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The youth-led Eucharistic procession included 20 North Idaho young men ages 8-18 serving in various roles such as carrying the crucifix and the Marian platform on the streets of Coeur d’ Alene. (ICR photo/Lisa Ormond) By Lisa Ormond ICR North Idaho Correspondent On May 19, nearly 400 North Idaho Catholics, representing five parishes, gathered in peaceful witness for the second annual youth-led Eucharistic procession through the streets of Coeur d'Alene, publicly walking with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. This prayerful, public proclamation and celebration of faith was led by approximately 20 altar servers ages 8 to 18, with four clergy alongside them in communal reverence. Deacon Vince Perry of St. Stanislaus Parish in Rathdrum had praise for the altar servers who volunteered. “You could tell they were serious about their service to the Lord, and they were truly enjoying it,” he said. Powerful display With spiritual solidarity and worship, Catholics of all ages walked and sang hymns while on foot, in strollers and wagons, and on bikes behind the processional crucifix, holy relics, the Marian platform and statue weighing more than 200 pounds, and the monstrance containing the consecrated Eucharistic Body of Christ. New to the procession lineup this year was the addition of the Marian platform, which was constructed and donated by area Catholics. The wooden Blessed Mother statue was borrowed from the Holy Family Catholic School adoration chapel in Coeur d’Alene. Before and after the procession, the group gathered at St. Thomas the Apostle parish to adorn the Body of Christ and to offer prayers as a faith community“It was so beautiful having Mary leading the way for Jesus in this procession,” said Perry. (ICR photo/Lisa Ormond) Deacons Chris Stewart of St. Pius X and Andy Finney of St. Thomas the Apostle joined Deacon Perry in honoring and carrying Jesus that evening. Father Mariusz Majewski of St. Thomas also processed. The community began the procession by assembling at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, with opening comments and prayer, then moved out the church doors toward neighborhoods and city streets in unison, eventually stopping at downtown McEuen Park before returning to the church. Peaceful prayer One processional highlight was the recitation of the rosary. An altar was set up on the park’s grass field for the Blessed Sacrament. Owen Keith of Coeur d’Alene, 17, led the rosary as he did last year before hundreds of kneeling, devoted participants. It was Keith’s passion for the Lord that led him to suggest the idea of the public, youth-led Eucharistic procession in his hometown in 2025. It had never been done before. “For me personally, the procession was magnificent. It filled me with great pride that our Catholic community came together in such a strong and meaningful way,” he told the Idaho Catholic Register. Deacon Perry described this year’s procession as a “moving, memorable” experience. “It hits you hard being a part of this. It’s so amazing,” he said. “You could feel the Holy Spirit around everyone there. You feel the faith.”

By Philip A. Janquart ICR Editor BOISE—Mary Hersley-Kaineg is still going strong and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. At 90, she is an important part of every issue of the Idaho Catholic Register, chronicling the lives and experiences of senior parishioners in her biweekly column. Her job is essential in the ICR’s effort to highlight people who have done so much with their lives and who make up a large part of Idaho’s Catholic community. Mary Hersley-Kaineg's high school photo. Mary, however, has a story of her own, one that few writers could make up. She came into the world in 1936, and life was challenging from the very start. She did not know her parents and was never quite certain where they came from or where she was born. "The story is that my mother died at my birth, and my father put me in an orphanage in Albuquerque, New Mexico," she said. "I do not have a birth certificate. I had a DNA test, and it kind of narrowed down where I came from, somewhere in the New Mexico, Kansas and Texas area.” She was able to locate a distant cousin, but they didn’t know about her parents. “All I have is my baptism certificate; I was baptized at the orphanage,” Mary said. It turns out, her father left instructions that Mary could not be adopted without his permission, and reserved the right to know who the adopting parents were. “He requested that I be adopted by a Catholic family even though he, himself, was not Catholic, but my mother was.” Mary said she doesn’t know if any of that is true, adding that “they (orphanages) don’t always give the straight story.” “So, my father approved my adoption by the sister and her husband of the archbishop of New Mexico; he was in charge of the orphanage. I left the orphanage at the age of 3.” Her adoptive parents moved to Texas, where Mary attended Umbarger Grade School, a public school in Umbarger, Texas, in the state’s panhandle. “The state of Texas allowed the community to hire nuns to teach at public schools as long as they were registered under their family name and not their religious name," she recalled. “So, technically, I went to parochial school. I went to public schools all my life, but I was taught by nuns.” A recent photo of Mary Hersley-Kaineg. (Courtesy photo) Faith is strength She later attended West Texas State College, now West Texas A&M University, and Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio, but did not graduate. Mary eventually met Darrell Hersley, and the two were married in 1960 at St. Mary's Church in Umbarger, Texas. The couple moved to Colorado after Darrell graduated from forestry school. The couple eventually settled in Idaho Falls after Darrell accepted work with the Idaho Department of Lands. Together they raised five children. Tragedy strikes In 1984, after 24 years of marriage, Darrell was killed in a construction accident while digging a trench to connect their home to the city sewer system. "The ditch fell in on top of him and suffocated him," Mary said. “Their oldest children were just beginning college. The youngest was only 10 years old.” The loss forced dramatic changes, the family selling their small farm and livestock, and Mary began rebuilding her life while raising her children. "It was really quite hard for everybody," she said. Mary and Darrell Hersley were married in 1960 at St. Mary’s Church in Umbarger, Texas. (Courtesy photo) Her path eventually led her to Idaho Falls, where she completed the Loyola Institute for Ministry Extension (LIMEX) program, earning certification in liturgy and music. The training opened the door to a new vocation in Church ministry. Earning her certification led to another move. Mary accepted a position as director of liturgy and music at St. Joseph Church in Roseburg, Oregon, where she served for two decades. New challenges While living in Oregon, she met a man who was active in the church. In 2004, the two were married. Eight years later, however, her second husband was arrested and later imprisoned for seven years after being charged with abuse of a child. Despite the painful circumstances, Mary remained faithful to her marriage vows and continued supporting him throughout his incarceration. He died of a heart attack two weeks after being released in 2019. By then, her children had begun urging her to move closer to them in Idaho. "I was driving from Roseburg to Boise for visits at least once a month," she said. "It's a 10-hour drive. So, my kids told me I should move here." She sold the seven-acre property she had maintained in Oregon and relocated to Boise in 2016, officially retiring from full-time ministry. For Mary, however, retirement did not translate into inactivity. Today, she serves as organist for the 8:30 a.m. Sunday Mass at St. Mark's Catholic Community. She paints watercolors, creates greeting cards, brings Communion to homebound parishioners and tends animals in her backyard. "I still have rabbits and chickens and ducks," Mary said with a laugh. Mary Hersley-Kaineg with her five kids and husband, Darrell Hersley, in their last family photo. Back row: Kurt, Hal and Chad. Front Mary, Audrey, Anne and Darrell. (Courtesy photo) Life moves on At nearly 90 years old, she also continues another ministry—telling the stories of others. A lifelong writer whose work has appeared in national Catholic publications, Mary became convinced that one group of Catholics was largely overlooked in diocesan newspapers. "We read about priests, we read about nuns, we read about deacons, we read about schools and school teachers, but we never read about the ordinary Catholic senior," she said. "They're the people that are holding the Church up." The idea lingered until one Sunday she felt what she describes as a spiritual cue. "I got this nudge, kind of like, 'Okay, Mary, when are you going to get on it?'" she recalled. She came home, wrote a proposal to then-editor Scott Pearhill and sent it. Moments later, she experienced chest pains and spent three days in the hospital after suffering a heart attack. "I said, 'Whoops, that's not the Holy Spirit. That's a little stronger than the Spirit,'" she joked. The episode did not deter her. Nearly two years later, Mary continues producing her popular senior profiles, introducing readers to the faithful Catholics whose quiet service often goes unnoticed. What she enjoys most is meeting people and uncovering the stories hidden behind familiar faces in the pews. "You find all this other really great stuff that made them who they are," she said. Now approaching her 90th birthday in August, Mary remains focused on service rather than slowing down. A simple philosophy "My motto in life is to do as much as I can for as long as I can," she said. And after a lifetime of mystery, hardship and grace, Mary continues telling people’s stories and reminding others that it matters. Mary poses for a photo in her First Holy Communion dress holding her prayer book. (Courtesy photo)

In a family of twelve children, six of the sons chose the priesthood, two pursued married life, two daughters entered religious life, one daughter married, and another died at a young age.(Photo / courtesy Ibarra family By Vero Gutiérrez, Assistant Editor Sonia Llauró de Ibarra had 12 children over the course of 20 years. Six of her children are priests, two are nuns, three are married, and one daughter passed away at a young age. From the simplicity of an Argentine home and sustained by a deep trust in God, Sonia Ibarra’s life became an extraordinary testimony of faith and family devotion. Together with her husband, Diego Ibarra, she embraced the fullness of the Catholic faith, raising a family grounded in prayer, service, and openness to God’s call. Over the years, this atmosphere of faith bore fruit in numerous vocations to serve the Church. Sonia and her husband, Diego Ibarra, traveled to Argentina for the wedding of their youngest unmarried daughter. Their children traveled from various parts of the world where they currently live and work, including Rome, the Philippines, the United States, Bolivia, and Poland. The only one absent was one of their daughters, a contemplative nun in Genoa, Italy. (Photo courtesy of the Ibarra family.) Speaking about having so many sons and daughters consecrated to God, Sonia says with emotion: “I cannot begin to explain what we have received by trusting in God’s call to our children and what He wanted to give them.” Sonia was born into a Catholic family in Buenos Aires, Argentina, though they were not practicing the faith. At age 18, she married Diego Ibarra. During the early years of her marriage, she underwent a profound spiritual conversion after participating in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. From that moment on, she has completed the Exercises every year. “It changed my life, and I realized it was a very important means for the conversion of souls,” she said. “It was a way to fill myself with God so that I could fill the children with God. If one is not filled with God, one cannot give anything,” she explained. The two religious sisters, from left to right: María Virgen Blanca and María Templo de la Santísima Trinidad, of the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará, the female branch of the Institute of the Incarnate Word. Prayer with the children became a constant practice in the Ibarra home. They prayed the rosary as a family and participated in moments of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament daily. Sonia acknowledged that it wasn’t always easy because the children could get restless. However, she emphasized the importance of mothers introducing their children at a young age to the presence of God in the Blessed Sacrament. Sonia encouraged mothers to generously support their children’s vocations when they discover a special calling from God. “If God calls them to consecrate themselves to Him as priests or religious individuals, it is so that they may be happy and become great saints. He does not call them to make them unhappy,” she affirmed. She compared a vocation to a small flame that ignites a candle. “Do not extinguish that small flame, mothers and fathers,” she urged. “If your son wants to enter the seminary, don’t be afraid to entrust him to God. Be strong and generous. Give your children the means to follow God’s call.” “As a mother, I understand what you are going through. When grace comes, it is important that you know how to recognize it.” At the center of the photograph is one of the family's religious sisters, accompanied by her six priest brothers, many of whom are missionaries. They currently serve in different parts of the world: one is studying in Rome, two are serving as seminary rectors in the United States—one in Minnesota and the other in Washington—and the others are ministering in Bolivia, Poland, and the Philippines. Sometimes, when sons tell their mothers that they want to become priests, the mothers object because they think their sons are too mischievous or disorganized to live a disciplined life. “Maybe the boy fights with his sister, is distracted, or restless,” Sonia remarked. However, she assured us that God does not wait for to be perfect children, before He calls them. “If that were the case, none of our children would have been called,” she added. She explained that God calls everyone with their own qualities. She also noted that upon entering the minor seminary, young men begin a process of discernment and formation where their vocations can grow and mature. After learning about the “miracle” of vocations that occurred in the small town of Lu Monferrato, Sonia and a group of mothers whose sons were priests or daughters were religious sisters decided to come together in organized prayer. Thus, with the help of priests, a new apostolate began to take shape, and a website was created to coordinate the 40 Hours of Adoration—a magnanimous initiative aimed at rekindling the hearts of mothers and assisting God in the salvation of souls. In the book A People Unique in the World: The Secret of Lu Vocations, a group of women united their prayers with a single intention: to ask God for an increase in vocations. Bishop Demetrio Fernández of Córdoba, Spain, is quoted as saying that “It is necessary to create a vocational climate so that a child, teenager, or young person can clearly perceive God’s call and respond without major difficulties.” In Lu Monferrato, this duality of prayer and a vocational climate bore fruit in the form of 323 priests and religious men and women. Inspired by the community’s prayers and adapting the Forty Hours Adoration format, Sonia Ibarra and a group of women have carried out this adoration for twelve years without interruption. It has now spread internationally. Every month, 40 hours of adoration are held on the 14th, 15th, and 16th in remembrance of the time Jesus remained in the tomb. During these days of monthly adoration, participants can dedicate one, two, or more hours to prayer. Any woman, anywhere in the world, can participate by offering this time for the sanctification of priests and an increase in vocations to the consecrated life. The website is www.40horas.org. All you need to do is register with your name and choose the date and time you’d like to participate. You can also join via WhatsApp using the number +541551773843. In 2024, participants of the 40 Hours for Vocations celebrated 10 years of continuous prayer. Today, thousands of women in different countries take part in this initiative, praying for the holiness of priests, an increase in vocations, and the fidelity of those preparing to serve the Church. Sonia said the best way to participate is in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. However, she explained that you can also do it from home by preparing a special prayer space, lighting a candle, and placing it in front of a sacred image. She added that women who devote their time to caring for young children, tending to the sick, or performing household chores such as cooking can also offer these moments to the Lord as part of their prayer and devotion. “What we seek,” said Sonia, “is to move the heart of Jesus, who hopes to be moved by our prayers as we ask for an increase in vocations, as well as for the holiness and perseverance of priests and religious.” She added that He is always willing to grant us more than we need. “We ask for blessings for all priests facing doubts, attacks, and temptations so they may remain steadfast in their vocations,” said Sonia. She also noted that they pray for young people being called to a life of consecration, so that they may overcome obstacles and take the step of entering the seminary or novitiate. Vocations flourish between home and the parish. “We have to return to evangelizing,” Sonia acknowledged. She noted that the great challenge today is that people are opposed to the faith, unlike when the first missionaries arrived to evangelize our countries and people did not know the faith. “It’s important for parishes to build community. The parish must provide families with everything they need so they return to the community. They must find the Good Shepherd who will shelter them—a community where charity and generosity are practiced.” “The role of women in the family is important, and they have a special gift for intimacy with God,” Sonia emphasized. “I believe the way forward is to empower women and families once again so they can nurture those little flames. Those who marry can also choose good partners and establish holy families.” “We must make the lives of the saints visible to children and bring them closer so they can see the saints as models of life. If they have devotional readings, God kindles little flames in their hearts through them,” Sonia said. The six priest brothers concelebrate together, accompanied by a friend. This is all part of the effort of mothers, whose role, as Sonia recalled, was also recognized by St. John Paul II as a mission to collaborate with Jesus in the salvation of souls. “Our motherhood extends not only to our family but to the whole world,” she said. If we want our children to be saints, the power of prayer is very important. If we ask for this with all our hearts, our children will become great saints because God is faithful to his promises and unmatched in his generosity. “God has asked us and commanded us to pray for vocations,” said Sonia, recalling the Gospel of Matthew 9:38, “Ask the owner of the fields to send workers for his harvest.” She emphasized the importance of giving the Virgin Mary a special place in one’s family because, as she said, “the Virgin Mary is everything.” “Consecrate your children to the Virgin Mary. On your knees, tell her, “I entrust them to you so that you may make them holy.” The saints have done just that—consecrated themselves and their families to the Blessed Virgin. For priests, she recommended consecrating the parish community to Jesus through Mary.

Sonia y su esposo, Diego Ibarra, en Argentina durante la boda de su última hija soltera. Sus hijos viajaron desde distintos lugares del mundo donde actualmente sirven y viven, entre ellos Roma, Filipinas, Estados Unidos, Bolivia y Polonia. La única ausente fue una de sus hijas, religiosa contemplativa que se encuentra en Génova, Italia. (Foto /cortesía de la familia Ibarra) Por Vero Gutiérrez Editora Asistente Sonia Llauró de Ibarra tuvo 12 hijos en 20 años. Seis de ellos son sacerdotes, dos hijas religiosas, tres casados y una niña que falleció cuando era pequeña. Desde la sencillez de un hogar argentino y sostenida por una profunda confianza en Dios, la vida de Sonia Ibarra se convirtió en un testimonio extraordinario de fe y entrega familiar. Junto a su esposo, Diego Ibarra, descubrió el valor de vivir plenamente la fe católica, formando una familia marcada por la oración, el servicio y la apertura al llamado de Dios. Con el paso de los años, ese ambiente de fe dio fruto en numerosas vocaciones al servicio de la Iglesia. Al hablar sobre tener tantos hijos e hijas consagrados a Dios, Sonia asegura con emoción: “Yo no voy a poder explicarles lo que nosotros hemos recibido por haber confiado en el llamado que Dios hizo a nuestros hijos y en lo que Dios quería darles a ellos”. Sonia nació en Buenos Aires, Argentina, en el seno de una familia católica, aunque no practicante. A los 18 años se casó con Diego Ibarra. Durante sus primeros años de matrimonio experimentó una profunda conversión espiritual al participar en los ejercicios de San Ignacio de Loyola. A partir de ese momento, realiza los ejercicios espirituales cada año. “Me cambió la vida y me di cuenta de que era un medio muy importante para la conversión de las almas”, dijo Sonia, “Era una forma de llenarme de Dios para después llenar a los chicos de Dios. Si uno no se llena de Dios, no puede dar nada”, expresó. La oración con los niños se volvió una práctica constante en el hogar de los Ibarra. Rezar el rosario en familia y participar en momentos de adoración ante el Santísimo formaban parte de su vida coti- diana. Sonia reconoció que no siempre era sencillo, pues los niños podían mostrarse inquietos, pero insistió en la importancia de que las madres los acerquen desde pequeños a la presencia de Dios en el Santísimo Sacramento. Madres no sientan miedo de entregar a sus hijos Sonia animó a las madres a apoyar con gene- rosidad la vocación de sus hijos cuando descubren en ellos un llamado especial de Dios. “Si Dios los llama para consagrarse a Él como sacerdotes o religiosas, es para que sean felices y lleguen a ser grandes santos; no los llama para hacerlos infelices”, afirmó. Sonia, comparó la vocación con una pequeña luz que enciende una vela. “no apaguen esa pequeña llama, madres y padres de familia”, exhortó “Si su hijo les manifiesta su deseo de ir al seminario, no tengan miedo de entregarlo a Dios, sean fuertes, sean generosos, denles a sus hijos los medios para que sigan ese llamado de Dios”. “Yo soy una madre que sabe lo que están viviendo las madres, así que cuando venga la gracia es importante que sepan reconocerla”. En ocasiones cuando los hijos expresan a sus madres el deseo de ser sacerdotes, algunas se oponen porque consideran que son demasiado traviesos, desordenados, o incapaces de vivir con disciplina. “Quizá el chico pelea con su hermana, es distraído o inquieto”, comentó Sonia. Sin embargo, aseguró que Dios no espera niños perfectos para llamarlos. “Si fuera así, ninguno de nuestros hijos hubiera sido llamado”, añadió. Explicó que Dios llama a cada uno con sus propias cualidades. También señaló que, al ingresar al seminario menor, los jóvenes inician un proceso de discernimiento y formación donde esa vocación puede crecer y madurar. 40 horas de adoración por la santidad de los sacerdotes y el aumento de vocaciones Después de conocer el “milagro” de las vocaciones ocurrido en el pequeño pueblo de Lu Monferrato, Sonia y un grupo de madres que tenían en común contar con hijos sacerdotes o hijas religiosas en sus familias decidieron unirse en oración de manera organizada. Así comenzó a tomar forma un nuevo apostolado, con la ayuda de sacerdotes y se creó la página para coordinar las 40 horas de adoración, una idea magnánima que tiene como propósito volver a encender el corazón de las madres y ayudar a Dios en la salvación de las almas. En el libro Un pueblo único en el mundo el secreto de las Vocaciones de Lu se cuenta que un grupo de mujeres comenzó a unir sus oraciones con una sola intención pidiendo a Dios por el aumento de vocaciones. Citando a Mons. Demetrio Fernández de Córdoba (España), afirma que es necesario “crear un clima vocacional, de manera que un niño, un adolescente, un joven pueda percibir con nitidez la llamada de Dios y pueda responder sin mayores dificultades”. Lo que ocurrió en Lu Monferrato fue precisamente esa perfecta dualidad: oración y clima vocacional para dar como fruto un total de 323 sacerdotes, religiosos y religiosas. Inspiradas en la oración que realizaba la comunidad de Lu Monferrato y adaptando el formato de adoración de las 40 horas, Sonia Ibarra y un grupo de mujeres han realizado esta adoración durante doce años de forma ininterrumpida y actualmente se ha extendido a nivel internacional. Cada mes se realizan 40 horas de adoración los días 14, 15 y 16, en recuerdo del tiempo que Jesús permaneció en el sepulcro. Durante esta jornada mensual de adoración, las participantes pueden dedicar una, dos o más horas de oración. Cualquier mujer, en cualquier parte del mundo, puede unirse ofreciendo este tiempo por la santificación de los sacerdotes y por el aumento de las vocaciones a la vida consagrada. En 2024, participantes de las 40 Horas por las Vocaciones celebraron 10 años de oración continua. Hoy, miles de mujeres en distintos países se unen a esta iniciativa, orando por la santidad de los sacerdotes, el incremento de las vocaciones y la fidelidad de quienes se preparan para servir a la Iglesia. (Foto cortesía Sonia Llauró de Ibarra) La página es www.40horas.org y lo único que deben hacer es un registro sencillo con su nombre y elegir la fecha y la hora en que desean participar. También lo pueden hacer uniéndose a través de la aplicación WhatsApp con el número +541551773843. Sonia afirmó que lo ideal es realizar la adoración ante el Santísimo Sacramento; sin embargo, explicó que también puede hacerse desde casa, preparando un espacio especial de oración, encendiendo una vela o cirio y ante alguna imagen sagrada. Añadió que incluso las mujeres que dedican su tiempo al cuidado de sus hijos pequeños, de algún enfermo o que están realizando las tareas del hogar, como cocinar, pueden ofrecer ese momento al Señor como parte de su oración y entrega. “Lo que buscamos”, dijo Sonia, “es mover el corazón de Jesús, que espera ser enternecido por nuestra oración al pedir por el aumento de las vocaciones, así como por la santidad y perseverancia de los sacerdotes y religiosas”. Añadió que Él está siempre dispuesto a conceder incluso más de lo que necesitamos. “Pedimos bendiciones para todos los sacerdotes que atraviesan dudas, ataques y tentaciones, para que permanezcan firmes en su vocación”, expresó Sonia. Asimismo, señaló que también oran por aquellos jóvenes que han sido llamados a la vida consagrada, para que puedan vencer los obstáculos y dar el paso de ingresar al seminario o al noviciado. Entre el hogar y la parroquia florecen las vocaciones Sonia. Señaló que el gran reto de la actualidad es que, a diferencia de la época en que llegaron los primeros misioneros a evangelizar nuestros países, las personas no conocían la fe, pero ahora están en contra de ella. “Es importante desde las parroquias hacer comunidad y la parroquia debe darle a la familia todo lo que necesita para que ellos regresen a ella, que encuentren el buen pastor que los cobije, una comunidad que sea amiga que se practique la caridad y la generosidad”. En la familia, el papel de la mujer es importante, y tiene un don grande de intimidad con Dios desde su punto de vista, Sonia resaltó: “veo que el camino es volver a cambiar a la mujer y a la familia, que ella pueda hacer que crezcan esas llamitas, porque también los que se casan son capaces de elegir a una mujer buena y formar familias santas”. “Tenemos que hacer visibles para los niños la vida de los santos y acercárselas para que puedan ver en ellos modelos de vida. Si tienen lecturas piadosas, Dios por medio de ellas, enciende pequeñas llamas en sus corazones”. Expresó Sonia. Todo forma parte del esfuerzo de las madres de familia, cuyo papel —recordó Sonia— fue también reconocido por San Juan Pablo II como una misión de colaborar con Jesús en la salvación de las almas. “Porque nuestra maternidad no abarca solo a nuestra familia, sino al mundo entero”, expresó. En el centro de la fotografía se encuentra una de las hijas religiosas de la familia, acompañada por sus seis hermanos sacerdotes, muchos de ellos misioneros. Actualmente sirven en distintas partes del mundo: uno estudia en Roma, dos son rectores en seminarios en Estados Unidos —en Minnesota y Washington—, y los demás están en Bolivia, Polonia y Filipinas. (Foto cortesía de la familia Ibarra) La fuerza que tiene la oración es muy importante si queremos que nuestros hijos sean santos y lo pedimos con fuerza, ellos serán grandes santos porque Dios es fiel a sus promesas y no se deja ganar en generosidad. “Dios no solo nos ha pedido, sino que nos ha mandado orar por las vocaciones”, afirmó Sonia recordando del Evangelio según San Mateo 9, 38: “Rueguen al dueño de los sembrados que envíe trabajadores para su cosecha”. Finalmente, expresó lo importante que es poner a la Virgen en un lugar muy especial dentro de su familia porque “la Virgen es todo”, dijo Sonia, “es importante que consagren sus hijos a la Virgen María, y de rodillas decirle: te lo entrego para que lo hagas santo”. Eso es lo que han hecho los santos consagrase y consagrar a su familia a la Santísima Virgen, añadió. Para los sacerdotes una recomendación especial es consagrar a la comunidad parroquial a Jesús por medio de María.

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

Jn 20:19-23 Pentecost Sunday We celebrate the birth of the Church and the fulfillment of Easter with the coming of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus promised His disciples before His passion when He assured them,“I will not leave you as orphans.” Originally an agricultural festival, Pentecost now commemorates the historical event of the covenant (50 days after the Exodus). It is the feast of the gift of the Spirit, which inaugurates the New Covenant on earth. The Spirit is given so that a witness may be carried to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8; 2:5-11). The Gospel of John includes a magnificent scene. It is the moment when Jesus is resurrected. According to this account, the birth of the Church is a “new creation.” As He sends out His disciples, Jesus “breathes on them” and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” This rebirth of a new people through that divine breath is reminiscent of the creation of humankind in the Book of Genesis: “The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground. Then He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. And so man became a living being.” God created them in His image, male and female. Let us recall the opening rite of Lent, when ashes are placed on our foreheads. “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” We must never forget that life depends on God’s life-giving breath. Clearly, we cannot walk on feet of clay or view life or love in the same way. The disciples were sad and heartbroken over Jesus’ execution, as St. John tells us (Jn16). The only thing that gives them a sense of security is “locking the doors.” They are gathered together, but Jesus is missing. There is a void that no one can fill. They can no longer hear His passionate words. They no longer see Him blessing and welcoming the sick and children. No one can console them until Jesus suddenly appears, full of life, and gives them His peace. Everything begins anew, driven by His creative Spirit. In both the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, written by St. Luke, we see theophanies of wind and fire that symbolize the Holy Spirit. At the beginning of His public life, Jesus declares, “I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already ablaze!” This happened when He breathed His last and unleashed the fire of his re-creating Spirit. In Jerusalem, the mighty wind of the Spirit opens the doors of confinement, allowing Jesus’ disciples to join the Jews who have come from every corner of the known world (Dt 16:16). There, the Spirit of God sets the hearts of all present ablaze as if with tongues of fire. To everyone’s surprise, each person understands the language of love and unity in diversity (the opposite of Babel) in their own language: a new covenant. A new people. United with all peoples, we pray: Come, Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of the faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Por Vero Gutiérrez Editora Asistente El 12 de diciembre de 2031 celebraremos 500 años de las apariciones de la Virgen de Guadalupe a San Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, en el cerro del Tepeyac. Como preparación a este gran acontecimiento en el año 2022, el Papa Francisco dio inicio en el Va- ticano a la Novena intercontinental Guadalupana, que se estará realizando a lo largo de estos nueve años previos a la celebración del centenario de las apariciones de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en México. El objetivo de esta devoción popular que se extenderá por estos nueve años hasta el 2031, tiene como objetivo “promover el reencuentro con Dios, a través de Santa María de Guadalupe, buscando nuevos caminos en la reconstrucción del tejido social, y eclesial de nuestros pueblos y comunidades”. En la Misa de inicio celebrada por el Papa Francisco en la Basílica de San Pedro el 12 de diciembre de 2022. El Papa Francisco inició su homilía con estas palabras: “Nuestro Dios conduce la historia de la humanidad, nada queda fuera de su poder, que es ternura y amor providente. Se hace presente a través de un gesto, de un acontecimiento, de una persona. No deja de asomarse a nuestro mundo, necesitado, herido, ansioso, para asistirlo con su compasión y su misericordia. Su modo de intervenir, su modo de manifestarse, siempre nos sorprende, y nos llena de gozo. Nos provoca estupor, y lo hace con estilo propio”. Recordó el gran acontecimiento de la Anunciación cuando Jesús, nacido de María, se hace para siempre, de forma irreversible “Dios-con-nosotros” y camina a nuestro lado como hermano y compañero. En un estilo muy similar dijo el Papa Francisco, hace cinco siglos sucedió que en un momento complicado y difícil para los habitantes del nuevo mundo. La Virgen vino presurosa a escuchar las súplicas de sus hijos e hijas. “El Señor quiso transformar la conmoción que suscitó el encuentro entre dos mundos diversos, transformarla en recuperación de sentido, en recuperación de dignidad, en apertura al Evangelio, transformarla en encuentro. “Y lo hizo enviando a Santa María, su Madre, en la lógica que el Evangelio de hoy nos recuerda: después del anuncio del ángel, «María partió y fue sin demora a un pueblo de la montaña» (Lc 1,39). La Virgen apresurada. Así llegó a las tierras de América nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, presentándose como la “Madre del verdaderísimo Dios por quien se vive” (cf. Nican Mopohua); y vino para consolar, para atender las necesidades de los más pequeños, sin excluir a nadie, para arroparlos como madre solícita con su presencia, su amor y su consuelo. Es nuestra Madre mestiza”. La Virgen María, explicó el Papa Francisco, quiere quedarse con nosotros. Nos suplica que le permitamos ser nuestra madre, que abramos nuestra vida a su Hijo Jesús y acojamos su mensaje para aprender a amar como Él. Ella vino para acompañar al pueblo americano en este camino tan duro de pobreza, explotación, colonialismos socioeconómicos y culturales. Ella está en medio de las caravanas que, buscando libertad y bienestar, caminan hacia el norte. Ella está en medio de ese pueblo americano amenazado en su identidad por un paganismo salvaje y explotador, herido por la predicación activa de un ateísmo práctico y pragmático. Y Ella está allí. “Soy tu Madre”, nos dice, la Madre del amor por quien se vive. Con el inicio de la Novena Intercontinental en el continente americano se inicia el camino, dijo el Papa Francisco, para la preparación del V Centenario del Acontecimiento Guadalupano en 2031. Finalmente, durante su homilía, el Papa invitó a todos a vivir este camino de celebración sin pautas mundanas ni ideológicas; sino con amor, respeto, fe y devoción a la Virgen, permitiendo que su amor nos lleve a su amado hijo Jesucristo. Durante esta celebración de preparación al centenario de las apariciones de la Virgen de Guadalupe, y mediante la novena intercontinental se busca acercar a los hombres y mujeres de América y de todo el mundo para acercarnos con Jesús y a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. “Nos urge recuperar la alegría del Evangelio, con la ayuda de María para vencer las tinieblas que nos envuelven, renovarnos con su amor visible, su amor materno lleno de ternura y ser un pueblo que comparta el amor materno de María de Guadalupe con todo el mundo”. Con estas palabras la Conferencia del Episcopado Mexicano busca motivar a todos los católicos del mundo para este camino celebrativo para unirnos en una gran celebración intercontinental. Algunos documentos y devociones que se han preparado para motivar en la devoción a la Virgen de Guadalupe en todo el mundo son la traducción del documento original que narra las apariciones de la Virgen a San Juan Diego, el rosario guadalupano y otras prácticas cotidianas propuestas por el comité organizador. Nican Mopohua Es la narración más antigua de las apariciones de la Virgen de Guadalupe que permite leer los diálogos de la Madre de Dios con San Juan Diego. Fue escrito en lengua náhuatl y con motivo de la novena se ha preparado una traducción que además nos brinda el contexto histórico. Rosario Guadalupano Con la recopilación doctrinal y catequética del Siervo de Dios, Luis María Martínez, arzobispo de México de 1937 a 1956, se ha compuesto un modo de rezar el Santo Rosario que nos ayuda a contemplar el misterio de Jesucristo, a través de nuestra Madre de Guadalupe y a pedirle su intercesión. Como parte de estos preparativos, el Padre David Jasso, miembro del comité técnico de la Novena Intercontinental Guadalupana, compartió a través de una entrevista con ACI Prensa, seis acciones simples que cada persona puede realizar para prepararse para este evento histórico. El Padre Jasso también dijo que la novena busca “promover el encuentro con Dios a través de Santa María de Guadalupe, buscando nuevos caminos en la reconstrucción social y eclesial de las comunidades” y con estas simples acciones, practicadas cada día podremos estar unidos en el camino de preparación para la conmemoración de los 500 años de las apariciones de la Virgen a San Juan Diego: 1. Agradeciendo a Dios por la pre- sencia de María de Guadalupe en el mundo. 2. Escuchando, conociendo y profundizando sus mensajes. 3. Imitando la forma de ser de María de Guadalupe y San Juan Diego, dando testimonio con nuestra vida. 4. Compartiendo la devoción por la Virgen de Guadalupe. 5. Pidiendo una gracia especial. 6. Hablando de María de Guadalupe a quien no la conoce. El Padre Jasso extendió una invitación a toda la comunidad a participar en esta Novena a través de la convocatoria oficial en la página novenadeguadalupe.com. Otra invitación importante que compartimos de este sacerdote me- xicano es conocer la película “Guadalupe: Madre de la humanidad”, un proyecto cinematográfico que se podrá apreciar en salas de Estados Unidos, México y otros países de América Latina. Celebración Eucarística en la parroquia de St Mary's en Boise, en honor a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.

Colin Meyer’s family: (front row left to right: daughter-in-law Eleanore, granddaughter Olivia, son Brandon, daughter Cassidy, and son-in-law Devin) Back row: wife Kirstin and candidate Colin. (ICR photo/Lisa Ormond) St. Mary’s parishioner looks forward to new life as a deacon By Lisa Ormond ICR North Idaho Correspondent On Palm Sunday, the Idaho Catholic Register sat down with acolyte Colin Meyer and his family at St. Mary’s Parish in Moscow to discuss Meyer’s spiritual diaconate journey. Meyer will be ordained June 5 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise. Below are highlights of Meyer and his loved ones’ reflections. Colin Meyer, 58, will be ordained a permanent deacon in the Diocese of Boise in just six weeks. By his side on the altar and in the pews will be the people who matter most in his life to witness and celebrate the culmination of his powerful personal and spiritual journey of transformation and renewal. He tried to explain how he felt about the upcoming sacramental ceremony in the presence of God after years of preparation and grace showered upon him, but he was rather speechless, which was “unusual” for him, as he attested. “I think the best way I can describe how I feel right now is being wonderfully terrified,” he said. “It’s not really fear in the sense of being afraid, but being in right worship. A wise deacon once told me that God is not calling you to walk on water; he is calling you to walk in the mud with those who are deeply in need of your service.” Joining Colin on the altar in receiving the Sacrament of Holy Orders from Bishop Peter Christensen will be Jeremey Westmark, Keith Pettyjohn and Rodney Geilenfeldt. As ordained ministers, these four men will serve their Lord, their local parish communities, and become part of the Diocese’s permanent diaconate, which numbers approximately 100 men across the state of Idaho. “I am deeply grateful to have walked this faith journey alongside three godly men, filled with the Holy Spirit,” Colin said. “I trust that God will continue to knit our hearts together for a lifetime of brotherhood in Him.” A new life given Colin, a licensed massage therapist by trade, embraced his formation path for the past four years with all of his heart, soul and being. But first, there is an important pre-story to tell about Colin to better understand how he found his way to this religious vocation. It begins with his family and the call to follow Christ. “God took something that was seriously broken and crafted a new pot,” he said in reference to his rebirth. At age 49, Colin was baptized and confirmed at the Easter Vigil in 2017 at St. Mary’s Church, his current home parish. “The day that I was baptized, I felt like I received more than just an indelible mark. I felt my whole soul, my heart change,” he said. “The person that I was before —the dark, angry, self-absorbed, self-serving person that I had been—was gone, washed away by the waters.” Colin didn’t shy away from the mercy and the spiritual healing offered. He embraced the change wholeheartedly, seeking forgiveness and a new beginning with humility, especially with those he loved most—his family. He attended RCIA classes with his two daughters and credits his eldest daughter, Ashley, for bringing him. “You see, she had a hard adolescent life, mostly, I’m sure, due to my nonexistence as a good father,” Colin recalled. “I felt the Holy Spirit worked through her to get to me.” Mercy offered The remainder of Colin’s faith story is nothing short of a miracle and a real-life testament to the power of the Holy Spirit. He said everything changed the moment the baptismal water hit his head. “It completely changed me. Thanks be to God!” he said. He never looked back, only upward to heaven with love, gratitude and a desire to be His devout servant. “My favorite saint is St. Paul (known before his conversion as Saul), because his journey mirrors my own in many ways,” Colin said. “Like him, I experienced a kind of blindness before truly seeing and submitting to God’s will. His life is a beautiful reminder of how God can transform us, no matter where we start.” Kirstin is his wife of 35 years and a cradle Catholic, and she faithfully walked with him through it all. “Colin got saved by God—He saved his marriage and family,” Kirstin said. “There were addictions, abuse, belittling, controlling and lots of anger to work through.” Colin described Kirstin as his “life force and true guiding light” throughout their marriage, and now she stands beside him in his communal pastoral service as a deacon, too. “I thank God for my wife. He has blessed me with such a patient, kind and loving partner,” Colin said. “She is truly a reflection of Christ’s love in our ministry.” With a compassionate tone in her voice, she responded: “There’s still a lot of healing that needs to happen, but now we have a pleasant marriage.” Road to redemption and restoration When Colin decided to pursue God, embrace his faith, and let the Holy Spirit enter his heart fully, visible, continuous shifts followed in him and within his family’s hearts as well. His youngest daughter, Cassidy, 23, shared what she witnessed and lived. “I really feel Jesus came into our life and fixed our family.” Before Colin’s baptism, she said there were times she feared her dad and couldn’t talk to him, so, she would just go to her mom. “But all that changed when we started going to church; a bond started to form between us,” Cassidy said. Colin’s son Brandon, 25, shared what he witnessed and experienced. “Throughout my childhood, I was confused by my father,” he said. But Brandon said their relationship now was “definitely stronger” since his dad was “willing to listen,” and now he’s there for him as a father, unlike before. “I’m proud and inspired by him,” Brandon said. Eleanor is Brandon’s wife. She has known Colin for 10 years. “Colin is a great example that people can change,” Eleanor said. “He’s a really, really great father-in-law.” Devin is Colin’s son-in-law and the newest member of the family, having married his daughter, Cassidy, in February. “It is good to see what a life with Jesus could be and what a family is like with God at the center,” he said. Devin himself was baptized and confirmed Catholic just weeks ago at the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Mary’s in Moscow. “Colin has been a good role model for me,” Devin added. The deacon called to come The next fork in the faith-traveled road for Colin and his family was the diaconate program. Colin shared how divine intervention made this choice clear for him. “I think there wasn’t so much that an ‘event’ led me there; it was more like a thunk on my stubborn head,” he said. “It came about through continued service in the Church. I was doing laundry, ironing, and then one day I was praying while ironing and I asked the Lord, ‘What more could I do for you?’ and that was that.” Colin said right away he went to his wife Kirstin to “float the idea” by her. This was in 2018. “I told her I think I’m being called to be a deacon, and I didn’t even know what a deacon was or did,” he said. “So, what was her reaction? She laughed!” Kirstin explained more about her initial reaction. “God and Colin weren’t something I ever pictured. I wondered to myself whether he was trying to do ‘something more’ to look good to others,” Kirstin said. Quickly, his true intentions became clear to her and the rest of their family through his committed actions. Stepping forward in faith For Colin, entering diaconate formation was another obedient step of surrender to the Lord. “While the formation requires commitment, it is also a time of tremendous personal and spiritual growth,” he said. “Before entering the diaconate program, there was a quiet restlessness in me, a sense that something was missing, a gift or a calling I didn’t yet understand,” he shared. “Through this formation, God has patiently brought light to that uncertainty that I’m His beloved child, and my faith has become the steady foundation that guides every part of my life.” Colin recognized two specific areas of growth in his spiritual development over the past four years. The first was prayer, and the second was Eucharistic Adoration. “For me, prayer has become the constant thread that keeps my heart open to Him. My prayer life has grown in depth and meaning, helping me navigate challenges, discover purpose, and deepen my love for others,” he said. “The most important Catholic ritual for me is Eucharistic Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. It’s a sacred pause for me to simply be with Jesus, to sit in His presence and let His love speak to my heart. It deepens my relationship with Him beyond the Mass, offering peace, healing and clarity in the midst of my life’s challenges.” What deacons do Colin’s observation is that most parishioners don’t truly know or see how deacons serve the Church. “Our contributions go way beyond the altar,” he said. “Through our faithful service, God’s love is made real, faith is nurtured, and His kingdom grows among us.” Through his interactions with his community, he makes efforts to educate. “They don’t get to see our ministry efforts on the ground—that we go out to the homebound, assist families in crisis, help guide marriage preparation, support OCIA and more,” he said. “God’s love becomes visible and tangible through our pastoral service.” He explained the role of the deacon is to dedicate themselves to selfless service. “I have learned to see my work not just as a job, but as a vocation, as a way to offer the gifts God has entrusted to me for the good of His people,” he said. Arms open wide Colin said he is ready and joyfully awaits what is next in his discipleship journey with Christ as His ordained minister in the Diocese of Boise. “I wake up every day, and I thank God for allowing me to serve,” he said. He explained more about how he views his “gifts” and how they will shape his role going forward. “I feel God has called me to be a ‘people’s deacon,’ someone who can be relied upon to respond whenever there is a need, someone whose ministry is defined by presence, care and compassion.” And for those in the Moscow-area Catholic community where he’ll serve, he seeks to be a “visible reminder” of what Jesus embodied. “By pointing to Christ, the Church helps people discover meaning, purpose and joy amid the noise of contemporary culture. The ever-increasing use of social media and busyness also challenge spiritual life,” he said. “Pastoral outreach today must meet people where they are, offering opportunities for prayer, reflection and community that fit into the rhythm of daily life.” Whatever he may do as a deacon in the years to come, Colin wholeheartedly seeks to be present and purposeful, offering hope and renewal to all those he encounters. “I want people to know that their parish community cares for them,” Colin said. “For me, each day is a chance to walk more fully in His plan, to serve with joy, and to reflect His love in everything I do.”

Hayden Larson is baptized by Father Nathan Dail, chaplain, during the Easter Vigil this year at St. Paul's Student Center at Boise State. (Courtesy photos/Grant Smith) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Hayden Larson never thought it was odd to skip Christmas until he was 10. “Christmas just was not something my family celebrated,” he said. His parents came from the Seventh-day Adventist and Church of God (Seventh Day), often referred to as “CoG7,” denominations. They rasied Hayden and his sister in CoG7, a fundamentalist, non-doctrinal church that observes Old Testament traditions and holidays through a Christian lens. “We lived in a small town in Oregon, and everyone in the CoG7 church was tight-knit,” Hayden told the Idaho Catholic Register. It wasn’t until he was 8, when his dad almost died from a stroke, that he discovered not everyone had the same view of religion. “My dad worked in California and traveled a lot,” he explained. “I’ll never forget when my mom got the phone call that he had a severe stroke and was in the hospital. It was petrifying. My mother immediately left for California to be with my dad. They stayed there for almost a year while he recovered and then went through rehabilitation. I had to grow up fast.” During that time, Hayden and his older sister stayed with different families, often apart from each other. “I didn’t see my sister for about six months,” he said. Hayden, now 23, stayed mostly with families who were part of the same church. However, for a time, he stayed with a family from a different denomination. “They invited me to go with them to church, and I would hear things about the Bible that I had never heard before,” he recalled. “I became more independent in my beliefs and started praying on my own.” When he was 10, his family moved to Southern California. Because there were no churches that were part of their denomination, they began attending an evangelical megachurch and often visited other churches and revivals. Hayden was ultimately sent to a private evangelical school. The experience of the evangelical churches was very different from his childhood church. From the music to the preaching to congregations of thousands of people, he found the evangelical churches bewildering and exciting. “When we began going to church there, I was kind of entering a new era where I wanted more truth, and I wanted to seek that for myself. At first, it was so awesome: the music, the festivals with bands, lights and smoke machines. I remember going to a massive evangelical revival at Angel Stadium and wondering if this is what it means to worship God. But then I began facing questions I never really thought about before: What does ‘God’s judgment’ mean? What is hell? What does it mean to be saved?” In his old denomination, they took literally the Protestant tenet of sola scriptura (“Scripture alone”). They used this as a foundation for rejecting many traditional Christian dogmatic teachings, such as the Trinity and eternal consequences for sin. Although the Protestant churches he attended in California were not complete in their theology, they were closer to traditional Christianity than the church in which he was raised. Hayden believed he was doing well in his relationship with Jesus, despite his struggles, until he returned from Christmas break in fifth grade. “The teacher asked the students what they got for Christmas. As the kids around the room answered the question, I became more and more uneasy,” he said. “When she got to me, I had a sense of dread, but I told the truth: ‘I didn’t get anything for Christmas. I don’t celebrate Christmas.’ Everyone in the room was in shock.” The teacher and other students questioned Hayden about his faith because he didn’t observe Christmas. Hayden is confirmed by Father Nathan Dail. His sponsor, Joe Patti, prays with his hand on Hayden's shoulder. (Courtesy photo/Grant Smith) “They asked: ‘Aren’t you a Christian? Don’t you believe in Jesus?’ I didn’t have an answer for them. Even in my own head, I questioned myself. I thought I believed in Jesus, but I thought maybe I don’t.” When Hayden asked his dad about it, he didn’t have any answers. Hayden called his grandfather for answers, who could only give comfort but no explanations. Hayden made a promise to himself that he would find all the answers to his questions. He wanted to ensure that when his children asked him anything, he would know. As Hayden researched, he struggled not only with the beliefs from the denomination of his childhood, but he also developed a growing distaste for evangelicalism. “After some time, it began to feel like a big performance and all about prosperity. I didn’t see any depth to it anymore. It also seemed to have a lack of reverence for the Lord,” he said. In 2017, his family moved to Idaho. Hayden began attending an interdenominational, hybrid classical school in the fall. “I was surrounded by Calvinists, Baptists, Messianic believers, non-denominational members and Catholics.” Hayden’s parents returned to their former denomination, but Hayden asked not to go with them. His parents respected his wishes. At his classical high school, he learned about the Church Fathers and the Reformation. “I was becoming more militantly Protestant because I thought that was the right thing to do,” he said. “But I couldn’t shake that without the Catholics, we wouldn’t have the civilization that we have today.” Despite his Protestant convictions, two of his closest friends at the school were Catholic. “One kept telling me about this guy, Father Nathan Dail, and the wise things he’d say. She also told me about this thing called ‘Adoration.’ She would just go and sit with the Lord in adoration in peace and quiet, and she would cry with the Lord. I never heard of anything like that in my life.” The idea of sharing emotions with God especially seemed foreign to Hayden. As he was developing his own beliefs, he embraced a more stoic and rational version of Christianity. “I had never had a moment with God like that, where I could just share my feelings,” he explained. Hayden graduated in 2021, and returned to California to pursue a career in film production. “I was driving all the time. I was constantly listening to books and podcasts,” he said. The more he learned about history, theology and philosophy, the more curious he became about the Catholic Church. He also discussed the Catholic Church with his girlfriend, Ellie, and her family, who still lived in Idaho. Ellie’s mother is Lutheran. Her father was raised Catholic but left the Church as a young adult. While visiting Ellie’s family in Donnelly for Christmas in 2022, it was a surprise when Ellie’s mother suggested they attend Christmas Eve Mass at St. Katharine’s in Cascade. Hayden was immediately impressed when he entered St. Katharine Drexel Church in Cascade on Christmas Eve. “It was really snowing out, but the church was still crowded. The dedication of the people really struck me. The priest had so much conviction, devotion and strength in everything he did, from the rituals to the homily. I had never experienced that before.” A few days after Christmas, Hayden returned to Boise to catch his flight back to California. However, his flight on Dec. 30 was canceled. He went for a walk downtown in the evening along Hays Street, past St. John’s Cathedral. As he passed the old rectory, he saw several men sitting around a fire pit, smoking cigars, talking and laughing. At first, he decided to continue on. “As I start to cross Ninth Street, this feeling hits me like a ton of bricks,” Hayden said. “I knew I needed to turn around and talk to the guys back at the rectory. I had never had such a strong feeling before, and I thought, ‘Is this the Holy Spirit?’” Hayden turned around and walked up to the young men. He asked if they were Catholic and if he could ask them some questions. They eagerly invited him to join them. Their conversation began around 10 p.m. and lasted until 4 a.m. Hayden and Joe Patti, who at the time was a seminarian for the Diocese of Boise, formed an immediate friendship over their shared love of Western civilization history. “In our conversation, Joe reinforced that it was actually the Church that safeguarded our civilization for millennia,” Hayden said. Joe invited him to see the rectory library and chapel. “When Joe took me into the chapel, it was the first time I felt the true presence of Christ,” he said. “Before that, the only time I could really feel the Lord was when I was alone in nature.” Joe then invited him to daily Mass at the cathedral at 8:30 a.m. Hayden got only a few hours of sleep before attending, but he knew he couldn’t miss it. “Joe greeted me and stayed right next to me and guided me through the whole Mass.” Hayden also saw the mother of one of his friends from high school. “She came up to me and gave me a hug. She said she was so happy to see me there.” After Mass, while having coffee together, Joe told Hayden that all of his questions and uneasiness would ultimately come down to faith and trust in the Lord. “I didn’t want to believe that, though,” Hayden said. “I wanted to believe that faith could be completely rational.” As they walked back to the cathedral, Joe said he wanted Hayden to meet a “Father Nathan.” Although the name “Father Nathan” was familiar, it wasn’t until he saw Father Nathan Dail that he realized it was the same priest his friends had admired in high school—and the priest who celebrated the Christmas Eve Mass in Cascade. “What were the chances that this Father Nathan was the one in Cascade and was the same priest I heard about for four years of high school? So I spoke with Father, and I went back to California a changed person,” Hayden said. But he still wasn’t ready to begin the process of becoming Catholic. Hayden receives his First Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil Mass. (Courtesy photo/Grant Smith) In California, he attended a Dutch Reformed church in the morning on Sundays and then went to Mass in the afternoon. During visits to Boise to see Ellie, he attended St. Paul’s Student Center. In the summer of 2025, he decided to return to Idaho. However, he was still hesitant about starting OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults). Hayden still wanted to have all the answers to life’s questions before getting married and having children. Years earlier, a friend had tried to set him straight, telling him that many of the answers he sought were incomprehensible and beyond even the most brilliant theologians. His years-long struggle finally came to a head when he realized the truth of what Joe Patti had said: he needed to put his faith and trust in the Lord. “After reading St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Augustine and others, I realized that at a certain point I couldn’t see past God’s mercy,” Hayden explained. “This led me back to what Joe said. I need to have faith and trust.” Hayden moved back to Idaho in the summer of 2025 and entered OCIA that September. “At every single Mass leading up to becoming Catholic, I prayed, ‘Lord, I trust You. If this is the path I’m supposed to be on, if You are guiding me on this path, I trust You. If I’m not supposed to be here, please take me somewhere I’m supposed to be. Please put me on a path I’m supposed to go down,’” he said. “I’m so thankful for everyone who helped me on this path. I am where I’m supposed to be. I am home. I eagerly await to see how the Lord uses me.”

Maggie and Paul J. Kim Update on 4/21/26: All registration slots were filled, and registration is closed. Paul J. Kim, a Catholic international speaker, musician and comedian, will lead a day retreat Saturday, Sept. 25, at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Boise. Kim’s first talk, “Meant to Live More,” is from 10 a.m. to noon. His second talk, “Bulletproof Your Marriage,” is from 2 to 5 p.m. Our Lady of the Rosary Parish will provide coffee, tea, muffins and fruit in the morning. The parish will also provide lunch for participants between sessions. Babysitting is available for children up to 10 years old. Registration is free; however, participants are asked to register for an accurate headcount for food and babysitting. Kim’s presentations have impacted people of all ages in 50 states and 16 countries over the past two decades. He uses his many life experiences to communicate the Gospel message of Christ in a way that is engaging and entertaining. He is the author of “A Catholic Guide to Adulting” and is the founder of the Triumph Men’s Conference. He has also released two music albums, and his videos have accumulated tens of millions of views on social media. In January of this year, he and his wife were featured in Catholic and secular news as they shared their grief and faith following the death of their 5-year-old son, Micah, on Dec. 31. Kim’s background includes work as a marriage and family therapist, and he has also worked in religious formation with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. To register, visit olrboise.org/paul-j-kim-registration. For more information, email Tina Punnoose at tpunnoose@olrboise.org or call the parish office at (208) 343-9041.

By Mary A. Wax Holy Apostles, Parishioner For the ICR Those who are new to Idaho might think that the Holy Apostles community has been around for as long as Idaho has been a state (July 3, 1890, if you are interested). But, while the parishes that united to create Holy Apostles were first formed in 1920 and 1944, Holy Apostles Catholic Church is still young in Catholic Church years. Dedicated on June 6, 2001, by Bishop Michael Driscoll (1999–2014), this Catholic community is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The idea for Holy Apostles grew out of the mid-1990s priest shortage. There was a need for more priests to serve the expanding Idaho communities, and Bishop Tod Brown (1989–1998) decided on the creative solution of merging existing Catholic churches. Combining parishes Holy Apostles began as two separate parishes in two different towns: Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Meridian and St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Eagle. Holy Spirit commenced in 1944 under the direction of St. John’s Cathedral and was named Mother Frances X Cabrini Mission in 1946. The community was later renamed Holy Spirit Catholic Church in 1974, following a move to Cherry Lane and the construction of a new church building and rectory. From left, Monsignor Falk, Father Tim Ritchey and Bishop Tod Brown are at the groundbreaking for Holy Apostles in 1998. (ICR photo/Archives) Similarly, St. Matthew’s opened in 1920 as St. Mary’s Catholic Mission—a mission of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist—attaining status as a mission church in 1927. It was renamed St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in 1971 to avoid confusion with St. Mary’s in Boise. Both parishes had vibrant, active and growing communities. However, when St. Matthew’s lost its pastor in 1998, there was no priest in the diocese to replace him. It was then that the proposal of merging the two communities came into play. Father Timothy Ritchey, pastor of Holy Spirit, was tasked with leading this new combined community. From 1998 to 2001, Father Tim and fill-in priests—Fathers Don Riffle, William (Bill) Dodgson and John O’Sullivan, and Monsignor Dennis Falk—helped one pastor serve two parishes. The resulting merger became Holy Apostles Catholic Church (a nod to the Holy Spirit guiding the selection of St. Matthew as an Apostle). Property at the corner of Chinden Boulevard and Meridian Road was secured, the pastoral councils of both churches united, and plans began to bring the two Catholic parishes together. As one can imagine, it wasn’t an easy process to unite Catholics from established communities. In fact, it was difficult. There were many duplicate ministries that needed to become one. Musicians, liturgical ministers and even staff members were taxed with the problem of “how?” Bishop Michael Driscoll anoints the altar with Monsignor Wassmuth in the background. (ICR photo/Archives) When the 10,000-square-foot nave opened, the pews hadn’t even arrived yet, but the people came. Folding chairs and lawn chairs were set up where the pews are today, and Masses began. The first Mass was celebrated at the Easter Vigil in 2001. The Easter weekend Masses, with Father Tim presiding, were accompanied by Deacons Ralph Flager, Jack Pelowitz, Charlie Rasmussen and Jerry Pera. Attendance at the Easter Vigil and the first Easter Masses averaged about 1,000 people at each of the three Eucharistic celebrations. A unique crucifix The sanctuary crucifix inside that nave tells a story of local history. John Muir, known as “Father of the National Parks,” gave Emile Grandjean (after whom Grandjean, Idaho, was named) a sequoia sapling from California. Emile planted it at what is now the northeast corner of St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center. The tree flourished and grew to be one of the tallest trees in Idaho. In the 1990s, the tree became diseased, and the top was cut off in an effort to save it. A log from the top part of the tree was obtained and crafted into the sanctuary cross. The corpus (Body of Christ) was sculpted in Italy to complete the uniquely Idahoan crucifix to be suspended above the altar at Holy Apostles. Father Ben Uhlenkott was assigned as parochial vicar at Holy Apostles during Father Tim’s final year as pastor. In 2007, Father Len MacMillan was assigned as pastor of Holy Apostles. Father Ben was given a new assignment and Father Tim took a year-long sabbatical. As a parting gift, Father Tim left Father Len with a significant advantage: a fully paid-off loan for the new 24-hour Adoration chapel and columbarium on the west side of the property. This meant the new pastor would not have to launch a capital campaign—at least, not immediately. Parish grows Under Father Len’s 14-year pastorate, the parish exploded along with the Treasure Valley. As homes were built, the population at Holy Apostles grew. What began as approximately 700 Holy Spirit families and 300 St. Matthew’s families today totals about 3,500 families. To put that in perspective, that equals around 14,000 individuals being served—from newborns to those over 100 years old. This growth required physical expansion. To the left of the main church building of Holy Apostles Parish is the perpetual Adoration Chapel and columbarium. In the back is a garden with the Stations of the Cross. (Courtesy photo/Holy Apostles) In 2014, church offices were remodeled after the St. Vincent de Paul food bank moved into a mobile unit on the east side of the property. More significantly, a Catholic school in Meridian—a long-held dream for parishioners—became a reality. St. Ignatius Catholic School opened its doors on Aug. 22, 2017. The altar in the sanctuary at Holy Apostles holds a first-class relic of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. It gives one pause to realize that Mother Cabrini—who founded dozens of institutions, including schools and hospitals across the United States—is present through this relic in our very altar, perhaps even interceding for the mission of our own school nearby. During Father Len MacMillan’s long tenure (2007–2021), Holy Apostles was often managed by him as the sole priest, supported heavily by a robust team of deacons and visiting priests. Eventually, Father Dat Vu was assigned as parochial vicar, followed by Father John Legerski. In 2021, Father Len was transferred to North Idaho, and a new pastor was assigned to the largest parish in Idaho: Father Vitalis Onyeama of the Religious Order of Sons of Mary, Mother of Mercy (SMMM) in Nigeria. St. Ignatius Catholic School, built in 2017, is the parish school for Holy Apostles. (Courtesy photo/Holy Apostles) Father Vitalis has introduced the spirit of Nigerian Catholicism to Holy Apostles. By prioritizing a personal connection with parishioners and sharing his deep love for the Church, he carries forward the legacy of hospitality established by the original two communities. A hallmark of this welcome is the song from his home country that he taught the congregation, now sung each weekend as he greets guests: “You are welcome in the name of the Lord …” Through further capital campaigns, he has successfully guided the building of a new rectory, the addition of classrooms and facilities to St. Ignatius Catholic School, and, still to come, the building of an outreach center that would include renovation of the St. Vincent de Paul section building with additional meeting space. Today, under Father Vitalis, Holy Apostles has been served by three parochial vicars: Father Emmanuel Chinedu, SMMM (now pastor in eastern Idaho); Father Goodluck Ajaero, SMMM; and Father Roger Fernando, ordained in Sri Lanka. This summer, Father Benjamin Onyemachi, SMMM, is appointed the new parochial vicar as Father Fernando is retiring. The rapid growth of Meridian stands as a testament to the shifting landscape of the Treasure Valley—and at its center is Holy Apostles Catholic Church. This well-grounded parish serves the people of Meridian, Eagle, Star, Middleton and Horseshoe Bend. The 25th anniversary Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Peter F. Christensen at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 31. Many thanks to Bob Frohwerk for his extensive parish history and parish timeline. You can read both in detail at holyapostlesmeridian.net/about/about-our-parish.

This article was written by Father Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Carballeda, a priest of the Archdiocese of Puebla in Mexico, and was published by Vatican News. The Church is gradually approaching two significant dates: the 500th anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Saint Juan Diego in Mexico in 2031 and the 2,000th anniversary of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in 2033. In the realm of faith, both of these anniversaries are closely linked and should not be trivial or merely circumstantial events for those of us living in this age. We can say with certainty that they hold specific values of grace and blessing in the heart of God, who continues to carry forward the history of humanity’s salvation. Everything that happens in our lives and history is under the gaze of the Lord, who, since the beginning of the universe, has longed to fill all of His creations with life and happiness, each according to its own order and perfection. From the very beginning, God’s actions have neither diminished nor ceased, but continue full of power day by day and moment by moment until their final fulfillment. Rightly, the Apostle Saint Paul affirms in the Second Letter to the Corinthians that Christ is God’s permanent “yes” and not a “yes” followed by a “no” (cf. 1:19–20). Indeed, God’s will to save all people is valid, present, and renewed throughout history. For those of us living in this young 21st century, commemorating these events is an opportunity to experience a time of grace. It is a time for encounter, responsible reflection, profound gratitude, and an intense drive forward with renewed vigor and firm hope in the future. The celebration of the Redemption will be central and unique, but the apparitions of Guadalupe will be no less relevant, given Mary’s intimate union with the salvific plan of the Son of God and the uniqueness of the Guadalupe phenomenon. This phenomenon led Pope Benedict XIV to refer to it with the words of Psalm 147: “Non fecit taliter omni nationi,” that is, “He has not done anything like this for any other nation.” Although we don’t intend to offer specific reflections on these two events at this time, we can still view them through the lens of our faith. Through the action of grace and Mary’s intercession, we can seek to stir up three responses from the depths of our being: First, joyful wonder. Second, gratitude and self-examination. Third, humble supplication. First, the attitude of the child in the Gospel can lead us to a joyful sense of wonder at what God has done for us. “He works wonders for us!” Mary proclaimed during her encounter with her cousin, Saint Elizabeth. When we are filled with wonder, we can open our eyes to the countless ways the merciful God bestows His love upon us. If ever the enemy suggests that our misery frustrates our joy and trust in God, we have the right to affirm, grounded in the teaching of Jesus Christ, that the loving omnipotence of the one God who saved us through His Son in the Holy Spirit can do what is impossible for our wretched condition as sinners. Second, recognizing our own limitations, we can find strength in the joy of God’s loving and generous actions on our behalf. We can rejoice with the same fervor with which we proclaim the Easter Proclamation during the Easter Vigil, called The Exultet in Latin, and give thanks to God for His generosity and kindness. We can also recall the joyful gratitude of the people of God when they crossed the Red Sea without getting wet and saw their persecutors defeat power acting through Moses and Aaron. Alternatively, we can imagine the gratitude of Saint Juan Diego Cuautlatoatzin when he returned from the bishop’s palace on Tuesday, December 12, 1531, to find that his uncle, Juan Bernardino, had been healed as the Virgin had promised. As we express our gratitude, we should acknowledge with humility and trust that we have often failed to do what God asks of us and what is good for us. Many times, we have ignored God’s words, failed to take advantage of His help, and not lived as He expected and still expects. As the prayer of the prophet Daniel says, “Reproach, sorrow, and repentance belong to us,” for we have deserved the evils we have suffered and have not responded to God in accordance with the trust He has placed in us. In other words, we can make our own the contrite words of the tax collector who prayed in the temple: “O God, have mercy on me, a sinner!” (Lk 18:13). Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, let us conclude this movement of the heart by asking the Lord to transform our lives from this moment on and accomplish in us what we have been unable to do. To help bring this about, we can use the simple prayer that Pope John Paul I—who will soon be beatified—shared with the entire Church at the end of his September 13, 1978 audience: “Lord, take me as I am, with my defects and faults, and make me as you desire.” In the same way, we have the opportunity to incorporate the words of God’s maternal love, expressed through Mary, into our daily lives: “Am I not here, I who am your mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not in the fold of my mantle, in the crook of my arms? Do you need anything else?” (n. 119). According to the Nican Mopohua, these are the words Mary spoke to Saint Juan Diego on Tuesday, December 12, 1531. At the time, Juan Diego was fleeing and apologizing for not having heeded her call due to his uncle’s serious condition. Therefore, we can count on God’s help. We are not alone. We have the power of our Father, the constant grace He bestows upon us through Jesus Christ, and His Word, through which He speaks to us continually. We have the strength of the Holy Spirit, who ceaselessly acts in our souls and guides us toward salvation. We also have the special intercession of the Mother of the Church, along with that of the angels and saints. They ardently desire for us what they experience in their eternal homeland. God always offers us the help we need for our conversion. He renews this help constantly so that we may journey toward Him and grow in communion with Christ day by day. To foster this communion, God grants us the most effective help. Mary always keeps Christ at the center of her life. In fulfilling her mission as Mother of the Church, she teaches us to center everything on Him. Let us turn to her with openness so that she may guide us as she did Saint Juan Diego. In this way, we will prepare to celebrate with hope, enthusiasm, and overflowing spiritual joy the two great events of faith that we will experience in a few years.