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Procesión por algunas de las calles del centro de Boise en honor a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, con motivo del 494.º aniversario de sus apariciones en el Tepeyac . (Foto/ Vero Gutiérrez) Vero Gutiérrez  Editora Asistente   Con devoción y respeto, las comunidades anglo e hispana participaron de la celebración en honor a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, que culminó con la Celebración Eucarística, cierre de los festejos guadalupanos de este año.  Al concluir la Misa, los fieles participaron en una procesión por algunas de las calles del centro de Boise, que finalizó con un festejo comunitario en las instalaciones del gimnasio junto a la catedral. La procesión partió de la Catedral de Boise y regresó al mismo lugar tras recorrer las calles del centro de la ciudad ,  La procesión estuvo encabezada por una imagen de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, montada en un marco y rodeada de banderas de distintos países.  Con la cruz alta y los ciriales, los monaguillos fueron al frente de la procesión seguidos de los sacerdotes, Padre Germán Osorio, rector de la Catedral, el Padre Tim Segert, el diácono O’Neill Derrick y los fieles, además de diferentes grupos de danzantes representativos de algunas culturas indígenas mexicanas, así como bandas de música, mariachi y jinetes. Un grupo de parroquianos vestidos con trajes típicos de la región de Michoacán, durante la pocesión.  Durante la Misa, el Padre Germán Osorio destacó la importancia de que ambas comunidades participen juntas en esta celebración especial y de reconocer a la Madre de Dios como patrona  de las Américas.  Por supuesto, el tema sobre el Adviento estuvo entrelazado con la figura de María como la principal protagonista en este tiempo de espera para celebrar el nacimiento de Jesucristo.   Este es el quinto año consecutivo en que se realiza la procesión por el centro de Boise en honor a la Virgen de Guadalupe. La primera tuvo lugar en el año 2021.  (Foto/ Vero Gutiérrez)   El sacerdote recordó las palabras del profeta Isaías, quien proclama un poderoso mensaje de esperanza: “El desierto y la tierra árida se regocijarán; el desierto se alegrará y florecerá”.  “Este es el corazón del Adviento”, afirmó el Padre Osorio, “Dios viene precisamente donde la vida se siente seca, dividida o herida, y Él está preparando una renovación”. El profeta Isaías habla de ojos y oídos que se abren, de cojos que saltan y de mudos que cantan. Recordó que no se trata solo de la curación individual, sino más bien de la restauración de un pueblo, de una comunidad que se reúne de nuevo en el camino sagrado que conduce a Dios. Los Caballeros de Colón, catequistas, la Legión de María y diversos ministerios participaron en la celebración en honor a la Virgen de Guadalupe el pasado 14 de diciembre. Continuando con el tema de la celebración a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe el Padre Osorio, comentó que, en esta temporada de espera, nos regocijamos porque Dios no permanece distante. Él se acerca a nosotros. Este mensaje, dijo, se reafirma al celebrar a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, quien, en 1531, la Virgen María se apareció no a un hombre poderoso, sino a uno humilde, San Juan Diego. Ella habló su idioma, compartió su cultura y reveló a un Dios que ve, escucha y camina con su pueblo. A través de la aparición y el mensaje de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, el desierto de la desesperación floreció en fe para todo un continente.   Hoy, la visión de Isaías y el mensaje de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe se encuentran aquí, entre nosotros. Nuestra parroquia catedralicia tiene la bendición de contar con dos grandes comunidades, la anglosajona y la hispana, con diferentes historias, idiomas y tradiciones. Sin embargo, el Adviento nos recuerda que somos un solo pueblo, caminando hacia el mismo Dios. Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe está entre nosotros no como una madre que divide, sino como la Madre de Dios que reúne a sus hijos. Ella nos enseña que la unidad no significa uniformidad, sino caminar juntos, escucharnos y reconocer a Cristo en cada persona. Cuando esto sucede, el desierto florece; cuando permanecemos unidos en la fe, la alegría vence el miedo y la esperanza supera la división. El Padre Germán Osorio, rector de la Catedral, se detuvo en un momento del recorrido para saludar a los parroquianos y unirse a ellos en las porras dedicadas a la Guadalupana.   Como dice Isaías: “Los que el Señor ha rescatado volverán… y tendrán alegría eterna”. Esta alegría no es solo para un grupo, es para todos los que confían en Dios. Mientras continuamos nuestro camino de Adviento, caminemos juntos, anglosajones e hispanos, guiados por la Virgen María, fortalecidos por la esperanza y confiados en que el Señor viene a salvarnos.

Our Lady of Victories statue bears a crown given by the pope in 1853. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Editor’s note: Staff writer Emily Woodham continues her series based on her recent trip to France. Her first installation was published in the Oct. 10 issue of the Idaho Catholic Register. You can read the story by clicking on the Catholic News Article’s “More Articles” section at idahocatholicregister.org. PARIS, France — Many of the churches of France bear scars from the religious persecutions during the French Revolution, from 1789 until 1801, when Napoleon restored the Catholic Church in France. Statues were defaced or smashed, murals whitewashed and sacramental treasures melted for their gold and silver. The Revolutionary government sanctioned its own state church, but it was not authentic. During this time, religious communities and priests had to leave in exile or be killed. But throughout France, the faithful resisted with courage and heroic love. Priests traveled at night from town to town to celebrate Masses and hear Confessions in secret. Faithful laity hid them in attics or basements during the day. After surviving the violent turmoil of the 18th and 19th centuries, the Church was attacked again in 1936, when the government closed convents and seized churches. Then in 1939, the Nazis took the north of France, including Paris, and shut down the Church. During these times of intense suffering, French Catholics persevered. Even today, in churches in Paris, priests encourage their parishioners in homilies to live with courage and heroic love. “I think heroic love in French spirituality comes from the monastic heritage in France. It is first of all a love that is lived, not just feelings,” said Father Dominique Fauré, prior at the Verbum Spei Monastery of Our Lady of Ephesus in Boise, Idaho. Father Fauré was raised in Paris. It was there that he answered the call to Religious life. “The main renewal of faith in France has been through Religious life, which is following the call to leave everything and follow Jesus,” Father Fauré continued. “There’s a sense of giving oneself fully to Christ without keeping anything for oneself. This selflessness is the heroic dimension of love. This heroic love, this courage, was also necessary for all the times the French Church had to resist, whether during the Revolution or during World War II.” Two years ago, Aleteia, a global Catholic news and media website, reported that only 25% of the population of France identifies as practicing Catholics. It’s an underwhelming number in a country that our Blessed Mother, Mary, has historically portrayed as the “eldest daughter of the Church” because it is one of the first nations to officially adopt Christianity. However, the Diocese of Paris is reporting an increase in vocations to the priesthood, and Religious communities in Paris are also growing. Currently, the government is supportive of the Church. This has allowed priests to focus more on pastoral and sacramental duties. With churches and Catholic art throughout the city, there is also constant evangelization through beauty. “Even if so many are no longer practicing the faith, the whole French culture is Catholic,” Father Fauré explained. “A culture is what we transmit from one generation to the next in order to help an individual of the culture mature in goodness. France has deep roots in Catholic values, especially the values of art, beauty and the intellect.” The Basilica of Our Lady of Victories was desecrated and used as the Stock Exchange under the government of the French Revolution. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) The Basilica of Our Lady of Victories in Paris stands out as an example of the resilience of the Church in France, its resistance against oppression, and deep value of beauty. In 1629, King Louis XIII of France (1610-1643) gave permission and funds to Discalced Augustinians (Les Petits-Pères or “Little Fathers”) to build a convent dedicated to Our Lady of Victories. Devotion to Our Lady of Victory (singular) was declared following the miraculous success of the Catholic military over the Ottoman Empire on October 7, 1571. Louis XIII wanted to expand on Our Lady’s generosity by calling her Our Lady of Victories (plural) in gratitude for her protection and the many victories granted his armies through her intercessions. The ground for the church was dedicated on December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. In 1637, one of the Little Fathers, Brother Fiacre, had several visions in one night of the Blessed Mother. She told him that King Louis XIII would at last have a son, after 22 years of his wife being unable to carry a child to term. In thanksgiving for the miracle, Louis XIII publicly consecrated France to the Virgin Mary on Aug. 15, 1638, the Feast of the Assumption. On September 5, the queen gave birth to Louis XIV. The fame of the visions at Our Lady of Victories and the miraculous birth of the king’s son grew throughout France. The statue of Our Lady of Victories became known as a “Refuge of Sinners.” In Europe, statues or shrines of the Blessed Mother that were considered a “Refuge of Sinners” were designated as a particular place of merciful answers to prayer, especially for conversions and healing. During the French Revolution, the original statue of Our Lady of Victories disappeared along with all the other sacramental treasures of the church. The Revolutionary government turned the church building into the Paris Stock Exchange. All religious decorations and murals were whitewashed. At the end of 1799, Napoleon became the leader of the new French government, marking the end of the Republic’s rule. Under his direction, persecution of the Church ended in 1801. Catholics bargained with the French government for the church building of Our Lady of Victories for seven years. In 1809, the government finally surrendered the building back to the Church and a new statue of Our Lady of Victories was installed. Like most parishes in France, Our Lady of Victories struggled to recover from the Revolution. Many Catholics in Paris lost their faith during the persecutions. In the first decades of the 19th century, the area of Our Lady of Victories was known more for its banking and businesses than for its faith. But the small group of parishioners who faithfully attended Mass did not give up hope. The religious and sacramental artwork and vessels were installed after the Basilica of Our Lady of Victories was reconsecrated in 1809. The original artwork was whitewashed (the ceiling still bears the scars of being whitewashed) or destroyed during the French Revolution. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) The Medal of the Immaculate Conception In July of 1830, about one-and-a-half miles south of Our Lady of Victories, a young Sister of Charity, St. Catherine Labouré, saw a brilliant apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On November 27, the Blessed Mother appeared to St. Catherine again and gave her instructions for the Medal of the Immaculate Conception (later called the Miraculous Medal) emblazoned with the prayer: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” The Blessed Mother also instructed that on the back of the medal, the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary were to be inscribed. This was 24 years before the Immaculate Conception was declared as dogma by Pope Pius IX (1846-1878) and 28 years before Our Lady of Lourdes said, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” Although there were some controversies and arguments in the Church against the Immaculate Conception, St. Catherine and her spiritual director, in “heroic love,” obeyed the Blessed Mother’s instructions. The medals were first made on June 30, 1832. At the time, Paris was deep in a cholera pandemic that reached the city in March of that year. The Sisters of Charity distributed the medal, and people were miraculously healed of cholera. Other graces were also reported, especially of conversions. News of the miracles spread, and thousands of people began asking the Sisters for medals. Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary quickly grew. Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary In 1836, Father Charles Desgnettes was assigned to Our Lady of Victories. He was a serious priest, who struggled with impatience, but he was also sincere in his faith and concise in his preaching. His stalwart nature helped turn the tide of disbelief and hedonism in a section of Alençon (where St. Thérèse of Lisieux was later born in 1873). He had also served at the chapel of the Paris Missions Society near the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal. Although he had to flee during the brief revolt in 1830, he returned to Paris in 1832 to help during the cholera pandemic. At his first Mass at Our Lady of Victories, he was completely discouraged. About 40,000 lived in the area of his new parish, but only 40 went to Mass that day. He persevered for four years to bring revival to the area, but nothing worked. On December 3, 1836, he had resolved to resign, certain that it was better to admit failure and to move on to where he could be more fruitful. As he walked up the steps to the altar to celebrate Mass that day, he heard an interior voice say to him, “Consecrate your parish to the Most Holy and Immaculate Heart of Mary.” There is no record of him ever meeting St. Catherine Labouré, but given his proximity to the Sisters of Charity, it is certain he knew of the Miraculous Medal and the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. After Mass, he wrote down prayers and statutes for an association of the faithful, the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Victories, for consecration and dedication to the Immaculate Heart. On December 10, the archbishop of Paris approved the association. The next day, at the morning Mass, only 10 people were present. Father Desgnettes invited the public to vespers that evening for the first meeting of the Brotherhood. When he entered the church for vespers, more than 500 people were waiting in the pews. Many of them said that they weren’t sure why they were there, but they had simply felt compelled to be present. Father Desgnettes lead everyone in the consecration to the Immaculate Heart. The parish of Our Lady of Victories quickly grew. In 1838, the pope declared the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Victories the universal Archconfraternity of the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the Conversion of Sinners. People went to Our Lady of Victories with their desperate needs and found their prayers answered. To the French, she was truly “Mother of Mercy” and “Refuge of Sinners.” Through the Archconfraternity, associations of prayer and consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary spread worldwide. A year before the declaration of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Pius IX sent a crown and ordered that it be placed on the head of Our Lady of Victories. This side altar commemorates the day St. Thérèse of Lisieux visited the basilica with her father, St. Louis Martin, to give thanks for her miraculous healing. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) One of the most famous miracles attributed to Our Lady of Victories is the healing of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Thérèse became seriously ill in the spring of 1883, when she was 10. Her father asked for a novena of Masses at the Basilica of Our Lady of Victories, from May 5 to the 13th, which was Pentecost Sunday that year. On the last day of the Masses, Thérèse was healed. Four years later, just six months before she entered the Carmelites, she went to Paris to see Our Lady of Victories and give thanks. Thérèse later wrote: “A miracle was needed and Our Lady of Victories provided it.” Today, the basilica is still a treasured Marian shrine and is in the care of the Benedictine Sisters of Sacre Coeur of Montmartre. The Feast of Our Lady of Victories is December 3.

A view of Coeur d'Alene from above. (Stock photo) By Eddie Trask CCI Executive Director For 25 years, Catholic Charities of Idaho (CCI) has been committed to serving individuals and families across the state—regardless of demographic or geography. Much of that support has happened quietly, often virtually, reaching Idahoans in rural towns, farming communities, and counties far from our physical offices in Boise and Pocatello. As we enter the final week of Advent—a season of preparation, promise and trust in God’s faithful presence—CCI’s mission of accompaniment takes on renewed meaning. This is a time when the Church looks forward with hope to the coming of the Lord. At the same time, CCI looks forward with hope to what lies ahead for the families we serve. Now, as CCI prepares to open its third location next year, that statewide commitment is taking an important new step forward. In 2026—having intently listened to clients, donors and parishes—CCI will establish a greater presence in Northern Idaho, operating from St. Pius X Catholic Church in Coeur d’Alene. This new office will focus on case management, crisis intervention and comprehensive social services—the same person-centered, mission-driven care Idahoans have come to trust. But this expansion is not a shift away from the rest of the state. It is an effort to build a bridge—both practical and pastoral—ensuring that families in every corner of Idaho can continue receiving support for their varying needs. In other words, we are not moving from anywhere; rather, we’re moving toward greater statewide service. This is about reinforcing our mission, not redirecting it. The need in the north mirrors what CCI sees statewide: families overwhelmed by the cost of living, seniors isolated without support, immigrants navigating complex systems, parents facing crises they never expected and individuals struggling with mental-health challenges without a safety net. This expansion will provide another hub for Idahoans to receive in-person services, as well as strengthen the virtual approach that connects our existing offices to outlying, small communities. Northern Idahoans have received CCI’s help for years through telehealth counseling, immigration legal services, virtual case management and statewide referral systems. But many situations—especially crisis intervention and complex case management—benefit profoundly from an on-the-ground presence. The Coeur d’Alene office will allow CCI to respond more quickly, partner more effectively with local parishes and agencies, and ensure families in the northern counties receive the same access to care found elsewhere in Idaho. As CCI prepares for this expansion, the organization is eager to work alongside the community leaders who have long supported families in the region. “We cannot wait to join the community of Northern Idaho agencies serving the poor and marginalized,” said Deacon Chris Stewart of Coeur d’Alene, a CCI Board Member. “Especially the well-established experts at our St. Vincent de Paul, a collaboration that will complement and enhance the execution of CCI’s portfolio of services.” Together with local partners, CCI hopes to strengthen the network of care that meets families where they are. Boise and Pocatello will continue to serve as strong hubs, each with its own network of partners, donors and community members. Programs in both regions will remain fully supported, active and essential. In fact, the new office strengthens our statewide model by creating a three-point network—north, east and southwest—allowing CCI to collaborate more broadly and respond more efficiently to regional needs. CCI Social Services Program Manager Kayla Eachus added: “Idaho is growing, and so are the challenges families face. Opening a northern office helps us tap into unmet demand and ensure better coverage across our large state—including the communities we’ve served for years. In the last three months, the percentage of inquiries coming from northern counties has increased from 5% to 13%!” As Advent reminds us to wait in hope and trust in Christ’s coming light, CCI looks with that same hope toward a future in which more families receive the support, dignity and compassion they need. Readers across Idaho are invited to support this next chapter. Your generosity has already touched every corner of the state through CCI’s virtual services. Now that same support will help firmly root our mission in Northern Idaho, enabling increased tangible assistance. As St. Leo the Great said over 1,500 years ago, “If God is love, charity should know no limit, for God cannot be confined.” That belief inspires CCI’s hope-filled work and our desire to reach more people throughout this great state. To help make this expansion possible and support CCI’s operations statewide, an envelope is included in this ICR issue. Gifts of any size help ensure we can continue strengthening Idaho in compassion, unity and hope. Last fiscal year alone, we served over 3,300 Idahoans. As we prepare for Christmas, we also prepare for this new beginning. As part of this season of discernment and transparency, CCI plans to host a public information gathering for anyone in the region who would like to learn more about our mission in Northern Idaho—why now, what gaps this new presence will help fill and how we hope to serve alongside existing partners. There will also be time for questions and conversation. We have reserved space at St. Pius X Catholic Church on January 21, with two opportunities to attend: 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. We warmly welcome all who wish to come and learn more. Please pray for us as we take these next steps—trusting in God’s timing, guided by faith and hopeful for what Christ will bring in the year ahead. Together, we remain committed to our vision of loving and strengthening Idaho, one person at a time.

By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Editor’s note: The following is a first-person account of ICR staff writer Emily Woodham’s recent trip to the Vatican. Sunlight broke through billowing gray clouds as icy winds blew through St. Peter’s Square on the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 26. Tens of thousands of people from around the world streamed in through the Vatican security lines to see Pope Leo XIV in Pope Leo XIV waves from his popemobile. (ICR Photo/Emily Woodham) a general audience, including my husband, David; our two youngest daughters, Evelyn, 11, and Julianna, 8; and me. We shuffled our way to one of the barriers in the back and waited as people filled in on either side of us. A friend told me that it was best to stand at a barrier where you could see the pope up close, even if only briefly, as he passed by in his popemobile. It was our seventh day in Rome and our second opportunity to see the Holy Father. We were grateful that the heavy rains of the previous two days had finally diminished to occasional sprinkles. We were cold and tired, but our pilgrimage to Rome was quickly coming to a close. After the audience, we had less than 48 hours before we had to start the rigmarole of journeying back home. We planned our pilgrimage to Rome way back in January. This year marked the 10th anniversary of our family becoming Catholic — Aug. 9, 2015, the feast of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein). So, it seemed appropriate to mark the momentous 10-year anniversary and the Jubilee of Hope with a visit to the home of the Catholic Church, the See of St. Peter. We chose the end of November for the practical reason that our daughters had a week off from school during Thanksgiving break and the not-so-practical reason of indulging our love of music by being there during the feast of St. Cecilia and the Jubilee of Choirs. We left Boise in the all-too-early hours of the morning on Wednesday, Nov. 19. Our adult children could not come with us, so we carried them in our hearts and prayers. Interior of St. Peter’s Basilica. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) After more than 24 hours of flying and layovers, we finally arrived at our Airbnb apartment in Rome in the afternoon on Thursday, Nov. 20. Less than a week after our arrival, while standing in St. Peter’s Square, I could barely recall what we did the first day we were in Rome. I vaguely remember eating a comforting pizza dinner, walking to St. Peter’s Basilica under a starry sky and then going into a church that was actually open late at night, the Church of St. Mary of Transpontina. After we prayed and lit candles, Julianna noticed a huge Nativity display in a side altar. It was a complete village, with moving figures that bustled about their ordinary lives of shopkeeping and farming. In the middle of it all was the Holy Family, lovingly centered on baby Jesus. As we waited for the general audience to begin, the warmth of that church and the Nativity scene seemed in the distant past. We were so tired despite all that my husband and I did to keep a reasonable schedule with a rhythm of eating, sightseeing and rest. In our first two days, we somehow made it to St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, the papal audience for the Jubilee of Choirs, the tomb of St. Cecilia and a marvelous dinner with Cindy Wooden, the retiring editor-in-chief of the Rome bureau for Catholic News Service. In the midst of that were more restaurants and churches, a constant banquet for body and soul. Our hearts were full, but we were exhausted. So, on our fourth morning in Rome, we abandoned our reservations to the papal Mass and Angelus. We slept in, had a fun breakfast and went to Mass at St. Patrick’s American Catholic Church. It was the parish’s monthly “family Mass,” with a homily geared for children, all in English. Our daughters were comforted and happy in an atmosphere that was more like home. It was just what our weary family needed. From then on, we were more careful to be in tune with how much we could really handle as a family. After all, humans are not machines. We surrendered plans and expectations each day in order to be sure that we were all well fed and rested enough to enjoy our journey. We had to say “no” to some really fantastic things so that we had the wherewithal to truly appreciate the awesome things we did experience. This seems to be so much the vocation of family life. If we want to be healthy and connected, we have to choose wisely what we do with our time and make space for rest. There are so many good experiences in life to choose from, especially in the Church. But even if everything we do is good, we will miss the point of our vocation if we don’t make time for our relationships. A traditional, highly-detailed nativity scene at the Vatican. (ICR photo/ Emily Woodham) As we slowed down on our pilgrimage and were choosier about what we did, we had more time to listen to one another about likes and dislikes. We also cracked more jokes and really laughed together. When, at last, the general audience began, we had been guarding our space at the barrier for more than an hour. After Pope Leo passed by and waved at our family and the hundreds around us, it was tempting to leave. The wind was bitter, especia- lly whenever a dark gray cloud passed in front of the sun. We moved to the interior of the crowd in hopes of getting more shielded from the wind and for a better view of the pope’s podium. Thankfully, our stubbornness paid off. Pope Leo’s teaching that morning spoke direc- tly to our hearts. The current series in the general audiences is “Christ Our Hope.” That day his topic was: “The Resurrection of Christ and the Challenges of the Contemporary World: Hoping in Life in Order to Beget Life.” As he spoke about rejecting the messages against life born of fear and darkness—I kid you not—the clouds parted even further, sunlight pouring onto the basilica and the square. In his summary, Pope Leo said: “Life is, first and foremost, a gift from God who has created us out of love. One of the temptations prevalent today is a lack of trust in God’s goodness and love. Perhaps we no longer experience life as a gift because we are weighed down by its burdens, but the Risen Christ reminds us that God is always faithful to His plan of love. Trusting in God, we are invited to participate in this plan of life and of love by generating life. For those of you living the vocation of married life, this means discovering the gift and adventure of motherhood and fatherhood, in which you are called to participate in bringing new lives into this world and preparing them for the life that is eternal. Do not be afraid of this adventure, but prayerfully open yourselves to the gift of life, trusting in the God who we know loves us.” Although it would take a miracle for my husband and me to have more children (we’re 61 and 52, respectively), Pope Leo’s teaching on openness to life was affirming in our choosing life despite difficulties and societal pressures. His message encouraged us to continue to pursue all that is lifegiving, which seems to be encompassed in those timeless transcendentals of truth, goodness and beauty. It also reminded me of one of my favorite refrains in the Liturgy of the Hours: “O Lord, our God, unwearied is your love for us.” God is faithful to His plan of love, and that love is unconditional. We can fight against the darkness and culture of death with courage, knowing He never tires of loving us. He will never let go of us. Our last day in Rome, we went to the beach at Ostia. Hearing our daughters laugh as they splashed their feet at the edge of the Mediterranean and picked out shells to take home was treasure for our hearts. The tomb of Saint Cecilia. (ICR photo/ Emily Woodham) There may be crosses we have to carry on our journey, but there is also unrivaled joy, even whimsy and fun. That night, we walked by St. Peter’s one last time. Shops along the path to the basilica already had lights and garland strung around their doors and windows. The Vatican’s Christmas tree was in the square, ready for decoration. The Nativity scene was nearby; its top peaked out from heavy drapes in anticipation of its unveiling on the Second Sunday of Advent. Like the Nativity scene that we saw on our first night in Rome, the Holy Family will be in the middle of crowds and busyness. The display of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is a display of love, courage and humility. It is an invitation for each of us to be still and not to be afraid. We can hope and be assured, for He is God, full of unwearied love for us, and He is faithful to His plan of love.

Parroquias de la diócesis de Boise celebran a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. Estos son algunos aspectos de las Mañanitas en la fiesta en honor a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en la parroquia de Saint Paul, Nampa, este 12 de diciembre.     Devoción guadalupana en la parroquia Our Lady of the Good Counsel La parroquia Our Lady of the Good Counsel celebró a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe con una novena que inició el 3 de diciembre y culminó el 12 de diciembre con las tradicionales mañanitas  a las 6:00 a. m., seguidas del rezo del Rosario y una peregrinación de aproximadamente dos kilómetros hacia la parroquia. La celebración en honor a la Virgen concluyó con la Celebración Eucarística bilingüe, presidida por el párroco Moisés Torres Urzúa, y una fiesta comunitaria en el salón parroquial.

Mt 1:18 Fourth Sunday of Advent At every level of the evangelical tradition, Mary is above all the “Mother of Jesus.” Various texts refer to her simply with this title (Mk 3:31ff; Lk 2:48; Jn 2:1–12; 19:25ff). In it, her entire role in the work of salvation is defined. The person who lived Advent most perfectly—as a faithful and ardent expectation of Jesus the Savior, in the midst of the darkness of faith and the ambiguities and trials of the human condition—was the Virgin Mary. Today’s Gospel once again shows the human dimension of her motherhood: God chose to come to earth in the humility of a home that, like any family, experienced difficulties and misunderstandings. These challenges were overcome by Mary’s fidelity to the promises of the Spirit and by Joseph’s loyalty to his wife and to the signs of God. In the Magnificat, Mary expresses a Palestinian tradition that preserves more the meaning of her prayer—model of the faith of God’s people—than the exact words themselves. Following the classical form of a psalm of thanksgiving and drawing on the traditional themes of the psalter, Mary proclaims something new: the Kingdom of God is present (Lk 1:46–55). The Gospels do not tell us much about Mary and Joseph, about their expectation of the coming Jesus, nor about their quiet collaboration in the mystery of the Incarnation and redemption. It seems the early Christian community did not feel the need to multiply their stories and sayings, because their holiness and their importance in the life of the Church were evident to everyone; they were part of the life of Christ and of Christianity as the air is part of our life. Mary and Joseph have always been praised for their hidden virtues and for accepting an extraordinary mission within the most ordinary circumstances: daily work, family duties and participation in the life of a poor and obscure village. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (Jn 1:46). They are a sign of hope for our society, which, in the end, cannot do without ordinary human tasks or daily routines. It is there—in whatever social setting we live each day—that fraternity, justice and freedom are built, as children of God. With the song of the Magnificat, let us unite ourselves to Mary to welcome Jesus, who invites us to be His mother and His brothers (Mt 12:46–50; Mk 3:31–35; Lk 8:19–21). “You shall name him Jesus,” “Emmanuel,” meaning “God is with us.” And when the moment arrived, the angel of the Lord announced: “I bring you good news of great joy… Today a Savior has been born to you” (Lk 2:10).

Mt 1, 18 Cuarto Domingo de Adviento A todos niveles de la tradición evangélica es María ante todo la “Madre de Jesús”. Diversos textos la designan simplemente con este título (Mc 3,31s; Lc 2,48; Jn 2,1-12; 19,25s). Con él se define toda su función en su obra salvadora. La persona que mejor ha vivido el Adviento como fiel y ardiente espera de Jesús Salvador, en medio de la oscuridad de la fe y de las ambigüedades y pruebas de la condición humana, ha sido la Virgen María. El Evangelio de hoy vuelve a ilustrar una vez más la condición humana de su maternidad; Dios quiso venir a la tierra en la humildad de un hogar que pasó por las dificultades y los malentendidos de cualquier familia, superadas por la fidelidad de María a las promesas del Espiritu, y por la lealtad de José a su mujer y a los signos de Dios. En el cántico del Magnificat: María, transmite una tradición Palestinense que conserva el sentido de su oración, modelo de la fe del pueblo de Dios. Según la forma clásica de un salmo de acción de gracias y sirviéndose de los temas tradicionales del salterio: celebra María un hecho nuevo: El Reino de Dios está presente. (Lc. 1,46-55). El Evangelio no nos cuenta mucho de María y José, de su espera de Jesús, que venía, ni de su silenciosa colaboración en el proceso de la encarnación y redención. Parecería que la primera Comunidad cristiana no tenía necesidad de multiplicar sus hechos y palabras, ya que la santidad y la importancia de ambos en la vida de la Iglesia eran evidentes para todos; formaban parte de la vida de Cristo y del cristianismo como el aire forma parte de nuestra vida. Se ha alabado a María y José por sus virtudes ocultas y por haber aceptado de una misión extraordinaria, envueltos en la condición más ordinaria de la vida de un pueblo, con un trabajo normal, y las tareas de la familia, parti- cipando en la vida de un pueblo pobre y oscuro “¿De Nazaret puede salir algo bueno?” (Jn 2,46). Ellos son signo de esperanza para una sociedad que, en última instancia, no puede prescindir de de las tareas humanas ordinarias ni de la rutina diaria. Es ahí, en cualquier sistema social en el que se vive día a día, la fraternidad, la justicia la libertad, como hijos de Dios. Con el canto del Magnificat, unámonos a María, para dar la bienvenida a Jesús, que nos invita a ser su madre y sus hermanos. (Mt 12-46-50; Mc 13, 31-35; Mc 8, 19-21). “Le pondrás por nombre Jesús”. “Emanuel” (“Dios con nosotros”). Y, llegado el momento, el ángel del Señor anunció: “Vengo a comunicarles una buena nueva que será de mucho gozo … Hoy ha nacido un Salvador…” (Lc 2,10).

La parroquia de Saint Jerome recibió con hospitalidad a los casi 200 hombres que asistieron al Tercer Congreso Católico de Idaho, una jornada de charlas, reflexión, adoración y convivencia, el pasado 22 de noviembre. (ICR foto/Cortesía Sal y Luz Radio) Verónica Gutiérrez Editora Asistente JEROME. - La parroquia de Saint Jerome fue sede del Tercer Congreso de Hombres Católicos de Idaho, un evento organizado por la estación de radio Sal y Luz, que reunió a cerca de 200 hombres provenientes de diversas parroquias de la Diócesis de Boise. El encuentro incluyó charlas formativas, momentos de adoración, confesiones y espacios para compartir experiencias, en un ambiente de fraternidad y renovación espiritual. Entre los conferencistas invitados participó el Padre Ramón Celestino Rosas, quien destacó la importancia de convocar a los hombres dentro de la vida de la Iglesia. “Es difícil convocar a los hombres, por eso es tan valioso verlos abiertos a la fe y a la gracia de Dios”, afirmó. El sacerdote reconoció haber visto en ellos “docilidad, piedad y mucha atención” durante las conferencias y momentos de oración. “Estoy contento y agradecido con Dios por esta experiencia que enriquece mi ministerio sacerdotal”, añadió. Padre Jesús González, Párroco de Saint Jerome; Padre Caleb Vogel, Vicario General de la Diócesis y los diáconos José Medina, Jaime Alamillo, Jeffrey Powers, Miguel Serna y Salvador Carranza, (ICR Foto/Cortesía Sal y Luz Radio) Durante su visita al Estado de Idaho el Padre Celestino también tuvo la oportunidad de visitar la estación de Radio Sal y Luz y participar del Programa Nuevo Amanecer que se transmite en vivo de lunes a viernes. Durante el programa el Padre Celestino fue entrevistado por Ramiro Tapia y además de referirse al Congreso también habló de otros temas como el adviento. El Padre Celestino compartió reflexiones basado en su profundo conocimiento sobre la formación de discípulos que ha abordado en su libro La pedagogía de Jesús y la formación de sus discípulos a la luz del Proyecto Global de Pastoral (PGP) donde destaca que cada persona crece espiritualmente desde experiencias distintas, pero que nadie comienza desde cero. Explicó que uno de los elementos fundamentales para el crecimiento integral es trabajar la dimensión humana. Afirmó que existen riquezas en las personas, pero lo que hace falta es darle orden y enfocarse en elementos que son fundamentales para el crecimiento humano. Su interés por destacar la parte humana dijo, proviene de que aun cuando podemos abordar otros temas como la gracia y el pecado, hay realidades que afectan a las personas y que le impiden aprovechar todas las gracias que el Espíritu Santo nos ofrece a través de sus dones. El Padre Celestino, reconoció que con frecuencia los seres humanos llevan heridas del pasado que tienen que ver con sus historias familiares con situaciones difíciles de pobreza, violencia o abandono. “Muchos cargan resentimientos o heridas profundas; es como un recipiente roto que no puede retener la gracia”, señaló. Es complicado, agregó, para muchas personas olvidar cosas que les hicieron daño y lamentablemente es como un recipiente dañado y reventado que poco puede retener, no obstante, nunca dejamos de ser discípulos. Sobre el tema del adviento el Padre Celestino aseguró que es un tiempo propicio para revisar el corazón, sanar y prepararse espiritualmente para la llegada del Señor. El Adviento: tiempo de preparación y vigilancia Corona de Adviento en la Parroquia de Our Lady of Good Counsel en Mountain Home. (Foto / Vero Gutiérrez) El sacerdote explicó que el Adviento tiene una doble mirada: La escatológica, que recuerda la certeza de la segunda venida de Cristo y la histórica, que celebra el nacimiento del Hijo de Dios hace más de dos mil años. Así que destacó que el adviento es un tiempo de espera que nos prepara para la gran celebración de la Navidad y para que nuestro corazón se vuelva a encender y sentir la presencia de Dios cercana. Subrayó la importancia de vivir este tiempo con responsabilidad espiritual, pues “Cristo volverá no como niño ni como buen pastor, sino como juez”, haciendo eco del Evangelio de San Mateo capítulo 24. Por ello, invitó a los fieles a recurrir a los medios espirituales que ofrece la Iglesia, como la confesión y la Eucaristía. El Padre Celestino Rosas destacó además la tradición de la corona de Adviento, sus colores y su origen histórico, recordando que la Iglesia “inculturó” antiguas celebraciones romanas para darles un sentido cristiano: Cristo como el Sol que vence definitivamente a la oscuridad. Una parte central de su reflexión giró en torno al desafío del amor cristiano, que va más allá de la reciprocidad. “Muchos terminan cansados cuando aman esperando algo a cambio. Ese es un amor humano. Cristo nos enseñó un amor de donación total”, dijo. Afirmó que la verdadera felicidad no depende de lo que otros hagan, sino de la relación personal con Dios: “La felicidad depende de lo que tú permites que Dios haga en tu vida”. Recordó que en la vida diaria —familia, enfermedad, dificultades matrimoniales o heridas del pasado— cada persona encuentra oportunidades reales para santificarse y santificar a los demás. El Padre Celestino, comentó que las personas pueden alcanzar la santificación en su propia casa cuando viven con paz en medio de las dificultades familiares. Si renunciamos a vivir con paciencia y misericordia situaciones que no podemos cambiar, dijo, nos alejamos de la santidad. Pero si las abrazamos con fe, estamos aprovechando esas dificultades de la vida para alcanzar nuestra santificación. El Padre lamentó que en muchas familias contemporáneas Dios ha sido desplazado del hogar, reemplazado por prácticas que buscan respuestas espirituales equivocadas, como amuletos, cristales o corrientes esotéricas. “Dios no es una opción; es una necesidad profunda del ser humano”, afirmó e invitó a las familias a evaluar la calidad de su fe y a recuperar la vida sacramental, la oración y la centralidad de Dios en el hogar. “No existe alguien que esté cerca de Dios y sea mala persona”, finalizó. La batalla espiritual y el rol del hombre en la familia El Padre Rito Guzmán, sacerdote religioso de la Congregación de los Misioneros del Espíritu Santo, fue otro de los conferencistas que abordó el tema guerrero en la batalla espiritual y partiendo de la Carta de San Pablo a los Efesios hizo un llamado a los hombres para revestirse de la armadura de Cristo. Habló sobre las tentaciones que afectan hoy a los hombres: indiferencia espiritual, tibieza, distracciones, desgaste emocional, la pornografía y falta de propósito. En su mensaje el Padre Rito insistió en que el hombre tiene un papel esencial en la transmisión de la fe: “Si el padre no vive su fe, los hijos nunca la aprenderán”, recalcó. Por ello, animó a los participantes a orar diariamente, a educar con el ejemplo y a asumir la responsabilidad espiritual de su hogar. “Los valores, añadió, se comunican a través de las acciones”. Describió la oración como “el oxígeno del alma”, especialmente necesaria en momentos de crisis: deportación, separación familiar o problemas matrimoniales. Estar anclados en la oración, indicó, evita que la desesperanza destruya la vida espiritual. “La oración constante, insistió, crea una relación íntima con Cristo. El Padre Guzmán también exhortó a los asistentes a fortalecerse en la fe, formarse como líderes dentro de la comunidad hispana y asumir con valentía su misión en la Iglesia y en la familia. “Los hombres son el futuro de la Iglesia; necesitamos líderes hispanos dispuestos a acercarse de nuevo a Cristo”, afirmó.

Each year a new calendar, featuring Idaho priests and their families, is printed and sold offering the proceeds to help support our seminarians and priests. Mary Lou Molitor, the publisher of these yearly calendars, once again, asked me to participate in the 2026 edition. The theme for this year was to submit a photo which included 12 priests with their mothers. Thus, I submitted the above photo for the month of December. The photo tells the story of my sixth birthday when my mother was teaching me, with the “help” of three of my four siblings at the time, how to blow out candles. Obviously, it doesn’t happen with mouths wide open. My mother is giving instructions on how to pucker my lips and then blow out while aiming at the lit candles. I finally got it, and my sixth birthday was then celebrated with a wish, a slice of her home-made birthday cake and lots of laughter. What patience she had, as I now recognize the many sacrifices, she made that can only be understood today as simple acts of love! On the second Sunday of this Advent I was invited by one of our priests to visit his extended family at an open house gathering. After making the invitation he asked if I’d be willing to anoint his elderly father at the same event. I gladly agreed to do so. Prior to attending, I offered this prayer in my heart for both his parents: “Lord, if there is anything you want me to mention to this couple, please give the words to say.” I had hardly finished, when these words came to my heart: “Tell them that I know the many sacrifices you have made for others during your lives. Some of these are known, however, many not fully recognized by those for whom they were offered. I also know the many sacrifices you have made on behalf of others which are no longer remembered by you.” When I had finished saying these words to the couple there was the audible sigh. The kind of sigh that comes when knowing you have been blessed – in this case a sigh including eyes filled with tears. The words given to me then: “Some of these are known, however, many not fully recognized by those for whom they were offered,” continue to resonate deep within my heart today as I reflect back on my sixth birthday December 24th, 1958. Just think, my mother had five of her eight children by that time and at this moment expecting her sixth. It’s the day before Christmas, with gifts to be wrapped, meals to be prepared, probably laundry to be done, a cake to bake and a birthday to be celebrated. All the while, she’s patiently and joyfully teaching her fourth child how to blow out his six birthday candles. What a loving sacrifice she was making. And, at the time, I had no real understanding of all she must have been going through in order to make this event so special and memorable for her child. Perhaps the same words spoken in my heart for the elderly couple could be spoken to her as well: “I also know, (Ann), the many sacrifices you have made on behalf of others which are no longer remembered by you.” I believe it’s important that we remember today that an act of love made in sacrifice for the well-being of others, does not go unnoticed by Our Lord, nor can they be forgotten even if we forget. As a child I knew I was cared for, but as I have grown older, even decades later, I have come to see these sacrificial moments as touchstones of grace that touch deep within the heart. These moments are commingled with Divine Grace reminding me that I am known and loved by God. My brothers and sisters, when we experience a taste of pure, selfless love by another, it is then that we are brought to realize, in an even deeper way, that Our Heavenly Father does indeed care for us; for human love touches on the eternal. With the experience of such love we touch upon a love that we have been created to receive from the beginning of time. When we receive and when we share sacrificial love from and for another, we share in a taste of God’s eternal love for us. This flow of Grace is what we celebrate each and every Christmas as we re-member how deeply loved we are as seen by Jesus’ birth at Bethlehem, and His life which follows here on earth. So many sacrifices made, some recognized, some unknown, and some yet to be revealed. They will be revealed when we have eyes that are opened and Blessed to see as children of God just how Loved we’ve been for all eternity. Merry Christmas! P.S. Just know on this birthday, if I receive a cake with 73 candles on it or not, I will make a wish and prayer that Our Lord’s goodness is even greater known to you and for all those you love. (Calendars can be purchased at Reilly’s Catholic Gift Store, Boise) Cada año se imprime y se vende un nuevo calendario, en el que aparecen sacerdotes de Idaho y sus familias, y cuyos beneficios se destinan a ayudar a nuestros seminaristas y sacerdotes. Mary Lou Molitor, la editora de estos calendarios anuales, me pidió una vez más que participara en la edición de 2026. El tema de este año era enviar una foto en la que aparecieran 12 sacerdotes con sus madres. Así pues, envié la foto de arriba para el mes de diciembre. La foto cuenta la historia de mi sexto cumpleaños, cuando mi madre me enseñaba, con la “ayuda” de tres de mis cuatro hermanos de entonces, a apagar las velas. Obviamente, no se hace con la boca abierta. Mi madre me da instruc-ciones sobre cómo fruncir los labios y luego soplar mientras apunto a las velas encendidas. Finalmente lo conseguí, y mi sexto cumpleaños se celebró con un deseo, una porción de su pastel de cumpleaños casero y muchas risas. ¡Qué paciencia tuvo! Ahora reconozco los muchos sacrificios que hizo y que solo hoy puedo entender como simples actos de amor. El segundo domingo de Adviento, uno de nuestros sacerdotes me invitó a visitar a su familia extendida en una reunión de puertas abiertas. Después de hacerme la invitación, me preguntó si estaría dispuesto a ungir a su anciano padre en el mismo evento. Acepté con mucho gusto. Antes de asistir, ofrecí esta oración en mi corazón por sus padres: “Señor, si hay algo que quieras que men-cione a esta pareja, por favor, dame las palabras para decirlo”. Apenas había ter-minado, cuando estas palabras llegaron a mi corazón: “Diles que sé los muchos sacrificios que han hecho por los demás durante sus vidas. Algunos de ellos son conocidos, sin embargo, muchos no son plenamente reconocidos por aquellos a quienes fueron ofrecidos. También sé los muchos sacrificios que has hecho por los demás y que ya no recuerdas”. Cuando terminé de decir estas palabras a la pareja, se oyó un suspiro. El tipo de suspiro que se produce cuando sabes que has sido bendecido, en este caso un suspiro acompañado de ojos llenos de lágrimas. Las palabras que me dijeron entonces: “Algunas de ellas son conocidas, sin embargo, muchas no son plenamente reconocidas por aquellos a quienes fueron ofrecidas”, siguen resonando profundamente en mi corazón hoy, mientras reflex-iono sobre mi sexto cumpleaños, hace sesenta y siete años, este 24 de diciembre. Piénsese que mi madre tenía cinco de sus ocho hijos en ese momento y estaba esperando el sexto. Es la víspera de Navidad, con regalos que envolver, co-midas que preparar, probablemente ropa que lavar, un pastel que hornear y un cumpleaños que celebrar. Mientras tanto, ella enseña con paciencia y alegría a su cuarto hijo cómo apagar las seis velas de su cumpleaños. Qué sacrificio tan amoroso estaba haciendo. Y, en ese momento, yo no comprendía realmente todo lo que ella debía estar pasando para hacer que este evento fuera tan especial y memorable para su hijo. Quizás las mismas palabras que pronuncié en mi corazón para la pareja de ancianos también podrían decirse a ella: “También sé, (Ann), los muchos sacrifi-cios que has hecho por los demás y que ya no recuerdas”. Creo que es importante que recordemos hoy que un acto de amor realizado en sacrificio por el bienestar de los demás no pasa desapercibido para Nuestro Señor, ni puede ser olvidado, aunque nosotros lo olvidemos. De niño sabía que me cuidaban, pero al hacerme mayor, incluso décadas después, he llegado a ver esos momentos de sacrificio como piedras angulares de la gracia que llegan al fondo del corazón. Esos momentos se mezclan con la gracia divina y me recuerdan que Dios me conoce y me ama. Hermanos y hermanas, cuando experimentamos el sabor del amor puro y desinteresado de otra persona, es entonces cuando nos damos cuenta, de una manera aún más profunda, de que nuestro Padre Celestial realmente se preocupa por nosotros, porque el amor humano toca lo eterno. Con la experiencia de tal amor, tocamos un amor que hemos sido creados para recibir desde el principio de los tiempos. Cuando recibimos y compartimos el amor sacrificial de y para otra persona, compartimos una muestra del amor eterno de Dios por nosotros. Este flujo de Gracia es lo que celebramos cada Navidad al recordar cuán profundamente somos amados, tal como lo demuestra el nacimiento de Jesús en Belén y su vida aquí en la tierra. Tantos sacrificios hechos, algunos reconocidos, otros desconocidos y otros aún por revelar. Serán revelados cuando tengamos ojos abiertos y bendecidos para ver, como hijos de Dios, cuán amados hemos sido por toda la eternidad. ¡Feliz Navidad! P.D. Ten en cuenta esto en este cumpleaños, reciba o no un pastel con 73 velas, pediré un deseo y rezaré para que la bondad de Nuestro Señor se mani- fieste aún más en tu vida y en la de todos tus seres queridos. (Los calendarios se pueden comprar en la tienda de artículos religiosos de Reilly en Boise).

Por Diácono Thomas Middleton Los niños son vulnerables a los efectos del mundo digital y están siendo moldeados por fuerzas más poderosas de lo que su capacidad de desarrollo puede manejar, incluido su desarrollo espiritual. Cada vez hay más pruebas que apuntan al hecho de que el cerebro en desarrollo de un niño es muy sensible, y la exposición excesiva a los dispositivos electrónicos y a los algoritmos impulsados por la inteligencia artificial (IA) crea daños neurológicos, psicológicos y sociológicos medibles y demostrables. Solo podemos imaginar lo que esa exposición está haciendo a sus almas inocentes.   Existe consenso entre los investigadores en que la sobreexposición a los dispositivos digitales y a los algoritmos impulsados por la IA crea diferencias estructurales y funcionales en el cerebro de los usuarios habituales. Esta exposición excesiva da lugar a un deterioro de la función ejecutiva del cerebro e incluso a una reducción de la capacidad de atención. Se ha observado un retraso en el desarrollo del lenguaje en los niños pequeños. La sobreestimulación electrónica crea una desregulación emocional. El efecto de la luz azul, las notificaciones constantes y el contenido estimulante del entorno electrónico provocan trastornos del sueño, lo que a su vez perjudica la maduración neurológica. Cuando se permite que los dispositivos electrónicos sustituyan a la interacción humana real, los niños desarrollan déficits en sus habilidades sociales.   Muchos adultos que trabajan hoy en día en el ámbito educativo están reconociendo en los jóvenes síntomas comunes de apatía, falta de motivación, privación del sueño, aislamiento social e incluso insensibilidad emocional. Se trata de un resultado previsible causado por las tecnologías electrónicas diseñadas para mantenerlos conectados, entretenidos y atentos. Para los niños, la tecnología digital no es neutral. Los teléfonos, las tabletas, las aplicaciones y las plataformas de redes sociales están diseñados intencionadamente para captar su atención activando el sistema de recompensa de dopamina del cerebro. Sufren de agotamiento de dopamina. Resulta que el cerebro percibe el mundo electrónico como real y reacciona en consecuencia.   Como persona humana, el niño es creado por Dios como un ser unificado, cuerpo y alma, cuyo crecimiento espiritual depende de una mente y una vida emocional sanas, de la capacidad de establecer relaciones, de la capacidad de formarse moralmente y de la libertad de elegir el bien. Santo Tomás de Aquino dijo que la gracia se basa en la naturaleza. Si es así, entonces también debemos suponer que, en el vacío electrónico de la IA sin Dios, donde los niños son consumidores más controlados que agentes morales libres, su formación moral y espiritual se produce sin todas las cosas buenas que nos hacen plenamente humanos: la fe, la gracia, la verdad, el amor abnegado, la oración, la comunión y la conciencia.   Como adultos católicos, líderes, padres y abuelos, debemos considerar estos efectos no solo como psicológicos e incluso físicos, sino también profundamente espirituales. Cuando la atención de los niños se ve moldeada por contenidos electrónicos de rápida evolución, imágenes brillantes y gratificación instantánea, la vida normal se vuelve aburrida. Las alegrías naturales de la vida —la amistad, el juego, la comida, la belleza— quedan relegadas por las recompensas electrónicas. La capacidad de prestar atención e incluso de estar presente se ve mermada. El silencio se vuelve insoportable. Los deseos espirituales más profundos del niño se debilitan. El deseo de Dios se disipa. El Papa Francisco dijo: “Cuando las vidas se pasan detrás de una pantalla, las almas pueden quedarse dormidas”.   Muchos padres y educadores están observando un entumecimiento espiritual en sus hogares y escuelas. Los niños que antes amaban jugar al aire libre ahora prefieren el aislamiento. La comunicación verbal es críptica. El entusiasmo y la curiosidad por la vida desaparecen. A menudo, los padres se ven atrapados en el mismo ciclo de recompensa de dopamina. Llegan a casa cansados del trabajo y buscan sus teléfonos. En lugar de interactuar con la familia, se aíslan detrás de pantallas electrónicas y dentro de programas electrónicos.   Los niños, en lugar de recibir la seguridad de sus padres de que están a salvo dentro de una familia y un hogar amorosos, recurren a sus dispositivos electrónicos en busca de consuelo e incluso de la sensación de tener una relación. Se vuelven insensibles. Las relaciones familiares, las amistades, la oración, la música, la naturaleza, el desarrollo de la virtud, la curiosidad e incluso la alegría de vivir quedan subordinadas a la relación omnipresente que mantienen con las imágenes, los personajes y las voces de la IA en sus dispositivos. Los algoritmos de IA explotan los instintos sociales naturales de los niños.   Pero hay esperanza. Los padres siguen teniendo la capacidad de ejercer una enorme influencia en la vida de sus hijos. Los niños prosperan cuando los adultos crean una cultura saludable en la escuela y en casa. En primer lugar, los adultos deben encontrar la fuerza para dejar sus teléfonos y romper sus propios bucles de retroalimentación inducidos por la dopamina. En segundo lugar, necesitan encontrar la energía para establecer límites reales: ayuno tecnológico, comidas sin tecnología, dormitorios sin dispositivos, límites en el tiempo de pantalla, horas de silencio designadas en las que se les da a los niños el regalo del aburrimiento y el espacio para la imaginación y la creatividad.   El objetivo no es eliminar la tecnología, sino controlarla y reordenarla para que no seamos nosotros los que estemos controlados. Los dispositivos electrónicos deben servir al bienestar de los niños y las familias, no socavarlo. Al fin y al cabo, los dispositivos cibernéticos y la inteligencia artificial son solo herramientas, aunque muy poderosas. Al igual que otras herramientas humanas, pueden utilizarse para el bien o para el mal. Para garantizar el bien, los hábitos digitales deben apoyar las prácticas espirituales: buscar a Dios, asistir a misa, confesarse, rezar y ayudar a los menos afortunados.   Las prácticas digitales deben apoyar las necesidades físicas y psicológicas de los niños: el juego no estructurado, la construcción de amistades, el conocimiento del amor y la seguridad de su familia, la risa, la alegría y la belleza. Todo lo que fortalezca la libertad real, la atención, el asombro, la quietud interior, la capacidad de tener relaciones, los ritmos del cuerpo y el alma, también fortalecerá la capacidad del niño para conocer a Dios, amar a los demás y crecer en la virtud.   Los niños, en virtud de ser personas humanas creadas a imagen de Dios, tienen dignidad y derechos espirituales. Nos han sido confiados por Dios y tienen derecho a ser protegidos como sus hijos amados con almas inmortales. Los niños tienen derecho a que se les presente a Dios y a saber que Él los ama. Tienen derecho a conocer las verdades de la fe y a ser educados en ella. Los niños tienen el derecho espiritual a ser criados en una familia estable y amorosa y por padres que sean modelos de virtud cristiana. Tienen derecho a crecer en santidad y a no ser inducidos al pecado.   Los adultos, especialmente los padres, tienen la responsabilidad de invertir tiempo y esfuerzo en proteger e incluso rescatar a los niños de la prisión del uso compulsivo de los dispositivos electrónicos y del impacto que esto tiene en su bienestar físico, mental y espiritual. Debemos interrumpir el patrón repetitivo de desencadenantes y comportamientos manipulados que los alejan del conocimiento de Dios y de la verdadera libertad. Debemos devolver a nuestros hijos el poder que Dios les ha dado para elegir a Cristo.   Nota: Utilicé programas de inteligencia artificial para realizar la investigación necesaria para completar este artículo.

Editor’s note: The following homily addresses the issue of immigration as a current and ever-challenging topic in our society and within the very life of the Church in Idaho. It was delivered by Father Tim Segert, parochial vicar at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise, during the Mass for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Oct. 26, 2025). Drawing upon the day’s readings, Father Segert reflects on the call to justice, humility and the mercy of God as they relate to the moral and pastoral challenges surrounding immigration. By Father Timothy Segert, Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Boise It doesn’t take me to tell you that there is a major disagreement over immigration in our country right now. It’s not new, but it has definitely exploded recently. And, true to form, people immediately reach towards their favorite phrases or preferred political party to help express themselves. Tell me if any of these sound familiar: “Build the wall,” “America First,” and “Stop the invasion.” Or how about these: “No human being is illegal,” “Abolish ICE,” and “Build bridges, not walls.” This issue has come to be perhaps the main dividing line in our society right now, although it is certainly not the only issue. So what are we as Catholics supposed to do with this? The gut instinct is to reach for whatever is most natural for us. Some of us are immigrants, or know immigrants. Others have been affected by immigration in a negative way, perhaps by losing our jobs. So most of us already have a vested interest in how things go. But if we’ve learned anything from watching the news, acting purely on what our gut tells us isn’t always right. In fact, doing just that, without any kind of rational thought, has been exactly what has severely damaged our nation. What if we appealed to external truth instead? The Church has already given us a way of thinking about this matter, based on the wisdom of Jesus and His Church. Wouldn’t that be a better route? To do that, I would like to recommend that you read the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2241 on this matter. It is extremely balanced and well-written. It’s a bit long, but I’m going to include it here because it’s more important than usual to hear the entire thing quoted: “The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him. “Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.” To me, it boils down to two points: ● A person has the moral duty and responsibility to do everything necessary, sin excepted, to keep himself and his family alive. This may include taking drastic measures at certain times. ● At the same time, each national government has the responsibility to keep their respective nations safe and to preserve the integrity of their national sovereignty insofar as it is in line with the natural law. Most of us are going to have an inclination to accept one of these principles over the other. But the Catholic way is the “both/and” way. As Catholics, we must hold these principles in tension, instead of collapsing one into the other. On the one hand, there are people in absolutely desperate situations who do not have enough food, water or proper shelter to survive, or who are actively on the run from people who might harm them. These people actually have a moral obligation to protect themselves and their family, which can include relocating themselves across national boundaries if the need is that extreme. Think of the Holy Family, for example. Immigrants’ basic human rights and human dignity are retained at all times and do not depend on government recognition. That means everyone, at all times, has the right to life, food, water, shelter, safety, private property, religious freedom and bodily integrity. As I mentioned before, these cannot be taken away even if a person illegally enters into another country which is not his own. This is part of Catholic Social Teaching. But there is another part as well. We hear numerous times throughout the Old and New Testaments to respect our rulers in all things outside of sin. This includes the duty that each and every government on earth has to protect its citizens, preserve its own culture and language, and regulate who enters the country. To act contrary to this without grave cause - that is, only in cases of basic human rights - is sinful. This is part of Catholic teaching as well. Popes Francis and Leo have summarized it well by saying again and again that it is important “to welcome, to protect, to promote and to integrate.” First, the host nation should welcome those she is legally able to receive. This is done so as to protect both the immigrants and citizens who already live in the host country. Next, immigrants should be promoted - that is, what is good and wholesome about their prior cultures can be retained and celebrated, especially in a nation like ours. And finally (and very critically), it is a moral duty of the immigrant to follow the laws of the new country, learn and operate in its language and culture, and become legally recognized and productive members of society. In other words, to integrate. As you can already see, these principles will sometimes clash with each other. In fact, they already have clashed with each other. But that doesn’t mean we let go of either one. Doing so can result in imbalances or abuses on either side. There have already been reports of mistreatment of people in detention centers who have illegally immigrated to this country - we have seen it on the news. Our bishops have criticized these situations. There have also been problems from not regulating the common good of our nation - increased drug and sex trafficking, people who never integrate into the nation’s economy and culture, and even loss of faith due to lack of inculturation. These are problems as well. We as Catholics are tasked with the messy goal of bringing these two principles together in a harmonious way. To let go of either side is dangerous. I would like to end by referring us back to God’s word given to us in the book of Sirach. However we harmonize these principles, He is concerned with justice. Hear the first reading again in a new light: “The LORD is a God of justice, who knows no favorites. Though not unduly partial toward the weak, yet he hears the cry of the oppressed. “The Lord is not deaf to the wail of the orphan, nor to the widow when she pours out her complaint. The one who serves God willingly is heard; his petition reaches the heavens. The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal, nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds, judges justly and affirms the right, and the Lord will not delay.”

By Gene Fadness For the ICR By outward appearance, St. Mary’s Catholic School in Boise looks old. It is. Built in 1949, the square red brick building lacks the contemporary look of today’s schools as well as the modern infrastructure. But the foundation of the school, inspectors note, is as strong as ever, stronger than schools built three and four decades later. Just as resilient are the teachers, staff and parishioners with the spiritual foundation to keep the school going, even through recent upheavals. Just three short years ago, school staff and parishioners wondered whether their school would last to celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2024. Enrollment was significantly down. Some grades were combined into one classroom with one teacher. There were rumblings that the diocese might close the school. In 2023, the downward trend in enrollment reversed. For nearly three years, the percent increase in enrollment has been in the double digits. A school that less than three years ago had fewer than 100 students now has 151, and there is no end in sight to the growth. “To quote a parishioner, ‘The people here are faithful and resilient,’ ” said Father John Kucera, pastor at the parish. Bishop Peter Christensen agrees. “With the recent school growth, the timing is providential for a renewed commitment to strengthening the foundation of Catholic education and parish life,” the Bishop wrote in a letter that launched a $3 million capital campaign to replace dated, drafty windows with energy-efficient windows, improve the building’s air conditioning and air flow as well as its lighting and accessibility. Also planned is an upgrade to the kitchen with a modernized warming kitchen, giving the school and parish the ability to host gatherings with greater hospitality and ease. The parish’s commitment to the school became very clear when a survey of parishioners asked them what improvements they deemed most important: the school upgrades, new parish offices and meeting spaces, or a new gymnasium. Parishioners ranked each of the projects with a high, medium or low priority. Of 240 responses, the vast majority chose the school upgrades. Even 60 percent of parishioners who did not have children or grandchildren or were alumni of the schools ranked the school upgrades first. The Omaha-based Steier Group that conducts fundraising campaigns for Catholic parishes scored the responses from one to 10 in priority. The school improvements came in with a score above 9, according to John Samson of the Steier Group. “Even those with no direct connection to the school came in at 9,” he said. “You might see that high a response in only about 20 percent of the projects we do.” To date, parishioners are backing up their choice of projects with their pocketbooks. By the time of the campaign’s official launch the weekend of Nov. 15-16, $480,000 of the $3 million had been pledged, the result of one-on-one meetings with some of the parish’s most involved families. The rest of the parish, sensing the enthusiasm, added their pledges after the launch weekend. By Nov. 21, the pledged amount was $914,300, almost a third of the goal. The response is reminiscent of the hardy families who raised the funds needed to build a church on farmland on Boise’s “western” end nearly a century ago, not long after the Great Depression. Located at 26th and State streets, the original church was built in 1937 and expanded in 2009. Pledges coming in so quickly means work on the projects can begin now rather than at the end of the three-year campaign. Samson said there is a good chance the windows will be replaced as soon as school gets out next summer. As parishioners walk by the school on their way to Mass and see their money already put to use, that should spur even more support for the campaign. Drivers passing by on busy State Street will see work being done on the school, sending a strong message that the now 76-year-old school is here to stay. Depending on the cost of the initial improvements – the projects still must be let out for bid – and the amount ultimately raised, there is a possibility that the parish offices and meeting and meeting space can be upgraded as well. The offices are in the former convent immediately west of the school, which housed the Benedictine nuns from St. Gertrude’s Monastery, who founded the school in 1949. Monsignor John J. Creegan served as pastor of St. Mary's Parish from 1937 until his death in 1974. (Courtesy photo) A tentative long-range plan is to raze the convent to build a new gymnasium and add desperately needed meeting and classroom space for the growing parish. Just more than 200 families joined the parish in 2024-25, a factor in contributing to the growth of the school. While pleased with the increasing enrollment, Principal Kevan Grant doesn’t want the school to exceed 200 students and lose the appeal of its low teacher-student ratio. Samson is impressed by the close collaboration between Grant and Father Kucera, an indicator that the parish and school communities are united, not always the case in some parishes when priests may want something different than principals. “These two collaborate well and are remarkably united,” he said. Neither Father Kucera nor Grant are surprised at the early success of the campaign. “Knowing how generous the parishioners are here at St. Mary’s, I cannot say I am surprised,” Father Kucera said, although the young priest who previously served smaller parishes as pastor is new to fundraising of this magnitude. “I must admit, starting a capital campaign was a little nerve-racking at first, but I have an incredible team of people advising me,” he said, adding, “I also believe that if we are doing the will of the Lord, the money will follow our mission, which is to help others know and encounter Jesus Christ.” In other words, a strong foundation, just like the old building that is St. Mary’s Catholic School.