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Lauren and Mike Trana with their six children. “We want to keep family first,” Lauren said. (ICR photos/Joe Egbert) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Lauren and Mike Trana did not have an elaborate business plan when they got married in 2009. However, their family business, River Valley Auto Repair, has stayed successful through economic downturns, a pandemic and all the unpredictability of raising a family of six children. “We’ve always been of the mindset to do what’s best for the family,” Lauren Trana said. “We’ve made our decisions through prayer and discernment.” Mike and Lauren met in 2007 although their paths had crossed years before. They both attended Holy Spirit Parish in Meridian, which eventually consolidated with St. Matthew’s Parish in Eagle to form Holy Apostles Parish in north Meridian. They both attended Bishop Kelly High School in Boise, but because Mike was five years older, they were never on campus at the same time. After high school, they both left the Catholic faith. “We met in a recovery group with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Mike was already involved again with the Church, but I had just come back to the faith. We got to know each other doing charitable work together,” Lauren said. They started dating at the beginning of 2008. “Mike went to daily Mass at Holy Apostles and was really active in the church. We talked a lot about the faith,” she explained. During that time, Mike was studying the Theology of the Body by Pope St. John Paul II through books by author and speaker Christopher West. “I would read Christopher West’s books in Adoration and really pray about how to apply Theology of the Body to my life,” Lauren continued. “Mike and I talked a lot about Theology of the Body before we got married.” Just months after they began dating, Mike was laid off, and decided to start his own auto repair business, Michael’s Mobile Autoservice. “He would go to people’s houses to repair their cars. Because he knew so many people from daily Mass, he never needed to advertise. He also helped people in AA with their cars so they could keep going to work. He did a lot for people who were trying to get their lives back on track. Even though the economy was really bad at that time, he always had business.” Lauren and Mike Trana at the new location for their business, River Valley Auto Repair. (ICR photo/Joe Egbert) But continuing in auto repair was not what Mike envisioned for the rest of his life. After the couple married at Holy Apostles on August 15, 2009, he went to Boise State to pursue a degree in counseling. “He loves helping people, and he’s really good with academics. So, he had no trouble taking classes while keeping up with his business,” Lauren said. Lauren became pregnant on their honeymoon. Because of her severe morning sickness, she had to quit her job. “After Miryana was born, I just knew my calling was to be a stay-at-home mom,” she said. “Mike totally supported that calling. He looked me in the eye, told me not to worry about it, and that we would make it work.” Mike went back to work for the powerline company after their first child, Miryana, was born. “He really wanted to provide well for our family, but he had to travel a lot. The powerline company had fleets in different states, including Kansas and Texas. So, he was gone a lot.” Lauren began having complications during her third pregnancy in 2013. “It was then that we decided it wasn’t worth it to have Mike work for a large corporation,” she said. “It just wasn’t good for the family for him to be gone so much. So, we opened Trana’s Garage.” They used property near his parents’ house in Meridian to set up shop for his auto repair business. Around that time, they found a larger home for their growing family in Boise and joined St. Mark’s Parish. They tried to sell their property in Meridian, but each time it fell through. Mike continued his work at his garage in Meridian. He also decided to pursue a degree in counseling again at Boise State. Although he did well in his classes, he discerned that God wanted him to be involved in his work as a mechanic. “People often just open up to him about things while they’re hanging out at the shop waiting for their car,” Lauren said. “He really listens to them.” At the beginning of 2025, the company had grown so much that they needed to move. “It was definitely a God-thing when we found the building in Boise for our business,” she explained. “We really needed to move; Mike had more work than he could do on his own. Every now and then, he would hire someone to help him, but the garage in Meridian was too small to have more than one employee. So, we rebranded as ‘River Valley Auto Repair,’ and we found a new garage in March in Boise.” They now have three mechanics and the space to work on more than one car at a time. Lauren also works part-time as the office manager. “Mike goes above and beyond to help customers with their cars. He still works on cars even though he’s a supervisor, but it’s so nice because the business isn’t completely dependent on him now. It gives him more freedom.” The arrangement has given Mike more time with family. “Our oldest is at Bishop Kelly now,” Lauren explained. “We are homeschooling our five other kids through a co-op, St. Benedict’s Academy in Eagle. The time just flies by, and we want to keep family first.” For more information about River Valley Auto Repair, visit rivervalleyautorepair.com .

By Tish O’Hagan Worship Director Diocese of Boise   The Church has two liturgical seasons whose main purpose is to prepare us for our great feast days — Christmas and Easter — and both seasons have a twofold nature. Advent is both eschatological (looking forward to the end times) and rooted in the coming celebration of the birth of Christ (looking backward to, and celebrating, a profound event in the history of salvation).   Lent, the season we are about to enter, is a season of repentance and baptism: “…the Lenten liturgy prepares for celebration of the Paschal Mystery both catechumens, by the various stages of Christian initiation, and the faithful, who recall their own Baptism and do penance” ( Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Calendar , No. 27).   In keeping with the emphasis on penance, during Lent the Church is vested in purple. Music is muted, and there should be no flowers in the sanctuary (nor any other unnecessary decor, such as elaborate displays meant to represent a “desert” time of the soul). At Mass, there is no Gloria, and the Alleluia is not sung or said.   Nonetheless, Lent is at its root an optimistic season (the word Lent comes from an old Anglo-Saxon word for springtime, the most optimistic time of year). For those anticipating baptism at Easter, Lent is the initiation period into a life of grace as a Christian.   Meanwhile, we, the already baptized, are called to deepen our commitment to this life of grace through acts of charity and atonement that hopefully reflect more than surface asceticism. These acts acknowledge a collaboration with God that began with our own baptism, a collaboration in which we willingly take on the aspects and obligations of Christian life that are clearly delineated in the Gospels.   Lenten liturgies are also a communal summons to enter this collaboration. We celebrate the scrutinies along with those about to be baptized. The readings on the Sundays of Lent speak of transformation, resurrection and the complicated history of God’s relationship with his children. We fast and pray, spiritually accompanying the catechumens as they prepare to become new creations in Christ.  Lent’s twofold nature springs from our fallen human nature — born to sin and repent, to be saved and exalt. Through our participation in the Paschal mystery, in our observance of the rites and character of this liturgical season, and in our accompaniment of the catechumenate, we encounter the ever-unfolding, ongoing Christian story.   Our Lenten liturgies acknowledge in a particular way that our salvation is rooted in the mercy of God, whose abundant love provides the reparation we ourselves cannot provide. We recognize that we have entered into divine life with God, and we pray for those about to undergo that same transformation at Easter. We see that this new life springs into being not in isolation, but in the body of Christ, which is the Church.   Lenten Observances and Guidelines Lent begins Feb. 18, on Ash Wednesday, and runs until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday (April 2).   The faithful support those preparing for baptism at Easter and undergo their own conversion process through the three spiritual disciplines of Lent: penance, almsgiving and prayer. Catholics are encouraged to observe the season by attending Lenten services such as the Stations of the Cross; by “fasting from” particular habits and indulgences; by cultivating additional practices of prayer and service; and by being deliberate in their almsgiving. It is also recommended that Catholics receive the sacrament of reconciliation before Easter.   • Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. • For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 through age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together do not equal a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding on members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onward. • If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the “paschal fast,” to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus and to prepare to share more fully in the celebration of his resurrection. • Those excused from fasting and abstinence outside the age limits include the physically or mentally ill, including individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes, as well as pregnant or nursing women. In all cases, common sense should prevail, and ill persons should not further jeopardize their health by fasting.

Over 70,000 signatures needed to qualify for Nov. 2026 election Thousands participated in the 2026 March for Life and rally at the Capitol building on Saturday, March 24. Speaker Blaine Conzatti and keynote speaker Matt Britton urged the public to education themselves on the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act (RFPA), which seeks to legalize abortion and sex change surgeries for minors. (ICR photo/Philip A. Janquart) By Philip A. Janquart ICR Editor   An abortion rights group is proposing a ballot measure that would privatize abortion decisions, overriding Idaho’s pro-life laws and effectively dismantling decades of legislative work, according to the pro-life organization Right to Life of Idaho (RTLI).   Boise-based Idahoans United for Women & Families (IUWF) is proposing the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act (RFPA), which the group wants added to the Nov. 3, 2026, election ballot.   Supporters have until April 30 to submit the 71,000 signatures, or 6% of registered voters in 18 of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts, required for the initiative to be added to the ballot.   “A storm is coming,” said Right to Life of Idaho President Emily Naugle at the Jan. 24 March for Life rally at the steps of the Capitol building in downtown Boise. This year’s theme was “Support Her, Protect Them.”   “Just like the Gospel of Luke, we know that we don’t need to panic, but we do need to be sure that Jesus is awake in the boat,” she said, noting that prayer and educating others are the keys to preparing for that storm.   Blaine Conzatti was one of the speakers at the Jan. 24 March for Life, winning the “2026 Pro-life Warrior Award.” He emphasized that the initiative is “too extreme for Idaho,” and encouraged supporters to visit tooextremeforidaho.com . The online home for the Decline to Sign campaign seeks to educate the public about the RFPA, specifically what it would mean for pro-life laws in Idaho and how it would affect women, minors and the preborn.   “According to a poll released just a few days ago by Boise State University, if the election were held today, about 60% — that’s six-zero — of Idaho voters would support this ballot initiative,” he said, addressing a crowd of about 2,500 pro-life supporters, an increase in attendance of about 500 over the 2024 event.   Conzatti is the president of the Idaho Family Policy Center and drafted and championed the Heartbeat Bill, the No Public Funds for Abortion Act and the Children’s School and Library Act, among other notable contributions to the pro-life cause.   “Ballot initiative supporters have already raised $1 million, and we expect them to raise millions more … so, more likely than not, they are going to get this on the ballot, and we’ve got our work cut out for us,” he said.   If the RFPA is added to the Nov. 3 ballot, Idahoans will vote on a proposed measure that asserts women have the “right to make decisions about their own bodies,” paving the way for them “to make private reproductive health care decisions, including abortion up to fetal viability and in medical emergencies,” IUWF stated in a certificate of review submitted to Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane on Nov. 21, 2024.   Brian Conzatti speaks at the Jan. 24, 2026 March for Life.  (ICR photo/Emily Woodham)  “Up to fetal viability” typically means the point at which a baby can survive outside its mother’s womb, or 23-24 weeks’ gestation. But the act redefines “fetal viability” as the “significant likelihood” of survival without “extraordinary measures,” according to RTLI. This could extend legal abortion in the third trimester.   “The Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act recognizes that reproductive health care choices — such as the use of contraception, fertility treatments, childbirth care, miscarriage care, the decision to continue one’s own pregnancy and abortion — are deeply private matters that should be decided by a person in consultation with their health care provider,” according to IUWF’s statement of purpose, which adds that women and their health care providers should not be subjected to external pressures, punitive consequences or government interference.   Conzatti said the RFPA is about more than “reproductive rights.” “If you thought this was just about abortion, it’s not: this ballot initiative would even establish a statutory right for minor children to undergo sex-change surgeries behind the backs of parents,” he said, pointing to what he described as a real-world struggle between good and evil, which is sure to culminate in eternal consequences.   “Right now, these children do not have voices to advocate for themselves,” Conzatti said. “One day, each of us will give an account to God for how we stewarded the opportunities he entrusted to us. We must earnestly desire to defend the preborn with all the strength that God has given us.   “It’s my prayer that God will use you in mighty ways to defeat this attack on preborn life, women and families in our state … we still have a long way to go, especially with the black-market chemical abortion pills that are flooding into our state. The biggest fight is still ahead of us.”   Fellow keynote speaker Matt Britton said Idaho, as a leading pro-life state with robust pro-life laws, faces an existential threat, stating that abortion is never health care, but rather an intent to end life, making it “homicide, not a constitutional right.” Matt Britton speaks at the Jan. 24, 2026 March for Life.  (ICR photo/Emily Woodham)    “Abortion never saves a life,” he said. “The definition is taking the life of an unborn child. That is the definition of an abortion in every medical textbook on earth … it causes death.”   Britton has had an expansive legal career, including four terms as an elected prosecutor, county attorney and counsel to many nonprofits in the U.S. He is a major law firm litigator and general counsel. He has written and spoken on a range of legal and pro-life issues across the U.S., Europe, Asia and South America. He leads the Institute of Law and Justice, a special project of 40 Days for Life, in protecting American freedoms as pro-life supporters and the unborn across the country.   (Visit 40daysforlife.com for more information on a campaign whose slogan is “The beginning of the end of abortion.”)   He lauded Idaho’s partial-birth abortion ban, restrictions on abortion pills and various bills that have made the state consistently pro-life, a distinction, he said, that is rare among other U.S. states.   Britton noted that 100,000 babies are aborted in the U.S. every month.   “We talk about the drug epidemic and the people dying. Do you know how many people die of drugs in America every year … 100,000,” he said. “We’ve turned the entire country upside down, and every death is a tragedy. Every early death is a tragedy.”   Like Conzatti, Britton said there will be eternal consequences.   “You are facing an existential crisis (in Idaho) with this constitutional amendment,” he said. “It will go from being murder to being a woman’s right. Every embryology textbook on earth says life begins at conception, and we are all made in the image of God. We will be judged as a society on how we treat the most vulnerable among us.”   For more information about Right to Life of Idaho, visit rtli.org .

De izquierda a derecha: Ralph May, director ejecutivo de SVdP Southwest; Rigo González Jr., tesorero; Carolina Carachuri, secretaria; Memo Gutiérrez, vicepresidente; Guadalupe Rodríguez, presidenta; Becky Swartz, presidenta del Consejo; y Cathy Hagadone, tesorera del Consejo, durante la instalación del comité de la recién establecida Conferencia Hispana. (ICR foto/Vero Gutiérrez) Vero Gutiérrez Editora Asistente Desde el espíritu de su fundador, Federico Ozanam, y la inspiración de su santo patrón, San Vicente de Paúl, se iniciaron las primeras reuniones formales, en las que quedó legalmente constituido el comité para la Primera Conferencia Hispana, cuya misión será brindar atención personal a las familias más necesitadas de habla hispana en esta región del Estado. El nombre de la Conferencia es Espíritu Santo y su primer comité quedó integrado por Guadalupe Rodríguez, presidenta de la Conferencia, Memo Gutiérrez, vicepresidente, Carolina Carachuri, secretaria, y Rigo González, Jr. Tesorero. “Una red de amigos, inspirados por los valores del Evangelio, para crecer en santidad y construir un mundo más justo a través de las relaciones personales y el servicio a las personas en necesidad”. Es la misión de la espiritualidad vicentina que ahora este nuevo grupo que conforman la Primera Conferencia Hispana están llamados a hacer realidad en su comunidad. Los integrantes de la Conferencia Hispana avanzan cumpliendo con cada uno de los requisitos de la Sociedad de San Vicente de Paúl, como paso previo al inicio de su labor de servicio a la comunidad hispana en situación de necesidad. (ICR foto/Vero Gutiérrez) Como parte del proceso de conformación para una nueva conferencia, se llevó a cabo la instlación del comité en las oficinas de San Vicente de Paul. Cada uno de los miembros aceptó el compromiso de cumplir con los estatutos de la Sociedad de San Vicente de Paúl. Becky Swartz, Presidenta del Consejo, Ralph May, Director Ejecutivo, Cathy Hagadone y Norma Pintar Coordinadora de Asuntos Hispanos estuvieron presentes para atestiguar este importante acontecimiento y tomar protesta a los nuevos miembros del comité que dirigirá la Conferencia Hispana una vez que se haya cumplido con todos los requerimientos administrativos. Como parte de la formación que deben recibir los miembros de la Sociedad Vicentina parte de los miembros del comité se sumaron a la clase de Orientación Ozanam el pasado 24 de enero en la parroquia de Holy Apostles en Meridian. Cathy Hagadone, tesorera del Consejo SVdP, durante su presentación en la Orientación Ozanam. (ICR foto/Vero Gutiérrez) La clase tuvo una duración de seis horas, donde los nuevos integrantes hispanos recibieron temas sobre la historia, la organización y la espiritualidad de la Sociedad, junto con información básica sobre la pobreza y las visitas domiciliarias. Además de recibir información sobre la historia de los vicentinos, su misión y los detalles de su labor de servicio a lo largo de los años —desde su fundación hasta su llegada a Estados Unidos—, este encuentro fue también un tiempo especial para compartir experiencias y testimonios con quienes cuentan con más años de servicio en otras conferencias. La Conferencia Hispana podrá ofrecer acompañamiento y servicio a las personas en situación de necesidad, brindando información, referencias y apoyo en casos de emergencia o requerimientos especiales. Asimismo, ofrecerá atención cercana a quienes se encuentran solos o afligidos. voluntarios de San Vicente de Paúl de diversas conferencias, entre ellos integrantes del Comité de la Conferencia Hispana, participaron en la Orientación Ozanam llevada a cabo en la parroquia Holy Apostles . (ICR foto /Vero Gutiérrez) Los puntos clave de la misión a la que están llamados como conferencia comienzan desde el interior del propio grupo que ha iniciado este nuevo proyecto de San Vicente de Paul. Según el Manual de la Sociedad Vicentina, quienes forman parte de esta conferencia están llamados a ser amigos entre sí, a cuidarse unos a otros y a vivir con fidelidad las prácticas religiosas de la Sociedad, siguiendo el ejemplo de Cristo. Desde esa vivencia fraterna, se identifican con los pobres, a quienes están llamados a visitar con prontitud, regularidad y atención, reconociendo en ellos el rostro mismo de Cristo. Además, se busca que los voluntarios puedan establecer relaciones a largo plazo, basadas en la confianza y la amistad, que ayuden a las personas a transformar sus vidas. Un aspecto fundamental de este esfuerzo será también la promoción de la justicia. Este pequeño grupo que conforma la Primera Conferencia Hispana de la SVdP está integrado por personas pertenecientes a la Catedral Saint John The Evangelist, Sacred Heart, Saint Mary y Saint Paul. Sin embargo, la invitación permanece abierta para todos aquellos que sientan el llamado al servicio de los pobres y deseen integrarse como voluntarios. Si están interesados en participar o necesitan más información favor de comunicarse a las oficinas administrativas de San Vicente de Paul con Norma Pintar, Coordinadora de Asuntos Hispanos al teléfono 208- 484- 1482 o bien enviarle un correo a la dire- cción norma.pintar@svdpid.org

Photo of St. Mary's Catholic Students at All Schools Mass By Bishop Peter F. Christensen Catholic Schools Week invites our diocesan family to pause in gratitude and hope as we celebrate the life of our Catholic schools—their academic excellence, their communities of care, and their generous service. Yet this week also calls us to something deeper: to renew our commitment to the distinctly evangelical vocation of Catholic education entrusted to us as shepherds, educators, parents, and families of faith, flows from fidelity to the Church’s mission of evangelization fulfilled in making disciples and building the Kingdom of God. In a cultural moment that often prizes neutrality over conviction, Catholic schools are called to a particular kind of courage: the courage to be unmistakably Catholic. This courage does not reject dialogue or academic rigor; rather, it flows from fidelity to the Church’s mission to exalt the risen and victorious Christ as Lord and Savior for all humanity.  The Directory for Catechesis  reminds us that education and evangelization are inseparable in the life of the Church. Catholic schools are not simply institutions that include religious content alongside secular subjects; they are communities where the Gospel permeates the entire educational climate. Their purpose is not limited to conveying information about the faith, but to propose Christ as the definitive meaning of human life. To dilute or bracket this evangelical purpose in the name of neutrality is not an act of respect, but a failure to live the vocation entrusted to Catholic education. The challenge of truth stands at the heart of this vocation. In the Passion narrative, Jesus stands before Pontius Pilate and declares, “For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate responds with a question that continues to echo through history: “What is truth?” That question—asked with skepticism and distance—captures a temptation that still confronts Catholic education today. When truth is treated as relative, provisional, or purely subjective, the proclamation of the Gospel is reduced to one opinion among many. Catholic schools, however, are called to stand not with Pilate’s doubt, but with Christ’s witness. The Church has never taught that all religions are equal in their truth claims or moral vision. While she acknowledges that elements of truth and goodness can be found in other religious traditions, she also professes—clearly and consistently—that the fullness of truth is revealed in Jesus Christ and entrusted to the Church. The General Directory for Catechesis  insists that catechesis and Catholic education must present this fullness faithfully and confidently. Authentic dialogue does not require the suspension of truth; it presupposes it. For this reason, Catholic schools must resist the temptation of false neutrality. A purely descriptive or non-committal presentation of Catholicism—one that avoids doctrinal clarity or moral claims for fear of controversy—empties Catholic education of its missionary heart. Evangelization is not coercion. As the Directory for Catechesis  makes clear, it is the loving proposal of Christ, offered with respect for freedom and conscience, yet never reduced to vague spirituality or a lowest-common-denominator ethic. This evangelical vocation extends to all students, not only those who are already Catholic. Catholic schools rightly welcome families from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds, and such diversity enriches the school community. Yet hospitality must never be confused with silence. To enter a Catholic school is to enter a community that believes something definite about God, the human person, morality, and salvation. To obscure those convictions in the name of inclusivity is neither honest nor charitable. The Church’s educational vision has always been one of integral formation—intellectual, moral, spiritual, and human. Catholic education seeks not merely to inform minds, but to form hearts and consciences in truth and freedom. Truth, as the Church teaches, is not an abstract idea imposed from without; it is a Person who liberates. When Catholic schools confidently proclaim Christ, they serve not only Catholics, but every student entrusted to their care, offering a vision of life grounded in dignity, meaning, and hope. In an age shaped by relativism and uncertainty, Catholic schools must recover the courage that belongs to their vocation. This courage does not close doors; it opens them—inviting students to encounter the living Christ and to discover the truth about themselves and the world. As your bishop, I give thanks during Catholic Schools Week for educators, administrators, and families who understand that Catholic schools are not called to mirror the culture, but to evangelize it. By presenting the fullness of the faith with clarity and charity, Catholic education remains faithful to its mission and to the truth that sets all humanity free. References Sacred Scripture: John 18:37–38. Congregation for the Clergy. Directory for Catechesis . Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2020. Sacred Congregation for the Clergy. General Directory for Catechesis . Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997. Second Vatican Council. Gravissimum Educationis  (Declaration on Christian Education), 1965. Congregation for Catholic Education. The Catholic School , 1977. Congregation for Catholic Education. Educating Together in Catholic Schools: A Shared Mission Between Consecrated Persons and the Lay Faithful , 2007.

By Jay Wonacott Director of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Boise I am amazed at the complexity and the many levels of the Catholic Church and how they function together. Tip O’Neill, U.S. Speaker from the Reagan-era, once said that “all politics is local.” It may also be said that the experience of the Church is local, but there is much more to the Catholic Church. A universal, worldwide Church is a big Church. Most Catholics experience living the faith in their homes and at their local parishes. Sometimes people visit their diocesan cathedral and maybe see their local bishop once or twice. The bishop, of course, represents the diocesan Church, but also the universal Church as one of the successors of Christ’s Apostles. Most Catholics do not know much about the workings of the Church at the diocesan, national conference or Vatican levels. Church life is experienced at the local level, with the drama and politics of one’s local parish. However, all of these parts of the Church are intimately connected. It is important for people to know these layers of the Church and how they collaborate and interact. I would like to take the idea of National Marriage Week as an example, not only to talk about the value of marriage, but also to illustrate how the levels of the Church help promote marriage. Last November, Pope Leo’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued an official note on marriage, specifically addressing the idea of monogamy and the nature of marriage. It is officially titled Una caro: Doctrinal Note on the Value of Matrimony as an Exclusive Union and Mutual Belonging . Jay Wonacott The head of this Vatican office, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, describes the purpose of the note: “In this Note, we will consider the most important interventions of the Magisterium on the given theme, as well as a series of authors from antiquity to the present — including theologians, philosophers and poets. We have found a great wealth of reflections that affirm the unity of the spouses, their mutuality and the all-encompassing significance of the marital relationship. In this way, the various texts come together to form a beautiful mosaic that will surely enrich our understanding of monogamy.” Having some theological training, I am one of those people who will read a document like Una caro for clarifying teaching, but also because it is part of my job to try to keep up with documents issued by the Vatican and the Magisterium of the Church. Here is a passage from Una caro that teaches about the nature of marriage: This expression is a verbal manifestation of a deeper reality: a conviction and a decision to belong to each other mutually, to be ‘one flesh,’ and to walk together along the path of life. As Pope Francis said: ‘Married couples, too, should form a first-person plural, a “we.” [They should] stand before each other as an “I” and a “you,” and stand before the rest of the world, including the children, as a “we.”’ This happens because, although they are two different people — two individuals who each retain their own unique and inalienable identity — the spouses have, by their free consent, forged a union that places them together before the world. It is a union that generously opens itself to others, but always starting from that unique and exclusive reality of the conjugal ‘we.’ There is great food for thought in this one small paragraph. Global teachings like these are shared with the universal Church, and then national churches work to develop practical programming or teaching based on what is coming from Rome. A great example of this is National Marriage Week. As the director of marriage and family life for our diocese, I received an email from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), promoting National Marriage Week 2026. The U.S. bishops have a website dedicated to marriage ministry called For Your Marriage. The email stated: Dear Marriage and Family Life Directors, Feb. 7-14 is National Marriage Week. The celebration of National Marriage Week is an opportunity to focus on the beauty of building a strong and dedicated life together through the sacrament of matrimony. World Marriage Sunday will be celebrated Feb. 8. This year’s theme from National Marriage Week USA is ‘Together With Purpose.’ Inspired by this national movement, our theme will be: Man and Woman He Created Them: Together With Purpose. This theme honors the unique gifts of men and women and how these gifts are expressed in a spirit of complementarity. We see men and women today lacking a sense of purpose, both in their personal lives and in relationships. This sacred week will honor the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia (‘The Joy of Love’). In an effort to emphasize that we have been created to complement one another, the Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth is offering various resources to all dioceses for those discerning marriage, engaged couples and those already living the vocation of marriage. These resources include an at-home weeklong retreat, a marriage-centered lectio divina, a preaching resource and flyers for parishes. Resources can be found through the USCCB and For Your Marriage. Check back regularly for updates, as new resources will be added. At the diocesan level, I share this information with our parishes, which then decide how to share it with parishioners through social media or parish bulletins. The parish level decides what it would like to do to support marriage in local communities. A great example of this process is our upcoming local marriage retreat at St. Mark’s. I am collaborating with leaders at St. Mark’s and St. John’s Cathedral to promote a Valentine’s Day weekend marriage retreat at St. Mark’s Catholic Church. The retreat will be held Friday, Feb. 13, from 6 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 14, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is titled Tools to Cultivate Your Marriage. The retreat will include fun Friday night activities, practical content to nurture marriage, Saturday morning Mass and meals. It is open to engaged and married couples. It is at the parish level where “faith” meets “life.” The multiple levels of the Church make it rich and complex. The Body of Christ has many parts working together for the benefit of the everyday Catholic who is simply trying to live the faith, follow the Lord and receive the grace Jesus wants to give through his imperfect servants striving to do his will. Do something for your marriage this February. Read a Church document on marriage and discuss it, participate in the at-home weeklong retreat provided by the USCCB, or join us at St. Mark’s for our local marriage retreat.

By Emily Woodham Staff Writer St. John the Almsgiver (also known as “the Almoner,” “the Merciful” and “the Compassionate”) has spurred saints to charity and magnanimity for centuries. John was born in Amathus, Cyprus, around A.D. 560 to a wealthy, devout family. He was well educated. His father owned land and was involved in politics. John enjoyed praying, reading and studying, and he especially loved reading about the saints. One night, when John was 15, he had a vision of the most beautiful and joyful woman he had ever seen, who wore a garland of olive leaves around her head. She said that she was the cause of God’s coming in the Incarnation and that she would bring him to God. John believed he had seen a vision of the virtue of compassion, or charity, because it was God’s compassion and charity that brought about the Incarnation. Excited by the vision, John quickly dressed and, just before dawn, went to the church to pray. On his way, he saw a beggar shivering in the cold. He gave the beggar his goatskin cloak. Then a man in white appeared and gave him a bag containing 100 gold coins, telling him to use the money however he liked. Before John could return the sack, the man in white disappeared. John was astonished and vowed to outdo God in generosity. However, God continued to be more generous than John ever could be. One day, John realized that his vow was a vain effort to tempt God, and he marveled that God remained merciful and generous anyway. He repented. From then on, he gave generously and without judgment to everyone in need or who asked for help, simply in imitation of God’s generosity and love. At his father’s insistence, John married as a young man. He and his wife had several children; however, none survived early childhood. After his wife died — possibly from complications of childbirth — John devoted his spare time to helping the poor and sick in his community. His wisdom and benevolence became well known throughout the region. Nicetas, the newly appointed governor of Alexandria, and Emperor Heraclius (610–641) insisted that John become patriarch, or archbishop, of Alexandria, “the throne of St. Mark the Apostle.” (This was a time when bishops could be elected by the people of their dioceses or appointed by a ruler.) John attempted to dissuade them, but to no avail. He was consecrated patriarch around 611. John cleared the churches of Alexandria of heresy. Heretical clergy were required either to repent or to leave. Those who repented were required to sign declarations affirming adherence to the teachings of the Catholic Church. Although Nicetas believed John was too forgiving, the Church in Alexandria flourished. John was deeply concerned for the spiritual care of everyone in his archdiocese — clergy and laity, rich and poor alike. He treated his clergy with fatherly care, ensuring they had adequate income and housing so they would not be tempted by bribes. He also arranged to sit in a chair outside the cathedral every Wednesday and Friday, assisted by only a few staff members, so that anyone could approach him with spiritual or physical needs. In 611, the Sassanid Persians conquered Antioch. Hundreds of Syrians fled to Alexandria for safety. John’s biographers said he ensured that all the refugees were provided for “as brothers.” He built poorhouses and hostels for them, provided money for food and necessities, and ensured hospitals offered free medical care. Soon afterward, a famine struck. John learned that mothers who had recently given birth were standing in long lines to receive food for their families. Deeply moved by compassion for these vulnerable women and their infants, he had seven lying-in hospitals — each with 40 beds — built throughout the city. Mothers were allowed to rest with their infants for at least seven days after childbirth. When they returned home, each was given money to assist with food and other needs. When the Persians sacked Jerusalem in 614, John sent clergy with food and supplies to assist Jerusalem and surrounding towns. He was especially concerned for nuns who had been attacked. He arranged care for survivors and paid ransom for the return of 1,000 nuns taken captive, ensuring they were able to return safely to their convents. By this time, John became widely known as “John the Almsgiver.” Persian governors, astonished by his generosity, sent bribes just to meet him, but he refused to go to them. In 619, the Persians began efforts to seize Alexandria. Through prayer, John believed the Lord was calling him to return to Amathus. Nicetas opposed the idea and urged John instead to travel with him to Constantinople to see the emperor. John agreed as a favor to his friend. However, when storms battered their ship, even Nicetas became convinced that God intended John to return to Cyprus. John died peacefully after returning home. Many miracles were reported at his funeral and later at his tomb. St. John the Almsgiver is a patron saint of Egypt.

From left, Senator James Risch, Representative John Shirts and Weiser Memorial Hospital (Weiser, Idaho) CEO Beau McNeff. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer More than 70 people, including approximately 20 legislators, attended the annual Mass and breakfast for Idaho legislators just hours before the opening of the 2026 legislative session. The Mass, held on Monday, Dec. 12 and celebrated by Father Dennis Day at St. John’s Cathedral, is intended as a time of prayer and reflection for public officials as they seek God’s guidance heading into a new session of lawmaking. “My brothers and sisters, you face complex and often volatile issues,” said Father Day, a retired priest of the Diocese of Boise and a former board member of the National Right to Life Committee, in his homily. “You work under intense scrutiny and carry heavy burdens. This work is not easy. It was not easy for those first disciples either.” Father Dennis Day, retired priest of the Diocese of Boise, celebrated the Mass for legislators at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise. At the end of Mass, he blessed the legislators and prayed for their new session. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) To weather the difficulties of the session, it is important for legislators to appreciate the friendship of colleagues and remember that the Church is praying for them. “God’s people pray continually for you and ask the Holy Spirit to grant you wisdom, courage and consolation,” Father Day said. “Rely on those prayers, but nurture your own prayer life as well, for that is essential.” Father Day encouraged all those present that American citizens should never feel self-conscious about praying, even in public. The Founding Fathers of the United States secured religious freedom by clearly distinguishing religious authority from state power, “but their intent was never to exclude people of faith from the public square,” he explained. “Their intent was having a public square where people of all religious traditions could participate freely. Separating Church and State was never meant to separate religion from society or to prevent faith from flourishing.” Just as Jesus called each of his disciples to a vocation, each legislator is called as a minister of the law, Father Day said. “In the ancient world, law was inseparable from justice. In that sense, legislators are ministers not only of law, but of justice and truth. Today, the Church honors that vocation and invites you to remember why you first chose to serve and to reflect on how you can continue to grow as servants of truth and justice for the common good.” Their mission includes “protecting the sacredness of all human life, upholding the dignity of every person without exception, safeguarding religious freedom, defending marriage and family and being a voice for the poor, the vulnerable and the weak.” Following the Mass, the Diocese of Boise hosted a breakfast for legislators in the cathedral’s parish hall.

Pro-life advocates assemble on the Capitol steps in Boise during the March for Life Rally in 2025.  (ICR photo/Philip Janquart) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer The 2026 Mass and March for life is scheduled for Saturday, January 24. This year’s theme is “Support Her, Protect Them.” “It’s so important to do both: to support the mother and protect the babies, just as our bishops have led us to do,” said Emily Naugle, president of Right to Life of Idaho. “We need to keep working so all babies may be welcomed in love and protected in law.” A Mass for Life is at 11 a.m. that day at St. John’s Cathedral, located at 807 N. 8th St in downtown Boise. The March for Life, presented by Right to Life of Idaho, will follow the Mass. It begins at 1 p.m. from the Gene Harris Bandshell at Julia Davis Park in downtown Boise. The march ends with the rally at the Capitol steps at 1:30 p.m. Matt Britton, Esq. is the keynote speaker for the rally. He is the general counsel and ex-officio for the 40 Days for Life Institute for Law and Justice. He has served as an elected prosecutor for four terms and as a county attorney. He has also served as counsel to many not-for-profits and U.S. companies operating globally. He is an international speaker on a wide range of legal and pro-life issues. The rally will focus on the “Decline to Sign” campaign of Right to Life of Idaho (RTLI). The campaign challenges the ballot initiative for the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act (RFPA). The RFPA would permit late-term abortions, abortions to be performed on minors without parental consent, and allow children to have sex change drugs and surgeries, according to the RTLI website, rtli.org . “‘Decline to Sign’ has goals of first and foremost making known that the RFPA exists and how it is a grievous assault to the dignity of the unborn,” Naugle said. “Sadly, we will most likely see the RFPA on our Idaho ballots in November. If the RFPA passes, all pro-life protections and laws will be made null and void in Idaho, and barbaric second trimester abortions will be legal.” Naugle said that solidarity among pro-life advocates is crucial this year. “Attending the Boise March for Life is more important than ever because it kicks off 2026 as the year Idaho fights for its life. As Mother Angelica said, ‘Let no one call to death someone God has called to life.’” The March and Rally for Life will continue no matter the weather. Participants are encouraged to bring positive, “family friendly” signs in support of the right to life. Some pro-life organizations will have signs to distribute. Restrooms are located in the Capitol. Immediately after the Life Rally on the Capitol steps, a cookie reception is being hosted in the basement of St. John’s Cathedral. For more information, visit rtli.org .

Parejas de Encuentro Matrimonial Mundial, durante una celebración en la parroquia de Sacred Heart en Emmett (ICR/ Foto Vero Gutiérrez) La Dirección del Ministerio Hispano/Latino de la Diócesis de Boise, parroquias y ministerios en esta área, han organizado para este 2026 una serie de talleres y retiros diseñados para apoyar a las parejas en su crecimiento emocional, espiritual y relacional. Cada actividad ofrece un espacio seguro y guiado para mejorar la comunicación, profundizar el compromiso y redescubrir el amor mutuo. Primer Taller de Vida Exitosa en Pareja en la parroquia de Jerome ( ICR/Foto Vero Gutiérrez) 1.  2do. Taller de Vida Exitosa en Pareja – St. Jerome Fecha:  30 de enero al 1 de febrero Lugar:  Parroquia de St. Jerome Tema:   Comunicación Horario:  Inicia viernes 30 de enero a las 6:00 p.m.; concluye domingo 1 de febrero con la Celebración Eucarística a las 12:00 p.m. Costo:  $100 por pareja (incluye materiales y alimentos) Modalidad:  Diurna; los participantes regresan a casa cada noche Impartido por:  Diácono Juan Carlos Urquijo Pedroso, de la Diócesis de Santa Clara en Cuba El taller de St. Jerome está enfocado en la comunicación y expresión de sentimientos, buscando que las parejas fortalezcan su capacidad de diálogo y comprensión mutua. Los interesados pueden registrarse en las oficinas parroquiales. 2. Dinámica Matrimonial  Lugar: Monasterio de la Ascensión Fecha:  28 de febrero al 1 de marzo de 2026 Lugar:  Monasterio de la Ascensión Horario: Inicia el sábado a las 8:00 a.m. y termina el domingo a las 5:00 p.m. Costo por pareja:  $250 con hospedaje / $170 sin hospedaje Teléfono de contacto:  (208) 613-4594 Bajo el lema “El amor es buscar el bien del otro” , esta dinámica propone actividades y talleres centrados en el crecimiento conjunto, el fortalecimiento de la relación y la práctica de la comunicación positiva. Los participantes tendrán la opción de hospedarse en el monasterio o regresar a casa al finalizar cada jornada. Cada uno de estos eventos representa una oportunidad única para que las parejas renueven su compromiso, aprendan herramientas para una mejor convivencia y fortalezcan su vínculo con Dios y con su cónyuge. La invitación está abierta para   que matrimonios de todas las edades puedan participar y aprovechar estas experiencias que combinan formación, reflexión y espiritualidad en un ambiente seguro y de acompañamiento.   3. Encuentro Matrimonial Mundial – Boise / Ontario, OR Fecha:  18 y 19 de abril de 2026 Lugar:  Parroquia Blessed Sacrament, Ontario, Oregon Horario:  Sábado 18 de abril a las 7:00 a.m.; finaliza domingo 19 de abril a las 5:00 p.m . Cupo limitado Este retiro intensivo brinda a las parejas un espacio de reflexión y renovación, centrado en el fortalecimiento del amor y la fe en la relación matrimonial. Para información e inscripciones: Juan y Paty: (541) 212-0527 César y Lety: (541) 709-1583 Rigo y Margarita: (208) 421-0709 Ignacio y María: (208) 739-2780 El encuentro no solo permite un tiempo de intimidad y diálogo entre los cónyuges, sino también la oportunidad de compartir experiencias y herramientas prácticas en un entorno seguro y respetuoso.

El “sí” de María inspira tres décadas de vocación Por Vero Gutiérrez Editora Asistente El Padre Robert Irwin celebró 30 años de sacerdocio en la parroquia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús en Boise, el 8 de diciembre de 2025, fecha que coincide con la fiesta dedicada a la Inmaculada Concepción de la Virgen María. Parte central de su homilía estuvo dedicada a reflexionar sobre la virtud de la pureza y el poder transformador de la Palabra de Dios. Desde hace seis años, el Padre Irwin se ha desempeñado como capellán del hospital de Saint Alphonsus, donde brinda los sacramentos a pacientes católicos procedentes no solo de diversas ciudades de Idaho, sino también de otros estados del país que acuden para recibir atención médica. Además de esta labor, apoya a sa- cerdotes en sus parroquias cuando es requerido y coordina a más de treinta ministros extraordinarios de la Comunión que colaboran como voluntarios en el hospital. Diácono Bill Bieker; Padre Goodluck Ajaero; Padre Hippolytus Ezenwa; Padre Robert Irwin; Padre Andrew Colvin, Monje de la comunidad del Holy Transfiguration Monastery en Redwood Valley, California, y el diácono Salvador Carranza al terminar la Misa en la parroquia Sacred Heart Parish. (ICR foto/Vero Gutiérrez) Concelebraron con el Padre Irwin: el Padre Hippolytus Ezenwa, párroco del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús; el Padre Goodluck Ajaero, vicario de Holy Apostles; el Padre Andrew Colvin, Aggregate Monk of Holy Transfiguration Monastery en Redwood Valley, California, sacerdote de la diócesis de Baker, Oregón. También, asistieron los diáconos Bill Bieker, de Holy Apostles, y Salvador Carranza, director del Programa de Diaconado Permanente de la diócesis de Boise. En su homilía, el Padre Irwin destacó la celebración de la Inma- culada Concepción, recordando que María, nuestra Santísima Madre, desde el momento de su concepción, fue preparada para ser el recipiente puro del nacimiento de Jesús, Hijo de Dios. El Padre estableció un vínculo profundo entre esta celebración y sus tres décadas de ministerio, afirmando que su vocación está íntimamente ligada a las apariciones marianas de Medjugore. Conocer aquel milagro lo llevó a rezar el rosario y cultivar una reflexión más profunda sobre su llamado. El Padre Robert Irwin fue ordenado por el Reverendo Obispo Thomas J. Connolly de la diócesis de Baker, el sacerdote junto a ellos es Padre James Patrick, en ese tiempo, rector de la Catedral de San Francisco de Sales (Foto/ Cortesía Padre Irwin) Citando a la hermana Linda Buck, CSJ, compartió: “Recibir algo verdaderamente no es absorberlo sin cuestionarlo, sino dejar que te toque y decidir cómo te moldea. El ‘sí’ de María condujo a la transformación de los corazones a través de la vida de su hijo Jesús”. El Padre Irwin reflexionó sobre la obediencia y la responsabilidad que conlleva ser sacerdote. Tal como María respondió con humildad, cada sacerdote ofrece a Dios un “si” personal, sostenido también por el “si” de la comunidad que lo recibe. Recordó que ningún sacerdote católico romano está solo; siempre tiene que pertenecer a una orden o a una diócesis y vivir en pureza y obediencia. Decir “sí” a Dios: la vocación del Padre Irwin Al igual que el “sí” de María, insistió el Padre Irwin, cada sacerdote debe prometer en voz alta “obediencia al obispo y a sus sucesores”: una llamada y una respuesta que son tanto personales como comunitarias. El Padre pidió a la comunidad ahí congregada hacer oración por los jóvenes “Les pido que recen por los jóvenes en discernimiento; por quienes los acompañan en su formación; y por todos aquellos que ya han respondido a la llamada, para que perseveren en santidad, pureza y obediencia. Harold M. Portch, abuelo del Padre Irwin, recibe la Sagrada Comunión en la parroquia Saint Patrick, en Madras, Oregon, en 1995, durante la ordenación sacerdotal de su nieto . (Foto/cortesía Padre Irwin) Confió que, aunque disfrutaba profundamente ejercer como párroco, aceptó con obediencia el llamado a servir en el hospital: un ministerio donde los enfermos y sus familias buscan milagros de curación y transformación de vida. Visiblemente emocionado, reconoció que ha sido una bendición servir durante estos seis años a los pacientes, sus familiares y al personal del hospital. Muchos de ellos están buscando un milagro de curación y nueva vida, lo que, normalmente, logran y los lleva a un cambio de vida. Otro aspecto central de su mensaje fue el valor de la Palabra. Señaló que uno de los títulos de María es “Tabernáculo de la Palabra”, y compartió una tradición según la cual María, durante su juventud, dedicaba tiempo a la lectura de las Escrituras. “Le gustaba tanto leer las Sagradas Escrituras que el Verbo se encarnó en ella”, afirmó. Así como María preparó su corazón para que el Verbo cobrara vida, el Padre Irwin subrayó que los sacerdotes también están llamados a ser “tabernáculos de la Palabra”, vasos puros que permitan a Dios hacerse presente en el mundo. Recordó que ninguna vocación se vive para uno mismo; el llamado cristiano siempre existe para la evangelización y la construcción del Reino. El Padre concluyó invitando a renovar el compromiso con la pureza y la santidad personal: “La Inmaculada Concepción de nuestra Santísima Madre dio lugar al mayor don que el mundo jamás haya visto. ¿Qué pasaría si volviéramos a fomentar la pureza en nuestro mundo? Seamos ese cambio, viviendo vidas puras y santas. La pureza y la Palabra son tan poderosas que pueden transformar culturas y cambiar el mundo. Antes de iniciar la Liturgia Eucarística, el Padre Irwin compartió que la razón principal por la que es católico y sacerdote es la Sagrada Eucaristía, fuente y cumbre de nuestra fe, y fuerza diaria para vivir la vocación. Padre Irwin, durante la Celebración Eucarística por su 30 aniversario sacerdotal con el Padre Goodluck Ajaero y el diácono Bill Bieker. (ICR foto/Vero Gutiérrez) Trayectoria ministerial El Padre Robert Irwin se incardinó en la diócesis de Boise el 5 de mayo de 2016. Fue ordenado sacerdote el 8 de diciembre de 1995 para la diócesis de Baker, en Madras, Oregón, por el obispo Thomas Connolly. Antes de su llegada a Boise, sirvió como: • Vicario parroquial en St. Mary, Pendleton (1995–1998); • rector de San Francisco de Sales en Baker City (1998–2005); • párroco en Blessed Sacrament, Oregón (2005–2010); • vicario parroquial en Saint George’s, Post Falls (2010–2011); • administrador parroquial de Good Shepherd, Soda Springs (2011–2013); • pastor en Jerome (2013–2017); • pastor en Our Lady of the Valley, Caldwell (2017–2018). Desde 2019 ejerce como capellán del hospital Saint Alphonsus, donde continúa su ministerio en la actualidad.

Mary’s ‘yes’ inspires three decades of vocation From left, Deacon Bill Bieker, deacon at Holy Apostles Parish in Meridian, Father Goodluck Ajaero, parochial vicar at Holy Apostles, Father Hippolytus Ezenwa, pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Boise, Father Robert Irwin, chaplain at Saint Alphonsus Hospital in Boise, Father Andrew Colvin, a monk at Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Calif., and Deacon Salvador Carranza, director of the Office of the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Boise, celebrated Father Irwin’s ordination anniversary. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez) By Vero Gutiérrez Assistant Editor Father Robert Irwin celebrated 30 years of priesthood at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Boise on Dec. 8, 2025, a date that coincides with the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A central part of his homily was dedicated to reflecting on the virtue of purity and the transforming power of the Word of God. For the past six years, Father Irwin has served as chaplain at Saint Alphonsus Hospital, where he provides the sacraments to Catholic patients coming not only from various cities in Idaho, but also from other states who travel there seeking medical care. In addition to this ministry, he supports priests in their parishes when requested and coordinates more than 30 extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion who volunteer alongside him at the hospital.   Father Irwin shared that the principal reason he is Catholic and a priest is the Holy Eucharist. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez) Concelebrating with Father Irwin were Father Hippolytus Ezenwa, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish; Father Goodluck Ajaero, parochial vicar of Holy Apostles Parish; and Father Andrew Colvin, an aggregate monk of Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Redwood Valley, California, and a priest of the Diocese of Baker, Oregon. Also in attendance were Deacons Bill Bieker of Holy Apostles Parish and Deacon Salvador Carranza, director of the Permanent Diaconate Program of the Diocese of Boise. In his homily, Father Irwin highlighted the celebration of the Immaculate Conception, recalling that Mary was prepared from the moment of her conception to be the pure vessel chosen for the birth of Jesus. He drew a moving parallel between this feast and his 30 years of ministry, affirming that his vocation is deeply connected to the Marian apparitions at Medjugorje. Learning about those events led him to pray the rosary and reflect more deeply on his calling. Quoting Sister Linda Buck, CSJ, he shared: “To truly receive something is not to absorb it without question, but to let it touch you and decide how it shapes you. Mary’s ‘yes’ led to the transformation of hearts through the life of her Son, Jesus.” During his ordination in 1995, Father Irwin kneels before Bishop Thomas J. Connolly, then Bishop of the Diocese of Baker. (Courtesy photo) Saying ‘yes’ to God Father Irwin reflected on the obedience and responsibility of the priestly vocation. Just as Mary responded with humility, every priest offers God a personal “yes,” supported by the “yes” of the community that welcomes him. He reminded those present that no Roman Catholic priest is ever alone; he must be united to a religious order or a diocese, living always in purity and obedience. Father Irwin invited prayers for young men discerning their vocation; for those guiding them in formation; and for those who have already answered the call, that they may persevere in holiness, purity and obedience. He confided that although he loved serving as a parish pastor, he obediently accepted the call to serve in the hospital — an assignment where the sick and their families seek miracles of healing and life transformation. He expressed that this ministry has been a profound personal blessing. Harold M. Portch, Father Irwin's maternal grandfather, receives Holy Communion at Saint Patrick Parish in Madras, Oregon, in 1995, during his grandson's priestly ordination . (Photo courtesy of Father Irwin) Mary, tabernacle of the Word Another central message of his homily was the power of the Word of God. He noted that one of Mary’s titles is “Tabernacle of the Word,” and shared a tradition that, in her youth, Mary devoted herself to reading Scripture. “She loved reading Sacred Scripture so much that the Word became flesh within her,” he said. Just as Mary prepared her heart to allow the Word to take root, Father Irwin emphasized that priests, too, are called to be “tabernacles of the Word” — pure vessels that allow God to become present in the world. He reminded the faithful that no Christian vocation is meant to be lived for oneself; the call always exists for evangelization and the building of the Kingdom. He concluded by inviting the community to renew its commitment to purity and holiness. “The Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother brought forth the greatest gift the world has ever known. What would happen if we began once again to foster purity in our world? Let us be that change, living pure and holy lives. Purity is powerful, and the Word is powerful.” The Eucharist, source of the call Before the Liturgy of the Eucharist, Father Irwin shared that the principal reason he is Catholic and a priest is the Holy Eucharist — the source and summit of the faith, and the daily strength to live out his vocation. Ministerial journey Father Robert Irwin was incardinated into the Diocese of Boise on May 5, 2016. He was ordained a priest on Dec. 8, 1995, for the Diocese of Baker in Madras, Oregon, by Bishop Thomas Connolly. Before coming to Boise, he served as: • Parochial vicar at St. Mary Parish, Pendleton (1995–1998) • Rector of St. Francis de Sales Parish, Baker City (1998–2005) • Pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish, Oregon (2005–2010) • Parochial vicar at St. George Parish, Post Falls (2010–2011) • Parish administrator of Good Shepherd Parish, Soda Springs (2011–2013) • Pastor in Jerome (2013–2017) • Pastor of Our Lady of the Valley Parish, Caldwell (2017–2018) Since 2019, he has served as chaplain at Saint Alphonsus Hospital, where he continues his ministry today.