necesita que los católicos, incluido el clero católico, comiencen a formarse en las capacidades de la IA para convertirse en líderes morales y éticos en sus aplicaciones. Por ejemplo, las empresas tecnológicas que desarrollan IA deben considerarse a sí mismas como actores morales responsables de tomar decisiones morales en su aplicación. En 2024, el papa Francisco expresó su profunda preocupación por la incorporación de la IA a la capacidad de hacer la guerra, es decir, a los sistemas de armas autónomos y las plataformas de armas. Hoy en día, ese tren ya ha salido de la estación. Para proteger la bondad humana, los católicos tienen que levantarse y hacerse oír en tiempo real. Si no nos comprometemos como Iglesia, la tecnología de IA nos arrollará.      (Foto cortesía ACIPRENSA ) En esta nueva revolución industrial, hay muchas otras áreas que necesitan el liderazgo moral y ético católico en materia de IA a nivel práctico: la sanidad, la justicia penal y la aplicación de la ley, las organizaciones de recursos humanos, las plataformas de redes sociales, las finanzas y la banca, la educación y muchas más. Los seres humanos que utilizan la tecnología de IA deben guiarse por principios basados en la ley natural y la revelación divina. La IA no puede utilizarse para sustituir la conciencia humana. Los seres humanos deben seguir siendo responsables. Los avances en la tecnología de IA no son motivo de pánico, sino de discernimiento. Como todos los frutos de la invención, la IA es un producto del intelecto humano. El intelecto humano es bueno. Está creado a imagen de Dios, pero tampoco es Dios. Ningún algoritmo, ningún código, ninguna tecnología puede redimirnos, solo Jesús. La IA nunca puede convertirse en un ídolo. No puede ser algo en lo que confiemos más que en la gracia de Dios, la conciencia o la verdad de Dios. La tecnología puede ayudarnos en nuestra humanidad, pero no puede absolvernos de nuestra responsabilidad moral. No puede amar. No puede rezar. No puede sacrificarse por un ser querido.

Heart of a Child Ministries travels nation spreading pro-life message via live ultrasounds Sonographer Maci Binder, a member of the Heart of a Child Ministries team, which evangelizes youth and adults on the sacred gift of life, uses a portable ultrasound machine to show guests at a June 22 presentation at Holy Apostles in Meridian what a baby in its mother's womb looks like. Holy Apostles parishioner Rachel Thompson, on table, volunteered for the presentation. (Photo: Philip A. Janquart) By Philip A. Janquart ICR Editor   Rachel Thompson will never forget her first ultrasound, when she was given a glimpse of the tiny baby growing inside her womb.   For Thompson, a Holy Apostles (Meridian) parishioner, it was hard to express the feeling that came over her in that moment.   “There are no words to describe it,” she told the   Idaho Catholic Register   (ICR) following a June 22 Heart of a Child Ministries presentation held in Holy Apostles’ meeting hall.   Based in Omaha, Nebraska, Heart of a Child Ministries is a homegrown nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing its pro-life message at Catholic schools and parishes nationwide through in-person presentations.   Using a “4S” (science, scripture, stories and service) model developed in-house, the organization educates children and adults by giving them a first-hand look at a developing baby through live ultrasounds.   There were three sessions at Holy Apostles that day: two in the morning, following the 9 and 11 a.m. Masses, and another specifically for teens and young adults after the 6 p.m. Mass.   At about 26 weeks into her fourth pregnancy, Thompson volunteered for the early morning session after seeing an announcement in the church bulletin. Rose Nistler, a parishioner at St. Mark’s, signed up for the late-morning slot. Kallen Maher, who read the same announcement while attending Mass at Holy Apostles with her parents, made the drive from Greenleaf to participate in the evening session. The day before, on Saturday, Holy Apostles parishioner Kaley Carrion stepped in as a test subject to help calibrate the ultrasound equipment.   On Sunday, several curious kiddos left their seats and stood near the table where Thompson lay to get a better view as sonographer Maci Binder moved the probe from a portable ultrasound machine over Thompson’s belly.  The resulting images, one of them 3-D, were projected onto a large screen, clearly revealing the sleeping baby’s features, including head, nose, mouth, ears, arms, hands, fingers and eyes.   “The only way I can describe it is . . . unbelievable,” Thompson said of her initial experience. “The first one is at eight weeks, and it’s like a little flicker at first. The second one is at 20 weeks, and in that time, it has grown so much; it’s a little baby.”   Husband Eric was equally amazed when he saw his first child’s form appear on the monitor before him.   “You can see something that looks like a little kidney bean, and it has a head and a crown, and the little heartbeat just really goes, something like 180 beats per minute. It’s crazy,” he said.   The Thompsons’ baby, a girl, is due Sept. 9.   A call from God Nikki Schaefer, founder and executive director of Heart of a Child Ministries, holds a master’s degree in social work and art therapy. She previously served as a pro-life counselor at Birthright and as a family counselor in the Expectant Parenting Unit at Catholic Services. She is also an author and freelance writer for Aquinas Press.   Heart of a Child Ministries was breathed into life in 2012 during a Holy Hour for Life at her parish, St. Robert Bellarmine, in Omaha, Nebraska.   “We were at a Holy Hour for Life, on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and at the beginning of the hour, I experienced a profound presence of our Lady,” Schaefer told the ICR . “I felt her all around me, and I heard very clearly in my heart, ‘I want you to do something in the community again for pro-life.’ I said, ‘Mary, if there is something you want my family or me to do, tell me what it is.’”   Mary’s response became almost immediately clear.   “At the end of the hour, I looked at my kids and my seven-year-old daughter Grace had a tear in her eye,” Schaefer recalled. “I got right in front of her and asked her what was wrong. She said, ‘I just don’t know why anyone would do this to a precious baby, mom. Those babies may be small, but they are people, too.’” Shown above is a view of Zane and Isabelle Pulver's baby at eight weeks. Baby Pulver is about the size of a raspberry. Isabelle is the daughter of Diocese of Boise Human Resources Coordinator and ICR Advertising Manager Sheri Boicourt. The image was captured during a July 23, 2025 ultrasound session. (Photo courtesy of Zane and Isabelle Pulver.)   Schaefer told Grace she once counseled women considering abortion.   “You have to explain it from a child’s perspective, so I told her that they aren’t doing it to be mean, that many of them are poor and are scared they won’t be able to buy diapers and things like that, and that we are called to help them,” she said.   “So, she (Grace) says, ‘Well, I want to help them. I want to make something, and I want to sell it. I want to give the money to mommies so they can buy diapers and not have abortions.’ And this whole conversation happened right in front of the Blessed Sacrament.”   Grace was specific about what she wanted: a stuffed cross, a baby and a heart with rays emanating from it. When Schaefer heard her daughter’s vision, it immediately triggered a memory.   “When she said that, the Holy Spirit gave me this image of her (Grace),” she explained. “When I would check in on her at night, she would be holding a pillow in one hand and a rosary in another. That image immediately came to mind, and I felt the Lord was showing me that this stuffed cross was meant to be a pillow and that the call to prayer of the rosary was meant to be incorporated.”   That night, Schaefer and Grace began sketching out their vision, which resulted in two distinctive designs – one with a baby on a Cross, Grace’s original idea, and one with Mary holding a baby in the palm of her hand. Both of these designs can be purchased at heartofachildministries.org/store/ . Nikki Schaefer, founder and executive director of Heart of a Child Ministries, explains to a group of children, youth and adults what it means to be made in the image of God during her June 22 presentation at Holy Apostles in Meridian. (Photo: Philip A. Janquart)    The seamstress “We had a seamstress scheduled to come into our house to teach my kids how to sew the very next day, after the Holy Hour for Life,” Schaefer continued. “I took the risk and told her what happened. Then I showed her the drawings, and she started to sob. She told me, ‘Nikki, I had an abortion when I was 16. My parents made me do it; I didn’t want to. When I finally healed at a Project Rachel retreat in my forties, that is the exact image I saw in prayer.   (You can learn about Project Rachel here: https://hopeafterabortion.com )   The seamstress continued with her story, telling Schaefer that she saw a vision of Mary in her heart, holding her baby in the palm of her hand and heard her say, “His name is Michael.”   Schaefer and the unnamed seamstress came to an agreement.   “I agreed to devote this ministry to Michael, and she taught me how to sew, along with my daughters,” Schaefer said. “So, that’s how it all began. If you think about it, who does our Lady come to? The little children. What does she tell them to do? To spread the call to the Rosary and Prayer.”   Ministry expands Schaefer and Grace raised $40,000 over three years by selling the pillows, and in 2015, they received their first invitation to make a presentation to school children.   “We were featured in different articles and then we started getting invited to go into schools to teach kids how to make a difference, too,” she said. “So, I prayed on it: ‘Lord, what do you want me to do and say?’ Well, he wanted me to use the three things that Grace said: ‘They are small, but they’re people, too,’ and I knew that I wanted to educate kids on why they are people.   “And then, the older kids . . . well, I wanted to talk about the issue of abortion, talk about how it hurts not only babies, but women. And then, the third thing, the heart with rays of light: I knew I wanted to educate them on who we are as children of God.” Nikki Schaefer shows the ICR one of the designs she and daughter Grace came up with when they decided to sew pillows and sell them to benefit mothers considering abortion. (Photo: Philip A. Janquart)   Schaefer has since added numerous components to her presentation, including guest speakers, songs and storytelling to spread God’s message of life.   Perhaps Schaefer’s greatest tool in disseminating that unambiguous message is the live ultrasounds.   At Holy Apostles, Schaefer highlighted an ultrasound image clearly showing a cross-shaped structure. But what was it and where did it come from?   She explained that the image represented the human heart in its earliest stages of development.   “This was your heart when you were being created in your mother’s womb, when all four chambers were present; the tissue in the middle makes a perfect cross,” she explained, as children gaped at the monitor with wide-eyed fascination.   Schaefer said she has also developed a model for public schools that provides information on pre-birth development, incorporating live ultrasound, which can be a moving experience for many.   “When a person has never seen an ultrasound and then sees one for the first time, that’s profound,” she said. “It changes hearts.”   Measuring the impact Heart of a Child Ministries gauges the impact of its message through guest assessment forms completed after parish, middle school and high school presentations.   “We want to know if you are fully pro-life, partially pro-life or fully or partially in support of abortion and whether that changed following the presentation,” Schaefer explained. “Well, we have a 56% conversion rate in kids who identified themselves as pro-abortion in some way.   “For the older kids, it’s the testimony,” she added. “You know . . . social media tells them that abortion is easy for women, that it’s no problem. But when you hear a speaker that talks about how it affected their life, how they turned to drugs or alcohol or whatever, that changes their hearts, so that part of our ministry, the personal testimony, is really important, too.” Above, physical representations of a baby at different stages of development. (Photo: Philip A. Janquart)  Michael Vanek, a campus minister and theology teacher at Archbishop Bergan Catholic School in Fremont, Nebraska, was deeply moved by the impact and depth of the presentation.   In a testimonial featured on the Heart of a Child Ministries website, Vanek wrote: “Heart of a Child Ministries gave the most positive and life-affirming presentation of the pro-life message I’ve ever seen. There was no condemning or judging of people—only compassion and a desire for all to be loved and supported as God wills. With joy and passion, Nikki … shared the reality that life begins at conception and emphasized the inherent value and dignity of every person.”   To date, Heart of a Child Ministries has sold 2,207 pillows, traveled 27,582 miles to give presentations and reached 30,103 students.   More presentations in Idaho Cindy Lange is a Holy Apostles parishioner, member of the parish’s Legion of Mary, ministry coordinator for Holy Apostles’ Respect Life ministry, and president of Choose Life Idaho. (Think of the pro-life license plate available to Idahoans through this successful campaign.) She was the primary force behind the effort to bring Heart of a Child Ministries to the state.   “I found Nikki through EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network), with their Pro-Life Weekly special,” she told the ICR . “It took two years and a lot of hard work, and it almost didn’t happen, but, you know, the Holy Spirit works in marvelous ways.”   Lange expressed an urgent need to convey the truth to all, especially children.   “We need to change the hearts of our youth, so they know the dignity of life; that from conception, that spark of life, is a human being created by God,” she said, articulating the critical value of education.   Claire Gauthier, also a member of Holy Apostles Respect Life, played an essential role in the effort to bring Heart of a Child Ministries to Idaho. She, too, emphasized the importance of conveying the pro-life message to younger generations.   “I really think the idea is to encourage children, who are innately pro-life,” she said. “Little kids love babies, and they love knowing there is a baby in mom’s belly. It’s important to solidify that, to keep that in their minds, so that when they get older, the culture doesn’t take over and tell them that it’s not a baby; it’s not a life; it’s not important. So, it’s to encourage that in children, to have them then go to their families and friends and nurture that culture of life.”   She noted that many volunteers made the June 22 presentations possible and expressed joy over their contributions.   Though it was the first in the Diocese of Boise, it won’t be the last.   Gauthier said that about five people within the diocese, including herself and Lange, have been busy training to deliver the presentations and arrange for live ultrasounds on their own.   “We have already done training via Zoom and have read all the materials, so this is really our hands-on training, to watch how these presentations go,” she said. “We will be certified educators and will be able to take this program to other parishes, churches of different denominations, youth groups or anyone who wants to have this, to spread the word of life while making it fun, accessible and easy.”   Gauthier said she has already received phone calls from other parishes, including St. Edward the Confessor in Twin Falls.   “They might be our first presentation; they are very, very excited to host us,” she said, adding that the burgeoning pro-life message in the United States has given her hope for the future while inspiring her to continue helping to spread that critical message of life.   For more information or to request a presentation at your parish or school, email Cindy or Claire at RespectLifeHA@gmail.com . FUN BABY FACTS: *Editor’s note: Development stages listed below are based on general timelines and can vary from pregnancy to pregnancy. Information is provided, in part, by babyolivia.liveaction.org .   ·         At fertilization – Baby’s gender, ethnicity, hair color and eye color and other traits are already determined. ·         Baby starts out as an embryo, but at 22 days, a heartbeat can be detected. ·         7 days  – Baby is implanting in mother’s uterus. ·         4 weeks  – Buds of arms and legs appear. ·         5-6 weeks  – Baby begins to move, with spontaneous and reflexive movements. ·         6 weeks  – Baby’s brain activity can be recorded, and bone formation begins. ·         7.5 weeks  – Baby can bring hands together, and separate fingers and toes emerge. Baby can also begin to hiccup. ·         9 weeks  – Baby will have grown from a single cell into almost 1 billion cells and is now called a fetus. ·         10 weeks  – Baby can suck thumb, swallow, grasp objects, sigh and stretch out in mother’s womb. ·         11 weeks  – Baby is playing in womb, moving body and exploring environment. ·         12 weeks  – Baby’s taste bud cells have matured, but are still scattered throughout mouth. ·         14-18 weeks  – Mother first senses baby’s movements, an event called “quickening.” ·         18 weeks  – Ultrasounds show speaking movements in voice box. ·         20 weeks  – With a lot of help, babies have survived outside the womb. ·         27 weeks  – Baby’s eyes respond to light and can recognize parents’ voices and even recognize lullabies and stories. ·         38 weeks  – Baby will signal to mother that it’s time for delivery.

Find your specific gift(s)through Encounter School of Ministry By Father Tim Segert Parochial Vicar Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Boise For the ICR   Just a little more than five years ago, I was generally skeptical of a specific spiritual movement trending within the Catholic Church.   I felt turned off by some of the excesses I had seen by members who claimed to have supernatural gifts of the Spirit.   But then the unexpected happened: I experienced several successive powerful and unmistakable encounters with the Holy Spirit that absolutely rocked my world.   “Now in regard to spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware …”     This is how St. Paul the Apostle begins 1 Corinthians, chapter 12. Unfortunately, if you are anything like I was, and not long ago, you may be in precisely the position St. Paul described: being unaware when it comes to the spiritual gifts.   Many of us are turned off by the whole idea of spiritual gifts; many regard them as something only the saints of old could partake in; and others simply have never even heard of the idea. But if you read 1 Corinthians 12-14, it becomes clear that the spiritual gifts “are a basic part of what it means to be a Christian.”   First of all, what are the spiritual gifts? The Catechism of the Catholic Church delineates between different kinds of grace given by the Holy Spirit. In paragraph 2003, it states, “There are sacramental graces, gifts proper to the different sacraments. There are furthermore special graces, also called charisms after the Greek term used by St. Paul and meaning ‘favor,’ ‘gratuitous gift,’ ‘benefit.’”   It continues: “Whatever their character - sometimes it is extraordinary, such as the gift of miracles or of tongues - charisms are oriented toward sanctifying grace and are intended for the common good of the Church. They are at the service of charity which builds up the Church.”    To put it another way, God plants sanctifying grace, or His very life, into our hearts through baptism and reception of the other sacraments, which leads to our salvation. This is the most important gift that He gives.   But to that end, He also gives charismatic gifts - supernatural abilities that God plants within our souls in order to build up the Kingdom of Heaven and to lead others into relationship with Him.   The Catholic Church teaches that “each and every baptized believer is given some supernatural gift for the building up of the kingdom (cf. 1 Cor. 12:7),” whether healing, prophecy, speaking in tongues, discernment of spirits, deliverance or something else. These are not merely natural aptitudes or likes; they are explicitly supernatural activities that surpass the natural order.   My personal experiences with the spiritual gifts, as mentioned above, led me to reconsider some of what I had believed, and in a way that was strangely similar to when I became Catholic. Between the time of my conversion and now, I believed in the spiritual gifts, but often did not know how to interact with them due to my lack of knowledge and experience in the area. Father Tim Segert, second from right, poses with members of the Diocese of Boise. From left, Marisela Baca, Father German Osorio, Bishop Peter F. Christensen, Emily Woodham, Father Segert and Father Caleb Vogal, Vicar General. (ICR archive photo) I decided to take the Encounter School of Ministry two-year course online in order to expand upon my knowledge base. The program was not perfect - no program is. But I can say without a doubt that what I have seen in my priesthood has changed in a drastically positive way since the beginning of this class.   I have seen several physical healings before my eyes. I have witnessed prophetic prayers that have deeply impacted people’s lives. I have been able to help in inner healing ministry, which helps to free people from deep-seated wounds from their past. And most of all, I have learned how to use the charisms of the Holy Spirit in a way that is totally authentic to myself.   In my case, that means being completely obedient to the Magisterium of the Church and practicing the gifts in a more quiet, contemplative way.   The next question naturally follows: How do I figure out which gift(s) I have?   The answer is too in-depth to give quickly here, but I want to suggest a good resource which will be coming up for those who live in the Treasure Valley.   Many staff members from our Diocesan Pastoral Center have worked to establish a local campus of the Encounter School of Ministry  at St. Mark’s Parish in Boise for training in exactly these spiritual gifts. They will be hosting a summer intensive Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 7-9.   They are also offering the two-year course in-person at St. Mark’s. Classes begin in the fall. I would encourage anyone who is developing this aspect of their spiritual life to attend the intensive or take the course, as you will likely not have a better, more inexpensive and accessible opportunity to do so for some time to come.   My hope is that whether you take this class or do it some other way, you can find the same thing for yourself. Perhaps this is the perfect time for you to move forward and take the plunge.   To register and for more information, visit encounterschool.org/boise/ .

Keith Pettyjohn, president and founder of Salt & Light Radio, is nominated for Lumen Christi Award for second year in a row. (Courtesy photo/Salt & Light Radio) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer   Keith Pettyjohn, founder and president of Salt & Light Radio in Boise and a candidate for the permanent diaconate, has been nominated for the prestigious Lumen Christi Award for the second consecutive year.   The award is presented annually by the Catholic Extension Society, a national nonprofit organization founded in 1903. Its mission is to provide financial support to what is known as “extension dioceses” in some of the poorest regions in America. They are dioceses that face additional burdens due to factors such as rapid growth that exceeds resources, large geographic areas that make pastoral care challenging, or are in regions where Catholics are the religious minority.   The Diocese of Boise is one of 87 extension dioceses in the United States.   Each year, bishops from these dioceses nominate a clergy member, religious or layperson, “who radiates and reveals the light of Christ present in the communities where they serve,” according to Catholic Extension’s website. Nominees receive $1,500 for their chosen charity. Finalists receive $15,000 to support their ministry, and the winner receives $50,000.   “We have been incredibly blessed with all of the team members, volunteers and supporters over all these years,” Pettyjohn, who founded Salt & Light Radio 15 years ago, told the Idaho Catholic Register.   Pettyjohn speaks at a Salt & Light Radio benefit concert last June at the Egyptian Theatre in Boise. (Courtesy photo/Salt & Light Radio) “While it is not always an easy work, there is so much joy,” he said. “Joy when we hear about the conversions/reversions and the lives that have been touched because of our programming; joy in seeing the effects on so many attendees to our events and conferences; joy among our incredible team members as we go about this work. How can you put a price on the value of one soul, brought to faith in Jesus? You just can’t. That’s what keeps me motivated.”   Leading daily operations at Salt & Light while working toward becoming a deacon is time-consuming, Pettyjohn said, adding that he could not do it without the support of his wife, Michelle.   “It helps to have a loving, faithful wife,” he said. “I am also so grateful for my spiritual director, Father Johannes Kamphuis of Verbum Spei, who always exhorts me to spend more time in silent prayer.”   Pettyjohn strives to make a Holy Hour in Adoration as often as possible, as suggested by Venerable Fulton Sheen, who kept a daily Holy Hour during his more than 40 years of priesthood.   “While I do not have the opportunity to make a Holy Hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament as often as I would like, I do make time every day for prayer in my home or when I am traveling,” said Pettyjohn said, adding that he also prays the Divine Office daily, which is a requirement of the Church for clergy and Religious. Another source of grace for him is going to daily Mass as often as he can.   “In order to have the strength and fortitude to do this work of evangelization,” he continued. “It is critically important to be nourished daily through God’s Word and by His flesh and blood in the Holy Eucharist.”   When asked if he had advice to offer anyone considering establishing a ministry or charity, Pettyjohn suggested they first take time for God.   “Let God to speak to you and be silent with Him (Ps 46:10),” he said. “Ask Him what He wants you to do each day. Ask Him to bring into your life – each day – the people He wants you to speak with and learn from. If you are truly open to His Holy Will, He will guide you, and He will open the doors for you, so that you will know how best to love and serve Him. Whatever work He gives you to do, make sure that you are doing it for His glory and not for your own.”   He also tries to follow and suggests the model of St. Therese of Lisieux: to acknowledge one’s poverty and childlike dependence upon God.   “He is a good Father, and He knows what's best for you, better than you do,” he added.   For more information, visit catholicextension.org .

A message from Most Rev. Robert E. Barron, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life & Youth, promoting Natural Family Planning Awareness Week. By Kara Gotshall For the ICR   Natural Family Planning (NFP) is promoted as being healthy for marriages and families, breathing new life and grace into the home.    At the same time, couples know that NFP takes discipline to learn; it requires self-control and sometimes even results in a “surprise” baby! How could NFP help couples grow closer to God?   The answer: when couples track their fertility with NFP, they face the reality that God created their bodies’ fertility, and He wants them to cooperate with His plan to bring children into this world. It can be hard, challenging and even painful at times. Living in this truth, however, becomes a source of grace in their lives.   NFP creates an opportunity to encounter God in your marriage. With practice, you can learn how to draw closer to God and each other as you use NFP in the trenches of married life.   Is it time for another baby? In section 10 of Pope Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical “ Humanae Vitae ” (Faith and Reason), titled “ Responsible Parenthood ,” the Church permits couples to use NFP to avoid pregnancy for serious or grave reasons, while reminding them:   “… they are not free to act as they choose in the service of transmitting life, as if it were wholly up to them to decide what is the right course to follow. On the contrary, they are bound to ensure that what they do corresponds to the will of God the Creator.”      If you are using NFP, you will need to regularly decide between abstinence and intimacy. There is a temptation to approach this conversation selfishly by asking, “do we want another baby?” Instead, you have an opportunity to view your family through God's eyes, asking, “Does God want us to have another baby?” NFP can provide you with a regular occasion to view your finances, health and the upbringing of your children through God’s eyes instead of just your own. Need a reminder? Try paperclipping a holy card of the Holy Family into your NFP chart.   Are we done yet? Some couples may reach a point when they say, “We are done” having children. They may be at peace that their family has reached the size God intended due to health concerns, age or other reasons, and be confident in their discernment that God does not have any more children planned for them.    As a Creighton NFP teacher, I have taught many couples approaching the menopause years who are avoiding pregnancy. Yet, when I ask them about their receptiveness to an unplanned pregnancy, they will often say, “we aren’t planning on it, but of course if it happens … it happens!”      They continue to remember God is the Author of Life, often because they have spent years being open to His will for their family.   If you are in this situation, you can continue to keep your marriage fruitful by turning your days of abstinence into an offering of prayer. While God is not calling you to the unity that would result in another child, you can unite in prayer for a particular intention close to both of your hearts.    “Surprise” pregnancies! Unplanned pregnancies can happen for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the couple needed a more detailed or reliable charting method. Perhaps the couple was complacent or careless in their charting or perhaps the couple made an impulsive decision, using days of fertility even though they weren’t planning on a pregnancy.   These pregnancies may be unplanned, but in many cases, it doesn’t come as a surprise! Even if the pregnancy has no apparent explanation, if a couple already sees their fertility as a gift from God, it is easier for them to also see the new life as a gift from God.   If you have ever faced an unplanned pregnancy, you know how helpful it can be to reflect on your chart and discuss it as a couple. You may need to examine your charting habits, self-control or motives for avoiding a pregnancy. You might seek the opinion of your NFP teacher or switch to a different NFP method that suits you better. As a couple, it can become a time of growth as you come together on a plan moving forward in your marriage.   If your pregnancy proves a significant burden for your family, remember that God wants to accompany you in your trial. He gave you the gift of your fertility, and now He has given you the gift of a new life. Just as you have seen your marriage through His eyes while using NFP, you can learn to see this new challenge through His eyes as well. If you need it, you can reach out for support from your parish or a pregnancy center.   Do I have to chart? Charting is not obligatory, provided you are still pursuing God’s will by respecting the procreative nature of the marital act and are prayerfully discerning your family size. If you need to avoid a pregnancy, you may instead choose long-term abstinence as a couple. If you know God is calling you to another child, you may choose to leave the timing of the next pregnancy entirely in His hands. Based on my experience as a Creighton practitioner, however, I have three reasons that I would still encourage you to consider charting with an NFP method:   First, when you choose not to chart your fertility, you are choosing to participate in God’s will passively. You do not have the same opportunities of knowing your bodies, discussing your fertility as a couple, and actively cooperating with God’s plan.   Second, charting is a valuable tool for monitoring health. It can help you accurately determine your due date, and it can help you have safer and healthier pregnancies by detecting health risks in advance of conception. When NaProTechnology Medical Consultants treat health concerns such as hormonal imbalances, PMS or infertility, they base their recommendations on an accurate Creighton Model chart. An accurate long-term chart can become an extremely valuable health record.   Lastly, it is practical to be confident when you are not  in the early stages of pregnancy. Then you know if you can safely get dental X-rays, enjoy a glass of wine at dinner or go on a roller coaster ride with the kids this summer!   A choice in the trenches “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Rev 3:20)   When we are in the trenches of marriage, it can truly feel like a war sometimes! Remember that Jesus is always standing at the door and knocking, waiting for us to let Him in so He can help us fight our everyday battles. By charting your fertility with NFP, you can open that door as a couple, inviting Him into your home, your marriage and your family.   Charting your fertility becomes a constant reminder to see the blessings, the challenges and the purpose of your marriage through the eyes of God. Parish & Diocese Resources provided by the USCCB July 20 - 26, 2025 Pursue a lasting love ... MARRIAGE Create hope for the future! Celebrate and reverence God's vision of human sexuality Natural Family Planning Awareness Week is a national educational campaign. The Natural Family Planning Program of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops develops a poster each year with basic supportive materials. It is the individual dioceses, however, that offer a variety of educational formats in the local church to focus attention on Natural Family Planning methods and Church teachings that support their use in marriage. The dates of Natural Family Planning Awareness Week highlight the anniversary of the papal encyclical Humanae Vitae (July 25) which articulates Catholic beliefs about human sexuality, conjugal love, and responsible parenthood. The dates also mark the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne (July 26), the parents of the Blessed Mother. Pope Francis has designated that feast as World Grandparents Day, a fitting commemoration during National NFP Awareness Week! For further information, contact nfp@usccb.org . NFP Week Posters Poster Archives Liturgy & Prayers Articles Bulletin Inserts Couples' Stories Church Teachings Find an NFP Class in Person or Online More NFP and Related Resources Media Kit (social media graphics and web banners here) Celebrate National NFP Awareness Week in Your Area! NFP Awareness Week also celebrates grandparents!

Priesthood not out of the question for 16-year-old high school student Coeur d’ Alene faith- empowered teens came out in in solidarity as a community on May 20, 2025 to participate in the first youth-led Eucharistic Procession in their hometown inspired and led by 16-year-old Owen Keith, above with processional crucifix. (Courtesy photo) By Bryan Saye For the ICR   It’s not every day you meet a teenager like Owen Keith.   Some might say, however, there should be more like him.   Keith, 16, lives in Hayden, Idaho, and is about to enter his junior year at Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy. In an era when convincing young people not to fear talking about their faith publicly or participating in parish life can be a challenge, he stands out as an unapologetic Catholic who isn’t afraid to express himself.   He leads a busy schedule, competing for the local swim club in Coeur d’Alene, concentrating on school and working on his car, but Keith still manages to find ways to display his faith publicly, something he regards as an “integral” part of his life.   Although he is involved with youth ministry at Pope Pius X Catholic Parish in Coeur d’Alene, he said lately he has “tried to involve [himself] more” as a leader.   He was inspired by what he saw during an Exodus 90 Lenten program with other youth.   “A lot of Catholic youth [were] getting involved,” Keith said of his peers during the Exodus program, citing some who were even younger than 16.   As Holy Week approached, he felt a strong urge to find a way to answer the call to serve and to live out his faith.   “When  it comes to faith, so many people are on their own paths,” he said. “But they’re not [always] interested in getting other people [involved]. It loses the sense of community that we should have. Everybody should be hearing the voice of Christ. Everybody should be following the narrow path.”   That’s when he came up with the idea to organize a Eucharistic procession.   It just “popped into my head,” Keith said.   He believes that living the faith needs to extend beyond Sunday mornings, that it should be “every day, all day.”   Keith, who regularly accompanies his parents and grandparents to Mass, credited his entire family for the formation of his deep faith, but specifically cited his parents as the most obvious examples of how to live the Catholic faith.   “They’re both very devout,” he said. “They’ve taught me really well. Faith is the most important thing in my life.”   Having grown up in what he calls a “Catholic bubble,” he was anxious to share his faith.   “Why not take it to the public?” he thought. Owen Keith (left) and Jason Chavez (right) in St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church before the start of the procession on May 20. (Photo/Lisa Ormond) He brought the idea to his parish leadership, eventually discussing it with Jason Chavez, founder of Communio CDA and director of faith at Holy Family Parish, and Wes Miller, director of faith formation and coordinator of Youth Ministry at St. Pius X.   Keith said he let the adults handle the logistics, but that he was key to bringing in the crowds, speaking before Mass, making flyers, and sharing stories on the social media site Instagram.   He was nonetheless unassuming about his participation.   “[It was just] regular event spreading,” he said in a manner indicative of his humble character. “I had the least part in it. Everyone had this yearning to do something.”   Over 300 Catholics joined the procession, making his efforts anything but “regular.”   “I don’t think it was by human doing,” he said.   When asked about public perception of the procession, he added, “It looked like they were thought-provoked. That’s the first goal, to make them think about it: ‘What’s this Catholic stuff all about?’”   He recalled seeing a young father pushing his infant children in a stroller during the procession and watching him express himself, uninhibited.   “He hit his knees and started praying. [It was] inspiring to see his faith in public,” Keith said.   The procession left a profound impact on him.   “I always want to reflect on the moment and think about the people and the amount of effort that went into it. The devotion of our community… really inspires me to be a better person.”   So, what’s next for Owen Keith?   “Maybe we’ll make this a yearly tradition,” he suggested, hinting that he’d like to combat the secularism of the month. While June, in recent years, has been reserved for secular agendas, Keith looks to reclaim it for the faith.   “It’s the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” he pointed out, with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart falling on the Friday following the second Sunday after Pentecost.   This year, it was celebrated on June 27.   When asked whether he’s discerning the priesthood, he replied with a chuckle, “It should never be out of the options. Just don’t tell my girlfriend.”