The Philippines has the highest adult Christian faith retention rate in the world, according to Pew Research. (Photo/CNA) Tyler Arnold Catholic News Agency (CNA) Surveys in about three dozen countries compiled by the Pew Research Center found that most Christians who are raised in the faith hold onto it in adulthood. In fact, in every country surveyed the majority of people who are raised Christian still remain in the faith as adults. However, the numbers vary widely, from a high of 99% Christian faith retention in the Philippines and 98% in Hungary and Nigeria to lows of 51% in South Korea and 53% in the Netherlands. The United States was slightly lower than the average from the countries included in the research. About 73% of Americans who are raised Christian as children have kept the faith in their adult lives. Pew’s data includes numbers from 10 European countries, 10 east and South Asian countries, eight countries in the Americas, five African countries, two west Asian countries and one country in Oceania. The broader report on religious retention rates included surveys from 36 countries, which polled nearly 40,000 Americans and slightly more than 40,000 people from other countries. However, the report only measured the Christian retention rate in 27 of those countries — the ones that had substantial Christian populations. Based on the report, African and Eastern European countries surveyed had some of the highest retention rates for Christianity. Some of the lowest retention rates were in Western Europe, Canada and Australia. Ghana, Kenya, Poland, and Sri Lanka all had retention rates between 92% and 97%. Peru had a retention rate of 89% and Greece was at 87%. Brazil, Mexico and South Africa all had retention rates at 81%. Argentina’s retention rate was 80%. Countries with Christian faith retention rates between 72% and 79% included Colombia, Singapore, Italy, the United States and Chile. The following countries had retention rates between 57% and 61%: Canada, Germany, Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Australia and Sweden. A large majority of the people in these countries who abandoned the Christian faith no longer identify with any religion at all. Only a small percentage switched to a different religion. Numbers of those who fall away outpace incoming converts. The surveys also reveal that in most countries the number of adults who have fallen away from the faith is substantially higher than the number of adults in those countries who convert to Christianity. Some of the biggest losses for the faith are happening in European countries, with six countries on the continent surveyed seeing more than 11 adults leave the faith for every one who converts to it. This trend is also prevalent, yet less pronounced, in the United States and other countries in North and South America.  The only countries that had more adult conversions to the faith than departures were Singapore, Sri Lanka, Hungary, Ghana and the Philippines. Nigeria had a 1:1 ratio. Assessing these numbers, Jimmy Akin, a senior apologist at Catholic Answers , told CNA that the Pew compilation is “not representative of global trends” as it only includes five African countries on a continent where “Christianity has been growing dramatically.” He also pointed out that “the Gospel is making progress in Muslim countries and in the communist world,” most of which are not included in these surveys and frequently undercounted due to repressive laws. In the United States, about 73% of people who were raised Christian as children still identify as Christians as adults. However, about 23% no longer identify with any religion and another 4% identify with a non-Christian faith, which means 27% no longer call themselves Christian. On top of this, conversion rates to Christianity in the country are quite low as a percentage. The surveys found that about 94% of current Christians were raised in the faith. Only about 4% of people who call themselves Christian were raised without any faith and just 2% were raised in a non-Christian household of a separate faith. In spite of the net loss through “religious switching,” a separate Pew survey from May 2024 found that — in raw numbers — the percentage of Americans who identify as nonreligious has stabilized in recent years after a major surge in nonreligious identity through the 1990s and 2010s. For Catholicism specifically, data published by the Vatican earlier this month shows continued growth in the number of people in the world who are Catholic. According to the data, the total number of Catholics globally surpassed 1.4 billion people in 2023.

Feast Day: April 7 By Emily Woodham Staff Writer When St. Jean-Baptiste de la Salle took on the care of schools and teachers in late 17th-century France, he thought he would merely supervise in a minimal way. He once said that if he had known how much sacrifice would be involved, he would have never begun. God led him, he said, “in an imperceptible way and over a long period of time so that one commitment led to another in a way that I did not foresee in the beginning.” This step-by-step, little-by-little trust in God’s providence, despite his personal feelings, defined St. Jean-Baptiste’s life. Jean-Baptiste de la Salle was born on April 30, 1651, in the illustrious city of Reims, France. He was the firstborn of 11 children (four of whom died in infancy). His family had connections to the nobility and was part of the growing upper middle class. When he was 10, he made a vow to become a priest, to the consternation of his father and joy of his mother. At the age of 16, he was appointed a canon at the Cathedral of Reims. (Canons were priests, or those studying to be priests, who helped the archbishop with various tasks at the cathedral.) In 1672, his parents died. As the oldest son, Jean-Baptiste, then 21, was responsible for his parents’ estate and served as the guardian of his three younger brothers, aged 13, 8, and 6. While caring for the estate and his brothers, Jean-Baptiste finished his seminary studies and was ordained on April 9, 1678. Father Jean-Baptiste’s responsibilities as a canon increased, and his life seemed set on a path of comfortable success at the cathedral. But three weeks after his ordination, a dear friend, Father Nicolas Roland, died. Father Jean-Baptiste agreed to temporarily oversee the needs of Father Nicolas’ small order of teaching Sisters. Because of his work with the Sisters, someone approached him about assisting with male teachers at a free school for boys. In 17th-century France, those deemed “poor” or “destitute” could attend the parish school for free, but still had to pay for books and equipment. Guilds provided education at a lower cost than most schools, but they were still too expensive for the truly impoverished. Because guilds viewed free schools as a source of competition for funds, they often pursued legal avenues to shut them down. This lack of stability for free schools made it difficult for them to find good teachers. When Father Jean-Baptiste agreed to help oversee a free school for boys in Reims, he intended to provide only occasional advice and spiritual direction. He assumed that the teachers who were so willing to help boys out of poverty had a sound secular and spiritual education themselves. In his mind, he thought he would help for a while and then focus on his vocation as a canon, enjoying a life of prayer and service at the cathedral. After visiting the classrooms in Reims, he realized how wrong his assumptions had been. The teachers often caved in when the boys didn’t want to do their studies; they wasted time playing games with their students. The teachers needed as much catechesis in Christian beliefs as the children. They also lacked manners and were unable to teach children how to behave in social situations, skills essential for obtaining and maintaining employment. Initially, Father Jean-Baptiste attempted to hold evening classes for the teachers. However, he became convinced that they needed more than just a few hours of training during the week. He invited the teachers to live with him in his home so that they could live out the Christian life and principles in community. He was convinced that teachers could not convey dignity to the children unless teachers themselves lived in the truth of their dignity. Little by little, he answered the call to give more of his time and attention to the teachers for the benefit of the children. Father Jean-Baptiste’s family was furious with the use of the family estate for a community of laity. He surrendered his home and rented another for the teachers and himself. However, as he preached about poverty to the teachers, they scoffed that he was still working as a canon at the cathedral. So, he left his esteemed position and gave all his inheritance to the poor during a famine, except for a monthly stipend that was equivalent to the small salary paid to teachers. As the community of teachers grew, they decided to become a true Religious community of Brothers. They took the name “Brothers of Christian Schools,” adopted a simple habit, and gradually developed a Rule of Life, which included time for prayer and reading Scripture. Father Jean-Baptiste tried several times to relinquish leadership of the community so that he could return to parochial life. However, circumstances arose from trouble with guilds and parishes over boundaries and financial issues that required Father Jean-Baptiste’s intervention. As news spread about the success of the students with the Brothers, parish schools began requesting the Brothers to come and teach. The Brothers also expanded their educational ministry to include schools for juvenile delinquents and prisoners. A few years before his death, Father Jean-Baptiste had more freedom to pray, study and give spiritual direction. He died peacefully on Good Friday, April 7, 1719, after years of suffering from rheumatism and asthma. St. Jean-Baptiste’s books on education, including one on manners, revolutionized the approach to classroom teaching. In the 19th century, the Brothers of Christian Schools began expanding globally. They now have schools in 79 countries. He was canonized in 1900 and declared the patron saint of teachers by Pope Pius XII in 1950. San Juan Bautista de la Salle Fiesta: 7 de abril Por Emily Woodham Colaboradora Cuando San Juan Bautista de la Salle asumió la responsabilidad de cuidar las escuelas y los maestros en la Francia de finales del siglo XVII, pensó que se limitaría a supervisar mínimamente. Una vez dijo que, de haber sabido cuánto sacrificio implicaría, nunca habría empezado. Dios le guió, dijo, “de un modo imperceptible y durante un largo periodo de tiempo, de modo que un compromiso llevó a otro de un modo que yo no preveía al principio”. Esta confianza paso a paso, poco a poco, en la providencia de Dios, a pesar de sus sentimientos personales, definió la vida de San Juan Bautista. Juan Bautista de la Salle nació el 30 de abril de 1651 en la ilustre ciudad de Reims, Francia. Era el primogénito de once hermanos (cuatro de los cuales murieron en la infancia). Su familia tenía conexiones con la nobleza y formaba parte de la creciente clase media alta. A los diez años, hizo voto de hacerse sacerdote, para consternación de su padre y alegría de su madre. A los 16 años fue nombrado canónigo de la Catedral de Reims. (Los canónigos eran sacerdotes, o personas que estudiaban para serlo, que ayudaban al arzobispo en diversas tareas de la catedral). En 1672 fallecen sus padres. Como hijo mayor, Juan Bautista, que entonces tenía 21 años, se hizo cargo de los bienes de sus padres y ejerció la tutela de sus tres hermanos menores, de 13, 8 y 6 años. Mientras se ocupaba de la hacienda y de sus hermanos, Juan Bautista terminó sus estudios en el seminario y fue ordenado sacerdote el 9 de abril de 1678. Las responsabilidades del Padre Juan Bautista como canónigo aumentaron, y su vida parecía encaminada hacia un cómodo éxito en la catedral. Pero tres semanas después de su ordenación, murió un querido amigo, el Padre Nicolas Roland. El Padre Juan Bautista aceptó ocuparse temporalmente de las necesidades de la pequeña orden de hermanas educadoras del Padre Nicolás. Debido a su trabajo con las Hermanas, alguien se le acercó para que ayudara con maestros varones en una escuela gratuita para niños. En la Francia del siglo XVII, los considerados “pobres” o “indigentes” podían asistir gratuitamente a la escuela parroquial, pero debían pagar los libros y el material. Los gremios proporcionaban educación a un costo inferior al de la mayoría de las escuelas, pero seguían siendo demasiado caros para los verdaderamente pobres. Como los gremios consideraban que las escuelas libres eran una fuente de competencia para obtener fondos, a menudo recurrían a vías legales para cerrarlas. Esta falta de estabilidad de las escuelas libres les dificultaba encontrar buenos profesores. Cuando el Padre Juan Bautista aceptó ayudar a supervisar una escuela gratuita para niños en Reims, su intención era proporcionar sólo consejos ocasionales y dirección espiritual. Suponía que los maestros, tan dispuestos a ayudar a los niños a salir de la pobreza, tenían una sólida formación laica y espiritual. En su mente, pensaba que ayudaría durante un tiempo y luego se centraría en su vocación de canónigo, disfrutando de una vida de oración y servicio en la catedral. Después de visitar las aulas de Reims, se dio cuenta de lo equivocadas que estaban sus suposiciones. Los profesores solían ceder cuando los chicos no querían estudiar y perdían el tiempo jugando con sus alumnos. Los maestros necesitaban tanta catequesis en las creencias cristianas como los niños. También carecían de modales y eran incapaces de enseñar a los niños a comportarse en situaciones sociales, habilidades esenciales para obtener y mantener un empleo. Al principio, el Padre Juan Bautista intentó dar clases nocturnas a los maestros. Sin embargo, se convenció de que necesitaban algo más que unas horas de formación durante la semana. Invitó a los maestros a vivir con él en su casa para que pudieran vivir la vida y los principios cristianos en comunidad. Estaba convencido de que los maestros no podían transmitir dignidad a los niños a menos que ellos mismos vivieran en la verdad de su dignidad. Poco a poco, respondió a la llamada de dedicar más tiempo y atención a los maestros en beneficio de los niños. La familia del Padre Juan Bautista se enfureció por el uso de la finca familiar para una comunidad de laicos. Renunció a su casa y alquiló otra para los maestros y para él. Sin embargo, mientras predicaba sobre la pobreza a los maestros, éstos se burlaban de que siguiera trabajando como canónigo en la catedral. Así que abandonó su estimado cargo y donó toda su herencia a los pobres durante una hambruna, excepto un estipendio mensual que equivalía al pequeño salario que se pagaba a los maestros. A medida que la comunidad de maestros crecía, decidieron convertirse en una verdadera comunidad religiosa de Hermanos. Tomaron el nombre de “Hermanos de las Escuelas Cristianas”, adoptaron un hábito sencillo y desarrollaron gradualmente una Regla de Vida, que incluía tiempo para la oración y la lectura de las Escrituras. El Padre Juan Bautista intentó varias veces renunciar a la dirección de la comunidad para poder volver a la vida parroquial. Sin embargo, surgieron problemas con gremios y parroquias por cuestiones de límites y financieras que requirieron su intervención. Al difundirse la noticia del éxito de los alumnos con los Hermanos, las escuelas parroquiales empezaron a solicitar que los Hermanos fueran a enseñar. Los Hermanos también ampliaron su ministerio educativo para incluir escuelas para delincuentes juveniles y presos. Unos años antes de su muerte, el Padre Juan Bautista tuvo más libertad para rezar, estudiar y dar dirección espiritual. Murió en paz el Viernes Santo, 7 de abril de 1719, tras años de sufrir reumatismo y asma. Los libros de San Juan Bautista sobre educación, incluido uno sobre modales, revolucionaron el enfoque de la enseñanza en las aulas. En el siglo XIX, los Hermanos de las Escuelas Cristianas comenzaron a expandirse por todo el mundo. Ahora tienen escuelas en 79 países. Fue canonizado en 1900 y declarado patrón de los maestros por el Papa Pío XII en 1950.

Program helps participants gain control of their finances By Philip A. Janquart ICR Assistant Editor “Money will never make you happy, but financial stability will give you room to breathe so you can gain confidence in many other areas of life,” CCI Executive Director Eddie Trask told the Idaho Catholic Register ( ICR ). Catholic Charities of Idaho (CCI) will offer a well-known and successful program designed to help individuals and families take control of their finances. The nine-session financial literacy series, titled “Financial Peace University” (FPU),” implements Dave Ramsey’s acclaimed personal finance education model. The series is offered at a discounted rate, but enrollment is limited, so be sure to sign up now. The course begins Thursday, April 24, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, located at 7960 W. Northview St. in Boise. To register, call CCI’s Shea Symons at (208) 350-7480 or email ssymons@ccidaho.org .   Changing perspective Ramsey Solutions research revealed that 40% of Americans reported experiencing sleep loss in the past month due to their financial situation, said Trask, who will be teaching the series. The CCI director shared that he was part of that 40% years ago and that it resulted in a degree of instability in his personal life. That was before he participated in a course similar to the one he is launching. Many people have more debt than income, a situation Dave Ramsey experienced himself, which became the inspiration for his business and financial literacy course. “I took the course, and it dramatically shifted how we viewed money,” said Trask. “I realized that I didn’t know how to budget; I didn’t know anything, and that’s how we got into debt.” “The final session felt like a celebration,” he recalled. “The instructor said, ‘Does anyone want to share their testimony?’ and I just ran to the front of the room and said, ‘This is so amazing; I’m going to teach this class,’ and then I thought, ‘Why did I just say that?’ The instructor laughed and said, ‘Well, you just volunteered yourself.’” Trask explained that financial instability can have negative consequences, even in our spiritual lives. “Financial stability improves our relationships and takes away a distraction,” Trask said. “When we have lots of debt, we become preoccupied with it and we can feel like we are drowning because of the worry, fear and insecurity. We sink further within ourselves. We start to pity ourselves, and when we’re in that state, we’re often not looking up to God; instead, we’re looking elsewhere due to this distraction.”   Cut up the cards Part of Dave Ramsey’s financial philosophy is to avoid carrying too much plastic in your wallet. Credit cards are primarily responsible for burying people in debt. Ramsey said that today he only has four cards in his wallet: a personal debit card, a business debit card, a driver’s license and a concealed-carry permit. About half (48%) of those with credit cards don’t pay their statement balance in full every month, according to ramseysolutions.com . The average credit card interest rate reached an all-time high of 20.4% in 2021, with banks generating $106.7 billion in credit card interest and fees. “I got to see people come forward and cut up credit cards after they paid them off,” Trask said of his own educational experience. Not solely for Catholics The Dave Ramsey model, he said, is arguably the best course for gaining financial stability. “There are Catholic programs, but they are not like this,” he said. “In my experience, it works exceptionally well, and it gets people on the right track, encouraging them like you wouldn’t believe.” Participants do not need to be Catholic, Trask explained. However, his presentation of Ramsey’s material will be “relatable, understandable, and accessible to Catholics.”   Additional resources The course also provides other resources to supplement and strengthen the likeliness of success. “The goal is also for you to uncover things that may require additional inspection,” Trask said. “We all need examinations of conscience. As you go through these exercises, you can pinpoint what caused you to fall into debt. “What was the motivator?’” he added. “There are always different factors underlying financial issues, and we want to help people find additional support if they need it, which is to say that this is not just a financial class— it’s about the whole person. Catholic Charities want to support you.” Eddie and Ashley Trask with their kids Arlo, Eviana, Zion, Eila and Taavi. (Courtesy Photo/Eddie Trask)   Improving relationships Trask highly recommends that married couples take the course together. “When the wife is working hard to create savings and the husband goes out and spends a thousand dollars on his latest hobby, that’s ‘financial infidelity,’” said ICR  Editor Deacon Scott Pearhill during the interview with Trask. “But when the two partners work together … they deepen in unity and harmony.” Jay Wonacott, director of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Boise, noted that “Studies have shown there is a significant link between financial disagreements and divorce. Couples who frequently argue about money are more likely to divorce than those who do not. Financial incompatibility, such as differing spending habits and levels of consumer debt, can lead to increased marital stress.” Wonacott added that communication plays a significant role in achieving financial stability, including regular discussions about finances in which spouses actively listen to each other. “Set time aside to talk about your financial situation, goals and concerns; transparency is key,” Wonacott said. “Also ensure both partners feel heard and understood. This helps in finding common ground and solutions.” Trask pointed out that other steps may include collaborating to create a budget that reflects both partners’ priorities and needs, as well as setting both short-term and long-term goals, such as saving for a home, retirement, or their children’s education. Deacon Pearhill said a big part of the equation is responsibly using what God gives us. “You want to get out of financial ‘purgatory,’ or ‘Dante’s Inferno of Finances!’ You want to get to ‘Paradiso,’” Pearhill said. “That doesn’t mean you have to become wealthy so that you never have to think about money again. It means you are responsibly managing the gifts God has given you, that you are a good steward, and finances no longer oppress you,” he added. “You don’t have to be a millionaire; you just don’t want to be a slave to money anymore,” Pearhill concluded.

Holy Hour Keynote speaker Mari Pablo highlights the importance, reality of the Eucharist Father John Mosier, pastor at St. Mark's church in Boise, processes the monstrance containing the Holy Eucharist through the crowd during Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Saturday, March 8 .  (ICR Photo/Joe Egbert) By Philip A. Janquart ICR Assistant Editor “This is where the saints got their strength; there are saints who died protecting the Eucharist,” said Idaho Catholic Youth Conference (ICYC) keynote speaker Mari Pablo, who returned to the stage to introduce Saturday’s Holy Hour. She affirmed Jesus’ exclusive love for each of His children. “God knows you better than anyone; He knows you better than you know yourself,” Pablo said with deep conviction. “God loves you, and the way He pursues your heart is very particular. There is nothing you can do to make Him stop loving you, and when we turn away from Jesus, and we are in Confession, we are not only forgiven, we are also reconciled with Him.” Pablo said Jesus loves us so much that He makes Himself present in the Eucharist out of a desire to be in physical union with us. “We know that it isn’t bread; it’s actually Jesus. There are many Catholics who still think that it is just a symbol.” St. Bernard parishioner Paloma Castillo is shown in deep prayer during the 2025 ICYC .  (ICR Photo/Vero Gutierrez) A Eucharistic Miracle To emphasize her point, Pablo recounted the specifics of a Eucharistic miracle in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 1996, a host was discovered on the floor at the back of the church in the parish of Santa Maria y Caballito Almagro in Buenos Aires. As is the custom, Father Alejandro Pezet placed the host in a container of water, which in turn was placed in the Tabernacle. It soon appeared enlarged and bloody. After a year and no signs of decomposition, Father Pezet contacted then-Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio (later Pope Francis), who decided to have it analyzed. Pablo noted that in each case, the bishop of the diocese must investigate Eucharistic miracles, and the scientific community is asked to weigh in. Dr. Ricardo Castanon Gomez oversaw the scientific testing. He sent a tissue fragment to New York, where cardiologist and forensic pathologist Dr. Frederick Zugibe found it to be heart tissue that was moving and pulsating. Dr. Zugibe was not told the origin of the fragment. “The analyzed material is a fragment of the heart muscle found in the wall of the left ventricle, close to the valves,” he stated upon close examination, according to an article on the Magis Center website ( magiscenter.com ). “This muscle is responsible for the contraction of the heart. The left cardiac ventricle pumps blood to all parts of the body. The heart muscle is in an inflamed state and contains a large number of white blood cells. “This indicates that the heart was alive at the time the sample was taken. I affirm that the heart was alive, since white blood cells die outside a living organism; they require a living organism to sustain them. Thus, their presence indicates that the heart was alive when the sample was taken. What is more, these white blood cells had penetrated the tissue, which further indicated that the heart had been under severe stress, as if the owner had been beaten severely about the chest,” Dr. Zugibe concluded. Dr. Gomez is said to have ultimately converted to Catholicism. Mari Pablo concluded, “If you hear nothing else I have said today, please hear these words: Whenever you are suffering, in pain, and in darkness … there is a place to go. There is a person to turn to, and His name is Jesus. He invites you to come to Him, and He is present in the Eucharist.” The Eucharistic Procession Over 1,200 youth, some visibly emotional, venerated the Lord as He was processed through the large crowd on Saturday, March 8, at the Ford Idaho Center’s adjunct sports arena. Altar servers, including three seminarians, assisted in the Eucharistic procession during Saturday's Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament .  (ICR Photo/Vero Gutierrez) The Holy Hour was led by two priests, Father John Mosier, pastor of St. Mark’s in Boise and Father Camilo Garcia Delgado, pastor of St. Nicholas Parish in Rupert. The two priests took turns carrying an ornate, golden monstrance containing the Holy Eucharist as they processed among the crowd for the entire hour. They wore a unique garment over their shoulders, which draped around their arms and hands. Father Mosier explained that the priest holding forth the monstrance wears a cope, a long, full-length cloak, and is wrapped in a humeral veil, a rectangular cloth draped over the shoulders, used to cover hands while holding sacred objects. Father Mosier added, “The purpose of the humeral veil is to obscure the priest and draw all attention to the Blessed Sacrament. The humeral veil is matched in color to the cope and hence helps diminish the presence or appearance of the priest.” Accompanying them were seminarians Guillermo Gutiérrez, Ian Willnerd, and Nathan Ribb. The priests blessed all present with the Eucharist as they made their way up and down the aisles. Father Camilo Garcia Delgado gazes at the Blessad Sacrament during the Eucharistic precession held Saturday, March 8 at the 2025 Idaho Catholic Youth Conference .  (ICR Photo/Vero Gutierrez) Father Mosier provided insight into the significance of the procession and the use of incense. “We use the choreography of processing in various liturgical moments. The Adoration procession helps us engage with the reality that our Lord, the King of the Universe and all creation, was there, present among us, “walking” among those desiring to see Him and be near Him,” he explained. “The Church has used incense from its earliest days,” he continued. “Psalm 141 tells us, ‘Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, the lifting of my hands as the evening sacrifice.’ That was made so beautifully manifest during Saturday evening’s Adoration. Like the humble stable where our Savior was born in Bethlehem, the sports arena commonly used for rodeo and other events … was transformed into the sacred place.” Those who were able knelt upon the arena’s asphalt floor for the duration of the hour, the Lord’s presence visibly emotionally moving many as He passed. “[It’s] the privilege of being in Christ’s presence in a tangible and sensorial way, united as a community of believers … worshiping Him.” Father Mosier said, citing Matthew 28:20, “Behold, I am with you always until the end of the age.”

Father Augustin Wetta's 2025 ICYC message: God uses our failures, shortcomings for final victory Father Augustine Wetta, O.S.B. “photo bombs” the God Squad. God Squad volunteers welcome and encourage ICYC attendees. This year, they come from Our Lady of the Valley in Caldwell, Sacred Heart in Emmett, St. Mark’s in Boise, St. John’s Cathedral in Boise and Our Lady of the Rosary in Boise. (ICR Photo/Vero Gutiérrez) By Philip A. Janquart ICR Assistant Editor Whether we admit it or not, we are all losers to some degree. But don’t feel bad because everyone makes mistakes, falls short of expectations, or sometimes completely misses the boat. It’s ok because so did the saints, at least at first glance. Studying their lives, it becomes evident that the Lord uses our apparent failures and shortcomings, even our physical and social nonconformities, to cultivate decisive victory. That was part of Father Augustine Wetta’s message—delivered in his unique, whimsical style—during the 2025 Idaho Catholic Youth Conference (ICYC) held March 7-9 at the Ford Idaho Center adjunct sports arena in Nampa. He opened Saturday’s talk, titled “Failing: Lessons of Hope for Losers, Has-beens, Washouts and Other Great Saints,” by playfully alluding to his own unique debility. “I played rugby for 18 years and, as a result, I have this kind of permanent tremor in my left hand,” said Father Wetta, raising the shaking and twitching hand before about 1,500 teens, young adults, and others who came to participate in Idaho’s largest Catholic Youth gathering. “If I point at someone with this hand, don’t worry, you’re not in trouble,” he said. “And don’t wave back, either; just know I haven’t been drinking.” Father Wetta is a Benedictine monk from the Saint Louis Abbey in St. Louis, Missouri. He has two Theology degrees from Oxford University, a bachelor’s degree in Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations from Rice University, and a master’s in English from Middlebury College. He teaches English, Classics and Theology at the Priory School in St. Louis, where he also coached rugby and served as director of chaplaincy. He frequently appears on Eternal Word Television Network  ( EWTN ). Father Augustine Wetta speaks at the 2025 Idaho Catholic Youth Conference on March 8. He used the checkered pasts of several saints to underscore the fact that, although imperfect, we can all become saints. (ICR Photo/Philip A. Janquart) Father Wetta began with a brief foray into Greek mythology. “I want to start with Achilles, a definitive non-saint,” he said of the character in the “Iliad,” Homer’s epic poem. “He was a warrior, hero and was never beaten in battle.” Father Wetta explained that Bronze Age Greeks measured honor by such criteria. “If someone stole one of your cows, you lost five cows worth of honor. If someone insulted you in public and you didn’t come back with an equal or greater insult, well then, you had less honor,” he said. Father Wetta explained that we haven’t changed much since the Bronze Age. He cited a student who said that honor, success, and reputation are measured today by the number of followers one has and one’s ability to influence others on social media. “A student of mine said that people have x-number of followers on that …‘Insta-face,’ or whatever you call it, and that he can get his followers to dislike someone else’s videos, that he can insult them and it’s all permanent; it’s all measurable, which is disturbing to me,” he said. If we measure our self-worth by our ability to battle back when attacked, we are no better than Achilles, Wetta said. Achilles’ constant need to prove himself in battle was his undoing. He noted that we have the same Achilles’ heel and the same point of weakness if we believe ‘winning’ in life comes from producing the best slam, comeback, or power-play. “It’s all about money and things, which is really tragic,” Father Wetta remarked. “But the focus tonight is not to whine about how lousy the world has become. It’s rather to propose some solutions, and I offer that in the form of stories about saints. As I move from one absolute, stellar failure to the next, I want you to keep Achilles in mind.” The first saint he cited was a man who did not conform to the social norms of the time but was rather ordained for a particular purpose that ultimately took him through the “narrow gate,” and an end that involved suffering. “I want to start with the biggest loser of all time, John the Baptist,” he said. “I mean, he ate bugs, made homemade clothes and died young. By his own admission, he was unworthy to unfasten the sandals of the Man he baptized. His followers decided to abandon him to follow Jesus; He decreased so Jesus could increase. “Saint John was murdered by the very people he was trying to help. He was preparing them for a messiah they would reject, humiliate and execute,” he said. “And yet, Jesus said this colossal failure was the greatest man born of woman.” He also spoke about Saints Simon and Jude, who, he noted, were obscure next to Jesus’ other Apostles. “Here are two men who own nothing … and even Christians don’t know anything about them,” he said, adding that Saint Jude was often confused with Judas Iscariot. “And it gets worse: the Gospel writers themselves can’t even keep his name straight. John called him “Judas,” and Luke called him Jude, James’s brother. “And no one understands this, but Matthew calls him Thaddeus, which probably wasn’t even his name. He says nothing in any of the Gospels except … ‘What’s this?’ and that’s it,” Father Wetta said. “We know even less about Simon, if you can believe that, only that he is not Peter. And yet, these two men were literally hand-picked by God to lead His Church.” Father Wetta explained that other saints were shunned and cast out for physical features or disabilities that were beyond their control. St. Drogo, Father Wetta said, is the patron saint of those whom others find repulsive, are unattractive, have bodily ills, broken bones, are deaf, have gall stones, hernias, illness and insanity. Many of the saints were tortured and killed for their beliefs, dying with nothing but their inward dignity. In the end, he said success shouldn’t be measured by possessions and status, alluding to the fact that the only one we need to please in life is the Lord. “When you arrive on your deathbed, you will inevitably have to do without your trophies, diplomas, and accolades,” Father Wetta said in conclusion. “Without even your bodily health to comfort you, all that will matter is your existence as a child of God, and that will be enough. In fact, it will be more than enough; it will be absolutely everything.”

Saints Chione, Agape and Irene listen to the preaching of Saint Demetrios. Feast Day: April 3 By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Saints Agape, Chione and Irene were sisters who lived in the late third century in Aquileia, a Roman city on the northeastern border of Italy. Tradition says St. Mark the Apostle first evangelized Aquileia and established its diocese around 50 A.D. Agape (meaning “love”), Chione (“snow”), and Irene (“peace”) came from a wealthy, well-educated family. According to Christian tradition, after their parents died, the sisters continued to reject all offers of marriage, choosing to live as consecrated virgins under the direction of a priest, Father Xeno. Christians at that time lived in relative peace due to the Roman Empire’s political turmoil.  When Diocletian became the Roman Emperor in 284, his government was already losing control of the empire. During his reign, the empire broke apart. Diocetian (r. 284 - 305) ruled Byzantium in the East, and Maximian (r. 286 - 305) ruled Rome in the West. Both were known by the title “Augustus.” Each Augusti also had a kind of “assistant emperor” called “Caesar.” This division of power between East, West, and assistant emperors was the beginning of the imperial “Tetrarchy,” or rule by four. In 299, Augustus Diocletian and his Caesar, Galerius, met with pagan priests to determine the future of their empire. The pagans said they could not see the future because of the presence of Christians in the palace. For the next three years, Diocletian and Galerius persecuted Christians, mostly through oppressive fees, discrimination and imprisonment. Then, near the end of 302, priests of Apollo said that Christians made it impossible for them to offer oracles. Diocletian and Galerius in the eastern empire responded with widespread and violent persecution of Christians, which was also enforced in the West.  Clergy were imprisoned and often tortured and killed. Many churches were destroyed. Diocletian declared that it was punishable by death to refuse meat sacrificed to idols or to possess Christian writings.  Christian tradition about the three sisters, including a 10th-century medieval Latin drama by the secular canoness Hrotsvitha of Gandersheim (the first known female playwright in the Latin West after the fall of the Roman empire), say that during Diocletian’s bitter persecution, Father Xeno dreamed he would soon die, and that the sisters would also be martyred. Before being put in prison, he is said to have warned the sisters of their coming martyrdom and encouraged them to stand firm in their faith. After he died, a holy woman, St. Anastasia, is said to have had a vision about the sisters and told Agape, Chione and Irene to endure all things for Christ. According to tradition, the sisters were arrested with four other Christians who refused to eat meat sacrificed to idols. The sisters were also charged with having Christian writings. When questioned by the governor, they are said to have defiantly expressed their joy at obediently living out their faith. When Diocletian saw how young and beautiful the sisters were, tradition says he encouraged them to recant so they could be wed to powerful men in the empire. The sisters refused. Not convinced that they should be killed, Diocletian is said to have taken them to Macedonia, and during the journey, the young women proclaimed the truths of Christ and His Church. When they reached Thessalonica, Diocletian is said to have placed the sisters in the charge of the governor, Dulcititus. There, the women praised God through the night. Although Dulcititus tried to break in to molest the sisters, their doors remained miraculously locked. Dulcititus didn’t stop trying to get into their room until he was miraculously blinded. As he staggered, he is said to have fallen into the palace kitchen and wound up covered in soot in front of his servants. Enraged by his humiliation, Dulcititus ordered the sisters to be stripped naked in front of his court. But legend says the soldiers found their clothing miraculously immovable. During the trial, instead of pronouncing judgment, Dulcititus was overcome with sleep. When Diocletian heard of this, he became incensed but once again chose not to punish the women himself. Instead, he sent them to another official, Sisinius.  Sisenius ordered that Agape and Chione be burned on a pyre. Tradition places their death date on April 3, 304. Agape and Chione are said to have sung praises as they died. According to tradition, the day after the execution of Agape and Chione, Sisenius brought Irene back to the court. Because she was still defiant, even in the face of her sisters’ death, he ordered that she be stripped and placed in a brothel. Irene remained steadfast. “Even if my body is defiled by force,” she said. “My soul will never be defiled by denouncing Christ.” Miraculously, two large soldiers who seemed to glow stopped the soldiers transporting Irene, saying they had new orders from Sisinius. Irene was released, and she fled to the mountains. When Sisinius found out, he was livid. He immediately went with soldiers to search for Irene. A soldier spotted her, and the group shot her with arrows.  “I mock your impotent malice,” Irene reputedly shouted. “And I go to my Lord Jesus Christ pure and undefiled.” Her martyrdom is said to have fallen on Easter Sunday that year, April 5.  St. Anastasia is said to have had a vision of the three sisters’ deaths and to have traveled to Thessalonica, where she found their bodies and buried them. Sts. Agape, Chione and Irene have no specific patronage. St. Anastasia is among the saints listed in the Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass. Her feast day is celebrated on Dec. 25.  Santas Ágape, Chione e Irene Día de la fiesta: 3 de abril Por Emily Woodham Colaboradora Las santas Ágape, Chione e Irene eran hermanas que vivieron a finales del siglo III en Aquilea, ciudad romana situada en la frontera noreste de Italia. Según la tradición, el apóstol san Marcos evangelizó Aquilea por primera vez y estableció su diócesis hacia el año 50 d.C. Ágape (que significa “amor”), Chione (“nieve”) e Irene (“paz”) procedían de una familia acomodada y bien educada. Según la tradición cristiana, tras la muerte de sus padres, las hermanas siguieron rechazando todas las ofertas de matrimonio, optando por vivir como vírgenes consagradas bajo la dirección de un sacerdote, el padre Xeno. Los cristianos de aquella época vivían en relativa paz debido a la agitación política del Imperio Romano. Cuando Diocleciano fue nombrado emperador romano en 284, su gobierno ya estaba perdiendo el control del imperio. Durante su reinado, el imperio se desmoronó. Diocleciano (reinado 284 - 305) gobernó Bizancio en Oriente, y Maximiano (reinado 286 - 305) gobernó Roma en Occidente. Ambos eran conocidos con el título de “Augusto”. Cada Augusto tenía también una especie de “emperador asistente” llamado “César”. Esta división de poder entre Oriente, Occidente y los emperadores asistentes fue el comienzo de la “Tetrarquía” imperial, o gobierno por cuatro. En 299, el Augusto Diocleciano y su César, Galerio, se reunieron con sacerdotes paganos para determinar el futuro de su imperio. Los paganos dijeron que no podían ver el futuro debido a la presencia de cristianos en el palacio. Durante los tres años siguientes, Diocleciano y Galerio persiguieron a los cristianos, sobre todo mediante tasas opresivas, discriminación y encarcelamiento en situaciones selectas. Entonces, cerca del final del año 302, los sacerdotes de Apolo dijeron que los cristianos les impedían ofrecer oráculos. Diocleciano y Galerio, en el imperio oriental, respondieron con una persecución generalizada y violenta de los cristianos, que también se impuso en Occidente. El clero fue encarcelado y a menudo torturado y asesinado. Muchas iglesias fueron destruidas. Diocleciano declaró que se castigaba con la muerte rechazar la carne sacrificada a los ídolos o poseer escritos cristianos. La tradición cristiana sobre las tres hermanas, incluido un drama medieval en latín del siglo X de la canonesa secular Hrotsvitha de Gandersheim (la primera dramaturga conocida en el Occidente latino tras la caída del imperio romano), dice que, durante la amarga persecución de Diocleciano, el padre Xeno soñó que pronto moriría y que las hermanas también serían martirizadas. Se dice que, antes de ser encarcelado, advirtió a las hermanas de su próximo martirio y de que se mantuvieran firmes en su fe. Después de su muerte, una santa mujer, Santa Anastasia, tuvo una visión sobre las hermanas y les dijo a Ágape, Chione e Irene que lo soportaran todo por Cristo. Según la tradición, las hermanas fueron detenidas junto con otros cuatro cristianos que se negaban a comer carne sacrificada a los ídolos. También se las acusó de tener escritos cristianos. Se dice que, al ser interrogadas por el gobernador, expresaron desafiantes su alegría por vivir obedientemente su fe. Cuando Diocleciano vio lo jóvenes y hermosas que eran las hermanas, la tradición dice que las animó a retractarse para que pudieran casarse con hombres poderosos del imperio. Las hermanas se negaron. No convencido de que debían ser asesinadas, se dice que Diocleciano las llevó a Macedonia, y durante el viaje, las jóvenes proclamaron las verdades de Cristo y de su Iglesia. Cuando llegaron a Tesalónica, se dice que Diocleciano puso a las hermanas a cargo del gobernador Dulcitus. Allí, las mujeres alabaron a Dios durante toda la noche. Aunque Dulcitus intentó entrar para molestar a las hermanas, sus puertas permanecieron milagrosamente cerradas. Dulcitus no dejó de intentar entrar en su habitación hasta que fue milagrosamente cegado. Al tambalearse, se dice que cayó en la cocina del palacio y acabó cubierto de hollín delante de sus sirvientes. Enfurecido por la humillación, Dulcitus ordenó desnudar a las hermanas ante su corte. Pero la leyenda dice que los soldados encontraron sus ropas milagrosamente inamovibles. Durante el juicio, en lugar de pronunciar sentencia, Dulcitus fue vencido por el sueño. Cuando Diocleciano se enteró, se indignó, pero una vez más decidió no castigar a las mujeres él mismo. En su lugar, las envió a otro funcionario, Sisenio. Sisenio ordenó que Ágape y Chione fueran quemadas en una hoguera. La tradición sitúa la fecha de su muerte el 3 de abril de 304. Se dice que Ágape y Chione cantaron alabanzas mientras morían. Según la tradición, al día siguiente de la ejecución de Ágape y Chione, Sisenio llevó a Irene a la corte. Como seguía desafiante, incluso ante la muerte de sus hermanas, ordenó que la desnudaran y la metieran en un burdel. Irene se mantuvo firme. “Aunque mi cuerpo sea profanado a la fuerza”, dijo. “Mi alma nunca será mancillada por denunciar a Cristo”. Milagrosamente, dos soldados corpulentos que parecían brillar detuvieron a los soldados que transportaban a Irene, diciendo que tenían nuevas órdenes de Sisinio. Irene fue liberada y huyó a las montañas. Cuando Sisinio se enteró, se puso furioso. Inmediatamente fue con los soldados en busca de Irene. Un soldado la vio, y el grupo le disparó flechas. “Me burlo de vuestra impotente malicia”, se dice que gritó Irene. “Y voy a mi Señor Jesucristo pura e inmaculada”. Se dice que su martirio tuvo lugar el Domingo de Resurrección de ese año, el 5 de abril. Se dice que Santa Anastasia tuvo una visión de la muerte de las tres hermanas y viajó a Tesalónica, donde encontró sus cuerpos y los enterró. Las Santas Ágape, Chione e Irene no tienen un patronazgo específico. Santa Anastasia es una de las santas que figuran en la Plegaria Eucarística de la Misa. Su fiesta se celebra el 25 de diciembre.

Mari Pablo By Emily Woodham Staff Writer “There are no perfect people, although some pretend to have perfect lives where everything is fine,” Mari Pablo said in her first keynote talk at the 2025 Idaho Catholic Youth Convention (ICYC). Pablo, who is Hispanic, joked that people’s lives and families are like the ones in TV novellas—soap operas. “There is no such thing as perfect families because humans are in them,” she said. Pablo added that human drama in which many things go wrong is also seen in the Bible, which concerns real people in real situations. “In the Bible, so many horrible things happen, and God shows up in everything,” she said. “Our families are not perfect, and God shows up. If we invite Him in, He can do incredible things that are so good and so beautiful.” However, Pablo noted that mental health issues are at an all-time high, affecting one out of four people. “I’m a huge advocate of theology and psychology. I think that everyone can benefit from Jesus and a good Catholic counselor. We’re all going through stuff, and we all have different things that we’re carrying.” Because the Lord cares about every aspect of our lives, she continued, He also cares about each person’s mental health. “I’m not saying, ‘Pray and then all your mental health issues will magically disappear.’ I’m saying that the Lord cares about everything you’re going through and knows you better than you know yourself.” Mari Pablo gave three keynote talks, each focused on having a relationship with Jesus through prayer, sacraments, and trust in every aspect of life. Pablo used different stories from her journey to illustrate how circumstances, relationships and suffering can be used by God to draw us closer to Him. In prayer and sacred Scripture, we invite Jesus to speak truth to us. Satan wants us to have the mindset that tomorrow will not get better—this is only darkness and a lie,” she said. When we turn to Jesus and invite His truth, she continued, we’re able to cling to hope. Pablo encouraged continuing to pray the vocal prayers of the Church, such as the Our Father and Hail Mary. However, she said that to grow in our relationship with Jesus, we need to speak with Him freely as we would with a friend. “Communicate with the Lord authentically when you’re happy, when you’re upset, and when you’re sad. Jesus is Jesus, and He knows it all. But He wants to hear it from you. He wants to hear it from your heart. It says in the Catechism that prayer is a surge of the heart. And so, when we talk about prayer, it’s just your heart talking to His most Sacred Heart and communicating. And this is how things are transformed.”  When Pablo was a child, she had multiple illnesses and ear surgeries. At one point, she almost died. Although she was raised in a Hispanic Catholic home with parents who were leaders in their parish, she said she struggled with really knowing Jesus. It wasn’t until she was a young adult and helped at a youth camp that she was confronted in Confession about her hypocrisy—living one way with her family and church friends and another way with friends outside of church.  “It was the first realization that I had been living a little bit too ‘in the world’ and the Lord has called me to something greater than that, something higher,” she said. The experience in Confession was an invitation for self-reflection and change. Later at the same camp, during Adoration, the same priest at Confession said to stop fighting and surrender to Jesus. “Then finally all the walls fell down, and I was able to look at who’s in front of me. The Eucharist is not a symbol. The Eucharist is a Person. It’s Jesus’ body, blood, soul, and divinity. I had a lot of doubts about my faith, but I knew that Jesus was present in the Eucharist. When I looked at Him, everything transformed and was changed.” After the camp, Pablo spent five weeks changing her life so that she could live her faith with more integrity. “I needed a change in my life, and giving my ‘yes’ to the Lord was the best thing I’ve ever done. It was only then that I was able to understand that my hope is in Jesus. There’s a Bible verse that says may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rm 15:13). “Every single human will probably fail you at some point in life,” she said. “You will probably fail others because we’re human. Hope is in knowing that today is not the ‘end-all-be-all.’ Hope is knowing that we’re made for more, that we’re made for heaven. You and I are called to be saints. Our hope is in Jesus. He wants a relationship with you.” After each keynote talk, Father Caleb Vogel, vicar general for the Diocese of Boise, led the more than 1,500 teens and adults in an “activation,” a method of mental prayer that uses imagery to invite deeper listening to the Holy Spirit.  In one activation, Father Vogel invited the audience to imagine receiving the love of the Trinity. “Love is something that can’t be held on to. It has to be given away,” Father Vogel said. Just as one needs to open opposite windows in a room to let a breeze blow through, the more we share the love we receive, the more God’s love enters in to us. He encouraged the audience to prepare for Adoration by surrendering to God’s love through worshipping Him. “In worship, we’re giving God love. Like the breeze in the room, the more I give love, the more love comes into me. We can never outgive God’s generosity—He’s that eternal waterfall. When we love and worship, that cycle continues, and our lives become filled with the Spirit of God. And when that happens, and the love of God is pouring through me, I get transformed in it. I get pulled into the very mystery of God. That’s what I want for you.”

Bishop Peter Christensen (center) presided at Mass on Feb. 8 during ICYC. Father Augustine Wetta (left) and Father Caleb Vogel (center left) concelebrated. Deacon Miguel Serna (left) and Deacon Jason Batalden (right) assisted.  (ICR Photo/Vero Gutiérrez) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer  When Jesus told the Apostles about His 40 days in the desert, “He wanted them, and all of us, to know to put our trust and hope in the Lord,” said Bishop Peter F. Christensen during his homily for the first Sunday of Lent at the Idaho Catholic Youth Convention (ICYC) at the Ford Idaho Center adjunct sports arena in Nampa. Bishop Peter noted that “Jesus had already experienced the beautiful voice of God saying, ‘You are my beloved Son’ at His baptism. “With that, Jesus knew His identity. He fasted in the desert to bring His life entirely to the Father.” Jesus was tempted when he was weakest and most vulnerable, to act apart from His Father, explained Bishop Peter. These included turning stones into bread, being given power over kingdoms, and jumping off the parapet to see if God could be trusted. Jesus responded to these temptations of self-reliance with scripture. “These scriptures gave Jesus hope and perseverance, which gave Him even greater freedom,” he said. “Jesus tells His disciples and each of us, ‘Put your trust and hope in the Lord. He will be your strength, and He will deliver you.’” Bishop Peter shared his story of being hospitalized in the intensive care unit last year. “I was attacked by a virus called Guillain-Barre that went after my nerves, beginning with my toes.” He explained that a scripture passage, Isaiah 60:22, came to him: “When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen.” “There were times I was wondering, ‘When’s that time coming, Lord? This is going on forever.’ It was a step-by-step encounter.” After six days in the ICU, Bishop Peter could barely stand, walk, or do anything with dexterity. As his long recovery from the virus continued, he reflected on Isaiah 42:16: “I will lead the blind on their journey. On paths unknown, I will guide them. I will turn the darkness into light before them and make crooked ways straight.” “My brothers and sisters, I held onto these words. They gave me tremendous hope. I felt like I was blind. I wasn’t sure how to take the next step. I had to cancel a ton of stuff. I’m so grateful for the hope I received in those two scriptures and others. The Lord had my back. The Lord knew what I could handle. Jesus has led the way by example.” He said St. Catherine of Siena understood the importance of knowing that she needed to rely on God. In a vision, God said to her, “Catherine, you are she who is not. I am He who is.” Bishop Peter explained that this means we must live in the right order, remembering we only exist because of Him, and He keeps us in existence. He is God, and we are not. “In this right order, we understand ourselves and others. This is very humbling, but He cares for us. I think the Lord might be saying to us during this time of Lent, ‘Fast from your self-sufficiency, fast from your self-reliance. Rely on me for your true identity and for all that you need. You are mine. You are beloved. You are a child of God. I will lead you if you just hold on to my hand. I will be with you.’” As we move forward as pilgrims of hope, relying on God and His loving care, Bishop Peter concluded, “People will see something in you that will bring them a great comfort of peace.”  Paloma Castillo from St. Bernard’s in Blackfoot solemnly prays during a moment of reflection. (ICR Photo/Vero Gutiérrez) Sarah Carrillo, Nicky Serrato, Camila Reyes, Sarai Contreras, Karen Contreras and Marta del Toro from St. Elizabeth in Gooding and St. Charles Borromeo in Hailey, enjoying ICYC. (ICR Photo/Vero Gutiérrez) Members of the God Squad sing with passion during ICYC. (ICR Photo/Vero Gutiérrez) Father Augustine Torres holds up his “weapon of choice” against the wickedness and snares of the devil—the Holy Rosary. (ICR Photo/Philip Janquart) Top left, The God Squad sing “Wherever I Go” by We the Kingdom. (ICR Photo/Vero Gutiérrez) Father John Mosier, pastor of St. Mark’s in Boise, carries the Monstrance during Adoration. (ICR Photo/Joe Egbert)

On Sunday, March 16, The Vatican shared the first photo of Pope Francis since he was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14. (Photo Credit/Holy See Press Office) By Philip A. Janquart ICR Assistant Editor The Vatican recently released the first photo of Pope Francis since his admission to Gemelli Hospital in mid-February. The Holy See Press Office released the image on Sunday, March 16. Taken at an angle from Francis’ right side, it shows him sitting in a wheelchair wearing an alb and stole after concelebrating Holy Mass in the private chapel on the 10th floor of the hospital. According to the Vatican, the Holy Father has visited the chapel daily since his medical condition began improving, according to a Feb. 25 Catholic News Agency report. “For a number of days now, journalists and the public in general had been asking for a photo of the Pope,” Vatican News , the official Vatican press agency, stated on its website. “The last ones seen came over a month ago…Since then, nobody, apart from the doctors treating him and his closest collaborators, had been able to see the Pope.” Vatican News  added, “The Pope’s medical condition remains stable, as already confirmed in previous days, but still within a clinical context that the medical staff—as reported in the latest bulletins—defines as ‘complex.’” Given the Pope’s stable medical condition, updates are being issued less frequently. Francis was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14 to undergo testing and treatment for bronchitis. He later developed bilateral (both lungs), pneumonia, receiving oxygen and blood transfusions.

Lent is a time to examine the forces that influence us/ La Cuaresma es un tiempo para examinar las fuerzas que nos influyen   Lent is a time of conversion. At our penance services and private prayer before the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we are encouraged to examine our conscience. Through careful and honest observation, we identify our sins and put them before Christ for forgiveness and conversion. It is through this truly seeing and acknowledging our faults that we are able to begin to correct them. We tend to think of these faults as things that are integral to us, arising from our sinful human nature, and so they are, but it may be more challenging to see how the seeds of these faults may have been planted in us, or watered and nurtured, by external influences. After all, our society, our culture, all the forces of media, politics, and the overwhelming volume of messaging coming at us daily is largely unseeable because they are so ever-present. We have gotten used to them because we have become blind to them. As the now-familiar analogy goes, like fish, we don’t recognize the water we swim in. In other words, these external forces may have become internalized to the degree that we no longer see the harm they inflict on us. And until we begin to examine the things that make it easier for us to sin, it will be challenging to work on the sin itself. This Lent, we might take an opportunity to review the unforeseen causes of the “collateral damage” to the soul that comes from living in this time and place. The consumer culture that enables both the exploitation of God’s creation and the epidemic of loneliness, which teaches us to value the consumption of goods and services over relationships; The always-online culture that encourages us to demand and expect instant gratification, constant dopamine satisfaction, and the expectation that we deserve to have our minutest action and thought publicized and “liked”—falsely proclaiming that this “like” is, in fact, the truest form of being authentic and validated; The polarizing culture that insists we identify deeply as one thing or another in opposition to each other (liberal versus conservative, traditional versus progressive) leads to painful disunity. In the same way that we cannot live in isolation from these effects, they do not exist in isolation from each other. Instead, each intersects with the other, reverberates beyond itself, and intensifies the impact of the others. No doubt we can all add to this list. This Lent, perhaps take the opportunity to focus on relationships, not consumption—a fast not just from things like alcohol and meat, but from “doomscrolling” on social media. Or turn your attention to ways in which, as a Christian, you form and express your identity or find validation. Is it through social media attention or through the ways in which you live out your faith? Or perhaps you might step back from judging the “other” in the pew in front of you, and focus on ways you are alike as beloved children of God. Through this practice, we may begin to notice the water in which we swim and have an effect on it, rather than passively allowing it to affect us. If we do so, we will experience an individual conversion that begins to convert the world.   Lenten Regulations Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence (abstaining from meat). In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. The norms for fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding from age 14 onwards Veamos el agua en la que nadamos La Cuaresma es un tiempo para examinar las fuerzas que nos influyen La Cuaresma es un tiempo de conversión. En nuestros servicios de penitencia y en la oración privada ante el sacramento de la Reconciliación, se nos anima a examinar nuestra conciencia. A través de una observación cuidadosa y honesta, identificamos nuestros pecados y los ponemos ante Cristo para su perdón y conversión. Al ver y reconocer realmente nuestras faltas, podemos empezar a corregirlas. Tendemos a pensar que estas faltas son inherentes a nosotros, que surgen de nuestra naturaleza humana pecaminosa, y así es, pero puede ser más difícil ver cómo las semillas de estas faltas pueden haber sido plantadas en nosotros, o regadas y alimentadas, por influencias externas. Después de todo, nuestra sociedad, nuestra cultura, todas las fuerzas de los medios de comunicación, la política y el abrumador volumen de mensajes que nos llegan a diario son en gran medida invisibles porque están siempre presentes. Nos hemos acostumbrado a ellos porque nos hemos vuelto ciegos. Como dice la ya familiar analogía, como los peces, no reconocemos el agua en la que nadamos. En otras palabras, estas fuerzas externas pueden haberse interiorizado hasta el punto de que ya no veamos el daño que nos infligen. Y hasta que no empecemos a examinar las cosas que nos facilitan pecar, será difícil trabajar sobre el pecado mismo. En esta Cuaresma, podríamos aprovechar la oportunidad para revisar las causas imprevistas de los “daños colaterales” para el alma que se derivan de vivir en este tiempo y en este lugar. La cultura consumista que permite tanto la explotación de la creación de Dios como la epidemia de soledad, que nos enseña a valorar el consumo de bienes y servicios por encima de las relaciones; La cultura siempre en línea que nos anima a exigir y esperar una gratificación instantánea, una satisfacción constante con la dopamina y la expectativa de que merecemos que se publique y “guste” nuestra más mínima acción y pensamiento, proclamando falsamente que este “gustar” es, de hecho, la forma más auténtica de ser auténtico y validado; La cultura polarizadora que insiste en que nos identifiquemos profundamente como una cosa u otra en oposición a los demás (liberal frente a conservador, tradicional frente a progresista) conduce a una dolorosa desunión. Del mismo modo que no podemos vivir aislados de estos efectos, tampoco existen aislados unos de otros. Por el contrario, cada uno se cruza con el otro, refleja más allá de sí mismo e intensifica el impacto de los demás. Sin duda, todos podemos añadir algo a esta lista. Esta Cuaresma, tal vez aprovechemos la oportunidad para centrarnos en las relaciones, no en el consumo: un ayuno no sólo de cosas como el alcohol y la carne, sino también del “catastrofismo” en las redes sociales. O presta atención a las formas en que, como cristiano, formas y expresas tu identidad, o encuentras validación. ¿Es a través de la atención de las redes sociales o a través de la forma en que vives tu fe? O tal vez podrías dejar de juzgar al “otro” en el banco de enfrente y centrarte en las formas en que nos parecemos como hijos amados de Dios. A través de esta práctica, podemos empezar a notar el agua en la que nadamos y tener un efecto sobre ella, en lugar de permitir pasivamente que nos afecte. Si lo hacemos, experimentaremos una conversión individual que empezará a convertir el mundo. Preceptos de Cuaresma El Miércoles de Ceniza y el Viernes Santo son días obligatorios de ayuno y abstinencia. Además, los viernes de Cuaresma son días obligatorios de abstinencia. Las normas de ayuno son obligatorias desde los 18 hasta los 59 años. Durante el ayuno, se permite hacer una comida completa, así como dos comidas más pequeñas que juntas no equivalgan a una comida completa. Las normas relativas a la abstinencia de carne son obligatorias a partir de los 14 años.

For Catholics around the world, this is a special year, a “Jubilee Year.” St. Joseph’s Church, completed in 1897, is the oldest continuously operating Catholic Church in Idaho.  (ICR Photo) During a Jubilee, the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome is flung open, and the people of the Church travel to Rome for special spiritual graces. It’s also a time when Catholic churches worldwide are designated as sacred places where pilgrims who are not able to travel to Rome may come to experience those same special spiritual graces. Eastern Idaho Catholics now have another closer option for participating in the 2025 Jubilee activities and obtaining their graces. St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pocatello has been designated a Jubilee pilgrimage site in the state of Idaho by the Bishop Peter F. Christensen. “In recognition that the faithful of the Diocese of Boise wish to celebrate the Year of Hope by obtaining Jubilee grace and blessing, and to provide as many opportunities as possible for them to do so, I hereby declare and decree St. Joseph’s Chapel in Pocatello, Idaho, a sacred place and pilgrimage site in the Diocese of Boise,” wrote the Bishop. In the Catholic Church, “ordinary” jubilee years are celebrated every 25 years, while an “extraordinary” jubilee can be proclaimed any year, like the Year of Mercy in 2015. The 2025 Holy Year is themed “The Year of Hope.” Participants are encouraged to understand themselves as “Pilgrims of Hope.” The papal Bull of Indiction “Spes non confundit” (Hope does not disappoint, c.f., Romans 5:5) provides the official foundation for the 2025 Jubilee and announces its theme. The papal document elaborates on the theme of hope and provides many applications for bringing hope into our modern world. The document explains that the faithful can obtain a Jubilee indulgence during the holy year (see the sidebar for more information). Bishop Christensen’s letter designating St. Joseph’s chapel as a pilgrimage site provides the following reasons: St. Joseph’s, completed in 1897, is the oldest continuously operating Catholic Church in Idaho. It served as the former pro-cathedral for the Diocese before the current cathedral was constructed in Boise. It represents a “spiritual bridge between past generations of Idaho Catholics and the present, creating a tangible connection to the faith heritage of the area.” Its location in Pocatello increases accessibility for pilgrims from Southeast Idaho and allows pilgrims from small towns and rural areas greater access to a sacred site. Finally, “the symbolic value of naming St. Joseph’s as a Jubilee Church reflects the universal reach of the Church, bringing the blessings of the Jubilee closer to those outside major urban centers like Boise.”   Father Emil Parafiniuk, pastor of Holy Spirit Catholic Community, which includes both St. Joseph and St. Anthony Catholic churches, is excited about having a Jubilee pilgrimage site in Pocatello. “I think the pilgrims will be coming from the whole state of Idaho, and even Utah, Montana and Wyoming, because there are not many churches [that have been designated as sacred sites],” said Father Parafiniuk. “For us, it is a great opportunity to show the beauty of St. Joseph’s Church to other people.” Holy Spirit Catholic Community has been busy planning special events for their designated holy site. The parish is looking at holding Masses for special groups, hosting Stations of the Cross, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, prayer vigils, opportunities to pray the Rosary, processions and inviting pilgrims from throughout Idaho to take part in special gatherings at St. Joseph’s over the coming year. Special events will be announced as they are finalized. St. Joseph’s is normally locked when it is not being used for regularly scheduled services, but Father Emil said that pilgrims who would like to visit the church during this Jubilee year can contact the parish office for access. “We’re going to make it much more open during the Jubilee year,” he said. “We have to replace security cameras and put an alarm system in the sanctuary. For us, the main times this year (for visitors) will be spring, summer and fall. But yes, pilgrims can come now. Our parishioners have a code, but if someone is not a parishioner, it’s enough to contact the parish office, and the church will be opened.” In the Bull of Indiction, “Spes non confundit,” Pope Francis wrote, “The coming Jubilee will thus be a Holy Year marked by the hope that does not fade, our hope in God.” “Essentially for us, it’s important to remind ourselves that we have hope in Christ, and Christ is hope for us,” Father Emil concluded.   What is a Jubilee indulgence? Pilgrims who take part in special activities during the Jubilee year can obtain an indulgence. The church teaches that an indulgence is an act of mercy on the part of God. He grants from His abundant love the reparation for our acts of sinfulness that we, by ourselves, cannot provide, sparing us the punishment due for some or all our sins. A person who receives a plenary indulgence obtains full remission of punishment for venial sins committed. A person who receives a partial indulgence obtains partial remission. This reparation becomes available to us through other channels of grace when we perform certain acts with a penitent heart. What are the acts by which the faithful can obtain a Jubilee indulgence? Pope Francis has specified the following: The faithful may make a pilgrimage to a designated holy site, like St. Joseph’s in Pocatello, All Saints Catholic Church in Lewiston, or the Cathedral in Boise. An act of mercy can be made, such as visiting the sick or a prisoner, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, or welcoming a migrant—in a sense, making a pilgrimage to Christ present in them. An act of penance is another option, such as donating to the poor, abstaining from distractions of various kinds (like social media), or refraining from alcohol. Each of these acts must be accompanied by participation in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. There must then follow a profession of faith and prayers for Pope Francis and his intentions (an “Our Father,” for example). Those unable to participate in person due to serious reasons (the elderly, the sick, prisoners) can obtain the Jubilee indulgence by uniting in spirit with the faithful, reciting the Our Father, the Creed and prayers to Mary and to the saints. The Jubilee indulgence can also be obtained for the deceased, as each of these acts may be offered on behalf of those in purgatory.

The Vocations Monstrance, blessed by the late St. Pope John Paul II, adorns the Holy Family Catholic School’s Adoration Chapel altar in Coeur d’ Alene. (Courtesy Photo/ Jason Chavez) By Lisa Ormond for the ICR A monstrance holds and displays the Blessed Sacrament during Eucharistic Adoration. The “Vocations Monstrance,” blessed by Pope St. John Paul II for the increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life, is making its way through Northern Idaho on a historic 17-stop journey from Mar. 20 to Apr. 13. This is the first time the Vocations Monstrance has traveled to Idaho. “We are so grateful to have the use of the Pope St. John Paul II Monstrance in our state, and it will bear fruit here,” said Paul Grayheck, a member of the Serra Club of North Idaho, the group responsible for bringing the monstrance to the diocese and coordinating its tour. The Serra Club of North Idaho ( serranorthidaho.org ) is an organization of Catholic men and women who, through the intercession of St. Junipero Serra, promote and support vocations to the Catholic priesthood and religious life. A Pope’s Sacred Legacy In 2004, during the Year of the Eucharist, Pope John Paul II blessed only six monstrances for vocations prayer, one for each continent. The monstrances were designated specifically for Eucharistic Adoration. The late Holy Father presented the North American Continent Monstrance to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). In turn, the USCCB provided the monstrance to Serra Clubs throughout the U.S. to fulfill the pope’s request that they be used in local parishes so all Catholics would come together to pray for vocations. “Adoration is a powerful prayer tool when we specifically pray to God to steer the hearts of young people to respond to His call,” said Father Mariusz Majewski, pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Coeur d’Alene. Embracing the Mission Dianna Decker is president of the Serra Club of North Idaho. The 47-member organization was commissioned by Bishop Peter F. Christensen in 2016 to promote and support vocations, especially to the priesthood. “The hope is that the visit of the monstrance will generate vocations,” she said. “If we don’t have a priest consecrating at the altar, we don’t have a Church.” Father Mariusz noted, “If something is blessed, it is dedicated to God, and when it is blessed by a saint, it acquires a very special spiritual meaning.” Students kneel in quiet contemplation during Eucharistic Adoration before the Vocations Monstrance in their school chapel. It was available for viewing at Holy Family Catholic School on Feb. 26 and 27. (Courtesy Photo/ Jason Chavez) CdA Catholic School Kicks Off Vocations Monstrance Tour Holy Family Catholic School (HFCS) in Coeur d’Alene was the first stop for the traveling monstrance on Feb. 26 and 27. It was warmly welcomed and had a spiritually profound impact on their community, especially the students. “I gave God glory and praised Him because many children, parents, and staff were sitting with Christ throughout those two days,” said Campus Minister Jason Chavez, who oversaw Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the school’s Adoration chapel. “The reverent atmosphere of the chapel created a space where students could bring their intentions, gratitude and spiritual needs directly before the Lord,” Chavez said. The students were deeply moved by the experience of having the special monstrance before them. “I felt a really nice calmness wash over me—like all my anxiety, guilt and shame was immediately put to rest,” said eighth grader Hagan Weiss. For sixth grader Lucas Antonich, it was pure delight and excitement. “This is so cool because it was blessed by a saint!” Other students felt a spiritual connection and acceptance. “I felt during Adoration we were a family, and we were whole,” said eighth grader Oliver Hacket. Campus minister Jason Chavez felt the Spirit move in a new way. “His love and His mercy just poured out upon us,” he said. “In the end, one word came to mind that had been spoken many times: revival.” Uniting for Faith For the long-term sustainability of vocations to the priesthood and religious life in Idaho, Catholic schools, families and parish communities will play a key role in fostering and supporting those vocations, said Decker and Father Mariusz. “We have got to promote more vocations in the family. Parents are the first to expose their children to the Catholic faith. Parents help cultivate that love of the Lord and the desire to serve,” offered Decker. This sentiment was echoed by Father Mariusz, who was an Idaho seminarian and was ordained for the Diocese of Boise in 2008. He’s been a priest for 17 years. “I’m really filled with hope. I see at St. Thomas a lot of young boys who are saying, ‘Maybe I’ll be a priest?’They are not shy about talking about the vocation,” said Majewski. Don’t Miss Out!   Catholics across the state are invited and encouraged to pray for vocations at parishes hosting Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with the Pope St. John Paul II Monstrance. Participants are invited to pray not only for future vocations, but also for all priests of the Diocese of Boise. St. Stanislaus Church, Rathdrum Sunday, March 23 10:15 a.m. through Monday, March 24 7:45 a.m. St. Joseph Church, Spirit Lake Thursday, April 3, 2025  9 a.m. through Friday, April 4, 2025 at 9 a.m. St. George Church, Post Falls Friday April 4, 2025 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. St. Catherine Church, Priest River Tuesday, April 8, 2025 10 a.m. -11 a.m. St. Joseph Church, Sandpoint Friday, April 11, 2025 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. St. Blanche Church, Priest Lake Wednesday, April 9, 2025 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. St. Ann Church, Bonners Ferry Saturday, April 12, 2025 4 p.m.- 5 p.m. Sunday, April 13, 2025 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. - Noon For more information about Serra of North Idaho, visit serranorthidaho.org .