Pope Francis lies in state at St. Peter’s Basilica.  (CNA photo\Vatican Media) By Courtney Mares, Catholic News Agency Updated by Emily Woodham, Idaho Catholic Register Pope Francis lies in state at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome until 8 p.m. Central European Time on Friday, April 25. It is then that his casket will be sealed. His funeral is planned for Saturday, April 26.   Long lines of mourners, many waiting more than four hours under the hot Roman sun, wound around St. Peter’s Square on the first day of viewing on April 23. Vatican officials extended basilica’s hours past midnight to accommodate the large turnout. More than 50,000 mourners passed through the Basilica to pay their respects to the pope in the first 24 hours.   “The crowds are just packed… but overall it was beautiful,” said Arianne Gallagher-Welcher, a pilgrim from Washington, D.C. “You could feel how special it was for everyone … a really nice chance to say goodbye to Pope Francis.”   Gallagher-Welcher reflected on the significance of the Jubilee Year of Hope. “We were here during the Jubilee in 2000,” she said. “To thank and celebrate the life of Pope Francis during the Jubilee Year of Hope is just an incredible gift.”   As people slowly made their way to the basilica, some prayed the rosary while others sang hymns. Once inside, people were able to spend a moment in prayer before the late pope’s open casket in front of the main altar and the tomb of St. Peter.   Clad in red vestments, a bishop’s miter on his head, and a rosary clasped in his hands, Francis was watched over in silence by four Swiss Guards standing vigil   “As we got closer to the body of our Holy Father, it was very emotional to see him,” reflected Father Fabian Marquez of the Diocese of El Paso, Texas. “But I’m so grateful for all the great things he did for the community, bringing people together.”   “And my personal prayer was that now he intercedes for the next Peter to come so that the next Peter can lead us where the Lord desires us to go,” Marquez said.   Marquez had traveled to Rome with fellow priests for the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, which was postponed until after the election of a new pope. (Only a pope can declare a person a saint in the canonization process.) Pope Francis lies in state at St. Peter’s Basilica.  (CNA photo\Vatican Media)   “Everything changed since the news that our Holy Father had passed,” Marquez said. “We decided to continue to come … just to be here with him.”   “We were able to pray the rosary with the people and it was very emotional just to be here outside of the basilica today … when they transferred the body from Santa Marta to the basilica.”   The significance of the moment extended even to non-Catholics. Jai Agarwal, a 21-year-old American student at John Cabot University in Rome, joined the line to pay his respects.   “He would always advocate for peace,” Agarwal said. “He’s one of the few people that just had genuine empathy.”   The funeral service for Pope Francis will be in St. Peter’s Square at 10 a.m. Central European Time on Saturday, April 26. It will be presided by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals. The funeral marks the first day of the Novemdiales, the nine days of mourning, with Masses each day for Pope Francis. The Masses will end on May 4.     United States President Donald Trump stated that he and his wife, Melania, would attend the funeral. Other heads of state from around the world are also expected to attend. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here, or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Ste. 400, Boise, ID 83705, or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

Pope Francis is seen at his general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 16, 2014. (Daniel Ibáñez/CNA) Our beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis, died today, April 21, in Rome, after a prolonged battle with double pneumonia. The Vatican reported that his time of death was 7:35 a.m., Central European time, on Easter Monday (11:35 pm, Easter Sunday, Mountain Time). “United in prayer with Catholics in Idaho, the United States, and those around the world, and with all people of good will, we pray in gratitude for the life of our revered shepherd. We mourn the passing of our Holy Father and ask Saint Joseph to accompany him,” said Bishop Peter F. Christensen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise. Elected pope on March 13, 2013, the 88-year-old pontiff reigned for 12 years and one month. Born in Argentina, Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the first pope in history from the Western hemisphere. He was also the first Jesuit pontiff and the first to take the name of St. Francis of Assisi. Like the 13th-century saint, Pope Francis put forward a “back to basics” agenda, focusing the faithful on the heart of the Gospel, with a renewed commitment to those in need and caring for our common home. “How blessed we have been by his leadership, and how blessed we will be for decades to come as that same leadership takes even deeper root in who we are as followers of Jesus Christ our Lord,” said Bishop Peter. A memorial Mass for Pope Francis at the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist in Boise will be celebrated by Bishop Peter on Wednesday, April 23, at 12:15 p.m. All priests of the Diocese have been invited to concelebrate the liturgy. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, And let perpetual light shine upon him. Bishop Peter Christensen, M.A., D.D. The doors of the Cathedral of St. John Evangelist in Boise are draped in mourning for the Memorial Mass of Pope Francis which will be held Wednesday, April 23 at 12:15 p.m. (Courtesy Photo/Peter Brophy) Las puertas de la Cathedral of St. John Evangelist en Boise se cubren de luto para la Misa en Memoria del Papa Francisco que se celebrará el miércoles 23 de abril a las 12:15 p.m.  (Foto cortesía /Peter Brophy) Declaración del Obispo Peter F. Christensen sobre la muerte del Papa Francisco Nuestro querido Santo Padre, el Papa Francisco, ha fallecido hoy, 21 de abril, en Roma, tras una prolongada batalla contra una doble neumonía. El Vaticano informó que su hora de muerte fue a las 7:35 a.m., hora de Europa Central, del Lunes de Pascua. “Unidos en la oración con los católicos de Idaho, de Estados Unidos y de todo el mundo, y con todas las personas de buena voluntad, oramos en gratitud por la vida de nuestro venerado pastor. Lloramos el fallecimiento de nuestro Santo Padre y pedimos a San José que le acompañe”, dijo el Obispo Peter F. Christensen de la Diócesis Católica Romana de Boise. Elegido Papa el 13 de marzo de 2013, el pontífice de 88 años ejerció su pontificado durante 12 años y un mes. Nacido en Argentina, Jorge Mario Bergoglio se convirtió en el primer Papa de la historia procedente del hemisferio occidental. También fue el primer pontífice jesuita y el primero en llevar el nombre de San Francisco de Asís. Al igual que el santo del siglo XIII, el Papa Francisco propuso una agenda de “vuelta a lo esencial”, centrando a los fieles en el corazón del Evangelio, con un compromiso renovado con los necesitados y el cuidado de nuestra casa común. “Qué bendecidos hemos sido por su liderazgo, y qué bendecidos seremos en las próximas décadas cuando ese mismo liderazgo eche raíces aún más profundas en lo que somos como seguidores de Jesucristo nuestro Señor”, dijo el obispo Peter. El Obispo Peter celebrará una Misa en memoria del Papa Francisco en Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist de Boise el miércoles 23 de abril a las 12:15. Todos los sacerdotes de la Diócesis han sido invitados a concelebrar la liturgia. Concédele, Señor, el descanso eterno, Y brille para él la luz perpetua. Bishop Peter Christensen, M.A., D.D.

Pope Francis is seen at his general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 16, 2014.  (Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA) By Kristina Millare Catholic News Agency (CNA) Throughout his 12-year papacy, Pope Francis gave many addresses, talks, and statements, and he penned numerous encyclicals and apostolic exhortations emphasizing themes of hope, mercy, compassion, and joy.   His words often focused on the dignity of the poor, migrants, refugees, and the elderly as well as the importance of marriage, family life, and care for the environment. Advocating for “synodality,” Francis also called for a Church that listens and walks together.   Below is a collection of quotes that reflect Pope Francis’ vision for a more compassionate and Christ-centered world.   Hope   In his first encyclical letter Lumen Fidei , Pope Francis said faith in Jesus Christ helps one to joyfully live life “on wings of hope.”   Constantly encouraging people to turn to God, the Holy Father opened the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope writing in Spes Non Confundit : “Christian hope does not deceive or disappoint because it is grounded in the certainty that nothing and no one may ever separate us from God’s love … The death and resurrection of Jesus is the heart of our faith and the basis of our hope.”   Mercy   Pope Francis often said that God’s style is one of “ closeness, mercy, and tenderness . "   Exactly two years before closing the Jubilee Year of Mercy , the Holy Father penned his first papal apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium on the 2013 solemnity of Christ the King, writing: “Let me say this once more: God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy … Time and time again he bears us on his shoulders. No one can strip us of the dignity bestowed upon us by this boundless and unfailing love.”   Joy   As the first pontiff in history to criticize “sourpusses” in a papal document, Pope Francis reiterated the evangelical importance of joy, a fruit of the Holy Spirit, in Evangelii Gaudium .   In a message to participants of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints’ 2022 “Holiness Today” symposium , he said: “Without this joy, faith shrinks into an oppressive and dreary thing; the saints are not ‘sourpusses’ but men and women with joyful hearts, open to hope … Blessed Carlo Acutis is likewise a model of Christian joy for teenagers and young people. And the evangelical, and paradoxical, ‘perfect joy’ of St. Francis of Assisi continues to impress us.”   Love for the poor   Choosing the name “Francis” in honor of St. Francis of Assisi was a powerful signal to the world that the pope wanted a “ Church which is poor and for the poor! ”   With his burning desire for the love of Jesus Christ to reach the world’s peripheries, the Argentinian pope insisted that the poor are true evangelizers who must not be ignored.   In his 2015 apostolic journey to the Philippines for the country’s Year of the Poor, the Holy Father asked young people : “You who live by always giving, and think that you need nothing, do you realize that you are poor yourself? Do you realize that you are very poor and that you need what they can give you? Do you let yourself be evangelized by the poor, by the sick, by those you assist?”   Migrants and refugees   Migrants, displaced people, refugees, and victims of human trafficking always held a special place in the Jesuit pontiff’s heart.   In 2016, Francis instituted the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and called on Catholics worldwide in 2020, through Fratelli Tutti to open their arms to those affected by war, persecution, poverty, and natural disasters.   In his 2018 World Day of Migrants and Refugees message , he said: “The Lord entrusts to the Church’s motherly love every person forced to leave their homeland in search of a better future … In this regard, I wish to reaffirm that ‘our shared response may be articulated by four verbs: to welcome, to protect, to promote, and to integrate.’”   Environment and climate change   Pope Francis spoke in Catholic and secular venues about the detrimental impacts of a “throwaway culture” perpetuated by unscrupulous profiteering and rampant consumerism.   Having written two key documents — including Laudate Deum — dedicated to the care for God’s creation, he wrote in Laudato Si ’ in 2015: “We have to realize that a true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”   Pets vs. people   The pope was a strong believer that pets should never replace children.   During his 2023 address at the General State of the Birth Rate conference held in Italy, the Holy Father recalled one brief encounter: “I greeted the woman, and she opened a bag and said: ‘Will you bless him, my baby?’ A dog!”   “I did not have any patience there… ‘Madam, many children are hungry, and you are here with a dog!’ Brothers and sisters, these are scenes from the present, but if things continue like this, it will be the custom of the future: beware.”   Marriage and family life   Among several practical pearls of wisdom for families — including advice to mothers to “stop ironing the shirts” of their sons so that they marry soon — Pope Francis told newlyweds in 2016 that the words: “ May I?”, “Thank you,” and “I’m sorry ” are key to maintaining peace in the home.   “There are always problems and arguments in married life,” the pope said. “It is normal for husband and wife to argue and to raise their voices; they squabble, and even plates go flying! So do not be afraid of this when it happens. May I give you a piece of advice: Never end the day without making peace.”   Youth and the elderly   Known as the “ grandfather of the children ” at the Holy Family Church in Gaza, Pope Francis traditionally used his weekly general audiences to convey his spiritual closeness with both the youth and the elderly.   When the pope instituted the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, he said: “The future of the world depends on this covenant between young and old. Who, if not the young, can take the dreams of the elderly and make them come true? Yet for this to happen, it is necessary that we continue to dream.”   “Our dreams of justice, of peace, of solidarity can make it possible for our young people to have new visions; in this way, together, we can build the future,” the pope said.   Synodality   The Argentinian pope often said he preferred a Church that goes out into the world even if “ bruised, hurting, and dirty because it has been out on the streets. ”   The Holy Father insisted priests be shepherds “ with the smell of sheep , ” urged consecrated brothers and sisters to bring God’s “ light to the women and men of our time , ” and called on laypeople to “ bring the novelty and joy of the Gospel wherever you are . ”   Urging all Catholic faithful to learn how to listen and walk together as one missionary Church, the Holy Father said at the close of the Vatican’s 2024 Synod on Synodality meeting: “Everyone, everyone, everyone! Nobody left outside: everyone … It is up to us to amplify the sound of this whispering, never getting in its way; to open the doors, never building walls.”   “How much damage the women and men of the Church do when they build walls, how much damage! Everyone is welcome, everyone, everyone!” he said.   Popular piety: Our Lady, St. Joseph, and the Heart of Jesus   Pope Francis was known to love the simple faith and devotion of the people. His own childlike affection for Mary, the Mother of God, and St. Joseph was evident to millions.   However, the pontiff’s belief in the power of popular piety reached its climax in his last and lengthy encyclical letter, Dilexit Nos , in which he wrote: “The flames of love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus also expand through the Church’s missionary outreach, which proclaims the message of God’s love revealed in Christ … As we contemplate the Sacred Heart, mission becomes a matter of love.”   Food   The Church’s first Latin American pope understood the importance of physical and spiritual nourishment.   Besides sharing lessons learnt from his favorite movie, “Babette’s Feast,” the pope would always tell those who prayed the Sunday Angelus with him to “have a good lunch!”   In Dilexit Nos , the Holy Father stressed just how important culinary traditions are for family life when he wrote: “In this age of artificial intelligence, we cannot forget that poetry and love are necessary to save our humanity.”   “No algorithm,” he said, “will ever be able to capture, for example, the nostalgia that all of us feel, whatever our age, and wherever we live, when we recall how we first used a fork to seal the edges of the pies that we helped our mothers or grandmothers to make at home.”

Pope Francis leaves behind legacy of servant-leadership By Emily Woodham Staff Writer BOISE — The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has died. He was 88. The doors of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise are draped in black as the Church in Idaho mourns with all the faithful across the globe. “United in prayer with Catholics in Idaho, the United States, and those around the world, and with all the people of good will, we pray in gratitude for the life of our revered shepherd,” said Bishop Peter F. Christensen, Bishop of Boise. “We mourn the passing of our Holy Father and ask St. Joseph to accompany him. How blessed we have been by his leadership, and how blessed we will be for decades to come as that same leadership takes even deeper root in who we are as followers of Jesus Christ our Lord.” The doors of the Cathedral of St. John Evangelist in Boise are draped in mourning for the Memorial Mass of Pope Francis which will be held Wednesday, April 23 at 12:15 p.m.  (Courtesy Photo/Peter Brophy) Las puertas de la Cathedral of St. John Evangelist en Boise se cubren de luto para la Misa en Memoria del Papa Francisco que se celebrará el miércoles 23 de abril a las 12:15 p.m.  (Foto cortesía /Peter Brophy) Pope Francis died at 7:35 a.m. Central European Time on Easter Monday, April 21. The immediate cause of death was a stroke arising from complications caused by his recent bout of double pneumonia, the Holy See Press Office said in a public statement. The Pontiff was hospitalized on Feb. 14 for severe bronchitis. He stayed in the hospital for 38 days as his condition worsened into double pneumonia. During his stay, he came close to death twice. He was discharged on March 23 to continue his recovery at his residence, the Casa Santa Marta. Despite his frail health, he made several public appearances, including during the liturgies of Holy Week and a visit with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance on Easter Sunday. Pope Francis, baptized “Jorge Mario Bergoglio,” was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Dec. 17, 1936. He entered the Society of Jesus at age 21 and was ordained a priest in 1969. He was the first pope from the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), the first to come from the Americas, and the first to choose a name after St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th-century saint known for his devotion to poverty, peace and creation. During his more than 12 years in the papacy, he canonized 942 saints (including the 813 Martyrs of Otranto), created 149 new cardinals, including those from countries that had never before been represented in the College of Cardinals, and made 47 apostolic journeys outside of Italy. He published four encyclicals and seven apostolic exhortations. Pope Francis “renewed for us the mission to bring the Gospel out to the ends of the earth and offer divine mercy to all,” said Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Archbishop Broglio’s April 21 statement said, “He has also taken advantage of the present Jubilee to call us to a profound hope: one that is not an empty or naïve hope, but one grounded in the promise of Almighty God to be with us always.” Pope Francis greets a young visitor at his general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 .(Daniel Ibáñez/CNA) There is a formal rite at which a pope is declared to have died. The “rite of ascertainment of death” occurred at 8 p.m., Central European Time, on Monday, April 21. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, presided at this rite. The Carmalengo, also known as the Vatican chamberlain, plays a crucial role between the death or resignation of one pope and the elections of the next. The rite of ascertainment took place in the chapel at Casa Santa Marta, where the Holy Father has been living since his 2013 papal election. Vatican officials said the Pope’s body may be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on the morning of Wednesday, April 23. (A date and time for his funeral was not released at press time.) Pope Francis requested that he be buried outside the Vatican, at the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (“Saint Mary Major”). The Holy Father often went to the Marian Basilica to pray before the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary called “Salus Populi Romani” (“Health of the Roman People”), especially at the beginning and end of his Apostolic journeys. He will be the first pope to be buried outside the Vatican in more than one hundred years. Bishop Peter will celebrate a memorial Mass for Pope Francis at 12:15 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 807 N. 8th St., in Boise on Wednesday, April 23. All priests of the Diocese of Boise are invited to concelebrate. Following his funeral a conclave will be called to elect his successor. Un mundo de luto El Papa Francisco deja un legado de liderazgo de servicio El Papa Francisco recorre la plaza de San Pedro para bendecir a los asistentes a la audiencia general. Por Emily Woodham Colaboradora BOISE - El Santo Padre, el Papa Francisco, ha fallecido. Tenía 88 años. Las puertas de la Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist en Boise están cubiertas de negro mientras la Iglesia de Idaho llora con todos los fieles del mundo. “Unidos en la oración con los católicos de Idaho, de los Estados Unidos y de todo el mundo, y con todas las personas de buena voluntad, oramos en gratitud por la vida de nuestro venerado pastor”, dijo el Obispo Peter F. Christensen, Obispo de Boise. “Lloramos el fallecimiento de nuestro Santo Padre y pedimos a San José que le acompañe. Qué bendecidos hemos sido por su liderazgo, y qué bendecidos seremos en las décadas venideras cuando ese mismo liderazgo se afiance aún más profundamente en quienes somos seguidores de Jesucristo nuestro Señor”. El Papa Francisco falleció a las 7:35 de la mañana, hora central europea, del lunes de Pascua, 21 de abril. La causa inmediata de la muerte fue un derrame cerebral derivado de las complicaciones causadas por su reciente ataque de neumonía doble, dijo la Oficina de Prensa de la Santa Sede en una declaración pública. El Pontífice fue hospitalizado el 14 de febrero por una bronquitis grave. Permaneció en el hospital durante 38 días mientras su estado empeoraba hasta convertirse en una doble neumonía. Durante su estancia, estuvo a punto de morir en dos ocasiones. Fue dado de alta el 23 de marzo para continuar su recuperación en su residencia, la Casa Santa Marta. A pesar de su frágil estado de salud, hizo varias apariciones públicas, entre ellas las liturgias de Semana Santa y una visita al Vicepresidente de EE.UU., J.D. Vance, el Domingo de Resurrección. El Papa Francisco, bautizado “Jorge Mario” (Bergoglio), nació en Buenos Aires, Argentina, el 17 de diciembre de 1936. Ingresó en la Compañía de Jesús a los 21 años y fue ordenado sacerdote en 1969. Fue el primer Papa de la Compañía de Jesús, el primero procedente del continente americano y el primero en elegir el nombre de San Francisco de Asís, santo del siglo XIII conocido por su devoción a la pobreza, la paz y la creación. Durante sus más de 12 años de pontificado, canonizó a 942 santos (incluidos los 813 mártires de Otranto), creó 149 nuevos cardenales, incluidos los de países que nunca antes habían estado representados en el Colegio Cardenalicio, y realizó 47 viajes apostólicos fuera de Italia. Publicó cuatro encíclicas y siete exhortaciones apostólicas. El Papa Francisco como cardenal, lava los pies de internos en un refugio para personas que se recuperan del consumo de drogas, en 2008. (Credit/ JesuitWest.org ) El Papa Francisco “renovó para nosotros la misión de llevar el Evangelio hasta los confines de la tierra y ofrecer la misericordia divina a todos”, dijo el arzobispo Timothy P. Broglio, presidente de la Conferencia Episcopal de Estados Unidos (USCCB). La declaración del arzobispo Broglio del 21 de abril decía: “También ha aprovechado el presente Jubileo para llamarnos a una profunda esperanza: una esperanza que no es una esperanza vacía o ingenua, sino una esperanza cimentada en la promesa de Dios Todopoderoso de estar siempre con nosotros”. Existe un rito formal en el que se declara la muerte de un Papa. El “rito de constatación de la muerte” tuvo lugar a las 20:00 horas, hora centroeuropea, del lunes 21 de abril. El cardenal Kevin Farrell, Camarlengo de la Santa Iglesia Romana, presidió este rito. El Carmalengo, también conocido como chambelán del Vaticano, desempeña un papel crucial entre la muerte o renuncia de un Papa y las elecciones del siguiente. El rito de constatación tuvo lugar en la capilla de la Casa Santa Marta, donde vive el Santo Padre desde su elección papal en 2013. Funcionarios del Vaticano dijeron que el cuerpo del Papa puede ser trasladado a la Basílica de San Pedro en la mañana del miércoles 23 de abril. (La fecha y la hora de su funeral no se han dado a conocer al cierre de esta edición.) El Papa Francisco solicitó ser enterrado fuera del Vaticano, en la Basílica Papal de Santa María la Mayor. El Santo Padre acudía a menudo a la basílica mariana para rezar ante el icono de la Virgen María llamado “Salus Populi Romani” (“Salud del pueblo romano”), sobre todo al inicio y al final de sus viajes apostólicos. Será el primer Papa enterrado fuera del Vaticano en más de cien años. El Obispo Peter celebrará una Misa en memoria del Papa Francisco a las 12:15 p.m. en la Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, 807 N. 8th St., en Boise, el miércoles 23 de abril. Todos los sacerdotes de la Diócesis de Boise están invitados a concelebrar. Tras su funeral y los novendiales, se convocará un cónclave para elegir a su sucesor.

Katie Pape shares the experience of caring for her daughter St. Mark’s parishioner Katie Pape, standing, continues to care for her challenged daughter, Leah, who was seriously injured in a car crash when she was 16-years-old. (Courtesy Photo/Mary Hersley-Kaineg) On July 11, 1990, Katie and Tom Pape’s youngest daughter, 16 year-old Leah, was involved in a near-fatal car accident. She survived the crash but sustained a traumatic brain injury that left her profoundly disabled. Katie recalls the event as if it happened yesterday. “At 4:30 in the afternoon, we received a phone call from St. Alphonsus Hospital, asking us to identify our daughter,” Katie related. “I remember thinking, ‘They said daughter…they didn’t say body, so she is alive.’” Once the family arrived at the hospital, details began to emerge. Leah had received her driver’s license the day before So, like many teens, she was anxious to take a drive. “That’s when she made a poor choice,” said her mom. “She picked up a friend and, without our knowing it, decided to take a little trip to the mountains. On a hairpin curve, Leah drove directly into an on-coming pickup truck. There was nothing either driver could do,” said Katie. “The only good news was that Katie’s friend was not seriously injured, and the driver of the pickup sustained no injuries,” Katie explained. The driver of the truck later stated that as the vehicles collided, he was looking directly into the eyes of the teenage driver. He reported that he would never forget the look he saw on her face as their cars met head-on. Following the accident, Leah lived in a body cast for six weeks before being medically released from the hospital. In mid-August, she was transferred to the Idaho Elk’s Rehabilitation Hospital, where she received intensive rehab care. After 4 months, Leah was released as an out-patient. Leah left rehab with profound disabilities that rendered her confined to a wheelchair and only marginally verbal. ‘Strength and survivorship’ As others with similar stories can tell you, living and caring for someone with a traumatic brain injury is a 24-hour care project. Maggie Kuhn (1905-1995), the self-proclaimed “wrinkled radical” who became an advocate for the aging and those with disabilities, once said, “Old age is not a disease...it is strength and survivorship.” Strength and survivorship would perfectly describe Katie Pape. “We decided our only choice was to take her home and care for her here. We never planned for a ‘worst case scenario’ to be part of our retirement,” Katie said, “but we never once regretted our decision.” Through the years, Leah has received many hours of therapy. As she began to heal, some of her rehab team noticed that Leah had a creative side. Seizing on this unexpected talent, her team began to encourage Leah to explore crocheting, ceramics and painting in watercolors. “She has created some lovely pictures,” her proud mom beamed. Despite her physical challenges, Leah found employment at Zurchers, a party, costume and wedding store for whom she prepares party ribbons. This makes her feel useful and needed, her mom explained. “They were very kind, early on, to give her a small job,” Katie said. “It keeps her busy and focused, and she has a small savings account, which gives her a feeling of independence.” Despite her challenges, Leah Pape is a talented artist. She is shown above with one of her watercolor prints. (Courtesy Photo/Mary Hersley-Kaineg) Growing up Katie, a longtime member of St. Mark Parish, was born in 1944 in Caldwell, Idaho, where she was the oldest of eight children. At that time, her father, serving in the military, was stationed in the Philippines. “When I was three years old, my father was discharged from the service, and we moved to Boise to be closer to my dad’s place of employment,” she said. “From very early childhood, I was given piano lessons, and because my mother was a well-trained and gifted vocalist, I also became well-versed in Catholic sacred music.” Her mother sang in the choir at St. John’s Cathedral and was one of the main soloists for weddings and funerals. “Very often, the Cathedral choir rehearsed in our home. Our living room became a mini choir and music studio. I grew up hearing all the music from the Christmas and Easter liturgies. I was immersed in sacred susic and Catholic liturgy,” Katie said. “I have loved it all of my life.” As one might expect, she later followed her mother’s professional path and spent many years of her life playing for weddings and funerals in churches throughout the Boise area. Along with the skills Katie learned from her mother, she was privileged to attend Boise’s St. Theresa Academy (which evolved into Bishop Kelly) from first grade through high school graduation. Once out of high school, Katie began college at Boise Jr. College. A year later, in 1962, Katie married Tom Pape at Sacred Heart Church, Boise. As their family grew, Katie began to teach piano lessons and, like her mother, created a studio in her own living room. Along with teaching, Katie discovered a talent for writing. Before long, she had articles published in the Idaho Catholic Register and even put together a handbook for ICR  correspondents. The 1968 “Handbook for Idaho Register Correspondents” was a guide to the selection and preparation of news stories, outlining the policies and practices of the Diocese. She also wrote for the Idaho Statesman , covering stories for the Women’s Section of the Society Page. After the Pape family welcomed their fourth child, they were able to realize a long-time dream and settled on a 12-acre patch of land just outside Boise in Kuna, Idaho. The dream became complete when they were able to add some horses to the farming venture. In time, Katie became involved with the music program at St.Mark’s school, which included teaching classroom music and helping with band practice. In 1980, Katie accepted the position of parish Director of Music at St. Mark’s Church. The Pape children were growing up, and it seemed a good time to take on such a time-consuming job. Once again, Katie became immersed in sacred music, only now she was no longer a spectator, but instead the director of the liturgical music at her parish church. On February 15, 2008, only a few weeks after his diagnosis, Tom died of cancer. Steadfast in the decision she and Tom made thirty-five years ago, Katie lovingly cares for Leah. She also continues “teaching little fingers to play” and currently has 10 students who come to her home studio. When COVID-19 arrived in Idaho, Katie retired from her many years with the St. Mark’s Church music program. To this day, she continues to take Leah to Mass every weekend. “I know she doesn’t have to go,” said Katie, “but she loves to attend Mass, and she has a small ‘fan club’ that asks about her if she misses a Sunday.” Facing the Future Now, at the age of 81, Katie Pape faces questions about the future: Leah’s and her own. “I may have to get some ‘in-home’ care assistance eventually,” she said. At this time, placing Leah in a care facility is something she is not ready to face. With tears in her eyes, Katie said, “I just can’t bear the thought of some stranger taking care of her personal needs.” Leah added, “I just love living with my Mommie.” For as long as she is able, this 80-plus senior plans to continue her unexpected retirement plan, one that certainly echoes the words of Maggie Kuhn—an aging life of “strength and survivorship.”

It is with joy and a heavy heart that I let you know I have accepted a teaching position at Mt. Angel Seminary in Oregon, where I will teach homiletics and pastoral studies to young men in formation for the priesthood.  I always hoped that one day I would teach at a Catholic university, and now that time has come, but I will greatly miss my Idaho community of faith.  It has been a tremendous privilege and honor to work alongside Bishop Peter. I am grateful beyond measure for his trust and friendship. Likewise, the team at the Chancery has been a family to me. I will also miss the friendship and comradery of the team at the  Idaho Catholic Register,  who, with God’s help, put together a newspaper every two weeks, come rain or shine. I have enormous respect for their professionalism and skill. The next editor will discover a hard-working, well-oiled (anointed) staff already in place. And I would be remiss if I did not thank all of you, dear readers, not only for your contributions to the Register, but also for all you do for the Kingdom of God. You are the Church in Idaho. I extend to you my heartfelt gratitude, and I will keep you in my prayers.

Lucas 24,1-12 La Resurrección del Señor Con la oscuridad de la noche como telón de fondo, la liturgia pascual nos invita a comparar la noche de la creación con aquel “Hágase la luz” que nos abrió los ojos al poder creador de Dios. Y al rememorar la noche del éxodo del pueblo elegido, guiado por Yahvé, el Dios vivo, siempre presente, nos conduce a la noche de todas las noches: ¡la noche en la que se unen el cielo y la tierra, lo humano y lo divino! Cristo ha vencido a la muerte. La luz de Cristo disipa las tinieblas del pecado y de la muerte. En plena euforia pascual, la noche del Sábado Santo se canta el Exsultet (Pregón Pascual), que recuerda la historia de nuestra salvación. Desde el Jardín del Edén hasta el Huerto de Getsemaní, se nos recuerda que la luz de Cristo disipa las tinieblas del pecado y de la muerte. El Pregón Pascual proclama: “¡Oh pecado verdaderamente necesario de Adán, destruido completamente por la Muerte de Cristo! ¡Oh feliz culpa que mereció tan grande, tan glorioso Redentor!”. A partir del triunfo de Cristo sobre la muerte, se nos desafía a decir con el apóstol Pablo: “¿Dónde está, oh muerte, tu victoria? ¿Dónde está, oh muerte, tu aguijón?” (1 Co 15, 55). Durante la Profesión de fe en la Vigilia Pascual, confesamos nuestra fe en el Dios de Jesucristo haciendo uso de las promesas bautismales, renunciando al pecado y a todas sus tentaciones, al tiempo que afirmamos nuestra creencia en la Santísima Trinidad y en la Iglesia. La Resurrección no es sólo una realidad histórica. Es la convicción de nuestra fe de que Cristo está vivo. Es la razón de nuestra esperanza. Para nosotros, la fe ya no consiste en sentir, ver y buscar a Jesús como las mujeres y los Apóstoles en la mañana de la Resurrección. No necesitamos dar un salto atrás en el tiempo para conocer a Jesús. Por el contrario, aprendemos a reconocerlo en los signos vivos de nuestra vida y en las realidades que nos rodean. Es encontrarlo en la Iglesia, que anuncia su enseñanza y comunica al mundo la vida de la Resurrección. Es encontrarlo en la Eucaristía, que introduce en la historia su sacrificio liberador y creador de fraternidad. Es encontrarlo en los Evangelios que, transmitidos por la Iglesia, nos ponen en contacto con su vida y su mensaje. Es verle en nuestros hermanos y hermanas, en los pobres y necesitados: “Os aseguro que cuanto hicisteis a uno de estos hermanos míos más pequeños, a mí me lo hicisteis” (Mt 25,40).   Jesús vive y nos acompaña hasta el final de los tiempos, ayudándonos a mantener la fe pascual que profesamos. Y, como las santas mujeres en la mañana de la Resurrección, debemos proclamar a los demás este alegre mensaje de esperanza y de fe. Sin embargo, la fe en Jesús resucitado no surgió inmediata y espontáneamente en el corazón de los discípulos. Los evangelistas hablan de su confusión, de su búsqueda del sepulcro, de sus preguntas y de sus incertidumbres. María Magdalena es el mejor ejemplo de lo que les ocurrió a todos. Según el Evangelio de Juan, María buscó al Crucificado “cuando aún estaba oscuro” (Jn 20,1). Ella aún no sabía que Jesús había resucitado. Podemos decir con gran fe lo que Jesús nos dijo: Dios es un Padre fiel, digno de toda confianza, un Dios que nos ama más allá de la muerte. Ahora empezamos a comprender las palabras de Jesús: “Quien ama su vida, la perderá; y quien odia su vida en este mundo, la conservará para la vida eterna” (Jn12,25). El encuentro con Jesús, lleno de vida después de su Resurrección, transformó por completo a los discípulos. Ya no había ninguna duda. Lo que Jesús había dicho de Dios es verdad: “No es un Dios de muertos, sino de vivos” (Mt 22,32). Christ lives! He is risen! Luke 24:1-12 Easter Sunday, The Resurrection of the Lord With the darkness of night in the background, the Easter liturgy invites us to compare the night of creation with the moment in which God says “Let there be light,” which opens our eyes to God’s creative power. And as we look back to the night of the exodus of the chosen people, led by Yahweh, the living God, ever-present, leads us to the night of all nights: the night in which heaven and earth, the human and the divine, are united! Christ has conquered death. The light of Christ dispels the darkness of sin and death. In the midst of our Easter euphoria, the Exsultet is sung on Holy Saturday night, recalling the history of our salvation. From the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Gethsemane, we are reminded that the light of Christ dispels the darkness of sin and death. The Exsultet proclaims, “O truly necessary sin of Adam, destroyed completely by the Death of Christ! O happy fault that earned so great, so glorious a Redeemer!” Flowing from Christ’s triumph over death, we are challenged to say with the Apostle Paul, “Where, O death, is your victory. Where O death is your sting?” (1 Cor 15:55). During the Profession of Faith at the Easter Vigil, we confess our faith in the God of Jesus Christ using the baptismal promises, renouncing sin and all its temptations, while affirming our belief in the Holy Trinity and the Church. The Resurrection is not just a historical reality. It is the conviction of our faith that Christ is alive. This is the reason for our hope. For us, faith no longer consists of feeling, seeing and seeking Jesus like the women and the Apostles on the morning of the Resurrection. We do not need to leap backward in time to know Jesus. Instead, we learn to recognize Him in the vivid signs of our lives and the realities surrounding us. It is to encounter Him in the Church, which announces His teaching and communicates to the world the life of the Resurrection. It is to find Him in the Eucharist, which introduces into history His sacrifice that liberates and creates fraternity. It is to find Him in the Gospels, which, transmitted to us by the Church, bring us into contact with His life and message. It is to see Him in our brothers and sisters, in the poor and the needy: “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25:40). Jesus lives and accompanies us until the end of time, helping us to keep the Pascal faith we profess. And like the holy women on the morning of the Resurrection, we must proclaim this joyful message of hope and faith to others. However, faith in the risen Jesus did not immediately and spontaneously arise in the disciples’ hearts. The Evangelists speak of their confusion, their search for the tomb, their questions and their uncertainties. Mary Magdalene is the best example of what happened to them all. According to the Gospel of John, Mary searched for the Crucified One “while it was still dark” (Jn 20:1). She did not yet know that Jesus had risen. We can say with great faith what Jesus told us: God is a faithful Father, worthy of all trust—a God who loves us beyond death. Now we begin to understand Jesus’ words, “Whoever loves his life will lose it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life” (Jn12:25). The encounter with Jesus, full of life after His Resurrection, completely transformed the disciples. There was no longer any doubt. What Jesus had said about God is true: “He is not a God of the dead, but of the living” (Mt 22:32).

El Padre Camilo García, Párroco de la Parroquia de Saint Nicholas en Rupert, presidió una celebración de los trabajadores de la salud, recordando a los enfermos el 5 abril, día asignado por el Vaticano para este evento especial del Jubileo. Durante el Año Jubilar de la Esperanza, el Papa Francisco ha convocado diversas celebraciones de los ministros de la Iglesia y de sus ministerios. En la Bula Papal de Indiction “Spes non confundit”, que declaró la apertura del Año Jubilar y proporcionó sus temas, el Papa Francisco escribió: “Queridos médicos, enfermeras y trabajadores de la salud, en el cuidado de sus pacientes, especialmente los más vulnerables entre ellos, el Señor les ofrece constantemente una oportunidad para renovar sus vidas a través de la gratitud, la misericordia y la esperanza…Permitan que la presencia de los enfermos entre en nuestras vidas como un don, para sanar nuestros corazones, purificarlos de todo lo que no es caridad y calentarlos con el fuego ardiente y suave de la compasión”. A la celebración de Rupert asistieron fieles de San Nicolás que trabajan en diversos centros sanitarios locales, y el ministerio de salud de la parroquia, que cuenta con nueve voluntarias.   Jubilee of Healthcare Workers   Father Camilo García, Pastor of St. Nicholas Parish in Rupert, presided at a celebration of healthcare workers and a remembrance of the sick on April 5, the day designated by the Vatican for this special Jubilee event. During the Jubilee Year of Hope, Pope Francis has called for various celebrations of Church ministers and their ministries. In the Papal Bull of Indiction “Spes non confundit,” which declared the opening of the Jubilee Year and provided its themes, Pope Francis wrote, “Dear doctors, nurses and health care workers, in caring for your patients, especially the most vulnerable among them, the Lord constantly affords you an opportunity to renew your lives through gratitude, mercy, and hope…Allow the presence of the sick to enter your lives as a gift, to heal your hearts, to purify them of all that is not charity, and to warm them with the ardent and gentle fire of compassion.” The celebration in Rupert was attended by St. Nicholas faithful who work in various local healthcare facilities and the parish health ministry, comprised of nine volunteers.

A new Subaru Impreza is presented to Laura Shelamer, 2023 raffle winner, by Southeast Idaho SVdP Director Ralph May and a Treasure Valley Subaru sales associate. (Courtesy photo/Ralph May) By Beth Bishop Development Director Southwest Idaho SVdP for the ICR “I bought the ticket as a donation—I never expected to win.” That’s how Laura Shelamer, a Holy Apostles parishioner and our 2023 Subaru Raffle winner, remembers it. “My longtime best friend, Linda Graefe, Sacred Heart parishioner, was at St. Vincent de Paul’s Summerfest when they called my name. She called me right away, but I didn’t believe her! Winning the Subaru was just a blessing—I was overwhelmed.” Laura initially considered giving up the car, saying she already felt so fortunate. But with retirement on the horizon, she listened to friends and family who reminded her how smart it would be to have a reliable, paid-off vehicle. “I’ve already been on lots of adventures—and I have many more ahead of me with my Subaru.” This year, you have the same chance to win—and a powerful opportunity to bring hope to neighbors in crisis. When you buy a $100 ticket in our 2025 Subaru Car Raffle, you're not just dreaming of driving off in a brand-new car. You're helping a parent keep the lights on, a neighbor find a job, and a family sit down to a full holiday meal. Only 5,000 tickets will be sold. The drawing will be June 27 from 4:00–6:00 p.m. at Treasure Valley Subaru. “We get to be in a pretty special spot all year long,” exclaimed St. Vincent de Paul Southwest Executive Director Ralph May. “We see the excitement and hope from people buying raffle tickets, dreaming about winning a new car. And then we get to turn around and bring that same hope to our neighbors who are struggling. It’s a beautiful cycle of hope, and we are grateful to be a part of it.” Your Ticket = Real Impact Because of raffle supporters like you: 119,233 people received food through our five pantries 8,016 neighbors were supported through in-person rent and utility assistance 1,260 individuals received reentry support—reducing their risk of recidivism by 21% From Christmas gifts to meals to second chances, your ticket is more than a chance to win. It's a lifeline. Tickets are available now. Scan the QR code or visit svdpid.org/raffle . Every ticket brings hope. Every ticket makes a difference.

Malta Knights and Dames also support World Day of the Sick Mass at Boise Cathedral The Grotto at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes marks the site where Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858, and where a miraculous, living spring is often attributed to miracles of physical and emotional healing. ( catholicjourneys.com ) By Deacon Charles Corbalis St. Paul’s Parish NAMPA– Making a “pilgrimage of hope” is close to the heart of every Knight and Dame of the Order of Malta. Every May for the past 67 years, this centuries-old international religious lay order, dedicated to “defense of the faith” and “service to the poor and sick,” takes 1,500 “malades” (French for “sick” or “pilgrims in need of care”) together with one companion each, on a week-long “pilgrimage of hope” to the healing waters of Lourdes, France. The Grotto at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes marks the site where Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858, a living spring that is attributed to many miracles of healing following her appearance. The “hope” spoken of here is not just that common human emotion, although that is present as well. Rather, it encompasses that superior kind of hope, the kind that Pope Francis describes in “Spes non confundit,” his Bull of Indiction for the 2025 Jubilee year, as “hope born of love and based on the love springing from the pierced heart of Jesus on the cross.” It is hope which, beginning at our baptism, opens us to God’s grace, “constantly renewed and confirmed by the working of the Holy Spirit.” It is an openness that, as Idaho Bishop Peter F. Christensen described at this year’s World Day of the Sick Mass, turns our faith in God into an active form of trust. It is an openness that allows us to accept that, perhaps, in the mystery of Divine Providence, “things are not falling apart, but rather they are falling into place.” Established in 2021, the Boise location, or chapter, of the Order of Malta, has been fortunate to host nine Lourdes pilgrimages for the “malades” over the past four years. “The Masses were amazing, as were the underground Cathedral, the prayer services and all of the activities,” said Amy Urian, a malade from Holy Apostles Church in Meridian. “I still find the fact that we were at the actual site of an appearance of the Blessed Mother and many miracles very surreal. The famous ‘baths’ were a very intimate moment with my daughter, going through the same motions of washing and drinking the Lourdes water as St. Bernadette; I would not have wanted to share that experience with anybody else.” One of Amy’s fellow pilgrims had a similar reaction, stating, “This was my second trip to Lourdes, and I didn’t know quite what to expect.” She added, “The first time I went, I was in remission, and I wondered how different it would be going as a malade. But it was just as equally powerful and amazing. I could feel the presence of God and the presence of Mary, sustaining me and interceding for me”. Amy’s pilgrim friend concluded, “Every activity—the foot washing, the baths and the Mass in the grotto—was amazing. The candlelight procession was just beautiful! So many people, sick and healthy, from all over the world, praying the rosary and singing together. It lets you know just how united our faith really is.” The malades are not the only pilgrims on this spiritual adventure. The 5,000-plus Knights, Dames, Chaplains, Bishops, doctors, nurses and other assistants who come to minister and attend to them come on a kind of pilgrimage as well. They, too, are hopeful that they can, and will, be faithful to their ministry as “missionaries to the sick.” They leave behind their regular occupations and vocations for the week to focus exclusively on the well-being of the malades and their companions. “Our job was listening,” said Dame Beth Ann Kavanaugh, a parishioner at St. John’s Cathedral. “We were always in listening mode for what they (the malades) wanted to share with us. We were asking how we could serve them better—what they wanted to do, where they wanted to go—to be able to provide the full experience they chose based on their level of capability.” This is not to say that their experience was any less spiritual. Beth Ann’s husband and Boise Knight, U.S. Navy Captain Cole Kavanaugh (Ret.), described being deeply moved at the foot washing ceremony. “I know that I really got a lot out of the foot-washing ceremony,” he said. “I got chosen, and I found it to be extremely profound. They talk about having to ‘humble yourself’ to wash feet. I didn’t feel humbled at all. I felt elated and honored to wash this poor man’s feet and to see the dignity on his face as I did so. That was all the blessing I needed.”  Almost no one— malades, their companions, or the pilgrims who support them—return from the pilgrimage unchanged. Even if the physical healing from the bath waters of the miraculous spring they had been hoping for did not occur, a more profound spiritual transformation does take place. “It is an experience that is hard to describe, but the care and comfort I received was amazing,” Amy Kavanaugh said. “There is a presence there for you; it is healing. I am so thankful and grateful to have been chosen to go on such an amazing pilgrimage.” Unfortunately, the 1,500 pilgrims hosted by the Order is a drop in the bucket compared to the many thousands who are nominated to visit Lourdes each year. The number of potential malades nominated this year far exceeded what the Western Association of the Order of Malta and its 14 locations could support. The Knights and Dames wish they could do more, but they have their own vocations, jobs, and families to look after as well. For this reason, the Boise location hosts the World Day of the Sick Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in early February each year, on or around the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. “Stay-at-home” pilgrims can received a little taste of Lourdes here in Boise by receiving the Sacrament of Anointing, during which Bishop Christensen and Father Tim Segert prayed over those who came forward. Those attending the special Mass at the Cathedral received a small bottle of Lourdes water collected from the previous year’s pilgrimage. Personal petitions were also collected to be placed in the Grotto the following May. The Order of Malta is proud to be one of the many organizations working to keep the “Hope”—the deep kind of hope meant by Pope Francis—alive and well in Idaho. Medical, business and former military professionals find the opportunity to serve the poor at Lourdes in this unique manner particularly gratifying. To find out more about the Order, please get in touch with Deacon Charles Corbalis at ccorbalis@stpaulsnampa.org or Susan Karpiel at susankarpiel@verizon.net . Knight and Dame couple, Capt. Cole Kavanagh (USN Ret.) and his wife Beth Ann Kavanagh. (Courtesy Photo/Dcn. Charles Corbalis) Bishop Peter F. Christensen, far left, and Father Timothy Segert anoint attendees at the February World Day of the Sick Mass held at St. John the Evangelist Cathedral in January. (ICR Photo/Philip A. Janquart)

Father Gabriel Morales shares new details about his near-fatal car accident and reflects on the meaning of suffering When law enforcement officers saw the crumpled car, they did not think anyone survived. The missing engine, ejected from the engine compartment, underscores the violence of the collision between Father Gabriel’s sedan and the semi-truck. (Courtesy Photo/Father Gabriel Morales) By Philip A. Janquart  ICR Assistant Editor  His sedan looked more like a mangled pop can than a car after it smashed into a semi-truck on the morning of March 24, 2023.  Snow, ice, wind and fog contributed to a crash that by all rights should have taken the life of Father Gabriel Morales, then 40 and pastor at Presentation of the Lord Parish in American Falls, Blessed Sacrament in Aberdeen and St. John’s in Pingree.  However, as is often the case, God had other plans. Unexpected intercessors seemed to corroborate the fact.  In an April 11, 2025, interview, seeking an update on his progress more than two years after he escaped death, Father Morales, now 42, told the Idaho Catholic Register  ( ICR ) that a woman appeared to him while he was unconscious.  “Oh, yes,” he said when asked if he experienced anything spiritual in his unconscious state.  “There was a woman,” continued Father Morales. “She was a woman I would see at church when I was a boy in Mexico. I wasn’t close with her, but my memories about her…she was old and very devout. She was the aunt of my brother-in-law Gildardo Juárez, and she passed away. But I saw her there with one of her brothers, praying for me. I can tell you about her clothes, the colors…she was wearing a yellow sweater and a blue square skirt. “The surroundings were something like inside a church,” he continued. “She was kneeling and praying. Along with her brother, I believe other people were praying for me. It was as though she would come and go, come and go every day. After I woke from anesthesia, I asked my mom and my sister if they could see her, but they said ‘no.’” It is not clear whether the woman, whom Father Morales knows as Angelina Tapia, came to him immediately after the crash or during his 15-day induced coma in Portneuf Medical Center’s (PMC) intensive care unit (ICU) in Pocatello.  Either way, he says that she brought him comfort despite his not knowing what was happening.  “I think she was like an intercessor for me,” he said. “She was always very devout; I knew that about her. I think she is very holy and was there to pray for me. I have a devotion for souls in Purgatory, and after confession, I almost always ask penitents to say a prayer for souls in Purgatory as an act of penance. I can’t say whether Angela is in Heaven or Purgatory, but to me, she was an intercessor during that difficult time.”   The Crash  On the day of the incident, Father Morales was driving from his home in Aberdeen, west of Pocatello, to his parents’ house in American Falls to have breakfast with his mother, Marta Morales, and then to offer the morning Mass at St. Mary’s Chapel.  Father Morales’ route took him along State Highway 39, a roughly 15-mile drive that would have taken him across American Falls Dam at the southwest end of American Falls Reservoir and into the city of American Falls, but he didn’t make it that far.  The two-vehicle crash occurred near South Pleasant Valley Road, about two miles from the dam.  A Power County Sheriff’s report stated that “high winds, fog and snow contributed to hazardous road conditions.” The agency’s investigation showed that Father Gabriel’s car “lost control on the icy roads and slid into the oncoming lane of travel.”  A photo of the aftermath clearly shows the crumpled car’s engine missing from the engine compartment, underscoring the force and violence of the collision.  Upon witnessing the condition of Father Morales’ vehicle, an unnamed responding officer said he initially believed there would be no survivors. To his surprise, however, he received a response when he attempted to speak with Father Morales. Father Morales was quickly transported by ambulance to the medical center in Pocatello, where he was admitted to the facility’s ICU.  “Many people from Presentation of the Lord Parish in American Falls, Aberdeen and Pingree, as well as Catholics throughout the state, joined in prayer, pleading for the recovery of Father Morales,” wrote Vero Gutiérrez, ICR  assistant editor, in her May 26, 2023, article.  Despite the severity of his 2023 accident, Father Morales continues to recover, offering up his physical and emotional pain for many intentions and people. (Courtesy Photo/Jessica Gallegos)   The Injuries  He received five blood transfusions and was put into an induced coma due to the extent of his injuries, which included complications with his lungs. The coma also stabilized him in preparation for multiple surgeries.  Weeks after his initial admission, doctors performed surgeries to repair his broken legs and shoulder. Later, two surgeries were performed on his left arm at the Orthopaedic Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City to graft nerves from his legs to his left arm, which had sustained extensive nerve damage, causing him to lose mobility and feeling in his fingers. Father Morales had to learn how to walk again, but was already making progress a few months after the crash with the help of physical and occupational therapy, a treatment he still receives twice a week for both his legs and left arm.  For now, appointments with various medical specialists will continue to be a regular part of his life.   Rising from the Dead  “It was confusing,” said Father Morales, describing what it was like waking from his coma. “I tried to understand what was going on. Some of the people who were there to visit me said this and that, but it was very confusing. Even now, I don’t have a memory of that day. I just know that I lost control of the car and crashed into a semi-truck, but I don’t have any memory of it.”  He was released from the hospital on May 5, 2023. At that time, he told the ICR  that he was still processing everything that happened, trying to comprehend his close brush with death.  Father Morales would later say, after seeing crash photos, that he was surprised he wasn’t ejected from the car and killed.  He said the prayers he received and the visit from Angelina and her brother drew him closer to God. He added, however, that even after two years, it’s still too early to understand the purpose behind his experience.  He said that when proclaiming the Lazarus reading during Lent (at the Mass with those in the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults program), he felt like Lazarus coming out of the tomb. “I don’t yet understand why it happened, but I think of it as an opportunity God has given me. I am grateful to God because I believe this is a new chance to be faithful to Him.”  Father Morales has returned to some of his regular duties and has been celebrating Mass as he did before. However, he requires assistance distributing Communion because his left hand is still healing. “There is a minister of the Eucharist who helps me while I’m giving Communion,” he explained. “They hold the Paten, and I give Communion to the faithful with my right hand.”  He added, “Things happen to us, and we can’t always see the purpose, but I decided that instead of being angry, I am going to continue on this journey. I’m offering my pain for so many intentions and people. I know it will be a long recovery, but the process is going well.”  Father Morales recognized a specific doctor who expressed considerable kindness to his mother following the crash. “He performed the surgeries while I was in the Portneuf Hospital in Pocatello,” he said. “His name is Kevin O’Halloran, and he gave a Rosary to my mom. I am not sure if he is Catholic, but my mom said the Rosary belonged to his family, and he wanted to give it to her. I know he is skilled, but he also did his job with his faith.”

Uniting personal pain to Jesus’ suffering on the cross is transformative About 100 women attended the Council of Catholic Women’s annual retreat on April 5 at Holy Apostles Parish in Meridian. Above, CCW members participate in an affirmation exercise that offers encouragement and support. By Philip A. Janquart ICR Assistant Editor Most of us recoil from suffering. No one likes pain, but can there be salvific or redemptive value in it? Tracy Janis, one of two guest speakers at this year’s Council of Catholic Women (CCW) retreat, said emphatically, “Yes.” “I’d like to share with you a message of hope, a message that tells us that suffering, when seen through the lens of faith, can be redemptive, and that God’s promise to help us is certain,” she said, addressing over 100 women at Holy Apostles Church in Meridian on April 5. “Jesus’ suffering on the cross was not a meaningless event,” Janis said. “It was through His suffering that the world was reconciled to God. His pain, His agony and His death were the very means by which we are offered salvation. This is what we call the ‘Paschal Mystery.’ When we suffer, we are invited to join our struggles with those of Christ.” Spirituality Commissioner for the CCW board, Krista Murphy, coordinated the retreat. “Since it’s Lent, we decided the theme would be, ‘Hand-in-Hand with Our Lady of Sorrows,’” she told the Idaho Catholic Register ( ICR ). “We wanted to talk about suffering and finding healing and hope through suffering.” Murphy said the retreat was marketed in the ICR , on Salt and Light Radio and in parish bulletins, drawing women from several parishes, including Sacred Heart in Emmett. “It was a great success,” she said. “Father Emmanuel Chinedu explained the seven sorrows, giving examples ( ncregister.com/blog/what-are-the-seven-sorrows-of-mary ), and it was really neat hearing some of his background. He is a wonderful speaker and teacher. We had a Q&A with him, and it was great hearing the ladies ask him different questions and learning from them.” Father Chinedu and Father Roger Fernando are parochial vicars at Holy Apostles. Father Vitalis Onyeama is the pastor. “Tracy (Janis) was very relatable,” Murphy said. “She was entertaining, a lot of fun and very inspiring.” Janis, a St. Mark’s Boise parishioner, has served on all CCW levels, including St. Mark’s CCW, the Idaho Council of Catholic Women (ICCW) and the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW), representing Oregon, Idaho and Montana as director of the Province of Portland under the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). She also served on the Deanery board and is the current ICCW secretary. Tracy Janis, guest speaker, leads the 2025 CCW retreat. (ICR Photo/Philip A. Janquart) The suffering begins “I’m originally from Alabama and moved to Idaho by way of Germany way back in 1988,” Janis told the ICR . The former military police officer added, “I was in the U.S. Army. When I got out, I had married someone from Idaho, and we ended up here.” The marriage didn’t last, and the fallout became a source of her suffering as she attempted to raise two daughters as a single mother, which involved working three jobs. She is currently a compliance officer for Wells Fargo Advisors, but at the time, she also worked at Cracker Barrel and Hugo’s Deli. Despite the long hours, Janis continued to help with altar care at St. Mark’s. “When I was learning how to become a single parent of traumatized teenagers, I felt horribly alone and lost,” she said during her talk. “No one could possibly understand what I was going through, or so I felt. The world was suddenly a very lonely and dark place. I would talk, or rather complain, to God when doing my chores. It would go something like this: ‘God, this isn’t fair. I didn’t do anything wrong. Why am I having to do all the chores after working my three jobs? Why won’t the kids listen to me? No one loves me. It isn’t fair,’ Blah, Blah, Blah, right?’” Janis explained that suffering affects us not only in itself but also in its duration, sometimes causing us to slip into the perception that we are living a provisional existence, not knowing when it will end. But that perception can disintegrate in a single moment, as she joyfully discovered while mowing the lawn. Small miracles “One day in July, I was cutting the backyard, and I started my typical ‘conversation’ with God, and I felt that I could not feel any lower than I felt at that moment,” Janis said. “I remember stopping in the middle of the yard and saying to Jesus, ‘I can’t do it any longer. I’m so alone. I have no one.’ “Suddenly, in the hot, dry July heat, I am in the middle of a swirl of rose petals,” she said. “I stood there in shock, knowing that as bad as it felt to me at that time, I was not alone. I had Jesus, and he sent His Mother to support me in my crisis. I won’t say that my life suddenly turned around, and everything was ‘rosy,’ but I found the strength to keep moving forward.” On another occasion, the Lord enlivened her when she was polishing pews at St. Mark’s. She didn’t think she had the energy to finish before leaving for one of her jobs. “I’m sitting there, doing my normal prayer, which is talking to God and complaining, ‘Oh, I’m so tired,’” Janis recalled. “And then, suddenly, I stop. Have any of you ever been shocked by electricity? Well, that electricity started in my toes, went up into my ankles, knees, hips, hands and then my head. Suddenly, I wasn’t tired anymore. “I’m telling you, I had so much energy that not only did I finish those pews, I got the windows done, too. And let me tell you, there are a lot of windows at St. Mark’s,” she said. Is it my fault? Janis expressed what many feel, that we must have done something wrong to deserve what we are experiencing or that the suffering is random and meaningless. It turns out that’s not the case, she said. “We often think of suffering as a punishment or something pointless that we must endure,” she related. “It’s easy to believe that pain, whether it’s loss, illness, betrayal or hardship, is just something that happens to us without reason. But in the Catholic faith, we believe that God doesn’t simply stand by while we suffer—He is right there with us, and through our suffering, He is at work in ways we might not always understand.” Janis noted that the idea of redemptive suffering is central to Catholic theology, teaching that our pain and challenges are not wasted, that “in some mysterious way, suffering can be used for a greater purpose,” and that “just as Jesus, the Son of God, suffered and died on the Cross for our salvation, so too can our suffering, when united to His, have redemptive power.” She stressed that faith is key to redemptive suffering and prayer is our lifeline. “Suffering, when offered to God, becomes a means of grace, growth and transformation,” she said. “God is with us, and He will never leave us or forsake us.”