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The following story appeared in the December 2 Idaho Catholic Register. From left, Father Dat Vu, pastor at Our Lady of the Rosary in Boise and Deacon Lou Aaron, parish administrator, are with Braden Stauts, right, the woodworker who crafted the cabinetry and cases for the reliquary. The reliquary is open before and after Masses, during office hours on weekdays and by appointment. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer When Deacon Lou and Renee Aaron went to France and Italy in December of 2018, they were struck by all the relics of saints he encountered. “I kind of just fell in love with relics,” said Deacon Aaron, the administrator at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Boise. “Over there, there’s a relic in every church and some had reliquaries,” which is a designated space or room with relics. Deacon Aaron’s encounter with the relics in Europe was not the first time the subject of relics came up at the parish he administers. A few months before the trip, a Polish family approached him about obtaining a relic of St. Maximilian Kolbe for Our Lady of the Rosary. About that same time, another parishioner suggested a reliquary for the church. After praying with the relics on his vacation, Deacon Aaron met with the environment team at Our Lady of the Rosary to make plans for a parish reliquary. The first hurdle was choosing where to build the reliquary. A section in the back of the church with rarely used pews seemed ideal. “I’ve been here for 25 years, and I had never seen anyone sit there except for Easter Sunday,” he said. The space determined, the team Braden Stauts, a woodworker who has done projects for Our Lady of the Valley in Caldwell and for the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise. It was the right call. After discussing plans with the environment team, Stauts created a scale model that the parish accepted. He created the pieces of the reliquary in his workshop, while workers prepared the space by removing pews and covering the cement wall with plywood and drywall. Stauts began with the corner unit, which was for the altar to Mary. He then constructed eight units, one for each saint. Each unit had to be fitted to both the wall and the floor and then bolted together. Wiring was done for lighting for the units. A contractor then did the marble tops. From left, the relics of St. Louis de Montfort, Blessed Vassyl Valychkovsky and St. Padre Pio are among the nine relics on display at the reliquary. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) After the units for each saint were installed, marble and columns were in place. Stauts then began the work of preparing the individual units for each saint. “They have some very excellent relics that are quite valuable, and so there was a concern to make sure that the cases were secure,” Stauts said. Each case has quarter-inch glass, with a special sliding mechanism and dead-bolt to the wall. Stauts took 2½ years to build all of the cabinetry and cases necessary for a reliquary. A convert to Catholicism and a parishioner at St. John’s, he had seen relics on several pilgrimages. But, it wasn’t until this project was completed that he more fully realized the value of relics, he said. The plans and construction of the reliquary seemed to coincide providentially with the acquirement of relics, Deacon Aaron said. The first relic to arrive was the one of St. Maximilian Kolbe. (Because St. Maximilian was cremated at Auschwitz, his relics come from his hair that his firar-barbers saved, believing that St. Maximilian would one day be a saint.) Then another Polish family flew to Poland to retrieve a relic of St. Faustina Kowalska, whose apparitions inspired the devotion to the Divine Mercy. As word of mouth spread about the plans for the reliquary, the parish started getting more donations of relics. A priest in Belgium donated the relics of St. Louis de Montfort, St. Bernadette of Lourdes and St. Rita of Cascia. A priest in Canada donated a relic of St. Padre Pio. Other sources donated the relics of St. Francis de Sales, St. Jane de Chantal, Blessed Vassyl Velychkovsky, St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louis IX of France. (St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louis are not currently on display.) Relics (from the Latin reliquia, “remains”) are Vatican approved “remains” of saints. According to the Vatican’s Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, “The term ‘relics of the Saints’ principally signifies the bodies - or notable parts of the bodies - of the Saints who, as distinguished members of Christ’s mystical Body and as temples of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Cor. 3:16 and 6:19 and 2 Cor. 6: 16) in virtue of their heroic sanctity, now dwell in Heaven.” The directory goes on to say that objects which belonged to the Saints, such as clothes and manuscripts are also considered relics, as are objects which have touched their bodies or tombs such as oils, cloths, and images. One way of viewing veneration of relics is that just as God worked His graces through the physical presence of a saint while living on earth, He continues to work His graces through the physical presence of their relics, as they live on in Heaven. Scripture teaches that God acts through relics, especially in terms of healing. In fact, when surveying what Scripture has to say about sacred relics, one is left with the idea that healing is what relics “do.” When the corpse of a man was touched to the bones of the prophet Elisha the man came back to life and rose to his feet (2 Kings 13:20-21). A woman was healed of her hemorrhage simply by touching the hem of Jesus’ cloak (Matthew 9:20-22). The signs and wonders worked by the Apostles were so great that people would line the streets with the sick so that when Peter walked by at least his shadow might ‘touch’ them (Acts 5:12-15). When handkerchiefs or aprons that had been touched to Paul were applied to the sick, the people were healed and evil spirits were driven out of them (Acts 19:11-12). A relic of St. Maximilian Kolbe was the first obtained for Our Lady of the Rosary's reliquary. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) In each of these instances, God has brought about a healing using a material object. The vehicle for the healing was the touching of that object. It is very important to note, however, that the cause of the healing is God; the relics are a means through which He acts. In other words, relics are not magic. They do not contain a power that is their own; a power separate from God. The bodies or major organs of saints are considered significant relics. Small fragments of their bodies or objects they came in contact with are considered non-significant relics. Relics are further classified as first-, second-, or third-class. First-class relics are actual fragments or parts of the body. Second-class relics are objects or fragments of objects that a saint personally owned. Third-class relics are objects that the saint touched or that were touched to another relic. “I’ve seen people just practically fall over when they’ve gone in the reliquary; they get blown away by the Holy Spirit. They either start crying or just get overwhelmed. It’s quite amazing to watch,” Deacon Aaron said. “It was a lot of work, but it turned out absolutely gorgeous.” 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.

Boise woman chooses counter-cultural way of life The following story appeared in the September 10 Idaho Catholic Register. Sister Maria Juan Anderson receives her profession ring from Mother Mary McGreevy, Superior General of the Religious Sisters of Mercy. Her ring motto, engraved on her ring, is “The One Who Showed Mercy (Lk 10:37). By Emily Woodham Staff Writer ALMA, MICH. – People, including strangers, often ask Sister Maria Juan Anderson, RSM, why she chose the religious life. Her answer is simple: It was not her idea. When the Boise native, known before her consecration as Amanda Anderson, was discerning religious life, she felt like all the lights in the church went out except the one over her head whenever the intercessory prayer was said during a Mass for vocations. “It’s sort of a funny story now, but I believe the Lord was stirring my heart. He is gentle and if we are attentive, we can see and know how he is communicating with us through prayer and the liturgy,” Sister Maria Juan said. Her faith journey began in Boise where she was born and raised, the daughter of Wayne and Linda Anderson of Boise. From her Baptism as an infant to her Confirmation, she received all her sacraments at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Although her family was not devout, she said, her parents were faithful in making sure she and her brother received all the sacraments and went to Mass each Sunday. “This speaks to the power of sacramental grace,” she said. Sister Maria Juan kneels with four other Sisters also making their perpetual vows. It was not until she was 15 and did research to find a Confirmation saint that she was aware of the possibility of religious life. “As I read the stories of the saints’ lives, it was the first time I learned that there were men and women who loved our Lord so much, that they gave up everything to devote their lives to following Him,” she said. When she received the Sacrament of Confirmation in 2001, her life changed forever, she said. From that point on, through the grace of the sacrament and the power of the Holy Spirit, a fire was lit in her soul and her faith grew. An important mentor in her faith journey was her youth minister at the Cathedral, Lorissa Horn. She said Horn “lived her faith with intensity and joy.” “Lorissa taught me to pray and to know Jesus present in the Holy Eucharist,” Sister Maria Juan said. “She taught me how to pray the rosary and how to have a friendship with Our Lady.” About the Religious Sisters of Mercy The Religious Sisters of Mercy has its roots in Ireland with Venerable Mother Catherine McAuley. Born near Dublin in 1778, Catherine went to live with relatives after the death of both her parents. The relatives embodied the strong anti-Catholic atmosphere of the times. This was a difficult trial for Catherine, but through it she developed a spirituality based on God’s mercy. She found “peace in the Cross, joy in suffering, prayer in action and action in prayer,” according to a biography written about her. She sought to provide solace to sick and needy families, to train young girls for employment and to instruct poor children. When Catherine was 25, a retired Quaker couple invited her to live with them. Catherine proved to be a loving companion and holy example to them. On their death beds, they converted to Catholicism, and bequeathed their estate to her. With this inheritance, Catherine built a house on Baggot Street in Dublin as a home for poor girls. This first Home of Mercy opened on September 24, 1827, the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy. Her work with the poor and destitute led Catherine to desire a life of total consecration to Our Lord. Encouraged by the Archbishop, Catherine and two other women professed vows on December 12, 1831, and began the Religious Institute of the Sisters of Mercy. Often seen walking the streets to serve the sick and the poor, the “walking nuns” inspired many women to dedicate themselves to Christ and to the service of the Church, causing the Institute to spread rapidly. In the United States, the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma was formed in Alma, Mich. In 1973. Today, the order has communities and apostolates in 12 U.S. locations and four international communities. For more information, go to rsmofalma.org. Learning how to live out the truth and beauty of the Church’s teachings and the freedom they bring helped her navigate her high school years into adult-hood, she said. After graduating from public high school, she went to Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, to study music. It was there that she began to discern her vocation. “I began to sense in my heart in my prayer at Mass an invitation from Jesus to give him everything as a Sister. Did I hear a voice? No. It might have made my discernment and choice easier if I had,” she said. Instead, God spoke to her through moments in Mass through different scripture readings or prayers. “The scriptures are written for us, and I was starting to hear them in a whole new way. At first I was nervous because I didn’t know what this meant, but slowly through prayer and speaking with a spiritual director, it became clear to me that I really needed to look at religious life,” she said. Growing up, she assumed she would get married, have children and raise a family. “As I grew in my relationship with Jesus and awareness of His invitation to give Him all, I wrestled with giving up the beauty of marriage and family. But in my moments of prayer and honesty with Jesus, there was a deep peace in his call for my life to be a Sister,” she said. Trusting in Jesus’ love, and with the help of a spiritual director, she looked at different religious communities. Nothing became apparent at first. She graduated from college in 2007 and served as a FOCUS missionary for three years at North Dakota State University in Fargo. In 2010, she moved back to Idaho, serving as a youth minister at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Mountain Home for one year. Then, she moved to Cincinnati to work in development and donor relations for the Dynamic Catholic Institute, the apostolate founded by well-known Catholic author and speaker Matthew Kelly. Through all her different experiences, she still could not find the right fit for a religious congregation. Her spiritual director recommended she try the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Mich. She went for a weekend visit in February of 2012 and found herself where she belonged. (See other story this issue about the Religious Sisters of Mercy.) One of the Sisters on the retreat explained to Sister Maria Juan the significance of the mercy cross that each Sister wears as part of her habit. The black outline of the cross represents the misery of humanity while the white cross in the center represents the mercy of God. “We often experience God’s mercy most in the midst of great misery, like light in the darkness,” she said. “Each Sister is called to stand with Christ at the place where those two realities meet; to be with those in great misery and unite them to God’s mercy.” As the Sister continued speaking during the retreat, Sister Maria Juan knew she wanted to her live her life with the Sisters of Mercy. She wanted to strive to conform her life to Jesus, spurred on by the Sisters in prayer and friendship and in service to those who long to encounter the mercy of God, she said. She entered the convent in August of 2012 and made her perpetual vows – the final step of consecration – on Aug. 16 at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption in Saginaw, Mich. “My parents and my brother are extremely proud and supportive of my vocation,” she said. Every vocation affects an entire family whether that means getting along with in-laws or moving away to a different city for work. The same is true in the religious life, she said. “My call is particularly for me, but also for my family,” she said. Thus, as a part of her perpetual vows, the family is asked to participate spiritually in giving their daughter and sister to the Church. The perpetual vows for the Sisters of Mercy of Alma include the public vows instated by the evangelical counsels of the Church: poverty, chastity and obedience. Religious institutes may add a fourth vow, according to their charism. For the Sisters of Mercy, their fourth vow is service to the poor, sick, and uneducated. The vows she has taken are counter-cultural, she said, given how current culture values money and power, sexual freedom and is trying to redefine human sexuality. “The culture says that freedom is being able to do whatever you want, so the three vows I just professed to God that I will live for the rest of my life look crazy and restrictive. The truth is, I am totally and radically more free than anyone living those worldly values,” she said. She sees her vows as a means of grace to live simply through poverty, to love all people with the love of Jesus through chastity and to be of service to the Church and the world through obedience. She is currently based in Knoxville, Tenn. where the Religious Sisters of Mercy has a community. There, she works for the bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville while she continues to pursue a master’s degree in philosophy from the Catholic University of America. 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 October 7 Idaho Catholic Register. Father Germán Ruis Rebollo, parochial vicar at Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Caldwell, is now a citizen of the United States. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez) By Vero Gutierrez Staff Writer CALDWELL – After fulfilling the legal requirements and passing the general knowledge exam, Father Germán Ruis Rebollo, parochial vicar at Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Caldwell, is now a citizen of the United States. Father Germán views citizenship as a “true wealth for my ministry,” he said. “Learning the language and accessing the American culture provide an opportunity to better serve the priesthood. Also, it helps me to understand the people of the United States as well as those migrants who have come here to work. I feel close to them, and I can speak to them from my experience as a child of migrants.” “I like the American culture for its multiple values” added Father Germán. “I admire its discipline, order and punctuality. And, I like having a reason to feel patriotic as there are so many people who gave their lives for this country. This is a country that values freedom and has welcomed migrants from other cultures. They are very human and support you.” Father Germán’s plans have had great changes since he visited the United States for the first time. He had not yet discovered his vocation to the priest-hood, focusing instead on sports, money and material goods like so many young men struggling to find meaning in life. Over time, he discerned a vocation to the priest-hood, deciding to enter the seminary following the example of his uncle, Father Armando Ruis and his older brother, Father Juan Ruis. That’s when his interests and priorities changed completely, centering instead on God and the building of His kingdom. Father Germán is not the first in his family with links to the United States. His father, Juan Ruiz Martínez, who passed away 14 years ago, worked for 40 years in Chicago, becoming a citizen in 2008. So far, most of his family, including his siblings and his mother, have established residency here. Father Germán started his process toward citizen-ship with the help of Catholic Charities of Idaho. He was able to conclude the process with the help of a friend, Zuni Martínez, who knows about the subject after having worked for many years for an immigration law firm. Father Germán is grateful to Martínez and several others who helped him make the process easier, including the Archbishop of Morelia, Monsignor Carlos Garfias Merlos, who granted him permission to come here as part of an exchange agreement between the archdiocese and the Diocese of Boise. Learning English has been an important part of the process. Susan Müllin, a parishioner at St. John Paul II Community in Idaho Falls, gave him English instruction during the time that Father Germán served as parochial vicar there. She would also review his homilies whenever he celebrated an English Mass. Now, as parochial vicar at Our Lady of the Valley in Caldwell, Father Germán celebrates the 7:30 a.m. Spanish Mass as well as the Eucharistic celebrations in English on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. 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 24 Idaho Catholic Register. By Emily Woodham Staff Writer The stories of the piety of the widowed queen, St. Olga of Kyiv (Ukraine), are similar to stories of other royal saints: She used her wealth and influence to build churches, to feed the poor and to spread the Gospel. However, what made Olga’s holy life so remarkable was its stark contrast to her life before her conversion. The most reliable stories about Olga come from the “Primary Chronicle of Kyivan Rus,” a collection of oral stories written in the 12th century. However, with the current war in Ukraine, debate over the details has become more prominent. This story of St. Olga follows the more traditional interpretations of the chronicle. Because of battles with the Byzantine Empire in the 9th century, tribes in eastern Europe asked Scandinavian Vikings, known as “the Rus,” for help. Kyiv (sometimes spelled, “Kiev”) became the seat of Viking rule for the Kyivan Rus Empire. This empire included modern Ukraine, Belarus and parts of Russia. Olga was from the city of Pskov, in modern northwestern Russia. It is unknown if she was born there, but it is believed that she was of Viking nobility. Her date of birth is also unknown because the dates of the Chronicle do not line up with other documented historical dates. However, many historians suggest that she was born in about 925. She was 15 when she was given in marriage to Igor, the Viking king who inherited the Kyivan Rus empire. In 945, Igor went to a Slavic tribe northwest of Kyiv, called the Drevlians, to demand hefty taxes. Not wanting war, the Drevlians gave all that was asked of them. However, on his way back to Kyiv, Igor decided he wanted more money from the Drevlians. Not known for his wisdom, he returned to the tribe and demanded they increase their tribute. They rebelled and murdered Igor by tearing apart his body. Because their only son, Sviatoslav, was 3, Olga became “Queen Regent,” a title given royalty until the successor to the throne is old enough to rule. The prince of the Drevlians, Prince Mal, saw an opportunity to marry Olga and take over the Kyivan Rus Empire. He assumed that she would be afraid and unwilling to rule such a vast and dangerous empire on her own. He believed she would welcome him as her next husband to rule for her and that after marrying her, he could simply get rid of her son. Prince Mal sent 20 chieftains to present his offer of marriage to Olga. She was incensed by the brazen request, but hid her feelings. She received the chieftains into her court with flattery. She insisted that the men should return to their boat and that during the next morning her subjects would carry them in their boat through the city streets, assuring all deference to Prince Mal’s wishes. Thinking Olga was sincere, the chieftains did as she wished. Through the night, Olga had her people secretly dig a large trench. When daylight broke, the Drevlian chieftains were lifted up in their boat and were paraded through the city, as the people shouted their approval. When they arrived at court, the boat was placed in the trench. To the Drevlians’ horror, they realized they had been betrayed. Olga gave the order, and they were buried alive. Olga continued scheme after scheme against the Drevlians until she completely crushed the tribe. Soon, word spread of her cunning wisdom. Although she was ruthless to her enemies, she was a just ruler over her people. She centralized and organized the government and made the nobility more accountable for their actions. In the 950s, she traveled to Constantinople and met with the Byzantine Emperor, Constantine VII (913-959). Seeing an opportunity to peacefully take the Kyivan Rus Empire, Constantine proposed marriage. She graciously refused, pointing out to him that she was still a pagan. So, Constantine taught her the faith and became her godfather. Constantine proposed to her again, but she declined, asserting that in the Church she could not marry her godfather. Instead of becoming angry that he had been duped by her, he was impressed by how shrewd she was. Because of their new relationship, their empires remained at peace. Although Olga’s motivation to be baptized may have been to safeguard her power, the grace at her baptism was transformative. She became sincerely devout, with a fervent love for Jesus and the Church. (Her conversion was before the Great Schism in 1054, which divided Byzantines from Catholics. This is sometimes a point of contention in current commentary, but it is clear that the Church was undivided during her lifetime. This means that Olga, like all Christians at that time, was Catholic.) She returned to Kyiv with a heart to bring the Gospel to her people, especially to her son, Sviatoslav. However, he scorned Olga’s new faith, saying that she was foolish. He refused to consider Christianity, afraid of what others would think of him if he converted. However, even though he did not convert, he agreed not to persecute Christians when he became king. Olga refused to recant or deny her faith despite Sviatoslav’s disdain for Christianity. She was just and honest in affairs of state, serving the poor and building churches. She appealed to the Frankish king (who was later named Holy Roman Emperor), Otto the Great (936-973), to send missionaries to Kyiv. To her dismay, the missionaries were not successful. However, her faithfulness and virtues made an impressive witness to all who knew her, especially her grandchildren. Olga died on July 11, 969. Her grandson, Vladimir I, took the throne in 980. About 10 years later, and still when the Church was united, he converted to Christianity. The Gospel took hold throughout the Kyivan Rus empire. St. Olga is the patron saint of converts and widows. She is especially revered in Ukraine. Her feast day is July 11. 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 10 Idaho Catholic Register. By Emily Woodham Staff Writer On June 18, 1529, a legatine (papal) court opened in England to decide on the legitimacy of the marriage between Catherine of Aragon and King Henry VIII (1509-1547). Cardinal Lorenzo Campeggio from Italy was sent by Pope Clement VII (1523-1534) to preside over the court with Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, Archbishop of York. The pope desired peace at all costs with the volatile monarch of England. Henry had been outspoken against Martin Luther in Germany and the Protestant heresies that were tearing Europe apart. The pope did not want to lose such a powerful political ally. He hoped to find a way so that Henry could abandon his marriage to Catherine and marry his lover, Anne Boleyn. The pope’s legate, Cardinal Campeggio, was sent, despite his unorthodox life with his wife and five children. Not prepared for any resistance, he was confident he could get Henry’s marriage declared invalid. However, Campeggio underestimated John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester and Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. To many, Fisher seemed to be a gentle, quiet old man. He pastored the poorest diocese in the kingdom and had no interest in promotion to more wealthy dioceses. He was more interested in reading books and doing acts of charity than in the concerns of state. He was frequently called upon to give public sermons, which were often messages of repentance and God’s mercy. At the legatine court, he defied all popular opinion and expectations. He spoke with eloquence on the Sacrament of Marriage and the soundness of Henry’s marriage. The court became impotent, and Henry became furious. However, John was unconcerned. He had said that if he must die as St. John the Baptist died for upholding the sanctity of marriage, then he would do so. John Fisher was born in the town of Beverley in Yorkshire (northern England) in 1469. Historians are uncertain if he was the oldest or youngest of his three siblings. His father died when he was 8. His mother remarried and had four more children. Despite his duties in administration, Father John continued work on his doctorate and became the confessor and spiritual director for Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of King Henry VII (1485-1509). He was appointed Bishop of Rochester in 1497. He finished his doctorate in 1501. After being appointed Chancellor of Cambridge several times, he was named chancellor “for life.” Historians say he must have been humble and hardworking. The people of Yorkshire are known for being hardy, plainspoken and practical, and John seems to have fit this description. Most bishops in England (and in Europe) focused their energy on nobility and courtly life. John, however, focused on pastoring his diocese and his duties to the university. Unlike most bishops, he frequently spent time in his diocese and personally visited families to minister to them. John was so bright that he was sent to the University of Cambridge when he was 12. He received his bachelor’s degree when he was 19. He earned a masters degree and was ordained a priest when he was 22. (He was so proficient in theology and was so consistent in virtue, that he received a papal dispensation to be ordained before the canonical age.) With Lady Margaret’s help, he brought better scholars to Cambridge to teach. The quality of academics at Cambridge improved, especially for those studying to become clergy. He wore simple clothes and a hair shirt for his personal penance. He seems to have been devoted to “Memento Mori” (“Remember Your Death”), a saying from ancient Christianity to encourage the faithful to live in preparation for heaven. He kept a skull on the altar when he said Mass and at the dinner table as a reminder of death’s immanence. Henry VII and Lady Margaret died in 1509. Although he had enjoyed a good relationship with them, his relationship with Henry VIII was strained. Even before the controversies of Henry’s marriage, John and Henry had butted heads over the lands and funds bequeathed by Lady Margaret to Cambridge. John was not close to Thomas More, a popular lawyer who became Lord High Chancellor of England, nor to Erasmus, a scholar in Europe, but the three were friends and exchanged letters. Erasmus declared that John was one of the few priests who actually lived a Christian life. Concerned about Protestantism, John wrote books in defense of the Catholic faith, including one that defended Henry VIII’s rebuttal against Lutheranism. His efforts to stem the tide of Protestantism were significantly hampered when King Henry became more focused on his desire to marry Anne Boleyn and decided to make himself head of the Church of England, negating all papal authority. John’s faith was so genuine and his character was so apparent, that Henry had trouble discrediting anything John said about Henry’s marriage and papal authority. Although the popularity of Protestantism was growing, to the chagrin of Henry, many in England identified John with John the Baptist. John was steadfast in defending the true Church. He refused to sign documents declaring Henry as head of the Church of England. He was imprisoned at the Tower of London at the same time as Thomas More. John and Thomas were in prison for more than a year when the pope declared John to be a cardinal. Henry decided to have John killed before the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, trying to avoid any identification with the old prophet. So he had John beheaded on June 22, 1535, which was the feast day of St. Alban, the first martyr of England. Henry’s plans to avoid John Fisher being viewed as a martyr completely failed. St. John Fisher was canonized in 1935. He is the only cardinal to be martyred. He is the patron saint of the Diocese of Rochester. His feast day is June 22. 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 27 Idaho Catholic Register. By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Father Paul O’Donnell of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles didn’t discern his call to the priesthood until he was 30. “My family never thought I’d be the one to become a priest,” Father O’Donnell said. “The key for me was going to daily Mass. Once I started going to daily Mass, I realized the Lord was calling me.” After nine years of serving as a missionary and 20 years serving in Los Angeles, he is transferring to the Diocese of Boise to be pastor at St. Mark’s Parish in Boise beginning in July. Father O’Donnell was struck by the beauty of the state and the openness and goodness of the people when he visited friends and family in northern Idaho. “I just enjoyed it so much, and I always had the feeling that I would love to come back.” Later, he met Bishop Peter Christensen and they briefly discussed his coming to Idaho. However, before transferring to the Diocese of Boise, he wanted to finish his term at his parish in Lomita, Calif., St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Catholic Church. After completing his nine years of serving as pastor at St. Margaret Mary, the time was right to come to Boise, he said. “I’m really excited about going up to Idaho and serving at St. Mark’s. I’ve heard wonderful things about St. Mark’s,” he said. Father O’Donnell was raised in a large Catholic family with five siblings. His family lived just outside Chicago and then moved to New Jersey when he was 10. He attended Catholic schools until he was midway through high school. “I thought seriously about becoming a priest in the Eighth Grade,” he said. “I fell in love with my Seventh Grade teacher, who was a nun. I thought she was old, but she was just 22. She was full of the joy of the Lord. I realized that what I loved about her was that she loved the Lord. And that’s what I wanted.” His oldest brother went to a Maryknoll Junior Seminary for high school to discern the priesthood. Although his brother was not ordained, his time of discernment prompted Father O’Donnell to discern priesthood, too. However, he felt conflicted about a call during his high school years. “There were some family problems, and I became rebellious and taciturn,” he said. He struggled with his faith. “I understand some of the issues that young people are going through. Thanks be to God, the Lord is so good, loving and patient. He kept calling through all those years,” he said. Father O’Donnell received his bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the California Institute of the Arts in 1978. He pursued a career as a professional artist and book illustrator. In college, he was an “on-again, off-again Catholic,” he said. But when he was living on his own as an artist, he began to change. “I started to live more like a monk, praying, going to daily Mass, and finding a good parish. That’s how the Lord called me.” He met members of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus when he was doing an art show in Mexico. He decided to pursue priest-hood through their congregation. He attended three universities during his 8½ years of formation: St. Jerome’s University in Canada, Catholic Theo-logical Union in Chicago, and Urbaniana University in Rome. Father O’Donnell was ordained on March 20, 1993, in Pasadena by Bishop Juan Arzube, then the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He served as a missionary in the Philippines for seven years and in Mexico for 2 years. As a young missionary, he studied Redemptoris Missio, Pope St. John Paul II’s document on the mission of the Church. The document continues to influence how he tries to live his life, he said. “A favorite quote from Redemptoris Missio is that the kingdom of God tends toward the transformation of relationships. Wherever one loves, serves, and forgives another, there the kingdom is being built,” he said. “Whether people are rich or poor, in need or able to give, the possibility for the transformation of our human relationships in Christ into mutual loving service is there.” Due to health issues, he stopped working in the mission field. He served as a chaplain and spiritual director for Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart in Los Angeles from 2004 to 2008. In 2009, he decided to do parish work and was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He served as administrator and then pastor at St. Margaret Mary Parish in Lomita from 2013 until June of this year. With his personal experience as a Catholic school student and in working with Catholic schools as a pastor, Father O’Donnell is an ardent supporter of Catholic education. “Catholic schools are the best way to support Catholic families. The families are the first teachers of the faith, and the schools buttress what the kids learn at home about the faith,” he said. “Wherever I’ve worked, I’ve been blessed. I’ve had wonderful principals, and we’ve gotten along beautifully. If you work together, you can get so much done for the school,” he said. Catholic identity is the key issue for schools, he said. “Students can learn about all the other subjects in one way or another, but the Catholic identity is what will help these children through their whole life. You have to support Catholic education.” He doesn’t plan on changing everything that is good about St. Mark’s, one of the Diocese’s largest parishes. “I’m not going to St. Mark’s to impose my ideas about pastoral work or the Church. I’m going there hopefully to reflect the face of Jesus and to meet Jesus in each and every parishioner and each and every child in the school and to try and serve Him as best I can.” Father O’Donnell has traveled the country leading retreats and giving spiritual direction to priests, religious and laity. He continues to create art, write and perform music. He has written two books, “Night as Clear as Day” (a series of short stories) and “A Place of Springs” (a novella). He speaks Spanish, Italian and Tagalog. “During my years in the priesthood, the thing that sticks with me the most is how beautiful, faithful and merciful is our Lord Jesus. I went through a lot of years being too busy. He’s taught me over the years to first come to Him in prayer and Adoration and then do what Our Lady said at the wedding feast in Cana, ‘Do whatever He tells you.’ He’s been very patient, kind and merciful to me.” 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 27 Idaho Catholic Register. By Emily Woodham Staff Writer The choir of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise is presenting Mozart’s Vesperae so-lennes de confessore (“Solemn Vespers for a Confessor”) at the Cathedral on Saturday, June 11, at 7 p.m. Last year, the Cathedral choir performed “The Seven Last Words of Christ” by Théodore Dubois for the Cathedral’s centennial celebration. Due to the success of last year’s concert, Morvant decided to present Mozart’s work to the community this year. “This is not a concert. It’s a liturgy,” said Dr. Raphael Morvant, music director and organist for the Cathedral. The community is invited to prayerfully participate during the Solemn Vespers. “I view aesthetics as a spiritual dimension in music,” he said. “We have choirs who do beautiful music because it helps open our hearts and puts us more in a spiritual and contemplative state.” The community can actively listen and pray Mozart’s psalm settings in the Vespers, just as it participates and prays actively by listening to the Eucharis-tic prayers in Mass, Morvant said. Those who attend are also invited to sing the antiphons, prayers and hymns that are a part of Vespers. “Sacrosanctum concilium, the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy from Vatican II, mandated that cathedrals and large churches should preserve the musical treasures of the Church,” Morvant said. In keeping with the Constitution, Morvant uses traditional Catholic music on a regular basis at the Cathedral. Presenting larger and more classical works from the Church to the community is also a part of following those mandates, he said. Vespers are a part of the Divine Office, also known as the Liturgy of the Hours. The liturgy is comprised of sets of prayers and psalms said at different hours of the day. Vespers are prayed in the evening. In a church setting, vespers are usually presided by a priest or deacon. In large church settings, the prayers and psalms are often chanted antiphonally between a choir and congregation. Mozart’s “Solemn Vespers” was written in 1780 for Salzburg Cathedral in Austria. It includes parts for a priest or leader, the congregation, a choir and four soloists. The Vespers comprise five psalms (Psalms 110, 111, 112, 113 and 117) and the Magnificat, the canticle of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the Gospel of St. Luke. According to music historians, the final psalm, Psalm 117 is the most celebrated of the pieces from the Solemn Vespers. These vespers are set apart with its designation “for a Confessor.” Historians think that it was meant to be prayed on the Feast Day of St. Rupert of Salzburg, who was also known as “St. Rupert the Confessor,” for his gift for bringing consolation to penitents. Dr. Morvant is playing the organ and directing the choir. Father Mariusz Majewski, rector at the Cathedral, is presider. The soloists are Christie Bell, soprano; Naomi Spinelli, alto; John Mauldin, tenor; and Jeffrey Sappala, bass. “I think this is a great opportunity for outreach to the community,” Morvant said. “It’s an evangelization opportunity. Anyone can come and pray.” 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 13 Idaho Catholic Register. Bible study and prayer are both important components of a women’s Bible study including members of Holy Spirit Catholic Community in Pocatello. Small faith communities are seen as an effective means to keep people connected in parishes that are increasingly larger and served by fewer priests. Many priests in the U.S. Church say a natural outgrowth of small faith groups is increased spirituality in the individual members, which leads to increased involvement and contribution to parish life, thus revitalizing parishes. Members of this Pocatello group are clockwise from lower left, Vicky Jones, Cindy De La Cruz, Anastasia Dumesnil, Rosemary Nett and Kathryn Venable. (Courtesy photo/Kathryn Venable) By Emily Woodham, Staff Writer and Gene Fadness, Editor They dub themselves the “ungodly hour group.” Deacon Jason Batalden of Idaho Falls rouses himself out of bed in order to meet with a small community of other men every Thursday at “the ungodly” hour of 6 a.m. At that hour, coffee is a must, but this is no ordinary coffee klatch. Along with the coffee, the group reads the Gospel passage for the following Sunday and then discuss its meaning in their lives. Deacon Batalden, who is the director of religious education at Pope St. John Paul II Parish in Idaho Falls, says his small faith community that has been meeting faithfully for eight years is important for two reasons: faith formation and engagement in the life of the Church. Above, members of the “Ungodly Hour” small faith community gather every Thursday at 6 a.m. to discuss the readings for the following Sunday. Members, from left, are Dan Ackerman, Art Rood, John Walker, Dean Tracey, Fred Grinnell, Joe Saye and Lyle Roybal. Not pictured is Andrew Slaughter and Deacon Jason Batalden. (Courtesy photo/Deacon Jason Batalden) Small faith communities are “essential to the life of the church because they allow people to engage with other Catholics in events outside of the Mass. The Mass is the source and summit, and these groups provide other opportunities to build relationships and develop community,” Deacon Batalden said. Small faith communities (SFCs) are not uncommon in the life of the Church, but most Catholics do not belong to one. As parishes get larger and priests fewer, the importance of the personal connection in small faith groups increases. The communities help people to live out the benediction at the end of Mass to “announce the Gospel” or “glorifying the Lord by your life,” Deacon Batalden said. “For our men’s group, we try to keep each other accountable, keep each other moving forward in the faith,” he said. “Iron sharpens iron,” quoting Proverbs 27. “That’s our point,” he said. “Small faith groups lead to and are signs of the health of a parish,” he said. IN HIS APOSTOLIC exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis calls the parish a “com-munity of communities,” a “sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink,” and “a center of constant missionary outreach.” However, Pope Francis also warns that the vitality of a parish is only possible if it avoids becoming “a useless structure out of touch with people” or “a self-absorbed group made up of a chosen few.” Many parishes in the Diocese of Boise have found that small faith communities are the answer to Pope Francis’ challenge for parishes to be more vibrant. Parishioners who attend small groups tend to be more active in the Church overall, said Father Brad Neely, pastor at All Saints Parish in Lewiston. “Whether groups focus on praying the Rosary together, Bible study, or are more formal, such as (Cursillo) Fourth Day groups, these are important for people. Even for priests, it’s important to gather with a small group of priests to share ideas,” Father Neely said. It is crucial for Catholics to be involved with the Church in some way other than just going to and from Mass, he said. “Small groups can be good because they foster a sense of community, and they also foster authenticity, sincerity and accountability of the living the faith,” said Father Francisco Flores, pastor at Pope St. John Paul II Parish in Idaho Falls. Small faith communities are often the end-product of a spiritual retreat, such as an Evangelization Re-treats, a Marriage Encounter weekend or a Cursillo weekend. It’s important, Father Flores advises, that people understand that the mountaintop retreat experience not became an end in and of itself, but that people continue to progress from what they gained on the retreat weekend by participating in their small faith communities. “An intimate community that mutually encourages and aids in Christian living must follow these larger group experiences, and small groups can fit the bill,” Father Flores said. A challenge to small groups is learning to discern the consensus or “group think” of the group in comparison to the sound teaching and Tradition of the Church, Father Flores said. “An authentic small group should foster living in fidelity to the Church,” he said. ST. MARK’S PARISH in Boise has been a home to small faith communities for nearly 30 years, beginning when Monsignor John Donoghue introduced the Evangelization Retreat to the parish. Three years ago, Ed Herrera, a parishioner at St. Mark’s and discerning the diaconate, was asked to help restart a parish Small Faith Group Committee to strengthen the small groups in the parish. “Small faith communities are an important touch point within the community. It’s another opportunity to practice your faith and to have support in a smaller setting,” Herrera said. The committee at St. Mark’s meets every two months, opening their meetings with prayer, worship songs and a short talk. Then leaders discuss their experiences and needs. “We are hoping to create stronger small communities of faith,” Herrera said. Herrera and his wife have belonged to a small faith community at St. Mark’s for four years. “As the years go by, our SFC has become an extension of our family. Together we share in celebrations and help carry the burdens that life brings. Our SFC has truly been a blessing to us,” he said. “As I’ve grown in my faith, it has been important to have several touch points between Sunday Masses. Whether this means a daily Mass during the week, Adoration or a small faith community, these are all opportunities to grow closer to Christ,” he said. “Especially now, in our fractured society, the small faith community offers another connection to the Body of Christ and an opportunity to learn together, to pray together and to share our faith.” Ed and Stephany Herrera with Ginger Mortensen, right, during their small faith community group at St. Mark’s Parish in Boise. Herrera is part of a committee at St. Mark’s that is seeking to strengthen small faith communities in his parish. (Courtesy photo/Ed Herrera) Most of the small faith communities at St. Mark’s are a result of the Evangelization Retreat weekends sponsored at the parish over several years. At the end of the retreat, participants join an established SFC or create a new one. To allow more parishioners to be involved in a small faith group, the committee has encouraged that groups be open to any who want to participate, not just for those who complete a retreat weekend. In fact, many small faith groups are started by parishioners who have a common interest in Bible study and prayer. DEACON GEORGE IVORY in Lewiston leads a Bible study that was started before he arrived at All Saints Parish. He joined the group 10 years ago because it was the only Bible study available. Their Bible study has used different studies from various sources, including Ascension Press and the FORMED.org website. The number fluctuates, but they average about 12 at meetings. A bittersweet dynamic of their group is that most members are near the end of their lives, Deacon Ivory said. “One member celebrated her 100th birthday with us, but then soon after she was not able to travel. Several members have passed away,” he said. Sharing prayer intentions at the end of the study is an important part of building their relationships with each other, he said. Kathryn Venable, a parishioner at Holy Spirit Catholic Community in Pocatello, was asked by Deacon Scott Pearhill to facilitate a women’s Bible study. The group started at the end of 2020 and has five members. Being such a small group has allowed deep, personal discussions, she said. “We are truly supportive of each other,” Venable said. To provide a place of trust, all members are asked to keep conversations and prayer intentions at their meetings confidential. That confidentiality is typical for nearly all small faith communities. In order for members to be able to be truly open and vulnerable, confidentiality is a key to the success of a small faith community. Venable’s community meets faithfully twice each month. Four of them share a similar journey of having left the Church and then returned, wanting to renew their faith. One member is not Catholic. “It’s not just open to our Catholic parishioners. It’s open to any woman in the community,” she said. “All women are welcome to come and join us.” “Watching everybody grow, including myself, is so inspiring to me. I feel like I am doing what God has led me to do. This this is where I am supposed to be, and this is what I am supposed to be doing,” she said. In the lower photo, Deacon George Ivory, second row on far left, leads a Bible study group at All Saints Parish. They call themselves the “Forever Learning Institute.” (Courtesy photo/Deacon George Ivory) WHILE MANY small faith communities are self-starting, most still come out of retreats like the Worldwide Marriage Encounter, Cursillo or the Evangelization Retreat. Pete Hillman, a parishioner at St. Edward’s Parish in Twin Falls, values the accountability he has in his “Fourth Day” group. Fourth Day groups are part of the Cursillo Movement. Men and women attend a three-day Cursillo (Spanish for “short course”) retreat, but the spiritual fruits of the weekend continue past the three days to the ongoing “Fourth Day” where members meet to help each continue on the Cursillo’s “tripod” method of spiritual growth: piety, study and action. Fourth Day groups meet weekly throughout the Diocese to share what they are doing in their lives to increase their personal piety (devotions), what they are reading or studying, and the apostolic action – service, missionary work – in which they are currently engaged. Hillman has been a part of his Fourth Day group since October of 1994. “We share struggles and victories. We pray for each other and give encouragement,” Hillman said. “This helps grow our faith for dealing with the real world,” he said. Hillman’s group meets during lunch to make it easier for members. Although he is a part of many ministries in his parish, he said that his Fourth Day group is a large part of his personal faith formation. A deacon in the Diocese of Boise who asked to remain anonymous believes his Fourth Day group was instrumental to his staying in the Church. Recently divorced and in a new city, the man attended a large parish for several weeks, largely unnoticed, as is, unfortunately, the case for older Catholics who are divorced or widowed. “I was feeling sorry for myself and told myself that I could quit attending and no one would notice, which was largely the case,” he said. Missing small faith community, he resumed attending his smaller evangelical church on Sunday nights. At about the same, a Catholic friend invited him to a Cursillo weekend. “That weekend, and especially the small faith community that grew out of it changed my whole outlook on life and gave me a small group of friends who I could pray with, be accountable to and grow in my Catholic faith,” he said. He eventually went on to be ordained a deacon. A Cursillo “Fourth Day” group meets weekly during which members review each other’s progress in the Cursillo “tripod” of piety (devotional life), study, and action. Cursillo includes both men’s and women’s groups. Members of this Twin Falls Fourth Day group include, from left, Marvin Makay, Dave Ellingsen and Pete Hillman. (Courtesy photo/Peter Hillman) ARNE STEVENS , a parishioner of St. Mary’s in Boise, has been a part of a small faith community for more than 20 years. His group started after an Evangelization Retreat. The secret to the longevity of his group, he said, is being creative and not dogmatic. “We have what we call ‘holy conversations,’ ” Arne said. His group has varied in its focus from Bible studies to lectio divina (a method of meditating on scripture) to reading spiritual books. “We have also discussed the latest Idaho Catholic Register ,” he said. His group has varied in size, but there are eight to 12 members who attend on average, he said. They have also met at different times or changed their meeting location, all depending on the needs of the members. Consistency in meeting with flexibility, listening to the Holy Spirit and being open to new ideas for the group are keys to the longevity of the community, Stevens 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 Staff Writer (Author’s Note: Very little has been written of St. Joseph Luu in English. The Idaho Catholic Register contacted the Bishop’s House of the Diocese of Vinh Long in Vietnam, which graciously provided details of St. Joseph Luu’s story from their records. Because the document was in Vietnamese, information for the article comes from an imperfect translation that would have been difficult to understand without the help of Father Dat Vu, pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Boise.) In the 16th century, French Catholic missionaries were welcomed to Vietnam and surrounding areas because of their connections to trade. But as political powers in Vietnam shifted in the 17th century through the 19th century, the Church would wax and wane in accord with the government’s view toward the Church. From 1630 to 1886, the Vatican estimates that 130,000 to 300,000 Catholics were martyred in Vietnam. (Because whole villages were sometimes massacred, it is impossible to have an accurate count of those who died.) Although European missionaries are among those martyred in Vietnam, most of these martyrs were faithful Vietnamese. Many of them were native priests and religious. They knew that the gospel was not a made-up story from the West, but that it was the truth. They were tortured and slaughtered because they refused to recant their faith in Jesus. St. Joseph Luu is among the 117 Martyrs of Vietnam canonized by Pope St. John Paul II in 1988. Joseph Luu was born in 1789 to Christian parents. His mother died when he was young. His father remarried a loving and kind woman, and they had four more children. Joseph followed in his father’s footsteps in his faith and hard work. He is believed to have married while in his late teens or early 20s. His first born child died during birth, but he and his wife had six more healthy children. Joseph was dedicated to his family, parish and community. He was a farmer, but spent his free time catechizing his family and neighbors. He faithfully prayed morning and evening prayers with his family. He also went to Confession and Mass regularly. One story says that as he was walking along the road one day, he noticed a neighbor’s rice fields had been neglected. He immediately jumped in and saved the fields with his hard work. Another story says that whenever he walked home from fishing, he would give fish to whomever asked for food, keeping only enough to feed his family. He was made the president of the Mac Blac parish council because of his leadership in the parish as a catechist and his exemplary life. In 1847, the Emperor Tu Duc took the throne. Four years later, he issued a decree against Christians. All those who refused to recant their faith and trample the Crucifix were to be tortured and killed, and their families were to be either killed or exiled. (The punishments were more extensive for clergy and Church leaders.) Joseph knew that the sacraments were vital to the life of the faithful. He weighed the cost and decided to risk his life so that Confession and Mass could continue. He hid priests in his home and secretly gathered Catholics so they could receive the sacraments, Mass and catechism classes. In 1853, three men demanded money from one of the priests, Father Peter Luu (probably not related to Joseph). Father Peter did not have any money, and so the embittered men betrayed him and Joseph by reporting their underground church. As officials secretly made plans to capture the underground church, Father Peter left to help in another village, and Father Philip Minh came to take his place. The officials sent a woman to Joseph’s house to ask for Confession, but Joseph didn’t trust her. Officials then sent someone else to spy on Joseph. Later that evening, while Father Philip Minh was catechizing students, the military surrounded the house. Father Philip happened to overhear them give the order to capture the Christians and was able to alert the students to hide. Not wanting the soldiers to find Father Philip, Joseph told the soldiers that he was the only one they needed to arrest. But Father Philip, seeing the soldiers beat Joseph, stepped out of hiding, hoping that the soldiers would let the elderly Joseph go free. He begged them to let everyone else go, but the soldiers refused to bargain. Joseph was imprisoned for a year, where he was tortured and starved. But he refused to give up his faith. He continued to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and also to pray the Mass when the priests were in prison with him. (The priests who helped Joseph were martyred at different times.) It seems the authorities were afraid to kill Joseph because he was so well-loved. However, they kept him in prison. He became seriously sick, confessed his sins and did penance for 15 days. He was then sent to a hospital. He was in excruciating pain, but he continued in his faith. His last prayers were: “Jesus, Mary, Joseph: Oh! Our Lady, my Mother, please help me!” When he died, he looked so happy and peaceful that the authorities thought he was faking. They burned his toes until they were black to make sure he was truly dead. His body was brought back to his parish. Four priests concelebrated his funeral, which was attended by 2,000 people. His body was buried in the foundation of the parish church. (It is assumed that the persecutions had abated for a time due to threats from France.) After the beheading of a bishop in 1857, the French government stepped in more directly to stop the torture and killing of Catholics. St. Joseph Luu is the patron saint of the Diocese of Vinh Long. 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.

Worship, catechesis continue unabated at St. Ann’s-Mud Lake The following story appeared in the April 8 Idaho Catholic Register. During the early morning hours of July 1, 2021, a fire nearly destroyed the tiny church of Saint Ann’s at Mud Lake in eastern Idaho. Almost one year later, the community made up of families of farmers and migrant workers continues strong in their faith, fighting to rebuild their chapel. (Photo courtesy of Father Ron Wekerle) By Vero Gutierrez Staff Writer Mud Lake – Almost a year after a fire destroyed St. Ann’s in Mud Lake, a mission church of Saint John Paul II Parish based in Idaho Falls, the Hispanic Catholic community remains vibrant and united. But, above all, committed, not missing celebrating the Eucharist a single Sunday since the July 1, 2021 fire, as they work on gathering the resources to rebuild their beloved chapel. Very little was recovered from the fire, except for an image of Christ on the altar, the Paschal candle, and a statue of the Divine Child Jesus, which is currently on pilgrimage with families in the community. This is how the crucifix looked above the tabernacle in St. Ann’s chapel after the fire consumed most of the interior. (Photo/Father Ron Wekerle) After the fire, Father Ronald Wekerle, who was then pastor of the parish, appointed a couple from Mud Lake, Jaime, and Lina (Coco) Renova, as “godparents” to organize the community when the priest could not be present. The first Sunday Eucharist after the fire was celebrated at the Senior Citizens Center in Mud Lake, Jaime Renova said. Firefighters from the area were invited and thanked for their service. With the kind assistance of Shane Williams, superintendent of the West Jefferson School District, the remaining Masses and catechism classes have been held at the West Jefferson High School campus. The parish’s current pastor, Father Francisco Flores, and parochial vicar, Father Germán Ruíz, make sure Mass is celebrated there every week. Jaime and Coco Renova say the community, made of about 40 Hispanic families, has been responding well to efforts at getting a new chapel built. The community has put its creativity to work planning everything possible to raise money. They have sold tamales, tacos, donuts, flowers, candy, and auctioned a romantic night for two and organized a rodeo. The community of Roberts, about 23 miles southeast of Mud Lake, has joined this work of the Catholic community of St. Ann’s, offering their support and financial resources. Roberts is a small farming community with many of its residents belonging to St. John Paul II Parish. Coco Renova is grateful for the help St. Ann’s is receiving not only from fellow Catholics but also from other churches. Mormons and Baptists, in particular, have donated toward the restoration of the Mud Lake church. The St. Ann’s community is still waiting to hear what they will receive from the insurance company. In the meantime, they will continue to raise funds, Jaime Renova said. Jaime and Coco’s work to help the parish recover from the fire has had its own unique set of complications. A month ago, they had to suspend their activities due to COVID-19. During this time, they received the help of another couple who are also committed to working with the community, Nazario and Claudia Figueroa. At left, Claudia and Nazario Figueroa, their son, Anthony, Father Germán Ruíz, parochial vicar at Saint John Paul II Parish, and Jaime and Coco Renova. (Photo/Ian Renova) Despite those challenges, Jaime Renova said the pastoral work at St. Ann’s continues. He and Coco are currently preparing a group of 13 young men who will receive Confirmation on April 21. The Renovas took Bible studies from the Missionaries Servants of the Word based at the Monastery of the Ascension in Jerome. “Coco and I are now transmitting this knowledge to the young people in our parish. It is wonderful to see how well they know how to handle the Bible by themselves.” Jaime Renova arrived in the United States when he was 13 years old, which is also how old Coco was when she arrived. Both are originally from México, he from Chihuahua, and she from San Luis Potosí. Coco is a manager at the Bank of Commerce in Mud Lake and Jaime works for a communications company. They are parents to 22-year-old twins, Ian and Evan. 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 8 Idaho Catholic Register. Bishop Peter Christensen incenses a statute of the Blessed Virgin Mary during a Solemnity of the Annunciation Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist on March 25. The Bishop joined Pope Francis and other Bishops throughout the world in an act of consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Bishop Peter Christensen joined Pope Francis and Catholics around the world in consecrating Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. “The time is now to use the powerful weapon for peace given to each of us through the intercession of our Blessed Mother, who is filled with grace,” Bishop Peter said about the Act of Consecration during his homily to more than 200 who attended the Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise. This grace of Mary is God’s gift given to her by her Son, the Bishop said, and this gift is, in turn, “given to each of us who call upon and rely on her.” “As you are well aware, these are sobering times as the entire world is living in a tension created by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia,” Bishop Peter said. “The war between these two countries gives pause for us to realize just how fragile the entire world is to the threat of an even greater war spreading.” Because the consecration happened to coincide with the Feast of the Annunciation, Bishop Peter expounded on the Gospel reading on the Annunciation from the first chapter of Luke, when the archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would conceive and give birth to the Savior. Just as Mary found favor with God, we have also found favor with God through our baptism, he said. “By your presence here today, you continue to show your willingness to be used by God’s graces given for His favor and purpose, to submit our wills and to serve our Lord in what He continues to ask of us,” he said. Before Mary gives her fiat, her “yes,” to God’s plan for her, Gabriel reminded Mary that nothing would be impossible for God, Bishop Peter said. People may feel helpless because they cannot do anything about the war in Ukraine, Bishop Peter said. However, just as Mary was told at the Annunciation that “nothing was impossible with God,” Christians are reminded that much can be accomplished through fervent and faithful prayer. “The gift of prayer is what we actuate in a very deliberate way today, seeking our Lord’s intervention through His Mother to bring greater peace, His peace to our world,” Bishop Peter said. “We open ourselves to live lives in submission to the will of God. We place our trust in the God who has chosen us for a great work in our world at this time in our history, this day. And we hear the same words spoken by Gabriel to Mary that nothing will be impossible for God,” he said. Bishop Peter prayed the act of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary following the reception of Holy Communion in the Mass. At nearly the same time as Bishop Peter prayed the Act of Consecration, Pope Francis was doing the same during a penitential service at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. During his homily, Pope Francis said that the consecration “is no magic formula but a spiritual act.” “It is an act of complete trust on the part of children who, amid the tribulation of this cruel and senseless war that threatens our world, turn to their Mother, reposing all their fears and pain in her heart and abandoning themselves to her,” the pope said. The following is the entire Act of Consecration offered by Pope Francis, Bishop Peter and other bishops throughout the world: ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY O Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, in this time of trial we turn to you. As our Mother, you love us and know us: no concern of our hearts is hidden from you. Mother of mercy, how often we have experienced your watchful care and your peaceful presence! You never cease to guide us to Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Yet we have strayed from that path of peace. We have forgotten the lesson learned from the tragedies of the last century, the sacrifice of the millions who fell in two world wars. We have disregarded the commitments we made as a community of nations. We have betrayed peoples’ dreams of peace and the hopes of the young. We grew sick with greed, we thought only of our own nations and their interests, we grew indifferent and caught up in our selfish needs and concerns. We chose to ignore God, to be satisfied with our illusions, to grow arrogant and aggressive, to suppress innocent lives and to stockpile weapons. We stopped being our neighbor’s keepers and stewards of our common home. We have ravaged the garden of the earth with war and by our sins we have broken the heart of our heavenly Father, who desires us to be brothers and sisters. We grew indifferent to everyone and everything except ourselves. Now with shame we cry out: Forgive us, Lord! Holy Mother, amid the misery of our sinfulness, amid our struggles and weaknesses, amid the mystery of iniquity that is evil and war, you remind us that God never abandons us, but continues to look upon us with love, ever ready to forgive us and raise us up to new life. He has given you to us and made your Immaculate Heart a refuge for the Church and for all humanity. By God’s gracious will, you are ever with us; even in the most troubled moments of our history, you are there to guide us with tender love. We now turn to you and knock at the door of your heart. We are your beloved children. In every age you make yourself known to us, calling us to conversion. At this dark hour, help us and grant us your comfort. Say to us once more: “Am I not here, I who am your Mother?” You are able to untie the knots of our hearts and of our times. In you we place our trust. We are confident that, especially in moments of trial, you will not be deaf to our supplication and will come to our aid. That is what you did at Cana in Galilee, when you interceded with Jesus, and He worked the first of His signs. To preserve the joy of the wedding feast, you said to Him: “They have no wine” (John 2:3). Now, O Mother, repeat those words and that prayer, for in our own day we have run out of the wine of hope, joy has fled, fraternity has faded. We have forgotten our humanity and squandered the gift of peace. We opened our hearts to violence and destructiveness. How greatly we need your maternal help! Therefore, O Mother, hear our prayer. Star of the Sea, do not let us be shipwrecked in the tempest of war. Ark of the New Covenant, inspire projects and paths of reconciliation. Queen of Heaven, restore God’s peace to the world. Eliminate hatred and the thirst for revenge, and teach us forgiveness. Free us from war, protect our world from the menace of nuclear weapons. Queen of the Rosary, make us realize our need to pray and to love. Queen of the Human Family, show people the path of fraternity. Queen of Peace, obtain peace for our world. O Mother, may your sorrowful plea stir our hardened hearts. May the tears you shed for us make this valley parched by our hatred blossom anew. Amid the thunder of weapons, may your prayer turn our thoughts to peace. May your maternal touch soothe those who suffer and flee from the rain of bombs. May your motherly embrace comfort those forced to leave their homes and their native land. May your Sorrowful Heart move us to compassion and inspire us to open our doors and to care for our brothers and sisters who are injured and cast aside. Holy Mother of God, as you stood beneath the cross, Jesus, seeing the disciple at your side, said: “Behold your son” (John 19:26). In this way he entrusted each of us to you. To the disciple, and to each of us, He said: “Behold, your Mother” (v. 27). Mother Mary, we now desire to welcome you into our lives and our history. At this hour, a weary and distraught humanity stands with you beneath the cross, needing to entrust itself to you and, through you, to consecrate itself to Christ. The people of Ukraine and Russia, who venerate you with great love, now turn to you, even as your heart beats with compassion for them and for all those peoples decimated by war, hunger, injustice and poverty. Therefore, Mother of God and our Mother, to your Immaculate Heart we solemnly entrust and consecrate ourselves, the Church and all humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine. Accept this act that we carry out with confidence and love. Grant that war may end and peace spread throughout the world. The “Fiat” that arose from your heart opened the doors of history to the Prince of Peace. We trust that, through your heart, peace will dawn once more. To you we consecrate the future of the whole human family, the needs and expectations of every people, the anxieties and hopes of the world. Through your intercession, may God’s mercy be poured out on the earth and the gentle rhythm of peace return to mark our days. Our Lady of the “Fiat”, on whom the Holy Spirit descended, restore among us the harmony that comes from God. May you, our “living fountain of hope”, water the dryness of our hearts. In your womb Jesus took flesh; help us to foster the growth of communion. You once trod the streets of our world; lead us now on the paths of peace. Amen. 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 March 25 Idaho Catholic Register. By Vero Gutierrez Staff Writer After two years of cancellations due to the pandemic, weekend wedding gatherings for Hispanic married couples will be back this year. Carlos and Nora Arana have been chosen as the coordinators for Worldwide Marriage Encounter and will be advised by Father Eladio Vieyra, pastor at Saint Therese of the Little Flower Parish in Burley. “Seeing many couples transform their lives makes the time dedicated to this apostolate worthwhile,” said Carlos Arana. “The testimonies that are shared during the weekend by other couples are impressive and motivating for the participants,” Nora Arana said. The next encounter has been scheduled for May 12-13 at the Monastery of the Ascension in Jerome. It will be the first Marriage Encounter weekend for the Hispanic community in southern Idaho since November of 2019. Weekends that were planned in Boise and then in Jerome in 2020 were canceled due to the COVID pandemic. Father Eladio Vieyra is the new spiritual director for the Marriage Encounter movement. He will be in charge of providing spiritual advice to the coordinators and other people who participate in the weekend in southern Idaho. Another priest who will be part of the Marriage Encounter Movement is Father Julio Vicente, pastor at St. Edward the Confessor Parish in Twin Falls. He will be the priest at the next meeting in May. Father Adrián Vázquez, parish priest of St. Jerome and Father Francisco Flores, parish priest of St. John Paul II Parish in Idaho Falls will also be assisting the movement on future weekends. There will be some minor changes in the upcoming weekend, including a reduction from three days to two days. The weekends used to start on Friday and end on Sunday, but to reduce expense, a Saturday-Sunday weekend was selected. Also, couples who want to participate are being asked that they be vaccinated. COVID vaccines are not a requirement for the Marriage Encounter week-end, but is being requested by Ascension Monastery, as an effort to protect the health of the elderly Benedictine monks and the Missionary Servants of the Word religious communities who live at Ascension. Carlos and Nora Arana are replacing Alfredo and Rosy Morales who have completed their three-year term as coordinators for this region. In a 2020 interview with the Idaho Catholic Register Rosy Morales said the Marriage Encounter weekends “changes lives and strengthen activity in the Church.” “The successes that have been achieved during these weekends have been thanks to the fact that we have prayer as one of our strongest pillars,” she said. “In addition, during this time the couples really get excited about having time just for themselves, paying attention to each other. That time allows them to open their hearts to each other and to God.” Before the pandemic, about 80 Hispanic married couples – 50 in the Boise area and 30 in Jerome – participated in Marriage Encounter. Of those, about 60 percent become much more involved in their parish, according to Alfredo Morales. “We have heard some priests say this, and we have even seen it ourselves,” he said. According to the official website of the World Marriage Encounter, nine out of 10 couples who attend a Marriage Encounter weekend recognize a positive and lasting effect on their lives. “World Marriage Encounter is an enrichment for married couples who value their relationship and desire a richer, fuller life together,” the website says. “But it is also for priests and religious who want to strengthen their relationship with their ecclesial communities.” During the weekend, couples are provided the tools that will help them to remain strong and united as a couple, and thus provide a stable and loving environment for their children. As the parents become “empty-nesters,” they will be able to use the same tools to continue to grow and prosper in their relationship, making their love a lifelong reality. To register, you can request an application at your parish or contact the coordinators, Nora and Carlos Arana, directly by phone at 208-550-4514. 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.