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The following story appeared in the June 9 Idaho Catholic Register. By Emily Woodham Staff Writer COTTONWOOD – Julie Ferraro loved writing stories from the time she was young. “I started writing fiction as a youngster on an old Smith-Corona typewriter,” Ferraro said. “The enjoyment of telling stories translated easily into high school journalism, then to newspapers.” Her passion for writing and her many travels around the country eventually led her to appointment as the new marketing and communications specialist and media relations coordinator for the Monastery of St. Gertrude in Cottonwood. Her training in journalism is “hands-on,” she said, with no college background. She has worked in newsrooms and has done freelance writing for secular and religious publications, including the South Bend Tribune, Today’s Catholic (the Fort Wayne-South Bend diocesan paper), the National Catholic Register, The Times-News in Twin Falls and the Idaho State Journal in Pocatello. “My editors on secular publications had me doing everything from courts and crimes to health, to breaking news, education, local government, obituaries and car shows,” she said. “Being able to both engage and inform readers is a true joy for me.” After working full-time while raising her four sons, Ferraro said she wanted to use her writing skills to “give back.” Julie Ferraro In 2012, she was accepted into a full-time volunteer program with the Franciscan friars in California. She spent a year at Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside as museum director, “wading through their archives to do a complete inventory of the thousands of marvelous artifacts,” she said. While in California, she met the Sisters of St. Francis from Clinton, Iowa. After her year of service at the mission, she then went to the Sisters of St. Francis motherhouse where she was a photographer and served in technical capacities. “I lived in community with the Sisters, and enjoyed learning about them and writing a history of the com-munity drawn from the early, hand-written chronicles,” she said. She then volunteered at the office of a Franciscan mission in the Navajo Nation, a large geographic area that encompasses the “Four Corners” of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. “The poverty was so heart-wrenching, but the culture incredibly beautiful,” she said. While there, she also worked at the mission’s museum and became the provincial director of communications. When Ferraro’s youngest son was deployed to the Far East, she took two years to help care for her two youngest grandchildren. When he returned, she went back to working in newsrooms, which brought her to Twin Falls. While in Idaho, she began writing for the Monastery of the Ascension in Jerome and visited the Monastery of St. Gertrude. “I was incredibly moved by the spirit of the Sisters and their ministries,” she said. She took some more time to care for grandchildren and then decided to take personal time at a house of discernment in Pittsburgh. However, St. Gertrude’s remained in the back of her mind, which led to applying for the position of hospitality coordinator at the Spirit Center at the monastery. Given her background in communication and journalism, the Sisters at the Spirit Center believed she might be a good fit for the position of marketing and communications director, also open at the time. She was hired by Prioress Sister Mary Forman. Ferraro arrived less than a week before Sister Mary died in April. In addition to her writing, Ferraro sings and plays guitar, piano and organ. A lifelong Catholic who attended Catholic schools for 9 years, she has been assisting with music and lecturing at Mass and other liturgical services since she was 11. She also has served as a sacristan, liturgist and has trained altar servers. Her favorite devotion is Lectio Divina and being out in nature, she said, “a blend of Benedictine and Franciscan influence.” For fun, she enjoys old movies, reading and writing fiction. Among her favorite authors are Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Alexandre Dumas, Robert Louis Stevenson and Jules Verne. She also enjoys discovering new authors. “When I have time, I write book reviews of new releases for various publications.” If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the June 9 Idaho Catholic Register. By Emily Woodham Staff Writer The story of St. Germaine Cousin is heartbreaking. She was violently abused by her stepmother, and no one in the little town of Pibrac, France, not even her father, intervened. But even in the depths of loneliness and pain, St. Germaine found consolation in God’s love for her. Germaine Cousin was born in 1579. Her right arm was crippled at birth, but she was otherwise healthy. Her father was a poor farmer, who was terrible with money. Her mother died when she was 4. Right away, her father remarried a widow, who had children of her own. Most likely, he wanted the security of his new wife’s wealth more than her household skills or for a relationship of love. This proved to be disastrous. Around the time that her father remarried, Germaine became ill with scrofula, which is tuberculosis of the neck that can spread to the face. The disfiguring cysts and sores were contagious and had no cure at that time. So her stepmother, who already despised Germaine for her crippled arm, sent her to live in the barn away from her children. Years after St. Germaine’s death, during her canonization process in the 17th century, people who knew the Cousin family testified that Germaine’s stepmother was cruel toward Germaine. The girl slept on a bed of sticks and leaves under stairs in the barn. She had no shoes and was never given nice clothes. For food, Germaine was given a daily allowance of only bread and water. Her stepmother constantly criticized Germaine, unjustly accused her of wrong-doing, beat her, and once punished her by pouring boiling water on her. Germaine was given the task of shepherding the family sheep. Despite dangerous wolves in the area, the wolves always left her and her sheep alone. She also had to spin wool, which was nearly impossible given her crippled arm. Despite the difficulty of the spinning, if she did not meet her stepmother’s standards, Germaine was severely beaten. Germaine was permitted to go to Mass on Sundays and feast days, which she loved to do. Although she was illiterate, she paid close attention to the parish priest’s instructions so that she could receive First Reconciliation and First Communion. Because of her scrofula, the townspeople also rejected Germaine. It is assumed that she must have struggled with despair, but all that is known is that in her loneliness she found consolation in thinking about Jesus and the Blessed Mother. While tending her sheep, she would contemplate the lessons from Mass and pray. (She made her own rosary out of knots of hay.) When the church bells for the Angelus rang, she would immediately stop whatever she was doing and kneel, even in mud or water. As her devotion to the Holy Eucharist grew, she began to long to go to daily Mass. With no one to help her, she asked her guardian angel to tend her sheep so that she could go. To the amazement of the townspeople, when she returned, her sheep would be grazing peacefully around her staff, with not one lost or harmed. Although the adults continued to be wary of Germaine, as she became a teenager, the children looked up to her. They saw in her a model of love and kindness. Over time, children would gather around her while she tended her sheep. She would provide them catechesis and pray with them. Her devotion to daily Mass became so strong that nothing could deter her. In a testimony during her canonization, it was said that one day the river, which she had to cross to go to the parish church, was overflowing. Running late, she didn’t have time to get to the river’s bridge, so, legend has it, she made the Sign of the Cross, stepped into the river, and the waters parted for her. Throughout this time, her stepmother’s abuse continued. When Germaine was 20, someone had taken her bread from the barn. She found it in the kitchen. When she tried take her bread back, her stepmother accused her of stealing for the poor. Instead of standing still so her stepmother could beat her, Germaine ran away with the bread in her apron. Her mother chased her with a stick into the center of the town. When Germaine let go of her apron, flowers spilled out. Everyone in the town was astounded, and from then on, she was held in high esteem. It is not known if her stepmother had a true change of heart, but her abuse stopped. Germaine’s father asked Germaine to live in the house, but Germaine refused. Accustomed to uniting her suffering to Christ’s suffering on the Cross, she wanted to continue to offer a life of austerity to God. It was testified that she was never known to be bitter or unforgiving. One night in 1601, people traveling in from different sides of the village, noticed a glowing light in the sky and saw a vision of a luminous young woman accompanied by angels. In the morning, Germaine was found dead. She was 22. She was buried in her beloved parish church of St. Mary Magdalene. Forty years later, the parish needed to take up the stone floor for another grave. In their digging, they found Germaine’s body incorrupt. She was placed in a glass coffin, and people began praying to her. Her canonization process was delayed because of political unrest and the fact that the dossier to the pope about her was lost in transport. In late 18th century France, during the Revolution, a commander ordered soldiers to desecrate the incorrupt body of Germaine Cousin. (Although she was not yet beatified, the devotions in southern France to the Blessed Mother, the Eucharist and to the Pope were attributed to her influence and prayers.) Soldiers threw her body into a pit, poured quicklime over her and then covered her with dirt. However, the violent acts of hate on her frail body left only a few burns. Her body remained incorrupt, and the miracles through her prayers continued. St. Germaine was finally canonized in 1867. She is the patron saint of victims of abuse, those with disabilities, and those who have been abandoned. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the May 26 Idaho Catholic Register. By Emily Woodham Staff Writer On October 8, 1923, a Pontifical High Mass was celebrated for the first time in 350 years in Stockholm. It was the Feast of St. Bridget of Sweden, the medieval patron saint of Sweden and Europe. The Mass also marked the return of the Bridgittine religious Order to the saint’s homeland, after 400 years of banishment. The celebration of the Mass and the revival of the Order came about through the humble perseverance of St. Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad, a convert whose heart for a unified Church helped transform Europe. Elizabeth Hesselblad was born on June 4, 1870 in a small town in Sweden. She was the fifth of 13 children. The Catholic Mass had been outlawed in Sweden since the late 1500s. The Mass was seen as a threat to the state religion of Lutheranism. The few Catholics who lived in Sweden had to travel out of country to receive the sacraments. Despite the suppression of Catholicism, other branches of Protestantism were allowed in Sweden. The Hesselblads were staunch Lutherans. While at school, Elizabeth couldn’t understand why there were so many divisions in Christianity. Elizabeth asked Jesus to show her what He meant when He said He was the one Good Shepherd of one, united flock. She felt a voice in her heart say to her that he would show her this truth one day. Then she had a vision of the house in Rome that was used by St. Bridget of Sweden in the 14th century. Elizabeth didn’t know what to think of the vision, but she carried it with her as she grew up. Although Elizabeth loved school, her family’s finances became so dire that she had to leave home to work. She became a nanny for a small family, but they were difficult and dishonest. After two years, she took the opportunity to go to the United States with a group of family friends, who were also seeking a better life. Only 18, she also took her younger brother, who was 11. After a year working as a nanny in the United States, she became seriously ill with intestinal ulcers. She was hospitalized for two months. Although she was in excruciating pain and the doctors believed she would not survive, she was still aware of the suffering of other patients. She asked God to heal her enough so that she could become a nurse and help relieve the suffering of others. Miraculously, she recovered, but she suffered from ulcers throughout her life. After becoming a nurse, she learned of Catholicism through her patients. Elizabeth decided to leave hospital work for private nursing in 1896. She became a nurse and companion to two teenage daughters of wealthy Catholics, the Cisneros family. While in Europe with the family, she saw her first Eucharistic procession. She hid herself because she did not want to kneel, but she also did not want to be rude. She prayed silently, “I do kneel before You, God, but not here.” Soon after praying this, she felt something stir within her. When the Bishop passed by her with the monstrance, she heard an interior voice say, “I am the One you are looking for!” She could not help but fall to her knees and worship. She struggled with this experience and so many other signs that the Catholic Church was the one, true flock of Christ. She wanted to hold on to her Protestant beliefs, especially her love of personal freedom. She could not understand submitting to the authority of the Church, believing, instead in only the authority of scripture. It wasn’t until 1902 that her eyes were opened to her perfectionism. She had been looking for a perfect church free of suffering. She realized that the only Church that held the full truth about sin, suffering and salvation was the Catholic Church. When she told a Jesuit priest whom she had just met, Father Johan Hagen, S.J., that she wanted to enter the Church immediately, he did not think she was prepared. He thought she was prideful. But after examining her for hours, he had to agree that she was prepared for reception in the Church and that it would be wrong to make her wait. From then on, their friendship deepened, and he became her spiritual director. During a visit to Rome with the Cisneros family, she stayed at the Piazza Farnese, where St. Bridget of Sweden lived. She remembered her childhood vision and felt a strong call to become a Sister and revive the Order of St. Bridget. Her journey through re-establishing the Order in Rome and Sweden was marked by setbacks, especially from other Catholic Religious who were jealous of her perseverance and hard work. With help from Pope St. Pius X and Father Hagen, she succeeded in establishing a branch of the Bridgittines: The Order of the Most Holy Saviour. At her vows, she took the name “Mary Elizabeth.” It was in her convent in Sweden that author Sigrid Undset went to contemplate her conversion to the Church. During World War II, Mother Mary Elizabeth and her Sisters successfully kept more than 60 Jews safe from the Nazis. (Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust remembrance center, honored her posthumously in 2004 as one of the “Righteous Among the Nations,” an award given to non-Jews who helped Jews during the Holocaust.) Toward the end of her life, she became more concerned with ecumenical efforts and for peace. She refused to water down her Catholic faith to please others. However, she believed that the best way to answer Christ’s call for unity was to reach out in friendship to everyone. She believed that it was possible for friends to have differing beliefs and that it was through everyday friendships that the world would be changed for the better. She died on April 24, 1957. She was canonized in 2016. St. Mary Elizabeth Hesselbad is a patron saint of the Bridgittines, nuns and nursing. Santa María Isabel Hesselblad Fiesta: 4 de junio Por Emily Woodham Colaboradora El 8 de octubre de 1923 se celebró por primera vez en 350 años una Misa Pontificia en Estocolmo. Era la Fiesta de Santa Brígida de Suecia, la santa patrona medieval de Suecia y Europa. La Misa también marcó el regreso de la Orden religiosa Brigittina a la patria de la santa, después de 400 años de destierro. La celebración de la Misa y el renacimiento de la Orden se dieron gracias a la humilde perseverancia de Santa María Isabel Hesselblad, una conversa cuyo corazón por una Iglesia unificada ayudó a transformar Europa. Elizabeth Hesselblad nació el 4 de junio de 1870 en un pequeño pueblo de Suecia. Fue la quinta de 13 hijos. La Misa católica había sido prohibida en Suecia desde finales del siglo XVI. La Misa fue vista como una amenaza para la religión estatal del luteranismo. Muy pocos católicos vivían en Suecia. Tuvieron que viajar fuera del país para recibir los sacramentos. A pesar de la supresión del catolicismo, se permitieron otras ramas del protestantismo en Suecia. Los Hesselblad eran luteranos acérrimos. Mientras estaba en la escuela, Elizabeth a menudo se preguntaba acerca de las muchas ramas del cristianismo. Ella no podía entender por qué había tantas divisiones, cuando Jesús declaró claramente en las Escrituras que quería que sus creyentes fueran un solo rebaño unido. Isabel le pidió a Jesús que le mostrara lo que Él quiso decir cuando dijo que Él era el único Buen Pastor del único rebaño. Sintió una voz en su corazón que le decía que él le mostraría esta verdad algún día. Luego tuvo una visión de la casa en Roma que fue utilizada por Santa Brígida de Suecia en el siglo XIV. Elizabeth no sabía qué pensar de la visión, pero la llevó consigo a medida que crecía. Aunque a Elizabeth le encantaba la escuela, las finanzas de su familia se volvieron tan malas que tuvo que salir de casa para trabajar. Después de un año trabajando como niñera para otra familia en los Estados Unidos, enfermó gravemente de úlceras intestinales. Estuvo hospitalizada durante dos meses. Aunque sufría un dolor insoportable y los médicos creían que no sobreviviría, todavía era consciente del sufrimiento de otros pacientes. Le pidió a Dios que la sanara lo suficiente para poder convertirse en enfermera y ayudar a aliviar el sufrimiento de los demás. Milagrosamente, ella se recuperó. Inmediatamente fue a la escuela de enfermería y luego trabajó en el hospital donde había sido tratada. Ella comenzó a aprender sobre el catolicismo a través de sus pacientes. Elizabeth decidió dejar el trabajo en el hospital para dedicarse a la enfermería privada en 1896. Se convirtió en enfermera y compañera de dos hijas adolescentes de católicos adinerados, la familia Cisneros. Mientras estaba en Europa con la familia, vio su primera procesión eucarística. Se escondió porque no quería arrodillarse, pero tampoco quería ser grosera. Ella oró en silencio: “Me arrodillo ante ti, Dios, pero no aquí”. A pesar de su resolución de no arrodillarse ante el Santísimo Sacramento, sintió que algo se movía dentro de ella. Cuando el obispo pasó junto a ella con la custodia, escuchó una voz interior que le decía: “¡Soy yo a quien buscas!”. No pudo evitar caer de rodillas y adorarlo. Ella luchó con esta experiencia y tantas otras señales de que la Iglesia Católica era el único y verdadero rebaño de Cristo. Quería aferrarse a sus creencias protestantes, especialmente a su amor por la libertad personal. Ella no podía entender someterse a la autoridad de la Iglesia, creyendo, en cambio, solo en la autoridad de las Escrituras. No fue hasta 1902 que sus ojos se abrieron a su perfeccionismo. Ella había estado buscando una iglesia perfecta libre de sufrimiento. Se dio cuenta de que la única Iglesia que tenía la verdad completa sobre el pecado, el sufrimiento y la salvación era la Iglesia Católica. Cuando le dijo al padre Johan Hagen, S.J., que quería ingresar a la Iglesia de inmediato, él pensó que no estaba preparada. Él pensó que ella era orgullosa. Pero después de examinarla durante horas, tuvo que estar de acuerdo en que estaba preparada para recibirla en la Iglesia y que sería un error hacerla esperar. A partir de entonces, su amistad se profundizó y él se convirtió en su director espiritual. Durante una visita a Roma con la familia Cisneros, se hospedó en la Piazza Farnese, donde vivía Santa Brígida de Suecia. Recordó la visión de su infancia y sintió un fuerte llamado a convertirse en Hermana y revivir la Orden de Santa Brígida. Su viaje por el restablecimiento de la Orden en Roma y Suecia estuvo marcado por reveses, especialmente por parte de otras religiosas católicas que estaban celosas de su perseverancia y arduo trabajo. Con la ayuda del Papa San Pío X y el Padre Hagen, logró establecer una rama de las Brigittinas: La Orden del Santísimo Salvador. En sus votos, tomó el nombre de “Mary Elizabeth”. En 12 años, se celebró la primera Misa pública en Suecia en más de 350 años. Fue en su convento en Suecia donde la autora Sigrid Undset fue a contemplar su conversión a la Iglesia Católica. Durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, la Madre María Isabel y sus hermanas lograron mantener a más de 60 judíos a salvo de los nazis. Hacia el final de su vida, se preocupó más por los esfuerzos ecuménicos y por la paz. Se negó a diluir su fe católica para complacer a los demás. Sin embargo, ella creía que la mejor manera de responder al llamado de unidad de Cristo era llegar a todos en amistad. Ella creía que era posible que los amigos tuvieran creencias diferentes y que era a través de las amistades cotidianas que el mundo cambiaría para bien. Murió el 24 de abril de 1957. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the May 26 Idaho Catholic Register. This was the condition of Father Gabriel Morales’ vehicle after he collided head-on with a semi-trailer on March 24. (Courtesy photo/Father Gabriel Morales) By Vero Gutierrez Staff Writer AMERICAN FALLS – With a small walker and moving very slowly on his own legs, Father Gabriel Morales opened the door of his parents’ house in American Falls to welcome my husband and I who were visiting. His face is illuminated by a huge smile that has accompanied him since he came out of a 15-day period of unconsciousness resulting from a serious car accident. On March 24, Father Morales was driving from his home in Aberdeen to have lunch at his parents’ house in American Falls. High winds, fog and snow contributed to hazardous road conditions. According to a Power County Sheriff’s Department accident report, Father Morales’ small car collided with a semi-trailer that completely destroyed the front of Father Morales’ car. According to the testimony of one of the police officers who responded to the accident, he told himself, upon seeing the car, that there likely would be no survivors. To his surprise, the driver, who was conscious, was able to respond when the officer asked Father Morales his name. Father Morales was taken by ambulance to Porneuf Medical Center in nearby Pocatello. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit because of the extent of his many injuries, including fractures in both legs and left arm. He required five blood transfusions. His medical diagnosis not encouraging, Father Morales was put into a self-induced coma. Due to complications with his lungs, doctors had to wait a couple of weeks for his condition to stabilize before they could perform surgery on his legs and arm. Many people from Presentation of the Lord Parish in American Falls, Aberdeen and Pingree as well as Catholics throughout the state joined in prayer, pleading for the recovery of Father Morales. God, who never allows Himself to be outdone in generosity, granted us what we asked for and something more. Father Morales said those prayers drew him even closer to God, the creator and restorer of life, and helped to unite his parish com-munity in prayer. “The more one loves, the better one prays,” St. Charles de Foucauld said. On May 5, Father Morales was released from the hospital, after three surgeries. His recovery was a surprise to everyone at the hospital, according to Marta Morales, mother of Father Morales. She said that hospital workers did not refer to Father Morales by name, but rather called him “miracle.” Joking with his friend, Father Camilo García, pastor at St. Nicholas Parish in Rupert, Father Morales said that now he is going to be called Lazarus. Minerva Chaqueco, a parishioner at Presentation of the Lord said Father Morales’ recovery “has been a great testimony of life, after seeing him unconscious and connected to so many machines and now being able to see him walking.” “Without a doubt, God raised him from that bed in the intensive care unit,” she said. “It is the greatest miracle I have seen besides my grand-daughter.” Her granddaughter, who visited Father Gabriel dressed as a nurse in the hospital to “examine” him, was born prematurely but “managed to survive by a miracle of God,” Chaqueco said. Father Morales’ recovery is far from over. He is visited by a physical therapist three times a week at his parents’ house. Although Father Morales does not remember anything that happened that day, he has seen the photographs of the accident and was surprised that he was not thrown from the car and managed to survive. “I’m still in shock, trying to assimilate what happened,” he said. He said he is still trying to comprehend the face that he could have died. “God, in His providence, invited me to continue. I have told the Lord, ‘Here I am, Lord, to do your will.’ ” Father Morales said he misses the work and the routine of each day. “I hope to be able to recover as soon as possible and continue with the work.” For now, progress is being made slowly. Doctors have told Father Morales that they believe that the therapy will, over time, restore sensitivity and mobility in his fingers and left hand. In the meantime, there is a lot of collaboration between Father Morales and his mother to help him carry out his daily activities. Even opening his medicine is a challenge due to his hand injuries and the fact that his mother is still in the recovery from health problems she suffered last year that resulted in her not being able to move her left hand, either. “The therapists continue to check up on me with both physical and occupational therapy,” Father Morales said. “We do exercises with my feet and arms, so that the muscles can recover their strength and heal. They are also teaching me activities like preparing food and bathing.” The response from his parish has been surprising, he said. “They have been looking out for me with their calls, and I have felt their closeness. It amazes me how this situation brought so many people together.” “I am grateful to everyone for their prayers. Prayer is very powerful, and it is the providence of the Lord that sustains me here. I thank everyone in the Diocese and friends and acquaintances from other states. I also thank friends and family from Mexico who have sent me letters and messages, all encouraging me to get better.” Father Morales also wanted to thank the doctors and nurses who were important for his recovery. “All of them were giving the best of their knowledge and their techniques to help me recover,” he said, referring especially to Dr. Kevin O’Halloran of Orthopedic Trauma and Dr. Jeffrey Stucki, an orthopedic hand surgeon. “I am very grateful to them for their continued treatment and their monitoring the evolution of my injuries. May God continue to bless them in their profession.” Father Abraham Ávila and Father Moisés Urzúa from the Missionary Servants of the Word are serving at Presentation of the Lord Parish during Father Morales’ absence. Also helping occasionally are Father Caleb Vogel, vicar general of the Diocese of Boise, and Father Francisco Flores of Saint John Paul II Parish in Idaho Falls. Los médicos tienen otro nombre para el padre Morales: ‘Milagro’ Padre Gabriel Morales, continua en su recuperación en casa de sus padres en American Falls . (Foto ICR/Vero Gutiérrez) Por Vero Gutiérrez Colaboradora AMERICAN FALLS – Con una pequeña andadora y moviéndose muy lentamente sobre sus propias piernas, el Padre Gabriel Morales abrió la puerta de la casa de sus padres en American Falls para darnos la bienvenida a mi esposo y a mí que estábamos de visita. Su rostro estaba iluminado por una enorme sonrisa que lo acompaña desde que salió de un período de 15 días de inconsciencia producto de un grave accidente automovilístico. El 24 de marzo, el Padre Morales conducía desde su casa en Aberdeen para almorzar en la casa de sus padres en American Falls. Los fuertes vientos, la niebla y la nieve contribuyeron a las peligrosas condiciones de la carretera. Según un informe de accidente del Departamento del Sheriff del condado de Power, el pequeño automóvil del Padre Morales chocó con un semirremolque que destruyó por completo la parte delantera de su automóvil. Según el testimonio de uno de los policías que respondieron al accidente, se dijo a sí mismo, al ver el auto, que probablemente no habría sobrevivientes. Para su sorpresa, el conductor, que estaba consciente, pudo responder cuando el oficial le preguntó su nombre al Padre Morales. El Padre Gabriel fue llevado en ambulancia al Centro Médico Porneuf en las cercanías de Pocatello. Fue ingresado en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos debido a la gravedad de sus numerosas lesiones, incluidas fracturas en ambas piernas y el brazo izquierdo. Requirió cinco transfusiones de sangre. Su diagnóstico médico no fue alentador, el Padre Gabriel fue puesto en coma autoinducido. Debido a complicaciones con sus pulmones, los médicos tuvieron que esperar un par de semanas para que su condición se estabilizara antes de poder operarle las piernas y el brazo. Muchas personas de la parroquia Presentation of the Lord en American Falls, Aberdeen y Pingree, así como católicos de todo el estado, se unieron en oración, suplicando por la recuperación del padre Gabriel. Dios, que nunca se deja superar en generosidad, nos concedió lo que le pedimos y algo más. El Padre Morales dijo que esas oraciones lo acercaron aún más a Dios, el creador y restaurador de la vida, y lo ayudaron a unir a su comunidad parroquial en oración. “Cuanto más se ama, mejor se reza”, dijo San Carlos de Foucauld. El 5 de mayo, el Padre Gabriel Morales fue dado de alta del hospital, luego de tres cirugías. Su recu-peración fue una sorpresa para todos en el hospital, según Marta Morales, madre del Padre Gabriel. Ella dijo que los trabajadores del hospital no se refirieron al padre Morales por su nombre, sino que lo llamaron “milagro”. Bromeando con su amigo, el Padre Camilo García, párroco de la Parroquia San Nicolás en Rupert, el Padre Morales dijo que ahora se va a llamar Lázaro. Minerva Chaqueco, parroquiana de Presentation of the Lord dijo que la recuperación del Padre Morales “ha sido un gran testimonio de vida, después de verlo inconsciente y conectado a tantas máquinas y ahora poder verlo caminar”. “Sin duda, Dios lo levantó de esa cama en la unidad de cuidados intensivos”, dijo. “Es el milagro más grande que he visto además de mi nieta”. Su nieta, que visitó al Padre Gabriel vestida de enfermera en el hospital para “examinarlo”, nació prematuramente pero “logró sobrevivir por un milagro de Dios”, dijo Chaqueco. La recuperación del Padre Morales está lejos de terminar. Por ahora, es visitado por un fisioterapeuta tres veces por semana en la casa de sus padres. Aunque el Padre Morales no recuerda nada de lo que pasó ese día, ha visto las fotografías del accidente y se sorprendió de haber logrado sobrevivir. “Todavía estoy en estado de shock, tratando de asimilar lo que pasó”, dijo. Comentó que todavía está tratando de comprender la posibilidad de que podría haber muerto. “Dios, en su providencia, me invitó a continuar. Le he dicho al Señor: ‘Aquí estoy, Señor, para hacer tu voluntad’”, añadió. El Padre Gabriel confesó que extraña el trabajo y la rutina de cada día. “Espero poder recuperarme lo antes posible y continuar con el trabajo”. Consideró. Por ahora, el progreso se está haciendo lentamente. Los médicos le han dicho al padre Morales que creen que la terapia, con el tiempo, restaurará la sensibilidad y la movilidad en los dedos y la mano izquierda. Mientras tanto, hay mucha colaboración entre el padre Morales y su madre para ayudarlo a realizar sus actividades diarias. Incluso abrir su medicamento es un desafío debido a las lesiones en la mano y al hecho de que su madre todavía se está recuperando de los problemas de salud que sufrió el año pasado y que le inmovili-zaron su mano izquierda. “Los terapeutas continúan controlándome con terapia física y ocupacional”, dijo el padre Morales. “Hacemos ejercicios con los pies y los brazos, para que los músculos recuperen su fuerza y cicatricen. También me están enseñando actividades como preparar comida y bañarme”.La respuesta de su parroquia ha sido sorprendente, dijo. “Me han estado cuidando con sus llamadas y he sentido su cercanía. Me sorprende cómo esta situación reunió a tanta gente”. “Estoy agradecido con todos por sus oraciones. La oración es muy poderosa, y es la providencia del Señor que me sostiene aquí. Agradezco a todos en la Diócesis, amigos y conocidos de otros estados. También agradezco a amigos y familiares de México que me han enviado cartas y mensajes, todos animándome a mejorar”. El padre Morales también quiso agradecer a los médicos y enfermeras que fueron importantes para su recuperación. “Todos ellos brindaron lo mejor de su conocimiento y sus técnicas para ayudarme a recuperarme”, dijo, refiriéndose especialmente al Dr. Kevin O’Halloran de Orthopaedic Trauma y al Dr. Jeffrey Stucki, cirujano ortopédico de la mano. “Estoy muy agradecido con ellos por su tratamiento continuo y están monitoreando la evolución de mis lesiones. Que Dios los siga ben-diciendo en su profesión”. El Padre Abraham Ávila y el Padre Moisés Urzúa de los Misioneros Servidores de la Palabra están sirviendo en la Parroquia Presentation of the Lord durante la ausencia del Padre Morales. También, ayudan ocasionalmente el Padre Caleb Vogel, Vicario General de la Diócesis de Boise, y el Padre Francisco Flores de la Parroquia de San Juan Pablo II en Idaho Falls. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the May 26 Idaho Catholic Register. Faith Nichols is with a young girl at a Protestant mission in Haiti. Nichols looks forward to helping in more mission trips now that pandemic restrictions have lifted. (Courtesy photo/Faith Nichols) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Faith Nichols, graduating senior at Bishop Kelly High School, likes finding the good in any situation. “I’m kind of a glass-half-full person,” Nichols said, a perspective that largely comes from her faith in God. Nichols is this year’s recipient of the Fran Wickham Fellowship Award, named for a former theology teacher at Bishop Kelly, the late Dr. Fran Wickham. “The qualities of the award winner are one who is a community builder who joyfully shares their faith,” said Mike Caldwell, principal at Bishop Kelly. The senior also “encourages and welcomes others to share their faith,” he said. “Faith Nichols authentically embodies everything that this nomination seeks to acknowledge. She is a faith-filled individual who inspires and encourages others to openly share and live their faith as well,” Caldwell said. He added that it is “only a bonus coincidence” that this year’s award winner is named, “Faith.” Faith Nichols, left, with her older brother, Adam, and older sister, Elle. Nichols is grateful, she said, for the time she spent with family during the COVID pandemic, before her older siblings moved out of state for college. (Courtesy photo/Faith Nichols) “She fits her name to a tee,” said her mother Missy Nichols, who teaches English and is head coach for softball at Bishop Kelly. “This is a girl who is spiritually sensitive to the reality of Jesus Christ and she believes it with absolute certainty. That’s a treasure to be able to say about a child, and I’ll take it!” However, Nichols is not Catholic. At least, not yet. “I am going to go to OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) at St. Thomas in Coeur d’Alene while I go to North Idaho College,” Nichols said. Her mother is currently enrolled in OCIA. While attending St. Mark’s School in Boise in the sixth grade, Faith Nichols started to feel like she belonged more in the Catholic community than in the Lutheran Church. Her mother’s father is a Lutheran pastor. “I attend my grandpa’s church, but I spend more time in the Catholic community,” she said. “My grandpa feels like as long as I find faith, that’s all that matters.” Nichols’ family moved to Boise from California when she was 3. She attended the Ambrose School in Meridian until sixth grade, when her mother began teaching English at Bishop Kelly. “When I first switched schools, the Catholic faith was very foreign to me,” Nichols said. She also had to adjust to the classroom and teaching methods at St. Mark’s, which were structured differently than the Classical approach at Ambrose. “For the first three months, I hated it. But I cannot express how grateful I am that my mom did not let me move back to the Ambrose School. I found better friends than I could have imagined at St. Mark’s. I also learned so much from the teachers there,” she said. She was excited to start at Bishop Kelly. She immediately joined the varsity softball team and served as a member of the student council, helping with events. However, she was able to play only three games and then all events had to stop when schools shutdown due to the COVID pandemic in March of 2020. Although there were difficulties to overcome with school, Nichols appreciated the time she had with family during the pandemic. “I have two older siblings, and I’m pretty close to them. My freshman year was the first year that my brother had gone away to college in Wisconsin. When COVID happened, he got to come home. My dad was laid off, and my mom wasn’t able to really work. So for three months we all got to be together,” she said. That summer her brother returned to Wisconsin, and her sister also went out of state for college. “It was nice to have all that time together before we got split up,” she said. At the beginning of her sophomore year in the fall of 2020, her paternal grandfather was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. “That was pretty hard. We had to watch my grandpa slowly deteriorate,” she said. “It was really sad, but it was also really inspiring the way he faced it,” she said. Her grandfather told her that he was in God’s hands and that whatever happened, he knew he was going to heaven. (Her father’s side of the family are members of the Church of the Nazarene.) “It’s a really big family on my dad’s side. My grandpa was the patriarch,” she said. “It was really hard not having that leader in the family anymore. He really did teach me a lot about understanding God’s will, and trusting God’s will even if it’s not necessarily what we imagined for ourselves.” “I wrote my senior thesis on how bad things are going to happen in everybody’s life,” she said. “Your perspective affects whether those bad things have a positive or negative effect on your life.” Faith gives one proper perspective, she said. “I learned a lot from the theology teachers at BK, like relying on God in good and hard times.” Nichols has been active in campus ministry at Bishop Kelly for all of her high school years. She has attended classes, assisted in activities and served as a teacher’s aide. Outside of school, she has served on the God Squad (a group of young people who perform skits, dance and help the worship team) for the Idaho Catholic Youth Conference. She is also on the leadership team for the youth group at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise. Along with her campus ministry activities, her favorite memories at Bishop Kelly are winning the state championship for varsity softball in 2021 and 2022 and the many activities she helped with for the student council. The junior retreat, however, topped them all. Each year, juniors go to a retreat center in the mountains for a time of prayer, talks on spirituality, Adoration and Reconciliation. “That’s probably one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in my life,” she said. “I felt really tired and burnt out, but it was so good. A lot of friendships blossomed from that retreat.” Her favorite teacher was her mom, she said. “She’s my best friend.” But a close second was Father Greg Vance, S.J., who taught a class on the writings of author J.R.R. Tolkien. “That was one of my favorite classes,” she said. Nichols will be playing softball for North Idaho College while she studies psychology. She plans to have a career as a counselor. To help with her tuition, she received the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship and a softball award from North Idaho College. Although she wants to have a strong career, family life is also important to her. She admires her mom and looks forward to being a mom herself. She hopes to have a large family. No matter what she does for a career, she plans to travel a lot. Her family travels frequently, including to Europe. After graduation, they will travel to Norway to visit relatives. Now that COVID restrictions are lifted, Nichols wants to do mission work again. She went to Haiti for a Protestant mission team the summers before eighth and ninth grades. “It was really fun. The kids were all so joyful all the time. It was eye-opening to see how little some of the people have, but they make that choice to be joyful.” As she looks back at all her memories at Bishop Kelly, she can’t imagine going anywhere else for high school, she said. “My teachers have cared about me so much,” she said. She loves how teachers reach out to students for academic well-being and also to make sure students are doing OK on a bad day. “It’s such a welcoming community,” she said. A quick look at BK’s Class of 2023 Left: Daniel Ni, Valedictorian and Right: Cody Bockenstette, Salutatorian • Total Graduates : 212 • Graduates with a weighted GPA of 4.0 or higher: 71 • Graduates with a weighted GPA of 3.75 to a 4.0: 40 • National Merit Finalists: 5 (Andrew Martin, Daniel Ni, Lindsey McBride, Molly O’Sullivan and Megan Woodworth) • National Merit Commended Scholars: 6 (Halle Hatten, Baer Istok, Kylie Jackson, Justine Lam, Sophia Puype and Grace Shirley) • Presidential Scholar Candidates: 5 (Baer Istok, Lindsey McBride, Molly O’Sullivan, Grace Schlafer and Megan Woodworth • Capstone Diploma Candidates: 11 (Joelle Alex, Cody Bockenstette, Justine Lam, Daniele Macdonald, Ella Macdonald, Lindsey McBride, Sarah Mooney, Daniel Ni, Gracie Schlafer, Eve Sprute and Maddie Welsh) AP Capstone ™ is a diploma program based on two AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. These yearlong courses focus on developing the critical thinking, research, collaboration, time management, and presentation skills one needs for college-level work. Students who earn a score of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP Exams of their choosing are eligible to receive the AP Capstone Diploma. • Rotary Century Scholars: 11 (Cody Bockenstette, Megan Woodworth, Daniel Ni, Grace Schlafer, Lindsey McBride, Grace Shirley, Nicole Saso, Maximillian Ciovacco, Justine Lam, Halle Hatten and Molly O’Sullivan) • Air Force Academy Appointment: Grace Shirley • West Point Appointments: 3 (Jackson Sarrazolla, Claire Wimer and Ethan McIntyre • Air Force ROTC Scholarship: Cody Bockenstette • Navy ROTC Scholarship: Abigail Severance • Marine Corps ROTC Scholarship: Sullivan Bly • National Speech & Debate Association Academic All American Award: Gia Codina and Molly O’Sullivan • Francis Wickham Fellowship Award: Faith Nichols • Plowshares Peacemaker Award: Kevin Corrigan • Bishop Kelly Principal’s Award: Juliana Puzio and Noah Larson • John Baptist de la Salle Teacher of the Year Award: Mr. Jacob Spears, Language Arts. • Do Good Recognition: Mrs. Cecelia Flores, Facilities and Maintenance • Student athletes who signed letters of intent to compete at college or university level: 34 • Fall State Academic Championships: Boys Cross Country, Boys Soccer, Football and Boys Swimming • Winter State Academic Championships: Cheer, Dance, Wrestling, Boys Basketball • Fall State Athletic Championships: Boys Cross Country, Girls Soccer, Boys Golf • Winter State Athletic Championships: Hockey • Spring State Athletic Championship (to date): Speech If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

Father Leszko calls women’s organization a ‘spiritual treasure’ for Diocese, parishes The following story appeared in the May 12 Idaho Catholic Register. Back row, from left, Father Adrian Leszko, parochial vicar at St. Mark’s in Boise and spiritual advisor for ICCW; Father Francisco Godinez, pastor at Corpus Christi in Fruitland; and Father Jerry Funke, pastor at St. Agnes in Weiser. Front row, from left, are board members of ICCW, Mary Glenn, Pierrette Madrid, Tina Turpin, Woman of the Year Kimberly Hanigan and Crystal Church. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) Emily Woodham Staff Writer FRUITLAND – The 60 women who attended the biennial convention of the Idaho Council of Catholic Women heard riveting stories from women whose own lives are a testament to the convention’s theme, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you,” taken from Ezekiel 36. Their stories are an inspiration as well to Father Adrian Leszko, parochial vicar at St. Mark’s Parish in Boise, and the recently appointed spiritual advisor to ICCW. “I would like you to always remember that you are not only workers, people of action, but you are also a spiritual treasure in the Church in Idaho,” Father Leszko said during his remarks at the organization’s 78th biennial convention April 28-30 at Corpus Christ Parish in Fruitland. Katie Kuchar, a mother of six, told those attending about her experience of nearly dying from a medical emergency in 2020 and how the aftermath of that crisis became her own journey of a heart transformed from “a heart of stone to a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26) In January 2020, Kuchar gave birth to her sixth child. Although the birth seemed normal, she had numerous health problems postpartum, including nearly hemorrhaging to death. After numerous tests and hospitalizations, doctors said that the only way to save her life was for her to have a full hysterectomy. The news was devastating, given her age – 30 – and the fact that she and her husband loved having children and planned to be open to life throughout their marriage. Despite the great heartache of becoming “permanently infertile,” she was not done facing trials. Soon after her surgery, she became ill with COVID. She recovered, but more difficulties and disappointments were to come. “My story is not unique. I’ve heard lots of stories from lots of other people,” especially during 2020, the height of the pandemic, she said. “Bad things happen to good people. Good things happen to bad people. … And life is still worth living. God is still worth trusting.” Before the incidents of 2020, Kuchar said she had a heart of stone, although she was good at hiding it. “I thought I had to be perfect to be loved. When I went through all that stuff, God was there, even though I couldn’t feel Him. And He taught me that I don’t have to do anything to be loved. Whatever good or bad that I do, God loves me the same. He doesn’t change.” God showed her these truths through the people “who reached out their hands and lifted” her, she said, through all the difficult times. “I learned that when my heart breaks, His heart breaks, too.” When she thought she was dying, she also realized that so many of the things that she was upset and worried about didn’t matter. “When death is staring you in the face, it doesn’t matter anymore that so-and-so said such-and-such about me. None of that matters. My stony heart was full of resentment, grudges and pride. Jesus gave me His heart, and He continues to do so. The process of having a ‘heart of flesh’ ” is continuous, she said. In the end, all that matters is love, Kuchar concluded. “Death does not have the last word, fear does not have the last word. Pain does not have the last word, nor does suffering. Love has the last word.” SANDRA LOERA , a parishioner at Corpus Christi Parish who came back to the Church after a time of losing her faith, spoke about her spiritual journey in discerning Religious life. When she returned to the Church, she had hoped to join a Religious community. Through prayer and counseling, she persevered through spiritual darkness and also overcame abuse from her childhood. However, the community she had set her hopes on turned out not to be where she was called. The disappointment and feelings of rejection by the Religious community resulted in more spiritual trials. Through her friends and parish community, she was able to persevere and “pick up the pieces” of her life, she said. Although the suffering was difficult, it has helped her to find more compassion for others going through heartbreak, she said. Pierrette Madrid, outgoing president of ICCW and a parishioner at Corpus Christi Parish, spoke briefly to the women attending the conference. “I pray we all find loving hearts in everything we do,” Madrid said As leaders of the Church, ICCW has the task of continuing the growth of faith in Idaho, she said. There is also a need to increase ICCW’s membership, which declined during the pandemic of 2020, Madrid said. “I am sure we are up to the task and will find creative and innovative ways to empower and grow our organization,” Madrid said. Kimberly Hanigan, ICCW’s outgoing treasurer, was named the Woman of the Year. She was honored for her “love and joy” in volunteering for ICCW and at her parish, also Corpus Christi in Fruitland. “Kimberly has done numerous things and filled numerous roles through the years, from serving different roles on the board of ICCW to teaching religious education at her parish,” Madrid said. FATHER LESZKO was appointed spiritual advisor for ICCW by Bishop Peter Christensen, a move that surprised him. “I am really excited and thankful to the Bishop for putting his trust in me,” he said, noting that he was just ordained in 2021. During his remarks, Father Leszko encouraged ICCW to continue its good work. “I am always amazed with how much work ICCW does,” he said. “They have such an openness to help, and they are such virtuous women.” “It’s wonderful to see women who are committed to so much love, to be merciful, forgiving, always ready to show the beauty of our faith,” he said. “It’s incredible, especially for those people who are in darkness, who come to the Church looking for faith, to see these women who are always welcoming and joyful. They are full of the beautiful news of the Resurrection and full of the Spirit.” The role of women in the Church is exemplified by Mary Magdalene, whose primary work was to bring the news of the Resurrection, Father Leszko said. “I wish that you all would always rejoice in the message of the Resurrection because everything that we do – our charity, our works, our prayer life – is to give testimony to the Risen Christ.” The Catholic Church in America stands on the hard work of women, he said. The staff and volunteers of American churches are mostly women. “We have women who have tender hearts who help parishes in thousands-and-more ways to survive,” he said. Father Leszko emphasized that all believers are meant to take up their crosses and follow Jesus as He carries His Cross. “We sometimes think that when we choose to be Catholic, everything will be fine. ‘I will have the grace of the Holy Spirit; I will be levitating in prayer; everything will be great.’ But we know that we have to be Christ-like.” This means, he said, to be willing to withstand suffering, being misjudged, misunderstood and persecuted. The way to realize our mission as Christians is to stay connected to God, he said. “We must ask God for insight, for spiritual gifts, which the Holy Spirit has to give us.” St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta is a model for staying connected to God through Adoration, the Mass and prayer before embarking on good works, he said. “If I work too much, if I’m all action, I have to stop. I have to give space to Christ in my life,” Father Leszko said. “It’s very important to understand that. Every saint was immersed in God. The saints were immersed in the love of Christ and the ocean of His mercy.” It is from this immersion in relationship with Christ that the saints achieved so much, he said. Christians need to grasp, like St. Peter, the loving forgiveness that God has for everyone, including ourselves, he said. Because of personal experience of God’s love and forgiveness, he said, we share this knowledge with others. “Because of what we experienced, we say to others: ‘You are forgiven; you are not forgotten; you are loved; you are needed; you are desired. You are at the center of the craziness of God’s love.’ This is the beauty we have to share day-by-day in the ministry of the Council of Catholic Women. This is the commission given to each of us through baptism,” he said. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the April 28 Idaho Catholic Register. Karla and Roberto Esparza By Veronica Gutierrez Staff Writer Karla and Roberto Esparza, parishioners at St. Mark’s Parish in Boise, participated in a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend last March at the Monastery of the Ascension in Jerome. Now they are inviting other couples who have not yet had this experience to do so. “We recommend couples live the weekend to explore new tools that help them communicate better in their married life,” Karla Esparza said. “In addition, they will have the opportunity to live with their partner in a more intimate way, without distractions, to experience a deeper connection as a couple.” Worldwide Marriage Encounter will be holding its second weekend gathering of the year in the Magic Valley on July 28-30. Couples will stay at the Monastery of the Ascension in Jerome. However, because there is already a biblical studies retreat planned there, the talks will be presented at the nearby Our Lady of Guadalupe Hall at St. Edward’s Church in Twin Falls. Couples who have already received the sacrament of marriage as well as couples preparing for marriage can register to attend. Participating in the weekend also satisfies the pre-marital preparation that parishes require for engaged couples. Father Julio Vicente, pastor at St. Edward the Confessor Parish, will guide the retreat where issues related to marriage in today’s world are addressed, as well as God’s desire for marriage, the importance of dialogue and why marriage is a sacrament. During this weekend, couples will obtain tools that allow them to remain strong and united as a couple in order to provide stable and loving environment for their children. Nora Arana, a regional coordinator for Worldwide Marriage Encounter, said about 16 couples from the Magic Valley area are expected to participate. Roberto Esparza said the weekend helped him better understand and gain a deeper connection to his wife’s emotions. He also learned to better communicate his emotions “freely and without shortcuts,” in a way that was very difficult for him to achieve before. At the same time, Karla Esparza said she was able to change the way she listens to her husband. “Now, I am more understanding and patient,” she said. “Some of the fruits that we have received as a couple in our marriage are patience, compassion, and understanding,” Karla said. “The weekend helped us reflect on our relationship as a couple and to realize that we still had a lot of work to do to improve communicating our individual needs and to use a more effective dialogue that allows us to be more patient and understanding in our relationship. This has generated a more loving family environment in our relationship and with our children.” To participate in the next weekend, ask your parish for an application or contact Alberto and Mercedes Aguirre at 208-890-7983 and/or Carlos and Nora Arana at 208-550-4514. These couples or others are also willing to visit the homes of those interested to answer any questions. Fin de Semana del EMM planeado este verano en Jerome, Twin Falls Karla y Roberto Esparza, parroquianos de Saint Mark’s en Boise, Participaron en el Fin de Semana del Encuentro Matrimonial Mundial en marzo pasado en el Monasterio de la Ascensión en Jerome. Ahora ellos estan invitando a otras parejas quienes todavía no han tenido la experiencia de vivirlo. “Recomendamos a las parejas vivir el Fin de Semana para explorar nuevas herramientas que les ayuden a comunicarse mejor en su vida matri-monial”, dijo Karla Esparza. “Además, tendrán la oportunidad de convivir con su pareja de una manera más íntima, sin distracciones, para experimentar una conexión más profunda en pareja”. El Encuentro Matrimonial Mundial llevará a cabo su segundo encuentro de Fin de Semana del año, en Magic Valley del 28 al 30 de julio. Las parejas se alojarán en el Monasterio de la Ascensión en Jerome. Sin embargo, debido a que ya hay un retiro de estu-dios bíblicos planeado allí, las charlas se presentarán en el cercano Salón de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en la Iglesia de St. Edward en Twin Falls. Pueden asistir parejas que ya hayan recibido el sacramento del matrimonio y también parejas que aún no. Participar de este encuentro les sirve además como requisito para las pláticas pre-matri-moniales que pide la Iglesia para poder recibir el sacramento. El Padre Julio Vicente, Párroco de Saint Edward’s The Confessor, será el encargado de guiar el retiro en donde se abordan temas relacionados con el matrimonio en el mundo de hoy, anhelo de Dios para el matrimonio, el diálogo, el matrimonio como un sacramento. Durante este fin de semana las parejas pueden obtener herramientas que les permitan permanecer fuertes y unidos como pareja. Esto cambia sus vidas porque les ayuda a vivir en un ambiente estable y amoroso para sus hijos. Nora Arana Coordinadora del Encuentro Matri-monial Mundial, señaló que en esta ocasión, esperan alrededor de 16 parejas del area del Valle Mágico para participar del encuentro. Roberto Esparza, comentó que el Fin de Semana le ayudó a experimentar un entendimiento y una conexión profunda a las emociones de su esposa. Él también ha aprendido a comunicar mejor sus emo-ciones personales “en una forma libre y sin atajos”, algo que antes era muy difícil de conseguir. A mismo tiempo, Karla compartió que tuvo la oportunidad de cambiar la forma en que escuchaba a su esposo. “Ahora soy más comprensiva y paciente a la hora de dialogar”. “Algunos de los frutos que hemos recibido como esposos en nuestro matrimonio son la paciencia, compasión, y comprensión”, reiteró Karla, “el Fin de Semana, nos ayudó a reflexionar sobre nuestra relación en pareja y a darnos cuenta de que todavía teníamos mucho que mejorar respecto a nuestras necesidades emocionales individuales, o cómo es que podemos usar un diálogo más efectivo que nos permite ser más pacientes y comprensivos en nuestra relación. Esto ha generado un ambiente familiar más amoroso en nuestra relación y con nuestros hijos”. Para participar del siguiente Encuentro de Fin de Semana, pueden preguntar en sus respectivas parroquias para llenar una aplicación o bien pu-eden comunicarse con Alberto y Mercedes Aguirre al número (208) 890-7983, Carlos y Nora Arana al número (208) 550- 4514, ellos u otras parejas estarán disponibles para visitarlos en sus hogares y ofrecerles una amplia explicación de lo que significa vivir este encuentro o despejar cualquier duda que pudieran tener al respecto. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the May 10 Idaho Catholic Register. In this photo before his 2022 death, Chuck Yochum, middle is pictured with his wife, Carolyn. Their children, from left, are Joseph, George “Cliff,” John, Jeanine (Humphrey), Janelle (Tostenrude) and Justin. (Courtesy photo/Carolyn Yochum) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Death pervades life, but human beings are experts at distracting themselves from its inevitability. “A problem with our culture is that we have removed death from real life. We have sanitized death. Not as many people go to funerals, or even have funerals, as we did in the past,” said Father Mariusz Majewski, rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise. (Father Mariusz’ father, Stanislaw, passed away shortly after he was interviewed for this story. Father Mariusz celebrated his funeral Mass and has been in Poland for the last month helping his family with final arrangements.) In his 15 years as a priest, and especially during his year in a clinical pastoral education program, Father Majewski (who is called Father Mariusz), has accompanied many people with terminal illness. When people are faced with the reality of their own death, all distractions end, he said. “When people are dying, no one is talking about anything trivial. It is beautiful to walk with people when they are dying. It’s a privilege to be with them in those moments when they face questions, doubts or temptations,” he said. Chuck Yochum was one of the many people who faced imminent death and went to Father Mariusz in search of answers and comfort. In July of 2021, Chuck, a parishioner of the Cathedral, was given the news that he had terminal cancer and had only months to live. After looking at different options, Chuck made his peace with God, Father Mariusz said, and decided to spend his final months at home with hospice care. He died on Jan. 14, 2022. Facing his death with such faith was not happenstance, but came from a lifetime of devotion. Born in 1941, Chuck was a devout Catholic his entire life. “We always went to Sunday Mass,” said Chuck’s widow, Carolyn. “We were cradle Catholics. Neither of us ever fell away from the Church. It just got ingrained in our DNA as children, and it has been a gift that we’ve had our whole life. So we walked the walk together in our faith from the very beginning of our relationship, which was wonderful.” They met while attending Catholic colleges: he at the all-men’s St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa, and she at the all-women’s Marycrest College, also in Davenport. They married on May 29, 1965 and had six children. They moved to the Treasure Valley in 1984 and became parishioners at the Cathedral. Counsel from pastor, care from family were blessings in final days In November of 2021, Chuck asked Father Mariusz if they could meet to talk about his coming death. “We started to meet regularly and talked about mortality, saying goodbye and getting ready to die. It was great because he wanted to talk about some deep, spiritual things,” Father Mariusz said. Carolyn said it was a blessing and a gift from God to have Father Mariusz’s pastoral care. “Father Mariusz was so accessible. When Chuck was talking to him, he was focused on Chuck, his needs and how he was doing with his journey,” she said. Father Mariusz met with Chuck about seven times before Chuck became bedridden, she said. “I really couldn’t provide the spiritual guidance that Chuck was looking for. So I was just so relieved that he could ask questions and get direction from Father Mariusz,” she said. When Chuck wanted to know what eternal life was going to be like, Father Mariusz was honest. “I don’t know. I’m in the same boat as you,” he told Chuck. Chuck worried that his questions were from doubt, but it is not doubt to have questions, Father Mariusz said. “It is good to have questions and to talk about these things.” In general, when people are dying, people mostly want to talk about their faith, whether they believe in eternal life or in God, and their relationships, especially with their spouse, children and extended family members, Father Mariusz said. Chuck had been a dedicated Catholic husband and father. Although he had a successful career in different business ventures, he always made time for his family. He and Carolyn had a strong, happy marriage. With such a well-lived life, most of Chuck’s questions were focused on the afterlife, Father Mariusz said. However, for many, death makes people face problems in their relationships with God and with family. “When there is any severe conflict or unforgiveness, that always comes up to the surface,” Father Mariusz said. “They want to make peace with people in their life and have some kind of resolution. Their career is not that important anymore.” Even if facing death with many regrets, Father Mariusz said that receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick gives Catholics the opportunity to be set free from their past and bitterness. Some people carry the baggage of unforgive-ness for years, he said, but in Confession they can let go and offer God their burdens. “The sacraments are powerful. They allow people to enter the heart of Jesus, and the peace of God’s forgiveness comes in,” he said. Having this time to make peace with God and with people is a part of the beauty of a death that is not sudden, Father Mariusz said. “When I was a kid, every evening we prayed, ‘From sudden, unexpected deaths, save us, O God.’ It’s an old, very profoundly theological prayer. As Catholics, we want to experience a blessed death, which is a death for which you can prepare, so you can take care of the things that are needed to be done before dying,” he said. “I’m surprised when Catholics tell me, ‘Hey Father, I just want to die suddenly, I don’t even want to know when it happens.’ That’s a very strange thing to say as a Catholic, because wouldn’t you want to have the opportunity to prepare for that?” The meaning of a ‘blessed death’ For Catholics, he said, a blessed death means living a long life, being surrounded by family and friends, and receiving the Sacraments and Viaticum, the final taste of the Eucharist for the journey to Heaven after death. “A blessed death is not an accident,” he said. “You are preparing for death with your entire life. So any decision you make today is preparation.” This lifelong preparation can be seen clearly in Chuck’s death. The love and care that Chuck and Carolyn shared in their 56 years of marriage only grew through the final months of Chuck’s life. “He had a number of physical health problems through the years, especially in the later years,” Carolyn said. “I tried to get myself as ready as I could after knowing that I was going to be alone in a matter of months. But there’s really nothing that could prepare you for that.” At the end of Chuck’s life, Carolyn cared for him around the clock. She made sure to take time to eat and rest, but she was ready to help him with whatever he needed at any time, she said. “Jesus says what you do to the least of my brothers, you do to Me. So every time I would take care of him or do anything for him, I’d think, this is a gift to me, because when I’m taking care of Chuck, I’m taking care of Jesus,” she said. “God gave me strength to do what I needed to do. It was truly a grace. He gave me everything I needed to walk that walk.” Their children and grandchildren visited frequently. Even in his last six days, when Chuck was in a coma, family faithfully visited. “They say that you can still hear sometimes even though you’re not physically conscious of talking with people. So the children would come and talk with him and visit with him.” Father Mariusz and other clergy from the Cathedral visited Chuck and Carolyn frequently. As the cancer spread, he grew more and more weak. “When he couldn’t eat or drink, we knew his death was coming soon,” she said. On January 14, family had gathered throughout the day, not knowing for sure when he would die. Carolyn said she is sure that Chuck could hear the joyful sound of their grandchildren playing in the living room as their children spent time at his bedside. Two of their children played a violin and piano duet of Ave Maria for him; the music drifting throughout the house bringing comfort. In the evening, all the children went home, except for a daughter who had flown in from out of state that day. As their daughter sat by his side, Carolyn read Psalm 23 aloud. “Then I told him, ‘Honey, Janelle’s here. It’s okay if you go.’ And he did, he breathed his last,” she said. Include children in the grieving process The inclusion of family in Chuck’s final days and grieving together, including with the young children are healthy practices for family members, Father Mariusz said. Too many families are not including children in their grief, or are not allowing themselves to grieve, he said. “It’s a tragic mistake not to grieve and not facing head on the big questions of life. By putting on a mask and denying grief, we are impoverishing our humanity,” he said. “Bring kids to wakes, to funerals. Allow them to be part of the grieving, and don’t be afraid of that grieving, because that’s a part of life,” he said. It’s a tragic mistake when we try to shelter them, because sooner or later they will face suffering, rejection, and pain in their life. The job of the parents is to prepare them for that, and it is to walk with them.” The dedication to each other and to their children in his final days was something Chuck and Carolyn resolved to have from the very beginning of their marriage, Carolyn said. “We walked the same walk and that made all the difference in the world. Not that we didn’t have our disagreements, like everybody does. But we had the tools to navigate any trouble because of our faith.” A key to their marriage, she said, was that they took the Sacrament of Marriage seriously, never considering divorce an option when things were rough. “We knew that no matter what stormy weather we had to navigate, we would hang in there and ride out the stormy seas until they were over. Even if you don’t agree or you’re not happy with each other, you still have that love for each other. You have to look beyond the surface of the rough water, letting go of the things that are trivial, and you have to look beyond to the depth of your love, the depth of your union,” she said. Their deep love carried them both through to Chuck’s death. Although Carolyn felt relief that Chuck was no longer suffering after his death, she said she mostly felt numb. “You’re so busy with the arrangements for the funeral and with family that you kind of are lifted up. So it’s not really until after everybody leaves and you come home to your empty house, that it really hits you that you’re alone,” she said. “He loved his family more than anything. His whole life he was dedicated to his family,” she said. “He just wanted to provide for the family and take care of us.” As a self-made business man, he made sure his family was well provided for, including college tuition for all his children, she said. He also made sure that Carolyn, who had been a stay-at-home mom, was provided for after his death. “He taught me about how to take care of all our finances,” she said. Planning for family financial well-being The advance preparation in practical matters that Chuck took care of before his passing, such as ensuring that Carolyn was prepared to manage their finances, are examples of prepartion that people often neglect until it’s too late, Father Mariusz said. “It can make it very difficult for a widow (or widower) if they are not prepared to handle the finances,” he said. It’s an act of love to make sure physical needs and practical matters are prepared. “A Christian should be conscious of this all the time – that life is fragile, so we should not kick the can down the road. If we need to do something important, we have to do it now. Don’t wait until the last minute,” he said. The Idaho Catholic Foundation website has a number of documents and materials to aid families who are experiencing the loss of a loved one. By clicking on “3 Must-Have Resources,” families can be mailed material, including a personal estate planning kit, a guide to writing a will and instruction on what to do within the first 48 hours of a loved one’s passing. The website is idahocatholicfoundation.planmylegacy.org . The Diocese of Boise also conducts free Life Planning seminars throughout the Diocese. The next one is planned for Tuesday, April 18, in Marist Hall at St. Paul’s Parish in Nampa. Father Justin Brady will speak about liturgy planning as well as the Church’s teachings on cremation, life support and end-of-life issues. A funeral home and estate planning attorney will be available to answer questions about Durable Powers of Attorney, preparing a will, distributing your estate, health care directives, guardianship issues and leaving a Catholic legacy. Where is heaven? Heaven is with God. Since Chuck’s death, Carolyn leans on God and keeps busy. She travels for family reunions and to visit children and grandchildren. She also teaches piano to two of her granddaughters. “I am surrounded by lots of love, and the Lord has blessed me with good health,” she said. She enjoys daily Mass and listening to Salt & Light Radio for encouragement. “Some of the talk shows they have will talk about grief and about suffering, about turning our life over to the Lord. That’s been helpful,” she said. Although she’s not sure what is next for her on her journey, she knows there are lots of options. “I’m hoping that the good Lord will give me some direction in how I can serve Him in a real meaningful way.” In preparing for Chuck’s funeral, Father Mariusz said he prayed and asked the Lord what he should take away from his time with Chuck. “Where is heaven?” he said, “Heaven is with God. If Jesus tells us in the Gospels that heaven is loving and being in relationship with God, then can’t we say that heaven is not something just in the future, but can begin here and now? Eternity for us is something that can be realized even in this life. Because if we live in the presence of God, if we live connected to the Lord, we are already living and experiencing, the grace, the power and the gift of new life that Jesus gives us.” “That’s the beautiful thing about Christianity – we live in the presence of the Lord and, for us, death is no longer a scary thing. Of course, humanly speaking it’s always scary, but we, as Christians, look at death from the perspective of Christ and His resurrection and the promise that He gave us when He said, ‘Where I am, you also may be. Come be in relationship with Me, and you will be with Me forever in eternity in heaven.’ ” If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the May 10 Idaho Catholic Register. Kathryn and Bob Sewell By Emily Woodham Staff Writer COTTONWOOD – Eileen Uhlenkott, a parishioner of the Tri-Parish Community in Cottonwood, believes hospice care for a death at home is the best way to leave this life. Her experience of being with her mother, Kathryn Sewell during her death in 2010, prompted Eileen to become a hospice volunteer. When her father, Bob, passed away in 2014, she also stayed by his side, holding his hand until he breathed his last. “I felt that I just couldn’t be in the position of getting a phone call and hearing that one of them had passed away. I wanted to be with them,” she said. More Americans are choosing to die at home with hospice care, instead of in a hospital or another medical facility. A study released in 2019 by the New England Journal of Medicine stated that the trend to die at home rose steadily in the early 2000s. Deaths at homes increased from 23.8 percent in 2003 to 30.7 percent in 2017, while deaths in hospitals and nursing facilities declined. By 2017, the percentage of deaths at home had risen to percentages similar to more than 50 years ago. “Home has surpassed the hospital as the most common place of death in the United States for the first time since the early 20th century,” the study stated. When Uhlenkott’s mother had been in the hospital and was nearing the end of her life, the doctors told family that she could go to a transitional facility or go home to die. The choice was clear, Uhlenkott said. “She wanted to be home. We chose hospice.” Uhlenkott’s parents had lived active lives on their ranch on the Salmon River, about two miles across the river from the tiny town of Lucile. They married in 1940 and raised their four children on a ranch near the 120-year-old homestead of Eileen’s great-grand-father. But just a few years before her death, Uhlenkott’s mother moved with her father to Oregon. Bill and Eileen Uhlenkott Her mother lived a little over a week with hospice care before she passed away. She was 88, and her death was just a few months shy of her 70th wedding anniversary. “We could see the days drawing to a close, because her alertness was not there. She’d just sleep,” she said. Uhlenkott, one of her brothers and a cousin took turns caring for Kathryn. All family members had a chance to be with her individually and in groups, she said. “My mother said that she was always afraid she would die alone. So my dad just slept in the chair beside her.” When her mother was alert, Uhlenkott took the opportunity to find out what her mother wanted for her funeral. Although her mother was not Catholic, she asked that her grandson (Uhlenkott’s son, Father Ben Uhlenkott, now pastor at Risen Christ Parish in Boise) preside over her funeral. “Everybody should either write down their last wishes, or have a discussion with family members to tell them what they want done,” she said. Sharing last wishes before dying helps family members avoid disagreements in the stress of grief, she said. At some points, her mother would be at peace with her death, confident that she would be in a better place. “One day, though, she said to my husband Bill, ‘I didn’t think it would be so hard to leave this old world.’ ” As her mother’s breathing slowed down, a family member let Uhlenkott and others know it was time to gather close to her bedside. “I saw her take her last breath,” she said. Uhlenkott’s experience with her mother was so beautiful and meaningful that a friend suggested she volunteer with Syringa Hospice in Grangeville. Her husband, Bill, also became a volunteer. Experience with dad was different than mom The timing was providential, because not long after her mother’s death, Uhlenkott’s oldest brother died suddenly in 2012. Then in 2014, her father was diagnosed with advanced cancer. He lived for 14 days after the diagnosis, and his last days were slightly more active than her mother’s. He would sleep for long periods, and then be alert, but not realize where he was or what was happening. “I would just play along with him. I didn’t try and correct him,” she said. One time, she said, he had a sudden burst of energy and insisted on finding his horse and riding it. Uhlenkott was able to convince him to agree to let one of her nephews drive him around for a bit in a four-wheeler to distract him. He then calmly went back to his room. “He wasn’t confused all the time, just a few days off and on,” she said. When someone is dying, she has found it best to go along with their version of reality, as long as it isn’t doing them any harm. Uhlenkott laid down next to her father during his final night and held his hand until he died. “I knew he had gone because his hand slipped out of mine,” she said. Although it was difficult to say goodbye to her parents, Uhlenkott is grateful for the time and conversations she had with them in hospice, she said. She and Bill continue to support hospice, volunteering to help families and assist with fundraisers. A favorite project of Uhlenkott’s is helping make commemorative Christmas ornaments for hospice families. Eileen and Bill Uhlenkott frequently volunteer to sit with patients so that family caregivers can have some rest. However, there are other needs that volunteers can meet, including bringing meals or baked goods. Hospice will provide training to any who wants to volunteer. Volunteers are taught the signs of death and protocols when visiting a home. Volunteers critical for hospice care Volunteers are always needed in hospice care, said Diane Rutherford, parish nurse at St. Pius X Parish in Coeur d’Alene. Rutherford was a hospice nurse for 12 years before she retired. “Working in hospice was very rewarding,” she said. Rutherford believes more people would call hospice sooner to prepare for death if they understood how much support hospice offers. Too often, she said, people wait until their loved one has only a few days left. With the support of hospice, families can have an easier time preparing for death at home, instead of trying to coordinate everything by themselves. “My philosophy is that there’s not a right or wrong way to die,” Rutherford said. “But, I do think there is a good and a bad way to die. I think that the good way to die is with your family around and lots of support and love, and being empowered to do as much as you can until you can’t do any more,” she said. Many people are not aware that hospice can also provide emotional support and education to family members of those who are dying, Rutherford said. For example, hospice staff can help families resolve conflicts over decisions by moderating discussions, giving a chance for everyone to be heard. Hospice helps prepare family members to support their loved one who is dying, by explaining what happens as the body shuts down. “I think when people understand what is going on during death, they feel like they’re more in control and that helps them relax a little bit,” she said. For example, understanding the differences in breathing, the changes in color of the skin, and the inability to eat or drink can help family members know that death is coming and to be prepared, she said. Just as Eileen Uhlenkott experienced with her parents, there are signs of death that are common to everyone, but there are also aspects of death that are unique to each person, Rutherford said. Some people have very peaceful transitions; others lose track of reality or fight death. Families find it helpful to be able to ask a hospice nurse for advice when something unexpected comes along. Hospice volunteers give family caregivers an opportunity to rest and take care of themselves, which is essential, Rutherford said. Caregivers need to have someone with whom they can share their emotions. “A caregiver has so many fears and anxieties. They need to talk about these fears and be reassured,” she said. Sometimes family members refuse to accept the imminent death of a loved one. This lack of acceptance can become a source of stress for the one who is dying, she said. “Most people who know they are getting toward the end of life don’t want others to tell them they’re going to get better. They want to face it head-on,” she said. Patients don’t always want to share what they are thinking or feeling with family members, especially if they are worried about how their family members will respond to or process the information. “A benefit of hospice is having someone with the patient who isn’t connected so emotionally to the family,” thus allowing the patient more opportunity to be honest about his or her feelings, and even vent frustrations, if needed, Rutherford said. Talking about death and dying in general helps people come to terms with it, she said. “When we accept that death is a part of life, it helps make death more peaceful.” Most areas will have hospice organizations that you can find through web-based searches or by contacting your local parish or hospital. Your regional Health and Welfare Department office may also be able to provide referrals to hospice organizations. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the April 28 Idaho Catholic Register. Cara Morales, Lori Chaplin and Father Justin Brady (ICR photo/Michelle Wonacott) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Lori Chaplin was scared to death when she found out she was pregnant with her first child. Her boyfriend of 16 months left her the day before she learned she was pregnant. “I was deathly afraid to tell my parents because they were devoted Catholics,” said Chaplin, president of Respect Life at St. Paul’s Parish in Nampa. She had just started a career at the Art Institute of Minneapolis and was working a second job as a waitress. She felt alone, afraid and ashamed, but she did not want an abortion. Not knowing where else to turn, she went to Birthright for help. “I knew I could go to them because they advertised so well,” she said. Birthright in Minneapolis helped her with all her needs, including finding a place for her to live when she could no longer afford her rent. She also found the courage to tell her parents. The birth of her daughter brought Chaplin – and her parents – tremendous joy. “I still marvel today at how God will bless someone, even though she may not be doing God’s will,” she said. After her daughter was born, Chaplin lived with her parents for five years, which was a time of healing in their relationship. Chaplin eventually married and had four more children. Her first born is now 28 and is pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of Notre Dame. “When a woman is facing an unplanned pregnancy, her best friend is the crisis pregnancy center,” she said. Her gratitude for the help she was given and her passion to help women in need with their pregnancies motivated her to found Treasure Valley Billboards for Life, which raises funds for billboards that spread the word about pregnancy resource centers. In support of the billboard ministry and other prolife work, St. Paul’s Respect Life hosted a dinner on April 21 at Marist Hall in Nampa. About 140 attended the sold-out event. Cara Morales, a licensed marriage and family therapist and former high school theology teacher, gave a talk entitled, “Live Pro-life.” Living pro-life, she said, is based on knowing why one is pro-life, which is “to connect with your own dignity and to honor the dignity of those around you.” Also, a person is pro-life based on his or her personal experiences and beliefs about human value and dignity. People need to know why they are pro-life and live in a consistent pro-life manner in all areas of their lives, Morales said. Prolife believers need to remember that even those who disagree with them have dignity and a reason for their beliefs. “If we can live this out – that each person has unique dignity – I think it would revolutionize our world.” Because pro-life topics are “potentially messy conversations,” it’s important for advocates to combine a “heart” (pastoral) response with their “head” response, which may be based on theology or apologetics. A way of combining these responses is through what Pope Francis calls “accompaniment,” she said. “How do we accompany people on their journey?” Morales said. “Pope Francis says, ‘The Church will have to initiate everyone — priests, religious and laity — into this art of accompaniment , which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other.’ ” A practical way to accompany a person is through listening and connecting with others, she said. “Our nervous systems are designed to be co-regulatory. That means that if I am upset, one of the ways that I can calm down is to be in the presence of someone who is calm,” she said. When people are in the presence of one who is calm, their brains release oxytocin, a hormone that makes a person feel safe, she said. Difficult or painful conversations requires empathy, she said. “In empathy, I am trying to understand your experience, your situation. I want to understand where you are coming from and what’s going on in you.” The Sisters of Life, a Religious Order whose charism is to help woman in crisis pregnancies, share these responses that can help bring empathy in a difficult conversation: “I don’t know what to say, but I’m glad you told me.” “Tell me more.” “Do you want my advice or do you want me to just listen?” Practicing empathy needs to begin at home, Morales said. Her husband’s parents became pregnant with him when they were seniors in high school. Because of the loving persistence of her husband’s grandmother, his parents decided not to abort him. “Mother Teresa said, ‘If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.’ How are you loving your spouse and your kids? Consider the ripple effect of those conversations, even if they’re hard, with our kids and our kids’ friends.” We can’t comprehend the impact of our home life on the world, she said. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the April 28 Idaho Catholic Register. By Emily Woodham The Office of Respect Life for the Diocese of Boise has rolled out its new webpage, catholicidaho.org/respect-life. The site includes “Walking with Moms in Need,” which focuses on resources to support mothers in crisis throughout their pregnancy, birth and beyond. “The prolife movement has often been characterized as being simply about the welfare of the unborn child,” said Jay Wonacott, director of the Office of Respect Life and the Office of Marriage and Family Life. “The fact is that the prolife movement for years has been pro-woman and pro-mother in offering shelter, services, and healing in the wake of the devastation that abortion has caused in the lives of millions of women and men.” Last September, Bishop Peter Christensen separated the Office of Respect Life from the Office of the Permanent Diaconate. He then appointed Wonacott as the director. “Our parishes have strong leaders for Respect Life ministries. I see myself as simply supporting them in the good work they are already doing,” Wonacott said. Although the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer, Wonacott said the Church recognizes that its work is not done in safeguarding the sanctity of human life. This includes supporting the mother in need through her pregnancy and in caring for her child. “It is the likes of Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers who are anti-woman. They use women and discard them after they have an abortion,” he said. “Walking with Moms” is a program created by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in recognition of the need to support mothers in crisis during pregnancy, birth and childrearing. The “Walking with Moms” resource on the Diocesan Respect Life page includes a QR code to scan with phones to quickly access pregnancy resource centers. The Diocese is also providing parishes with help to directly support mothers in need through a matching grant. “This opportunity came from a generous, anonymous donor to the Diocese, wanting to see direct access and help from our parishes to women in need facing a crisis pregnancy or care for a newborn,” Wonacott said. The grant will be used to match a parish contribution for services for a mother up to $500 per parish. Matching donations can come from parish fundraising events or from groups such as the Knights of Columbus. Although parishes must specify the need of the mother they are helping, the Office of Respect Life asks that parishes do not reveal her name, giving her anonymity. Parishes can apply for the matching grant by contacting the Office of Respect Life. In addition to “Walking with Moms,” the webpage also has resources for abortion pill reversal. Although the abortion pill is outlawed in Idaho, mothers in Idaho can still obtain the abortion pill from other states or online. Women who regret taking the abortion pill can begin a treatment with hormones, under the supervision of a medical professional, to stop the progress of the medication-induced abortion. The catholicidaho.org/respect-life website also addresses the need for help and healing for post-abortive women and others who have been impacted by a woman’s choice to abort a baby. Holy Apostles hosting symposium on abortion, surrogate motherhood In addition to website resources, the Office of Respect Life is advocating events presented by parishes. The next scheduled event is a symposium on abortion and surrogate motherhood at Holy Apostles Parish, 6300 N. Meridian Rd., in Meridian from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 20. Speakers include Dr. Guillermo Guzman an OB/GYN; Megan Wold, an attorney; and Samantha Stephenson. Dr. Guzman is a physician at Saint Alphonsus Medical Center in Nampa. His experience includes high-risk pregnancies and deliveries, fetal medicine and postpartum care. His talk will focus on abortion and surrogacy techniques and how those affect the health of the mother. Wold is a partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm of Cooper & Kirk. She graduated with her law degree from Notre Dame University and served as a law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito from 2014 to 2015. She will explain the legal status of abortion and surrogacy in Idaho. She will also address proposed legislation for 2024. Stephenson, who holds masters’ degrees in bioethics and theology, is the author of the book, “Reclaiming Motherhood from a Culture Gone Mad.” She will speak on the theological and ethical considerations on surrogacy. A Q&A session follows each speaker. For more information, contact Michelle Boisvert at 208-861-4621. The Office of Respect Life is also planning a Mass marking the first anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. The Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 807 N. Eighth St., in Boise on Saturday, June 24. RSVP Here - https://dobbsreception.eventbrite.com/ Father Caleb Vogel, vicar general of the Diocese, will celebrate the 10 a.m. Mass. A reception following the Mass will be hosted by the St. John’s Respect Life Committee. All Respect Life leaders are welcome to the event. However, seating for the reception is limited to 180. A link to RSVP will be provided on the Office of Respect Life webpage. A Diocesan Catholic Respect Life Conference is planned for October. The conference will focus on next steps after last year’s Dobbs decision. Look for details in an upcoming Idaho Catholic Register . If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the April 28 Idaho Catholic Register. By Emily Woodham Staff Writer COTTONWOOD – Sister Mary Forman, OSB, prioress of the Monastery of St. Gertrude, died on April 20. She was 75. “Sister Mary Forman was dedicated to the community and to the Church. She worked with us to make sure we lived out Benedictine values,” said Sister Janet Barnard, OSB. Sister Janet knew Sister Mary for 39 years. “She was a deep thinker and really reflected on the Rule of Benedict, the mystics and Scriptures. She was the only one of our Sisters who taught on a Ph.D. college level,” Sister Janet said. “Her reflections on Benedictine feast days were always thought provoking, drawing us deeper into the mystery of Jesus and how to live that out as Benedictines.” Sister Mary was elected prioress in 2015, although she had been teaching away from the monastery for years, said Sister Clarissa Goeckner, OSB. Sister Clarissa knew her from the time Sister Mary first entered St. Gertrude’s in 1973. “When Sister Mary returned to Cottonwood as prioress, we had to get reacquainted with her. We soon found out that she had incredible amounts of energy. We also learned that she loved learning, did not shrink from work, and was a woman of deep faith and prayer,” Sister Clarissa said. Sister Mary worked nonstop, but she never missed her day off, Sister Clarissa said. But even on her days off, Sister Mary would spend time translating Greek and Latin books into English, a pastime she found relaxing. “Many things could be said of Sister Mary, but one key point was she was a Benedictine to the core.” Although academic and contemplative, Sister Mary also enjoyed music and the arts. A favorite memory of Sister Janet’s is watching Sister Mary perform liturgical dance, especially at Christmas time. “Sister Mary took ballet when she was a little girl and so she did liturgical dance. She and two other sisters would do a liturgical dance to ‘Gentle Woman.’ Each time I hear that song I think of her dancing,” Sister Janet said. Both Sister Clarissa and Sister Janet remember Sister Mary’s laugh well. “We always knew she was home because of her laughter, which rose high above the rest of the Sisters,” Sister Clarissa said. Sister Mary also had big dreams and plans for the community, Sister Clarissa said. “One of her dreams was to finish writing the community history.” She fought cancer on and off again for the past six years. “This liver cancer was just too much,” Sister Clarissa said. Sister Mary was born the oldest of four girls in Boise on Sept. 7, 1947, to Major Neal Forman and Eugenia T. Forman. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Idaho State University in 1970, she worked as a pharmacist. She co-founded the Terry Reilly Clinic in Nampa, the first low-income clinic in that area. Sister Mary came from a strong Catholic family, Sister Janet said. Throughout college and in her career as a young adult, she was dedicated to parish life. One of her aunts was a Carmelite nun, which was a part of her inspiration to pursue religious life, said Sister Janet. “She was especially drawn to the communal prayer life and liturgies.” She entered the Monastery of St. Gertrude in 1973, professing her vows in 1976. She subsequently earned a master’s degree in theology from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn. At the University of Toronto, she earned both a master’s degree and Ph.D. in medieval studies, and was honored with an open fellowship. Sister Mary’s friend, Abbot Placid Solari, chancellor at Belmont Abbey College, North Carolina, planned to present her with an honorary doctorate this spring. Her ministries were varied over the decades and spread throughout Idaho, North Dakota, Appalachia, Toronto and Minnesota. She served as a pharmacist, mission effectiveness educator, pastoral associate, and director of religious education. As a youth minister, she helped form the Idaho Catholic Youth program that continues today with the annual Idaho Catholic Youth Conference. She was a teaching assistant, adjunct professor, and visiting professor of theology, spending many years at the College of St. Benedict at St. John’s University. Her deep knowledge of Benedictine spirituality, charism and life also provided opportunities for her to minister as a spiritual director, retreat and workshop facilitator, and a consultant for men’s and women’s monastic communities. Sister Mary was elected a council member for the Federation of St. Gertrude in the 1990s, as well as a board member and, for two years, president of the American Benedictine Academy. She also served as associate editor of the American Benedictine Review, Magistra: A Journal of Women’s Spirituality in History, and Vox Benedictina. She wrote many articles on Benedictine topics, and two books: “Praying with the Desert Mothers,” and “One Heart, One Soul, Many Communities.” She was on a committee for promoting connection with the arts and music at the monastery’s retreat center. She also enjoyed singing in the monastery’s schola (a small ensemble of singers). She served as prioress for eight years. During her tenure, an extensive renovation of the Sisters’ residence was completed, as the Sisters moved toward expanding the definition of the community as the Center for Benedictine Life at the Monastery of St. Gertrude. Sister Mary was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her sisters: Andy Herbert of Tualatin, Ore., and Barbara K. Allen, of Coventry, R.I.; nieces and nephews; and the members of her monastic community. Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday, April 26, at 1:30 p.m. at the Monastery. Memorial gifts can be made to the Monastery of St. Gertrude, 465 Keuterville Road, Cottonwood, ID, 83522, or at the website, stgertrudes.org/donate . If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.