By James Scerbo For the ICR Members of the Boise Chapter of Legatus gathered May 21 for an evening of prayer, fellowship and a presentation by emergency physician Dr. Scott French, who spoke on Eucharistic miracles, the Shroud of Turin and the relationship between faith and science. French, a board-certified emergency physician and member of the Magis Center advisory board, has spent years studying scientific research surrounding Eucharistic miracles and the Shroud of Turin. Drawing upon medicine, pathology James Scerbo and forensic science, he challenged attendees to consider how physical evidence can point toward deeper spiritual realities. The presentation focused on several well-known Eucharistic miracles, including Lanciano in Italy, Buenos Aires in Argentina, Tixtla in Mexico and the more recent miracles in Sokolka and Legnica, Poland. French explained how investigators examining these events reported findings of human blood and cardiac tissue associated with consecrated hosts. While emphasizing that science cannot prove the supernatural itself, French argued that science can examine the physical effects associated with extraordinary events. For him, the growing body of research surrounding Eucharistic miracles serves as a signpost directing people toward Christ and toward the Church’s teaching on the Real Presence in the Eucharist. French also discussed the Shroud of Turin, which many Christians believe to be the burial cloth of Jesus. He described scientific and historical evidence that continues to generate interest among researchers and believers alike. Rather than presenting faith and reason as opposing forces, he suggested that the search for truth requires both. The Shroud presentation, text, images and life-size post-scourging body of Jesus were so moving that 24 high-res photos of the exhibit were displayed at the January 2026 Legatus Summit held in Santa Barbara. Dr. Scott French, an emergency physician, speaks about the Shroud of Turin at a recent Legatus meeting. (Courtesy photo) One of the most memorable portions of the evening centered on Blessed Carlo Acutis, the Italian teenager known for creating a digital catalog of Eucharistic miracles before his death in 2006. French shared several reflections from Acutis on eternity, courage and the importance of keeping one’s eyes fixed on Christ. Acutis once wrote, “Our goal must be infinite, not the finite. The infinite is our homeland.” That theme resonated throughout the presentation as French spoke about modern society’s struggle with despair, anxiety and loss of meaning. As a physician who regularly encounters suffering and mortality, he offered a perspective shaped by both medical experience and Catholic faith. For many attendees, the evening became more than a discussion of miracles. It became a reflection on the human search for truth itself. Questions surrounding science, evidence, suffering and eternal life are not merely academic. They touch every person, whether in the workplace, the family or the broader culture. The presentation also connected naturally with the mission of Legatus. Founded to help Catholic business leaders study, live and spread the faith in their professional and personal lives, Legatus encourages members to bring Catholic principles into the public square with conviction and integrity. The evening began with opportunities for confession, the Rosary and Mass before members and spouses gathered for dinner and the presentation. Such events are a hallmark of Legatus, which combines faith formation, fellowship and intellectual engagement. Joe Burke, Dr. Scott French and Ellen Burke (Courtesy photo) Legatus strives to provide business leaders and entrepreneurs with faith formation and a community where they can build meaningful relationships with other Catholics running similarly sized organizations. Legatus is unique in offering events and membership to couples, allowing spouses to participate fully in chapter life. Monthly gatherings typically include prayer, the sacraments, a shared meal and presentations from distinguished Catholic speakers. One of more than 95 chapters throughout the United States, the Boise Chapter continues to provide opportunities for Catholic executives and their spouses to deepen their faith while building lasting friendships with fellow Catholic leaders. French’s presentation ultimately returned to a simple but profound claim: truth exists, faith and reason are not enemies and the Eucharist remains at the center of the Christian life. For those gathered that evening, the discussion offered both intellectual engagement and a renewed appreciation for the mystery of Christ’s presence in the Church. Call (734) 274-6400 or email info@legatus.org for membership details.

By Philip A. Janquart ICR Editor BOISE — She never knew it, but Melissa Burke lived her entire life with one kidney larger than the other. A common occurrence in human anatomy, it was found to be healthy and fully functional. It was, however, an extraordinary discovery that would change two lives forever. Here's what happened: Steve Brown, now 69, was first diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in 1988. At the time, he had hoped to donate one of his kidneys to his mother, who was suffering from kidney failure caused by the same inherited disorder. The diagnosis made him ineligible as a donor. Steve Brown following kidney transplant surgery. (Courtesy photo) For the next 35 years, Steve was monitored regularly by his nephrologist as the disease slowly progressed. In 2023, that progression took a dramatic turn. “My nephrologist, Dr. Nicholas Hunt, had been seeing me about once a year,” Steve told the Idaho Catholic Register. “When my kidney function started declining more rapidly, he told me I needed to get ready to start dialysis. I told him, ‘That isn't happening.’” Because Steve resisted undergoing surgery to create a fistula for dialysis access, Dr. Hunt shortened the interval between appointments. “He told me he would have to see me again in six months,” Steve recalled. “But then he added, ‘But you won’t make it six more months.’” Three months to the day later, Hunt’s prediction proved accurate. Steve was hospitalized in complete renal failure. “My kidneys were junk; they weren’t functioning well,” he said. “I ended up in the hospital three months after finding out. The condition of my kidneys had deteriorated rapidly, and I was about to flip and die because my body was so full of poison.” Steve urgently needed a kidney transplant. As he began dialysis and was added to the transplant waiting list, he could only wait and hope. His rare blood type made the search for a compatible donor especially difficult, and doctors estimated it could take five to seven years to find a match. “I thought, ‘OK, I’m really stuck,’” he said. Finding faith Meanwhile, he had begun struggling with his faith. Steve, who spent decades in Protestant communities, including the Calvary Chapel movement, went through periods when he found himself distanced from church life. “I went through a divorce and got angry,” he said. “Then I realized I needed God and started church jumping, but I couldn’t get into the mega church scene. And so, I just said, ‘God knows my heart, and I’m good to go.’” He had second thoughts when his son challenged him on the subject. From left, Paul Burke, Melissa Burke and Steve Brown. (Courtesy photo) “He said, ‘No, Dad. Seek first the Spirit and seek first God in all things. Are you doing that? Are you going to church?’” Steve said. His son, Michael, had previously converted to Catholicism and encouraged his dad to learn more. “I asked him to send me everything he had on the Catholic Church,” Steve said. He read extensively for two years, curiosity eventually motivating him to attend Mass with a friend at St. Paul Parish in Nampa, where he met Deacon Charles Corballus and entered the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). “I said, ‘I want to do OCIA,’” he said. He previously shared the story of his conversion during this time in the May 10, 2023 issue of the ICR. Steve converted to Catholicism and is now an OCIA program table leader at St. Paul’s—so is Melissa. Finding a donor Melissa and Steve were familiar with one another, exchanging greetings at OCIA classes, but they never had a formal conversation. That changed the day Steve made the announcement that he had been accepted into the highly selective GiftWorks program at the University of Utah. “One night, I asked Deacon Charles if I could make my presentation during the first five or ten minutes of the OCIA class, asking folks if they would share my story through the GiftWorks program on their social media to get the word out that I needed a donor,” he said. Dave's son Michael and his family joined him in Paris for a family vacation. From right, Michael's daughter Rosalie, wife Kim, son Dominic and Steve. (Courtesy photo) GiftWorks, LLC The GiftWorks program is a relatively innovative transplant-support initiative designed to help kidney transplant candidates find living donors by teaching them how to advocate for themselves publicly—especially through social media, storytelling and community outreach, according to the GiftWorks website. The program operates in partnership with University of Utah Health Transplant Services and focuses primarily on kidney transplant patients seeking living donors. “I remember that day when he stood up and told everybody,” Melissa recollected. “He shared that it was really difficult for him to stand up there; it was easy for me to imagine how hard that was for him. He said, ‘I'm not asking anybody for a kidney. I'm just asking if you could share this on your social media.’” Following Steve’s presentation, Melissa and husband, Paul, began discussing the prospect of Melissa becoming a donor after learning she had the same O-positive blood type. Paul, however, was worried, but quickly offered his support. “I said, ‘Well, let’s see what we can do for him,’” he said. “When I found out that she was also O-positive, I got this sense of peace, and it came from the Holy Spirit. That’s the only explanation I can give. I knew everything was going to be fine.” Melissa said she felt all along that she would be a match. Steve didn’t expect to find a donor so soon, much less from the OCIA program at his own church. “I was blown away,” he recalled. “I said, ‘Are you guys sure?’” Decision of a lifetime Melissa soon began the testing process to see if the transplant was plausible. “I quickly had all the testing done,” she said. “The University of Utah worked with St. Luke’s here in Boise, so I didn’t have to drive to Utah, except once.” She met all the requirements, but there were two potential problems: one was too small, and it was questionable if the other would be a viable match. “They told me that one of my kidneys was a little larger than the other, that I might not have a donatable kidney—because sometimes a woman’s kidneys are too small for men—so they had to do another test,” Melissa explained. “Then, I received a text, and it said that the larger kidney was a 98% match, which is almost unheard of. “The fact that one of my kidneys was bigger, I decided that God had put it inside of me so that I could hold it for Steve because eventually it was his; it was perfect.” Doctors shared more information about the transplant following the surgery. Many kidney transplant recipients have a ureteral stent, a small plastic tube placed between the transplanted kidney and the bladder, which helps with urine flow while the connection heals. Because the immune system recognizes the new kidney as foreign, patients must also take immunosuppressive (anti-rejection) medications. But Steve didn’t need the tube, and takes an unusually low dose of anti-rejection medication. “It fit like it belonged there. They (the doctors) told me it was custom grown for me,” he said. “They said the kidney began functioning the second they re-established blood supply. It was already producing urine. You don’t see that right away. I thought, ‘Wow!’ I didn't have to have a drain tube in my side. I didn't have to be on prednisone. And now today, I'm on the lowest amount of immunosuppressants. I bounced back so fast, I was riding my Harley six weeks later.” Steve shows off his catch, a rainbow trout, during a fishing trip. (Courtesy photo) Melissa described her own recovery as physically difficult but spiritually rewarding. “The initial recovery is painful,” she said. “But I had such a joy.” She said that joy remained even in the midst of discomfort. “I was in a lot of pain, but I can’t explain the joy I had,” she said. She also said she has no regrets. “I haven’t, not even once,” she said. “Even if something had gone wrong, I would never have regretted it.” Both she and her husband said the experience strengthened their faith. “This whole thing has been a true miracle,” Paul said. “The Holy Spirit was working in our faith.” They also emphasized the role of the parish community. “I realized how many people were praying for us and the power of that,” Melissa said. Steve agreed. “When two or more come in prayer before the Lord, he hears you,” he said. Despite the positive outcome, Steve said he has, at times, fought against feelings of unworthiness. “I still struggle with … well, I don’t feel worthy,” he said during a combined ICR interview with Melissa and Paul. “I can never repay her for what she did for me.” Melissa responded with a simple and sincere reply. “You can’t repay it because God already has,” she said. All three said they agreed to share their story in the hope it might encourage others. “I would love it if this could be done in such a way that others might be inspired to do the same,” Melissa said. She noted that many people are waiting for transplants and that living donations can make a significant difference. “A healthy person can live a full normal life with one kidney,” she said. Paul said the need is real, stating that there are 90,000 people in the U.S. who are currently waiting for donors. The average wait for a deceased-donor kidney can be three to more than five years. “Anyway, everything worked out really well,” he said. “It was such a blessing that I think the story needs to be told. And like I said, ‘I hope it inspires other people to do the same thing.’” On June 5, 2026, Steve celebrated a milestone: the first anniversary of the kidney transplant that transformed his life.

Candidates for ordination to the transitional diaconate, Brother John Paul O’Sullivan, V.S., Diocese of Boise Seminarian Ian Willnerd, and Brother Thomas Fransen, V.S., lie prostrate before the altar as Bishop Peter Christensen and the congregation pray for the intercessions of the saints. (ICR photo/Joseph Egbert) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Diocese of Boise Seminarian Ian Willnerd and Verbum Spei Brothers Thomas Fransen and John Paul O’Sullivan were ordained to the transitional diaconate by Bishop Peter F. Christensen on May 27 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise. The transitional diaconate is the final step for seminarians before ordination to the priesthood. Diocese of Boise Seminarian Ian Willnerd is ordained a deacon to the transitional diaconate. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez) “Deacons serve as ministers of the Church, embodying Christ’s call to serve others,” Bishop Peter said in his homily at Mass for the ordination. “They are integral to the liturgy: serving at the altar, proclaiming the Gospel and preaching on the Word of God. Deacons are also necessary for community outreach—acting as a bridge between the Church and the world.” The promises made by deacons in their ordination are countercultural in today’s society, the bishop said. In particular, the last four promises made by deacon candidates to remain celibate, practice regular prayer, conform to the example of Christ and respect and obey the bishop and his successors, “must sound odd to so many people in our society today.” From left, Verbum Spei Brothers Deacon Thomas Fransen and Deacon John Paul O'Sullivan are with Bishop Peter, Diocese of Boise Deacon Ian Willnerd, and Archdiocese of Seattle Deacon Simon Stehr. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez) “Celibacy makes no sense, if you don’t have a sense of the Kingdom of Heaven, or of fasting and prayer in helping oneself and others get there, or a sense of a sacrifice of love for a greater love,” he said. The promise of prayer at key hours of each day is also countercultural in its humility. “Prayer is an admission and submission to a power greater than oneself,” Bishop Peter said. “For Christians, we worship the God who created us and who faithfully guides us through life.” The Church asks all Christians to conform to the example of Christ, but deacons are called “to do so with great intentionality,” he explained, while encouraging the candidates with a passage from the Gospel reading (John 15:9-17), in which Jesus said that the disciples did not choose Him, but that He chose them and “appointed them to go and bear fruit that will last.” Brother John Paul O'Sullivan, VS The grace to conform to Christ and bear fruit comes although “we are earthen vessels,” he said, referring to the first reading of the ordination Mass, 2 Corinthians 4:1-2, 5-7. The final promise that deacons make is obedience to the bishop and his successors. This is to live with trust, Bishop Peter explained, “that there is an order to our Church that brings safety and stability to all humanity. This obedience sounds so strange for some people in this world who would prefer to say, ‘I’d rather do it myself’ and not to bend the knee to anyone greater.” Although the world may be baffled by the decision to be ordained, the reason for ordination is in the Gospel reading from John 15, in which Jesus expounds on His love for the disciples and the love they are to have for one another. Bishop Peter said that Jesus speaks to the candidates, just as He did to the disciples, and invites them into a loving, intimate relationship. Brother Thomas Fransen, VS This relationship with God may seem countercultural. However, it is what God intended from the beginning with Adam and Eve. It is also the reason that Christ came into the world, Bishop Peter explained. “The Lord came among us that all may have life. He renewed and restores our life, forgives our sins. He has brought restoration and salvation to the entire world, and desires to do so for all those willing to accept the gifts He offers in this life.” Bishop Peter pointed out that it seems strange that Jesus would need to command somebody to love as He did in the Gospel. However, when looking at the life of Jesus, we can understand why He had to command it, he said. “He suffered. He laid down His life for the love of humanity. He gave His very self. You, as deacons, will give yourself in one way or another to the world out of ove. It is your commissioning as deacons that the world may come to see in you the life our Lord intends for the entire world.” Diocese of Boise Seminarian Ian Willnerd “A great gift is now entrusted to each of you. Use your gifts well,” Bishop Peter concluded. “Use your gifts with the power of God as your source of strength and your inspiration. May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to completion.” Deacon Brothers Fransen and O’Sullivan will serve at the Monastery of Our Lady of Ephesus in Boise and assist at parishes in the Diocese of Boise as needed. Deacon Ian Willnerd is assigned to St. Mary’s Parish and St. Augustine’s Student Center and Parish in Moscow where Father Chase Hasenoehrl is pastor of both. Deacon Willnerd will divide his time between his parish assignments and his final year of classes at St. Paul’s Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. He will be ordained as a priest of the Diocese of Boise next year.

Sister Mary-Grace Alles receives the habit at the Benedictine Abbey of St. Walburga in Virginia Dale, Colorado. (Courtesy photo/Alles family) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Sister Mary-Grace Alles, parishioner of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, entered the novitiate at the Benedictine Abbey of St. Walburga in Virginia Dale, Colorado, on March 19, the Solemnity of St. Joseph, this year. Entering the novitiate includes the “clothing ceremony,” in which novices are clothed in their habits and the mother abbess cuts their hair. St. Walburga’s Abbey is cloistered and limits communication between its nuns and the outside world. Before entering the novitiate, Sister Mary-Grace interviewed with Denver Catholic. Sister Mary-Grace Alles is with her brother, Father Anthony Joseph, before her vows. (Courtesy photo/Alles family) “My whole life, I’ve been closely surrounded by the loving care, the interest, the joy and the formation of a family and community dedicated to a lively and full living of the faith and the liturgical year,” she told the Catholic diocesan magazine. “This is something I’ve been immersed in—the experience and the example of those around me formed in me a love for God and a desire to pursue him. Living this life here [at the abbey] feels in part like an act of gratitude for all these people and all they’ve done for me.” Following her entrance to the novitiate, Idaho Catholic Register interviewed her parents, Doug and Jennifer Alles, about their daughter’s journey to St. Walburga’s. Sister Mary-Grace is the fifth of seven children. She is the second of their children to enter religious life. Their oldest son, Father Anthony Joseph Alles (baptized “Nathaniel Joseph”), is a monk and priest at the Maronite Monastery of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Castle Rock, Washington. In the growing shortage of vocations to the priesthood and Religious life, their family stands out. Doug, retired executive director of Catholic Charities, and Jennifer are both converts to the Catholic faith. Doug was raised without religious beliefs, and Jennifer was raised in the Baptist Church. They entered the Orthodox Church before becoming Catholic. All seven of their children were born in Portland, Oregon, where Doug worked in the Archdiocese of Portland. In 2014, they moved to Boise when Doug accepted the position as executive director for Catholic Charities of Idaho. He retired in 2024. Sister Mary-Grace Alles presents herself to the Mother Abbess at St. Walburga Abbey in Colorado. (Courtesy photo/Alles family) “It seems like we did not specifically talk a lot about Religious vocations when the kids were growing up,” Jennifer said. “It was just a natural part of our life, mostly because we ourselves loved the monastic ways.” The Alleses homeschooled their children and incorporated Catholic materials into their lessons. “As converts, we didn’t really know how to raise Catholic kids,” Jennifer said. “We kind of took to heart the Eastern Orthodox saying, ‘Every home a little monastery,’ and celebrated many of the saints’ days with particular foods, decorated the windows for the great feasts like Pentecost and All Saints, made crafts for various liturgical seasons, and decked the hearth with purple ribbons during Advent and Lent. The kids drew the Stations of the Cross every year and we would put them up in order around the house and we’d say the stations by candlelight during Lent. We decked the house with flower garlands for all of Easter season.” They also had family prayers each night. “Early on it was the rosary, and later we had other prayers,” Doug said. “Sometimes we did a better job at this, and sometimes we kind of faltered. But overall, we kept going with nightly family prayers.” Doug frequently went to a Trappist monastery near their home for retreats and spiritual direction. He brought home books and artwork from the monastery, which eventually became a place of quiet prayer for the family. Sister Mary-Grace lies prostrate as the congregation prays the Litany of the Saints. (Courtesy photo/Alles family) “I do believe that kids are observing parents more than you realize. What parents do, how we spend our time, what we prioritize matters,” he said. “Also, it was common for us to have priests come to visit us at home for dinner, house blessings and for family events. It made their vocations and way of life more accessible to, and real for, our kids.” Their son, Father Anthony Joseph, used to pretend to be a priest when he was little. “I made a little chasuble for Father Anthony when he was small,” Jennifer said. “He (and his younger brothers, in their turn) used to ‘play Mass’ and have doll baptisms.” The Alles family was involved with different religious communities in Oregon. Their home parish was staffed by at least five Dominican priests at any given time who lived in a priory next to the church. Also, when Mary-Grace was growing up, the Alles family attended the Easter Vigil Mass at Mount Angel Abbey in Oregon every single year. This meant leaving the house at 3:15 in the morning to arrive in time for what was then a 4:30 a.m. service early on Easter morning. The hair of Sister Mary-Grace is cut as a part of the ceremony for entering the novitiate. (Courtesy photo/Alles family) “Seeing and hearing the singing of the monks in the candlelit darkness no doubt had an impact on her,” Doug said. In her teen years, their family also became acquainted with the Saint John Society, a dynamic young order of priests based in Argentina that staffs the Portland State University Newman Center. The Alles family moved out to the countryside of Oregon when Mary-Grace was 1 and Nathaniel was 12. “This meant our kids got to participate in 4-H. They got to raise animals, including chickens. They built treehouses and roamed more freely,” Jennifer explained. “Keeping the world at arm’s length was something we tried intentionally to do, but without being weird or fearful about it.” After graduating from high school, Mary-Grace went to Hillsdale College. She then taught at a classical school in Austin, Texas, for two years. She accepted a position at St. Paul’s School in Nampa in 2021. Jennifer flew to Austin to accompany Mary-Grace on the 26-hour drive back to Boise. “I was vaguely familiar with St. Walburga’s in Colorado because we have friends who are great fans of the abbey,” Jennifer said. She had also read an article about the unusual “rancher nuns.” She called the abbey to see about staying there overnight on their way back to Boise. “It was the perfect stopping place for the long trip, being 10 hours from Boise,” Jennifer recalled. “We got there in time for Vespers and Compline. We walked the abbey road as the sun set and drank in the stillness and beauty. We each got our own charming guest room with a handmade quilt on the bed. After morning Mass, we left.” Sister Mary-Grace is with her parents, Jennifer and Doug Alles. (Courtesy photo/Alles family) Although the stay was brief, Mary-Grace took her time at the abbey to heart. “Mary-Grace is warm and personable, but she tends to keep her cards close to her chest, as they say,” Doug said. “She was not one to share her discernment process with everyone.” In late August 2024, Mary-Grace surprised her family with the announcement that she was going to drive the 700 miles to St. Walburga’s for a weeklong visit at the abbey. “A bit after her return, she told us that she was going to go back to the abbey and was going to stay for three months this time. And she wouldn’t be home for Thanksgiving or Christmas,” Doug recalls. Jennifer said she realized how serious Mary-Grace’s discernment was when Mary-Grace left for the airport for her three-month stay at the abbey. “When Doug drove her to the airport at 3:30 in the morning, I cried in my bed, beginning to have an inkling of the loss I would feel if she entered. We did not really know what she was thinking or feeling about her visit, but we didn’t pry or pressure her for details.” When Mary-Grace returned from the abbey in January 2025, she shared that she had asked the abbess, Mother Maria-Michael, for permission to enter St. Walburga’s as a postulant. Mother Maria-Michael, abbess of St. Walburga Abbey, is with Sister Mary-Grace. (Courtesy photo/Alles family) “We were filled with wonder, awe and lots of feelings,” Jennifer said. “I cried a lot during this time. Whenever I thought about myself, I cried; whenever I thought about her, I was happy and at peace.” Mary-Grace wanted to enter as soon as she could get her life in order. Before her decision, she had paid off her college loans from Hillsdale College by paying it down regularly, beginning with her very first paycheck. After January, she set about getting rid of all her things. “She gave away clothes and books to her sisters and her friends. She threw away papers and things from college. It occurred to us that if she, God forbid, had died, then we would be tasked with getting rid of her things in just this manner. But here, before our eyes, she was doing it for herself,” Doug said. “It was a bit painful to watch her doing this, but she just kept going until almost nothing was left.” Mary-Grace kept three or four favorite items of clothing in her closet in case she might discern during her postulant year that she was not called to Religious life. Everything else was gone. In February, she stood as godmother to her new nephew. Then at First Vespers of the feast of St. Joseph, March 18, 2025, she entered the postulancy. She entered the novitiate on March 19, 2026, the Solemnity of St. Joseph. “Mary-Grace made one weekend visit to the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist when she was in college, but she really didn’t visit or contact any other places while discerning her vocation,” Doug said. “We’re sure that having a brother enter monastic life was a positive influence.” Having two children in cloistered communities can be difficult. “We cannot see them or even communicate with them very easily,” Doug explained. “They won’t be coming home anymore, although Sister Mary-Grace will make a required two-week visit to us sometime this year. Our son’s vocation came very slowly over time, as his community was just being formed at the start of his journey to Religious life. We had time to adjust to his cloistered life. Sister Mary-Grace’s vocation as a Benedictine honestly fits her personality really well, but the Benedictine vow of stability (staying for one’s whole life in the same monastery and not leaving), especially for Jen, that was hard.” Sister Mary-Grace Alles (Courtesy photo/Alles family) Although it can be difficult to surrender to a child’s vocation to the priesthood or Religious life, frequenting the sacraments does help, Jennifer said. “I think we parents should habitually be reading the lives of the saints. Through their stories, which are so varied, fascinating and inspiring, the idea of Religious vocations for our kids becomes beautiful, natural, desirable and even heroic.” In the Benedictine order, formation lasts from eight to 12 years. Simple vows will be said after two years in the novitiate. Final vows are not said for at least another five years after that.

By Philip A. Janquart ICR Editor JEROME—San Francisco was the place to be during the height of 1960s counterculture, and Dave Johns grew up right in the middle of it. But decades later, in April of this year, he found himself in the quiet grace of the Easter Vigil at St. Jerome Parish in Jerome, Idaho. “I wasn’t raised religious at all, nothing like that,” Johns told the Idaho Catholic Register. “My journey was quite ‘the journey.’” Born in 1959 and raised in the Bay Area, Johns came of age during a period of dramatic cultural change. One of his earliest and most formative Dave Johns is baptized memories came at age 10, when he spent the summer of 1969 living with his older sister in a commune near Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco. “We’re talking ground zero of the hippie movement,” he said. The experience left a lasting impression, though not in the way some might expect. “I learned that I did not like hippies at all,” he said, chuckling. “I thought they were stinky and lazy—but I loved their music.” That summer also introduced him to live rock music, Johns attending his first concert—the Rolling Stones—and later witnessing performances by Jimi Hendrix and The Doors. “Not many people can say that,” he said. Faith was not a part of his early life. Instead, Johns gravitated toward martial arts and the philosophical ideas that often accompany them. While he encountered elements of Buddhism, he said it was more about practical wisdom than religious commitment. “It was more in the teaching sense,” he said. “Things like discipline, mindset—not worship.” A turning point came in 1979, when Johns enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. During his six years of service—including time in the reserves—he began to encounter Christianity on a deeper, more personal level. The first steps One moment in particular stood out to him. It was a visit to a friend’s home, where he noticed a poster of the poem “Footprints in the Sand.” The poem is about a person walking along a beach with God while scenes from his life appear in the sky in a vision. In the sand, he notices there are two sets of footprints—his own and God’s. During the hardest moments of his life, however, he sees only one set of footprints, triggering feelings of abandonment and causing the person to ask God why He left him in times of suffering. God responds, saying that those were the times when He picked up the man and carried him. “I started tearing up,” Johns said. “I didn’t understand why, but something was happening.” Soon after, another encounter deepened that experience. A blacklight image of Christ on the cross, accompanied by the words, “How much did I love you? This much,” struck him in a powerful way. “That hit me again,” he said. “I just knew I had to look into this.” He began attending a Methodist church, marking his first sustained step into Christian faith. But the path was not linear. When the congregation eventually closed, Johns drifted away from regular church attendance, though he continued to read Scripture and reflect on spiritual questions. After leaving the Air Force in 1985, Johns moved to Idaho, settling in Jerome after first encountering the state during military exercises. “I fell in love with Idaho,” he said. “I knew I needed to get away from the concrete jungle.” A simpler life Eager to build a life in his new home, Johns immersed himself in the outdoors—hiking, climbing and exploring. He became an accomplished “caver,” discovering and mapping more than 300 caves for the Bureau of Land Management. At the same time, he worked a wide range of jobs, from cartography at the county courthouse to warehouse management, while also pursuing his talents as an artist. “I did whatever I needed to do to support my family,” he said. Spiritually, however, he was still searching. Influenced by friends, Johns spent time exploring The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While he appreciated the sincerity of those he met, he found himself wrestling with questions. “The more I studied, the more I realized it (The LDS Church) wasn’t really it,” he said. “I was looking for something consistent—something that didn’t change.” That search eventually led him to reconsider Catholicism, a faith he had previously heard about but never committed to exploring. His introduction came in part through online interactions and in part through his volunteer work at a local soup kitchen operated by St. Jerome Catholic Church. “I was already helping there, and I just thought to ask, ‘Do you have classes I can take?’” he said. What began as curiosity quickly became conviction. Within less than a year, Johns enrolled in formation classes and prepared to enter the Church. “It just made sense,” he said. “And more than that—it felt like home.” A new life That sense of belonging culminated at the Easter Vigil this year, when Johns was baptized, confirmed and received the Eucharist for the first time. “It was one of the most spiritual experiences I’ve ever had,” he said. “There was a warmth that covered me.” Receiving the Eucharist, he added, was especially profound. “It felt like I was in the presence of Christ,” he said. “I’ve never experienced anything like that anywhere else.” Now retired, Johns continues to live in Jerome with his wife, Jan. The couple share a Christian faith, and while health challenges have delayed Jan’s own participation in Catholic formation classes, he said she hopes to begin the process in the near future. Johns also remains deeply committed to service. He continues to help coordinate volunteers for the parish’s weekly meal program, which provides food to those in need. “I enjoy serving,” he said. “That’s something I’ve always wanted to do.” He is also considering joining the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic fraternal organization known for its charitable work and support of parish life. “With my background, that kind of brotherhood and service really appeals to me,” he said. Finding truth Looking back, Johns sees a clear thread running through his life—a gradual movement toward truth and stability after years of searching. “I think a lot of people are looking for something solid,” he said. “Something that doesn’t shift.” For him, that foundation is now firmly rooted in the Catholic faith. Reflecting on his journey, Johns said he hopes others who may be searching will remain open to where God is leading them. “He’s constantly calling us,” he said. “No matter what you’ve done, no matter where you’ve been—He wants you to come home.” After decades of exploration, Johns believes he has finally answered that call. “I just feel at home,” he said.

Diocese of Boise Seminarian Ian Willnerd shakes hands with Pope Leo XIV during a General Audience at the Vatican in January of this year. (Courtesy photo/St. Paul's Seminary, Minnesota) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Seminarian Ian Willnerd describes his life before seminary as “normal.” “I was born and raised in Boise,” Ian said. He was baptized in St. Mark’s Parish in Boise. After a move to the east side of Boise, his family transferred to the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, where he received his First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation. But during a Sunday evening Mass, his “normal” led to the extraordinary. Seminarian Ian Willnerd, far right, is with friends, from left, Diocese of Winona-Rochester Seminarian Gabriel Rysavy, Diocese of St. Cloud Seminarians Mark Nosbush and Scott Kahler on a road trip down the Oregon Coast in August of 2025. (Courtesy photo/Ian Willnerd) “I had a profound encounter with our Lord at Mass when I was in high school,” Ian said. “I just knew the Lord was there and that He loved me.” Because of that experience, Ian wanted to be Confirmed. “I just really wanted to know God more and experience Him more,” he said. For his Confirmation saint, Ian felt drawn to choose St. Simeon, the prophet who greeted the Holy Family when the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph dedicated the Infant Jesus. He especially loved St. Simeon’s words from the passage in the Gospel of St. Luke 2:29-32: “Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation . . .” From left, Father Daniel Barnett, Diocese of Boise Seminarian Ian Willnerd, Archdiocese of Seattle Seminarian Evan McKenzie, Father John Murphy, SJ, and Father Patrick Baraza prepare Thanksgiving dinner at Bishop White Seminary in 2020. (Courtesy photo/Ian Willnerd) “It resonated for me because Simeon spent his whole life waiting for the Messiah. Then once he held Jesus in his arms, he basically said, ‘Lord, this is it. I can go now.’ And I think my own encounter with God in high school was like that: ‘Lord, this is what I wanted. Now, You can do whatever You want with my life.’” After his Confirmation, Ian felt an openness to do whatever God wanted of him. He began asking God, “What are You asking me to do with my life?” The idea of becoming a priest didn’t come as a demand, but as a “gentle knock on the door” of his mind, he said. His senior year of high school, he reached out to Father Caleb Vogel, who was vocations recruiter, currently vicar general, for the Diocese of Boise. Ian also met with discernment groups led by Father Nelson Cintra, who, at that time, was a seminarian serving his pastoral year at St. Paul’s Parish in Nampa. Seminarian Ian Willnerd, third from left, is with fellow seminarians, including Boise Seminarian Nathan Ribb (second from left), from Bishop White Seminary on fall mission trip to central Washington in 2022. (Courtesy photo/Ian Willnerd) “It was during that time that the question in my mind went from, ‘God, are you calling me to be a priest?’ to ‘Why are You calling me a priest?’” he said. Ian wrestled with the question of ‘why’ and fears of his ability to be a good priest, until later that fall at a youth group retreat in McCall. While there, he decided to go to the altar to receive prayer during a time of praise and worship. As soon as he knelt down, he poured out his heart to God while a youth leader prayed over him. Seminarian Ian Willnerd is with Deacon Simon Stehr of the Archdiocese of Seattle at Olympic National Park in August of 2025. Deacon Stehr will be ordained to the priesthood this year. (Courtesy photo/Ian Willnerd) “In prayer, I asked God, ‘What if I’m unhappy? What if I’m not holy enough? What if people don’t like me? What if I’m a bad preacher?’ It was a litany inside my mind that just went on for a while,” Ian explained. “Then the man who was praying over me suddenly stopped and said, ‘I think the Lord wants me to tell you to follow the path that’s been laid before you so you can help others.’” The man’s words broke through all of Ian’s fears. He felt the Lord say, “Go and be a priest.” Ian chose to attend Bishop White Seminary after his high school graduation in 2019. “It’s a smaller seminary and a really good experience. It’s where I took the initial first steps of really becoming a full-grown, Christian man.” While there, he also enjoyed aspects of campus life at Gonzaga University. His senior year of seminary he was president of the Gonzaga pro-life club. In the fall of 2023, he went to St. Paul’s Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he began his theology studies. “Picking a favorite class at St. Paul’s is almost like asking to pick your favorite children,” he said. “The classes just blend so well together: dogmatic theology, grace, fundamental theology, Mariology, Christology . . . It’s really hard to choose.” Seminarian Ian Willnerd, right, is with Father Joseph Taphorn, middle, rector at St. Paul's Seminary in Minnesota, and Seminarian Jack Tyrell, right, before the 2025 Twin Cities Marathon. (Courtesy photo/Ian Willnerd) One of the most difficult things about seminary has been realizing the call of who God wants him to be and the reality of how much he needed to grow into that call. “God made me to be so much more than I want for myself. The transformation process has been difficult at times: receiving His grace and then trying and failing and trying again.” In the process of this spiritual growth at seminary, however, the consolation of God’s love has been constant. “The best part about seminary is receiving the love of God the Father through all the difficult places in the journey. He has poured it out through the Sacraments. Also, His grace has been through the priests who have formed me and my wonderful brother seminarian brothers.” The community within seminary has been a great support, not just in growth, but also in camaraderie and fun. Outside of classes, Ian hiked, ran marathons and skied with his fellow seminarians. In January of this year, he studied in Rome. “The best part was meeting Pope Leo and being able to speak with him briefly,” Ian said. “Another major highlight was going to Bologna to visit the tomb of St. Dominic.” Ian is a member of a chapter of the Third Order Dominicans. “I have a lot of peace and feel the presence of a spiritual father when I pray with Saint Dominic. His entire life was driven by his zeal for souls and to draw souls back to the Church and to Christ.” Ian also likes passing time reading books. “I love reading and enjoy good literature. I read a good number of novels a year.” Diocese of Boise Seminarian Ian Willnerd, left, is with Diocese of Fargo Seminarian Paul Zach at the tomb of St. Dominic in Bologna, Italy. Ian has a devotion to St. Dominic and is a member of a chapter of Third Order Dominicans. (Courtesy photo/Ian Willnerd) Stories, he said, help shape how a person sees life. “It’s good to approach your life as in a wonderful adventure story. Your life is a gift from God, and God has so many surprises in store for you. Also if we think about the best adventure novels or movies, the quest is great, and it’s also difficult. There are challenges along the way, but we have to embrace the plan that God has revealed to us through our prayer and the events and people in our lives.” Seminarian Ian Willnerd holds the paschal candle at Easter Vigil in 2025 at the Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church in Saint Paul with Father Rolf Tollefson, center, and Deacon Don Tienter, right. (Courtesy photo/Ian Willnerd) Men who are considering seminary have nothing to fear, Ian said, because God is with them in the adventure of their lives and in their discernment. “God loves you all along the way. He will lift you up when you’re done, and you’ll find that He’s most present when you are hurting the most. His faithfulness in seminary is how you know that He will sustain you in your priestly vocation.” Ian’s ordination to the transitional diaconate is at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 27 during a Mass celebrated by Bishop Peter Christensen at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise. Following his ordination to the transitional diaconate, Ian will serve at St. Mary’s Parish and St. Augustine’s Student Center and Parish in Moscow. His time during the academic year will be spent between classes at St. Mary’s, St. Augustine’s and St. Paul’s Seminary.

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

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

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

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

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

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