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Fatima Partida is at the Vatican. She studied archeology in Rome for the fall semester of 2019. (Courtesy photo/Fatima Partida) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Fatima Partida had foolproof plans. “I was to become an architect, get married and have kids,” she said. In the spring of 2022, those plans were unfolding as intended. She had an internship with an architecture firm in downtown Boise and was set to graduate with her master’s degree in architecture from the University of Idaho in just two months. She and her boyfriend were talking about getting engaged in the summer and marrying a year after that. “Everything was perfect until a Mass during Lent in March of 2022,” she said. “I was at the Cathedral with my boyfriend, went up and received Communion and then went back to the pew. As soon as I knelt down, there was this deep stirring in my heart. I just knew it was the Lord telling me to slow down. As if He was saying, ‘Pump the brakes.’” At that moment during Mass at St. John’s Cathedral in Boise, Fatima knew what the Lord was once again calling her to discern—religious life. “I first heard the call to religious life when I was 18,” she explained. Fatima Partida prays during the Stations of the Cross at Table Rock in Boise. (Courtesy photo/Fatima Partida) However, at that time, her faith was cultural. “I was born in California and raised in Mexico. Our family went to Mass and prayed together, and I just went along with it.” Fatima’s parents, Maria de Lourdes and Humberto Partida, always had a strong faith. When Maria de Lourdes was pregnant with Fatima, she had serious complications. “The doctor told my mother to abort me when she was just three months pregnant because he just knew I wouldn’t survive, but she refused,” Fatima said. Maria de Lourdes, who didn’t know if she was pregnant with a boy or a girl, prayed every day that if Our Lady of Fatima would save her baby from death, she would give her baby in the service of the Church to the priesthood or religious life. “She told me about this when I was a teenager, and I used to get really upset. It felt like an arranged marriage or a curse, but really, what my mom wanted was God’s will for my life. She never pushed me one way or the other. She just prayed for me.” Fatima first felt a clear call to religious life in 2016 while at a youth conference in Washington. She was 18. “They asked all the teenagers who felt called to the priesthood or religious life to stand up so they could pray over them. I began feeling this unbearable heat in my entire body, but I didn’t want to stand up. Then the person at the microphone said that you might feel a burning sensation or heat and that it was the Holy Spirit.” Fatima, however, was afraid of what her friends might think. She also wasn’t convinced that she was meant to be a religious sister. “I stood up because the burning was so bad I thought I was going to die if I didn’t.” When Fatima went home, she was worried that she had to go straight to a convent. “I was supposed to start college in just a few weeks at the University of Idaho in Moscow, and I didn’t know what to do,” she recalled. “But a priest explained to me that I just needed to discern what God was calling me to. He said I should just go on with my plans to go to college.” While at U of I, she began going to the St. Augustine Catholic Student Center. “In talking with Father Chase Hasenoehrl, I realized I didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus,” she said. Father Hasenoehrl encouraged her to start by getting to know Jesus because “if you don’t know someone, you can’t love them.” Fatima Partida, second from the left, is with her older sister and two younger brothers. (Courtesy photo/Fatima Partida) Fatima began going to daily Mass, Adoration and Bible studies. “I was very involved my freshman year,” she continued. “But then as I got into my major, I became very busy with my studies and college social life. So eventually I became a ‘transactional Catholic’: I was just going to Jesus in prayer when I needed Him for something.” Fatima continued to feel lukewarm in her faith until the summer of 2019, when she went to London to study architecture. “I found myself wanting God more while I was there because He was unavailable to me. I was used to being able to see Him in the chapel at St. Augustine’s whenever I wanted, but in London, most of the churches are Anglican. I had to travel 40 minutes to get to a Catholic church and to visit Jesus in the tabernacle.” After her summer semester in London, she studied architecture in Rome for the fall semester. “I went from a famine in London to a feast in Rome,” she said. Surrounded by the churches and religious art, Fatima’s faith was renewed, but she still did not accept a call to religious life. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree in 2020, she immediately began working on her master’s degree. She went to Boise in 2021 to begin her internship and continue studies at the Boise campus of U of I. “For our thesis project, we could design whatever we wanted. I chose to design a campus for people experiencing homelessness, with a rehab center, transitional housing, job training, mental health care and other areas to help people.” As a part of her research, she volunteered at Corpus Christi House (now called “Corpus Commons”) in downtown Boise. “I started to encounter how helpless and how little I was. Every Saturday, I would help prepare food, hand out food and talk to them. I found out that so many people become homeless because of tragedies, through no fault of their own. Any of us can become homeless at any time.” Fatima also noticed that it was rare someone left Corpus Commons because they were able to find housing and a job. “Most of the time, if someone was not there on a Saturday, it was because they went to prison, were sick, in the hospital or died. I started to see how there was no human way that could help them overcome. Truly, the only person who was able to help them was God.” After feeling the call again in Lent of 2022, Fatima did her best to ignore it. Fatima Partida is at a crossroads on the Camino de Santiago. One direction points to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Fatima. (Courtesy photo/Fatima Partida) “I knew the Lord was calling me to discern religious life, but I didn’t want to at that time. I was so angry at the Lord because I felt like He was coming in and ruining my plans.” However, she began to feel like her heart was divided and she needed to choose. “I broke up with my boyfriend. I told him, and it was true, that I loved him, but I needed to figure out what the Lord was asking me to do. My boyfriend actually became Catholic after that. He went into OCIA and became Catholic at Easter 2023,” she said. “It kind of made it harder to continue to discern religious life. I kept thinking, ‘Come on, God! He’s Catholic now!’” But Fatima knew she needed to persevere in her decision to follow the Lord. “I asked the Lord what He wanted for my life. While praying before the Eucharist, I just continually heard the words, ‘I Thirst.’ It felt like an invitation to let Jesus into my heart. He was thirsting for me to trust Him and for a childlike dependency on Him.” On Nov. 21, 2023, the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fatima finally said yes to Jesus. “I was at a retreat with the Sisters of Mary Morning Star in Minnesota. I was in the chapel, and I looked at Jesus. I knew He was asking me to give Him my entire life. I said ‘yes.’ I think of it as that was when He proposed to me, and I said ‘yes.’” For two years, Fatima discerned with different religious communities. She visited the Missionaries of Charity in Chicago, the Salesians, the Carmelites and many others. During a second visit with the Missionaries of Charity, this time in San Francisco, she felt the burning sensation that she had when she was 18. But at the time, she wasn’t ready for the Missionaries. Fatima Partida is with her family in Boise for her master's degree graduation ceremony. "My debt is holding me back from entering the convent," she said. "But then if I hadn’t worked on my thesis project for my master’s degree, I wouldn’t have experienced helping those experiencing homelessness. The project helped me realize my helplessness and how we all need God’s help.” (Courtesy photo/Fatima Partida) “I was hoping to join a congregation that devoted more time to study and prayer, so I ignored the feeling that I was meant to be with the Missionaries of Charity,” she said. In the summer of 2025, Fatima decided to do a year of missionary work in Saltillo, Mexico. “I told people at work that I was leaving my job to become a missionary and then hopefully become a religious sister. My supervisor said, ‘Well, you’re the first person in the history of this company to ever do that.’ They threw me a retirement party on my birthday, May 9.” Fatima gave everything away, ready to leave for the mission, but then the plans fell through at the last minute. “I had no job; I had nothing,” she recalled. Fatima moved back with her parents near Sacramento. Although she was unsure what to do next, her younger brother entered the seminary for the Diocese of Sacramento. “He was also in trouble in the womb and doctors thought he would die. My mother prayed that if God spared his life, she would offer him to the service of the Church,” Fatima said. “Her pregnancy with my oldest sister and youngest brother had no life-threatening complications. My sister is discerning religious life through a program with the Salesians. My youngest brother is studying film, but he jokes that he might become a monk.” After more time in prayer, Fatima chose to discern with the Missionaries of Charity again. “I decided to go to the ‘Come and See’ program with the Missionaries of Charity,” she said. That time, everything clicked. “Next to the crucifix in the convent were the words, ‘I Thirst,’” she said. “Those same words that Jesus had been saying to me when I prayed before the Eucharist.” In 1946, St. Teresa of Kolkata, the founder of the Missionaries of Charity, felt Jesus say to her “I Thirst” while she was looking at the crucifix. It was then that she received her “call within a call” to quench the thirst of Jesus for souls and love through her work for “the poorest of the poor.” When Fatima saw the "I Thirst" next to the Crucifix in the convent of the Missionaries of Charity, everything clicked. She knew Jesus was calling her to serve as a Missionary of Charity. (Courtesy photo/Fatima Partida) “I learned more about Mother Teresa’s call, and I knew that I was meant to be with the Missionaries of Charity,” she said. A few months later, on the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fatima was accepted to the postulancy for the Missionaries of Charity. “It was exactly two years after I said ‘yes’ to Jesus’ proposal.” The only obstacle to Fatima entering the convent in June of this year is her college debt. “It’s kind of strange: My debt is holding me back from entering the convent, but then if I hadn’t worked on my thesis project for my master’s degree, I wouldn’t have experienced helping those experiencing homelessness. The project helped me realize my helplessness and how we all need God’s help.” The Missionaries of Charity and Fatima have partnered with The Labouré Society, a Catholic non-profit 501(c)(3) that helps rescue vocations of those called to Religious life or the priesthood overcome the barrier of educational expenses. If you would like to help Fatima meet her goal so that she can enter the Missionaries of Charity, visit rescuevocations.org/aspirant/Fatima-Partida or email FatimaPartida@rescuevocations.org.

Jn 11, 1-45 Quinto Domingo de Cuaresma El hecho de la resurrección de Lázaro resulta sorprendente. Pocas veces se nos presenta a Jesús tan humano, tan frágil y entrañable. Cuando Jesús vio llorar a María (hermana de Lázaro), y a las personas que la acompañaban, se conmovió hasta lo más profundo. Al preguntar dónde lo habían colocado, le respondieron: “Ven y lo verás”, y Jesús se puso a llorar. En medio de esta escena tan conmovedora, Jesús revela: “Yo soy la resurrección y la vida”. El que cree en mí, aunque muera, vivirá; y todo el que vive y cree en mí, no morirá jamás. Y dio gracias a su Padre por esta oportunidad de manifestar su gloria para que creyeran en Él. Al oír la voz de Jesús, Lázaro salió vivo del sepulcro, y muchos creyeron en Él. Desde el principio de su Evangelio, San Juan, en el capítulo segundo, nos presenta a Jesús dando indicios de su misión en dos expresiones: la primera tuvo lugar en las bodas de Caná, cuando, en respuesta a su madre, que le hizo notar que no tenían vino, Jesús le dijo: “Todavía no ha llegado mi hora.” La segunda expresión tiene como escenario el templo de Jerusalén, donde Jesús expulsa a los vendedores. Y, en respuesta a los fariseos que le pedían una señal milagrosa de autoridad al expulsar a estos profanadores: Jesús dijo: “Destruyan este templo, y yo lo reedificaré en tres días” (Jesús hablaba del otro templo, su cuerpo). Más adelante, en este Evangelio Jesús define su misión en estos términos: “He venido para que tengan vida y la tengan en abundancia”. (Jn 10,10). Más tarde explicará su determinación para cumplir la voluntad salvífica de su Padre: “Yo doy la vida porque yo quiero, nadie me la quita” (Jn10, 18). Se trata de un acto muy humano de discernimiento y de aceptación de la voluntad divina, hasta dar la vida. Cuando Jesús entra en Jerusalén para la fiesta de la Pascua, muchos judíos salen a su encuentro, pues le conocen y comentan el milagro de la resurre- cción de Lázaro. Entre ellos hay unos griegos que quieren ver a Jesús. Cuando Felipe y Andrés se lo dijeron, Jesús respondió: “Ha llegado la hora en que el Hijo del Hombre va a recibir su gloria. En verdad les digo: “si el grano de trigo no cae en tierra y muere, queda solo; pero si muere, da mucho fruto”. Y añade: “El que ama su vida la destruye, y el que desprecia su vida en este mundo la conserva para la vida eterna”. (Jn 12, 24,25). Y Jesús; después de invitar a sus discípulos a seguirlo, dijo: “El que quiera servirme, que me siga, y donde yo esté, allá estará el que me sirve”. Al mismo tiempo nos abre su corazón y nos da a conocer su lucha interna: “Me siento turbado ahora. ¿Diré acaso, Padre, líbrame de esta hora? Pero no, pues preci- samente he llegado a esta hora para enfrentar esta angustia. y ruega: Padre, ¡da gloria a tu nombre!”. Entonces se oyó una voz que venía del cielo: “Yo lo he glorificado y lo volveré a glorificar de nuevo”. Un poco más adelante, Jesús dice: “Cuando yo haya sido levantado de la tierra, atraeré a todos hacia mí”. (Jn 12). Y al morir, Jesús exclamó: “Todo está cumplido” (Jn 19,30). La cuaresma y la Semana Santa nos recuerdan y nos ayudan a reflexionar sobre nuestra hora, siguiendo los pasos de Cristo Jesús, que intercede por nosotros: “Padre, quiero que estén conmigo los que tú me diste, para que contemplen mi gloria, porque me amaste antes de la creación del mundo”. (Jn 17,24). Jesús, continúa interpelándonos: “¿Crees tú, esto?

John 11:1–45 Fifth Sunday of Lent The resurrection of Lazarus is astonishing. Jesus is rarely presented as being so human, fragile and endearing. When Jesus saw Mary (Lazarus’ sister) and the others weeping, He was deeply moved. When He asked where they had laid Lazarus, they replied, “Come and see,” and Jesus began to weep. In the midst of this moving scene, Jesus reveals, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, even though he dies, will live; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” He gave thanks to His Father for this opportunity to manifest His glory so that they might believe in Him. Upon hearing Jesus’ voice, Lazarus emerged from the tomb alive, and many believed in Him. From the beginning of his gospel, St. John presents Jesus’ mission in two expressions: the first takes place at the wedding in Cana. In response to His mother’s observation that they have no wine, Jesus says, “My hour has not yet come.” The second took place in the Jerusalem temple, where Jesus expelled the merchants. In response to the Pharisees’ request for a miraculous sign of His authority to expel these profaners, Jesus said: “Destroy this temple, and I will rebuild it in three days” (Jesus was speaking of the other temple, His body). Later in this Gospel, Jesus defines His mission as follows: “I came so that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10). He later explains His determination to fulfill His Father’s saving will: “I lay down my life because I choose to; no one takes it from me” (Jn 10:18). This is an act of discernment and acceptance of the divine will that goes so far as to give one’s life. When Jesus enters Jerusalem for the Passover feast, many Jews come out to meet Him because they know Him, having heard about the miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection. Among them are some Greeks who want to see Jesus. When Philip and Andrew told Jesus this, he replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces a great harvest.” He adds: “Whoever loves his life destroys it, and whoever despises his life in this world preserves it for eternal life” (Jn 12:24-25). After inviting His disciples to follow Him, Jesus said: “Whoever wants to serve me must follow me. Where I am, there will be my servant.” At the same time, He opens His heart to us and reveals His inner struggle. “I am troubled now. Shall I say, Father, deliver me from this hour? But no, for this is precisely why I have come to this hour, to face this anguish. Then He prays, “Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” A little later, Jesus said, “When I am lifted from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself” (Jn 12). As He died, Jesus exclaimed, “It is finished” (Jn 19:30). Lent and Holy Week remind us to reflect on our own journey as we follow in the footsteps of Christ Jesus, who intercedes for us. “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me, so that they may see my glory, because you loved me before the creation of the world” (Jn 17:24). Jesus continues to challenge us: “Do you believe this?”

Fátima Partida, en la capilla de la estación de Salt &Light Radio Católica, en Boise, Idaho . (ICR foto/Vero Gutiérrez) Vero Gutiérrez Editora Asistente Fátima es una joven arquitecta de 27 años, a punto de casarse, que, de forma radical, decidió dejarlo todo para dedicar su vida a Dios, sirviendo como misionera de la congregación de las Misioneras de la Caridad, fundada por la Madre Teresa de Calcuta, cuyo carisma se centra en servir a los más pobres de los pobres. “Mi primer encuentro con Jesús fue durante un retiro de verano cuando tenía 18 años, en la Eucaristía ver a Jesús sacramentado fue cuando mi mente y mi corazón conectaron y dije: “esta es la verdadera presencia del Señor”. El llamado del Señor se manifiesta de diferentes maneras, en la vida de Fátima, fue un llamado antes de su nacimiento. Hace más de 27 años, cuando la mamá de Fátima esperaba a su segundo hijo. Los médicos le aconsejaban recurrir a un aborto clínico, porque asumían que, debido a un problema, ella tarde o temprano perdería al bebé. No obstante, ella decidió seguir adelante con el embarazo y, en cambio, puso su esperanza en la intercesión de Nuestra Señora de Fátima. Cada día rezaba a la Virgen: “Señor, te ofrezco la vida de mi hijo o mi hija para tu servicio en la Iglesia como sacerdote o religiosa”, y le pedía en cambio sostener al bebé un día más en su vientre.” Esto fue cada día, hasta que, gracias a Dios, el embarazo se mantuvo y al nacer fue una niña a la que le pusieron por nombre Fátima Lourdes. Fátima nació en Los Ángeles, California, pero creció en el estado de Jalisco, México. Cuando cumplió 16 años, se mudó con sus padres a vivir a Washington. “Tenía trece años cuando mi mamá me platicó lo que ocurrió cuando me estaban esperando” recuerda Fátima “yo reaccioné un poco enojada, porque pensé que era como una especie de matrimonio arreglado”. De izquierda a derecha, los hermanos Partida: María de Jesús, Fátima Lourdes, Humberto,(seminarista ) y Roberto. (ICR foto/Cortesía de Fátima Partida) Fátima no volvió a hablar de ese tema con su madre, continuó con sus estudios y su vida como católica cultural porque participaba de la Eucaristía y las devociones religiosas más como parte de una tradición familiar. Al cumplir los 18 años, participaba en un retiro cuando recuerda que experimentó por primera vez ese encuentro personal con Jesús en la Eucaristía. Incluso en aquella ocasión, Fátima no pudo quedarse sentada cuando les pidieron que se pusieran de pie quienes habían sentido la llamada de Dios: “Sentía que, si me quedaba sentada, me iba a cocer, porque notaba un calor muy fuerte que me recorría todo el cuerpo”. Fátima recuerda que ese fue el primer momento en que sintió que el Señor le hablaba al corazón. “En esa ocasión rezaron por nosotros”, dijo Fátima. “Comenzó a crecer la semilla de la vocación. Hablamos con un sacerdote y él me recomendó que siguiera adelante. Mis planes eran estudiar arquitectura, así que me mudé a Moscow, para estudiar en la University of Idaho”. Se graduó como arquitecta en 2020 y en el 2022 se graduó de la maestría. En este tiempo tuvo la oportunidad de servir como voluntaria en un centro de ayuda para personas sin hogar, lo que le permitió conocer de cerca las necesidades de las personas más pobres. Al mismo tiempo, Fátima trabajó en un proyecto de tesis sobre un conjunto de edificios destinados a ayudar a las personas sin hogar a recuperar su dignidad y encontrar un nuevo camino. El proyecto incluía un centro de rehabilitación, un centro de apoyo para personas con enfermedades mentales y un espacio para aprender oficios. “Al trabajar y servir en esta misión, el Señor me seguía invitando a verlo en los más pobres”, recuerda. En ese momento, Fátima llevaba casi dos años saliendo con un joven, y sus planes avanzaban hasta el punto de que decidieron comprometerse en el verano y casarse en 2023. Fátima, con un grupo de religiosas de las Hijas de María Auxiliadora (salesianas), durante una de las visitas que realizó a distintas comunidades para conocer su carisma. Finalmente, después de un tiempo de discernimiento, decidió ingresar con las Misioneras de la Caridad. (ICR foto/ Cortesía de Fátima Partida) “Un día de cuaresma, estaba en Misa con mi novio en la Catedral de St. John the Evangelist y, después de recibir la Eucaristía, volví a sentir la llamada del Señor. En mi interior percibí nuevamente la voz de Dios que me decía: ‘Tienes que frenar, haz un alto, porque hay algo más para ti’, relata Fátima.” Entonces recordó lo que le ocurrió a los 18 años, pero incluso afirma que se resistió a esta llamada y continuó durante cinco o seis meses sin modificar sus planes. “Cada día sentía que mi corazón tiraba para dos lados, era muy doloroso no saber si estaba llamada al matrimonio o a la vida consagrada, y sabía que tenía que cerrar una puerta para abrir otra”, comenta. Y añade: “Hablé con mi novio, a quien ya le había contado sobre aquel llamado que sentí cuando tenía dieciocho años, y le dije: ‘No sé qué es esto, pero creo que debo discernir mi vocación’. Después llegó el momento de decidir en qué comunidad religiosa el Señor me llamaba a seguirle. Así fue como, desde el 2023, comencé mi búsqueda visitando diferentes comunidades religiosas para conocer sus carismas y poder decidirme por una de ellas”. En total, visitó cinco conventos y se comunicó por teléfono o Zoom con otras comunidades. Fátima Partida, con la hermana Petra de la Congregación Estella Matutina (Foto cortesía de Fátima ) Durante su primera visita con las Hermanas de María Estella Matutina, realizó un retiro en silencio. “Fue en ese momento cuando pensé: si yo estoy loca por considerar esta vida, al ver a las hermanas dije: estas están más locas que yo”, comenta entre risas. En ese lugar, Fátima volvió a experimentar la invitación de Jesús, que le preguntaba en su interior: “¿Me darías tu vida por completo y me seguirías en esta vida radical de dejarlo todo para seguirme?” Algo muy recurrente durante este tiempo de discernimiento para Fátima era una frase que se repetía constantemente en su mente: “Tengo sed”. Más tarde, al encontrarse con las misioneras de la Caridad, la frase regresó a su corazón, y Fátima, con cierto desespero, se preguntaba: “¿Jesús tienes sed, pero yo qué puedo hacer? El Cristo de la capilla en la comunidad de las Misioneras de la Caridad. Las Misioneras de la Caridad de la Madre Teresa de Calcuta, trabajan cada día para saciar la sed de Jesús; ese es su carisma, y al descubrirlo, Fátima se sintió en casa. “Me dije todo este tiempo el Señor me había estado llamando a servir a los más pobres de los pobres”, comparte. Fátima afirma que lo más difícil de su vocación ha sido renunciar a su deseo de casarse y tener una familia, y decidir entregarse por completo a la vida religiosa. “Cerrar esa puerta y confiar en que unir mi voluntad a la de Dios es lo que realmente me hará más feliz. Y ya lo estoy experimentando, porque he visto la alegría de decir que sí”. Cuando unimos nuestra voluntad a la de Dios, no perdemos nuestro libre albedrío; al contrario, Dios nos ama y nos conoce tanto que sabe lo que más nos hará felices”. Sobre el joven que fue su novio, Fátima reconoce que tenía miedo de que él se alejara de Dios al ver que su novia había decidido convertirse en monja. Sin embargo, recibió la sorpresa de que él, siendo bautista, se convirtió al catolicismo, se preparó y ya ha recibido los sacramentos iniciales en la Iglesia Católica. La Sociedad Labouré Fátima forma parte de la Sociedad Labouré, una organización sin fines de lucro cuya misión es rescatar vocaciones de personas llamadas a la vida religiosa, pero que tienen deudas pendientes con la universidad. El nombre ha sido tomado de Santa Catalina Labouré, quien promovió la Medalla Milagrosa. Fátima, que tenía un préstamo estudiantil, explica: “Mi plan era trabajar y pagar, pero ahora voy a trabajar gratis. En mi grupo somos 14 personas que estamos recaudando fondos para liquidar nuestras deudas estudiantiles y poder iniciar la formación religiosa en las comunidades que hayamos elegido”. Para ayudar a Fátima, en primer lugar, se les pide oración y donativos a través de la página web: rescuevocations.org/aspirant/Fatima -Partida.

Bishop Peter F. Christensen greets a family of Candidates at the Rite of Election at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer BOISE — More young adults and families with young children are entering the Catholic Church this year than in previous years, Bishop Peter F. Christensen noted during the Rite of Election on Feb. 19 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise. Hundreds of Catechumens and Candidates are entering the Church this year in the Diocese of Boise. Catechumens are those entering the Catholic Church who have not had a Christian baptism in the name of the Holy Trinity. Candidates are those entering the Church who have had a Trinitarian baptism. Most individuals and families became Catholic through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) or the Order of Christian Initiation of Children (OCIC). Bishop Peter greets a toddler and her family at the Rite of Election at the Cathedral. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) “This Rite of Election is not simply a ceremony,” Bishop Peter said in his homily at the Cathedral. “It is not merely another step in a program. It is a sacred moment in which God’s call and your response meet publicly. The Church testifies that you are ready. More importantly, you testify that you are ready — ready to continue this journey toward the Sacraments of Initiation at Easter.” In the Rite of Election, Catechumens make a public declaration to the Bishop or his representative of their intent to be baptized. Their names are then recorded in the Book of the Elect, and they are from then on referred to as “the Elect.” Candidates declare their intention to be Confirmed in the Catholic Church and therefore to receive the other Sacraments of the Church. “The Church calls you ‘Elect’ — those chosen,” he continued. “You are not chosen because you are perfect; not chosen because you have all the answers. Chosen because God has been at work in your hearts.” Bishop Peter told the Elect to consider Isaiah 43:1, where God says to Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are Mine.” “God has called you by name,” the Bishop said. “Before you ever decided to inquire about the Catholic faith, before you attended your first OCIA session, before you even knew what this journey would require, God was already at work drawing you to Himself.” In addressing the Candidates, Bishop Peter said that the Rite is a powerful affirmation and a response to a grace that began on the day of their baptism. “Through prayer, study and discernment, you have heard the Lord calling you more deeply into full communion with His Church.” The “call and response stories” in the Gospels change lives each time, he explained. “Jesus says to the Apostles, ‘Follow me,’ and they leave their nets (Mt 4:19-20). He calls Zacchaeus down from the tree (Lk 19:1-10). He calls Lazarus from the tomb (Jn 11:43-44). That is happening here: Jesus is calling you, and you are responding.” Bishop Peter signs the Book of the Elect for St. Paul's Student Center at Boise State during the Rite of Election at the Cathedral. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) Answering the call is more than receiving the Sacraments. “It is about becoming saints,” he said. “The journey ahead — especially these coming weeks of Lent will not simply be about learning more prayers or memorizing teachings. It will be about conversion, about allowing Christ to examine your heart. It is about trust and surrender.” The next stage for the Elect and Candidates is the Period of Purification and Enlightenment, Bishop Peter explained. “It is a time of purification because God gently reveals in us what needs healing. It is a time of enlightenment because Christ, who is the Light of the World, desires to shine fully in your heart. This is not a test you must pass. It is a relationship you are deepening.” However, those entering the Church do not walk alone, he said. Sponsors, parish communities and the saints in heaven support and intercede for each person. Those choosing the Church are choosing a path that is contrary to the world, which is often full of doubt, cynicism and forgets what love truly is. “What you are doing takes courage,” he said. “There may be challenges ahead. There may be misunderstandings from others. There will certainly be moments when the path of discipleship feels demanding. But remember: The One who calls you is faithful. As we hear in the Letter to the Philippians: ‘He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion’ (Ph 1:6).” “The Church needs you. Your faith strengthens ours. Your courage renews ours. Your ‘yes’ reminds us of our own baptismal promises. You are not entering a museum of saints. You are entering a living Body — the Body of Christ — still growing, still striving, still becoming holy.” “May these coming weeks be filled with grace,” he continued. “May your hearts remain open. May Christ deepen your trust. And may the Holy Spirit strengthen your resolve.” The Rite of Election will continue through Lent in parishes of each deanery in the Diocese of Boise.

El próximo 21 de marzo de 2026, los miembros de la Legión de María en Idaho, participarán del evento más importante del año. Se trata de la celebración anual de renovación del compromiso de fidelidad a la Santísima Virgen en la Catedral de Saint John the Evangelist, en Boise. El diácono permanente Allen Darro, durante la renovación de sus promesas. Él forma parte del Preasidium de la Legión de María, Our Lady of Hope de Our Lady of the Good Counsel, en Mountain Home. (Foto/ Vero Gutiérrez) Esta reunión, conocida como ACIES —palabra en latín que significa ejército en orden de batalla —, es una solemne celebración en la que todos los integrantes de este apostolado renuevan su compromiso y expresan públicamente su consagración a la Virgen María. Normalmente, se realiza durante la celebración de la Anunciación, el 25 de marzo, o en la fecha más próxima, como en esta ocasión, programada para el día 21, cuatro días antes. Este año, los legionarios activos y auxiliares de la Legión de María de Idaho acudirán de diferentes ciudades de Idaho. Reunión de ACIES 2023 en la Catedral de Saint John the Evangelist (Foto/ Vero Gutiérrez)  Se espera la participación de los diferentes grupos de las siguientes parroquias que conforman la Curia Mother of Christ praesidia:  En Boise, en la Catedral de St John the Evangelist los grupos son Nuestra Señora del Tepeyac y Our Lady of Mercy en la parroquia de St. Mark’s, Our Lady of Nazareth y Our Lady of Prayer, en la parroquia de Sacred Heart, Mary Queen of Peace y en Risen Crist, Our Lady Queen of Peace.  En Meridian, en la parroquia Holy Apostles, existen los grupos Our Lady of Victory, Our Lady of the Smile y Our Lady of Tears. En Nampa, la parroquia de Saint Paul cuenta con dos grupos dedicados a Nuestra Señora Rosa Mística y Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. En Caldwell, la parroquia Our Lady of the Valley tiene también dos grupos María Madre de la Iglesia y Nuestra Señora del Valle. En Mountain Home, la parroquia de Our Lady of Good Counsel tiene el consejo, Our Lady of Hope. El programa comenzará a las ocho de la mañana con el rezo del Santo Rosario y la Celebración Eucarística a las 8:30 de la mañana. Posteriormente, se invitará a los directores espirituales de cada preasidium a caminar en procesión hacia el altar para realizar la consagración individual.  En ese momento, cada legionario activo y auxiliar se acercará individualmente al estandarte de la Legión (vexillum), colocarִá su mano sobre él y recitará las palabras de entrega y renovación de sus promesas: “Soy todo tuyo, Reina y Madre mía, y cuanto tengo te pertenece”.   Durante esta reunión de ACIES los legionarios renuevan su compromiso de trabajar como instrumentos dóciles en las manos de la Santísima Virgen María, a través de sus directores espirituales y el Padre Germán Osorio, actual director y asesor espiritual de la Legión de María en Idaho. Los grupos de legionarios, además de permanecer unidos en un proceso continuo de crecimiento espiritual a través de la oración, también trabajan en el servicio que prestan a su parroquia y a la comunidad. Integrantes de uno de los Preasidium de la Legión de María, durante el rezo del Santo Rosario (Foto / Vero Gutiérrez) Tras las oraciones conclusivas de la ceremonia, el sacerdote dará la bendición y se espera que a las 11:30 los participantes puedan disfrutar de un tiempo de convivencia. Para ello, se invita a los participantes a llevar algún plato para compartir con el grupo después de la ceremonia en el salón de usos múltiples, al que se accede bajando las escaleras de la catedral. Miembros de la Legión de María con su director espiritual el Padre Germán Osorio, durante la reunión de ACIES 2025, en la catedral Saint John the Evangelist en Boise, Idaho. (Foto / Vero Gutiérrez)  Quienes deseen integrarse en uno de estos grupos pueden solicitar más información a los miembros de la Legión de María en sus parroquias o bien ponerse en contacto con el Padre Germán Osorio, rector de la Catedral Saint John the Evangelist, ubicada en el 707 N. Eighth Street, de Boise, Idaho.

Por el Padre Jesús Cruz Hernández MSP La Resurrección de Cristo fue el mensaje central de la predicación en los inicios de la Iglesia cristiana.  Ya lo dice el apóstol Pablo: “Si Cristo no resucitó, nuestra predicación no sirve de nada, ni sirve de nada la fe que ustedes profesan. (1Co 15,14).  Después de la muerte de Cristo, algunos creían que todo había terminado, como les sucedió a los discípulos de Emaús (Lc 24,13ss) quienes, desanimados, tristes e incluso decepcionados, regresaban a su tierra natal, pensando que todo había acabado. Pero la historia cambió con la resurrección de Cristo. “El corazón nos ardía al escucharle”; las lágrimas de aquella mujer que sufría la muerte de Cristo se convirtieron en gozo al escucharle (Jn 20,15-18). Seguramente, para los demás discípulos también fue un cambio radical:  pasar de la tristeza a la alegría, de la oscuridad a la luz. Y es que precisamente eso significa la Pascua: pasar de la muerte a la vida. La fiesta de la Pascua conmemora la liberación del pueblo de Israel de la esclavitud de Egipto (Ex,12) y, desde entonces, el pueblo judío recuerda año tras año este gran acontecimiento, y con razón, pues estuvo esclavizado durante 430 años. Al principio, la Iglesia católica litúrgicamente solo celebraba “La Pascua”. Sin embargo, fue en el siglo IV cuando se consideró necesario establecer un tiempo de preparación para dicha celebración. Se determinó que, dado que la Pascua se celebra durante 50 días, era necesario un periodo de preparación, aunque no mayor que la celebración. Así surgió la Cuaresma, un periodo de 40 días de preparación. El tiempo de duración de la cuaresma tiene amplio sentido bíblico, en las Sagradas Escrituras en diversas ocasiones está presente. Cuando los israelitas salen de la esclavitud de Egipto, duran 40 años, el profeta Elías dura 40 días en oración en la montaña, 40 días de diluvio como purificación de la tierra y   Jesucristo mismo pasa 40 días en oración y ayuno para prepararse a su misión. La cuaresma comienza con el miércoles de ceniza, recordemos que las cenizas eran usadas como signo de duelo (Est4,3) y también como signo de arrepentimiento (Jonás 3,6, Job 42,6).  Cuando el sacerdote nos coloca la ceniza suele decir; “Arrepiéntete y cree en el Evangelio” o “Polvo eres y en polvo te convertirás”. Estas frases encierran en sí mismas una invitación a vivir de acuerdo al Evangelio y también nos recuerda nuestra condición tan limitada, por lo cual tendríamos que examinarnos constantemente. La ceniza por tanto es un sacramental y con este signo comenzamos este tiempo propicio de renovación y conversión. Te invito a que consideres 5 consejos para vivir intensamente esta cuaresma: 1.- Busca el sacramento de la reconciliación : Que así como el rey David reconoció sus pecados, también tú, al examinar tu conciencia, te des cuenta de lo malo que has hecho y puedas reconciliarte con Dios, recuerda que el pecado va alejándonos de Dios. 2.- La Abstinencia . Los viernes de cuaresma se nos invita a abstenernos de comer carne. No dejar esta práctica. Pero además de abstenerte de comer carne, que para muchos es un verdadero sacrificio, haz un propósito de privarte de algo que disfrutas. Muchos durante estos días ofrecen alguna privación. ¿Pero qué sentido o cuál es la finalidad de la abstinencia?  Es la de fortalecer tu voluntad. Para no dejarte vencer tan fácilmente por las tentaciones, “Manténganse despiertos y oren, para que no caigan en tentación” (Mt 26,41). Por lo tanto, es importante con estas prácticas ir fortaleciendo la voluntad. “Y es que la tentación constantemente nos asecha, como un león rugiente, anda buscando a quien devorar, resístanle firmes en la fe” (Cfr. Pe5,8). 3.- Practica el ayuno. La Iglesia nos pide ayunar dos días en este tiempo, el miércoles de ceniza y el viernes santo. Claro que, si algún otro día lo queremos hacer, esto realmente es provechoso para el espíritu. Al igual que la abstinencia, esta práctica nos ayuda a fortalecer nuestra voluntad además de purificar nuestros sentidos. Al mortificar un poco nuestro paladar podemos ofrecer ese sacrificio por alguna necesidad también. 4.- Obras de caridad. Este tiempo es muy propicio para practicar la caridad, porque nos ayuda a sensibilizarnos y solidarizarnos con el prójimo necesitado. Salir de nuestro egoísmo y comodidad para ver el sufrimiento del otro. 5.- Mayor recogimiento . Especialmente los días santos (La semana santa), procura guardar recogimiento y silencio, regularmente estamos acostumbrados al ruido, música, redes sociales, estos días podemos disponernos a meditar especialmente en la pasión, muerte y resurrección del Señor. Para algunos quizá sea un gran sacrificio, pues estamos sumergidos en una cosa u otra, pero incluso en medio de tantas actividades se puede hacer experiencia de oración y recogimiento. Por último, te invito a que vivas las celebraciones propias de este tiempo con un mayor espíritu de reflexión y piedad, medita especialmente en el gran misterio de salvación. De Cristo que nos amó hasta el extremo, dio su vida por nosotros, y al mirar la cruz recuerda que es el signo y prueba del amor y reconciliación.  Y como el apóstol también digamos “En cuanto a mí, de nada quiero gloriarme sino de la cruz de nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Pues por medio de la cruz de Cristo, el mundo ha muerto para mí y yo he muerto para el mundo” (Ga 6,14).

John 4:5-52 Third Sunday of Lent During Lent, we try to quench our thirst for God. To help us do so, the Church invites us to encounter Jesus, who came to our world to show us the spring of living water that leads to eternal life. Through this passage from the Gospel of John, we soar with the eagle of his narrative, which invites us to interpret “the signs and miracles of Jesus” to believe in Him. The encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman on this third Sunday of Lent is one of those signs that reveal Jesus as the Son of God and the promised Messiah. The scene is captivating. “Tired from his journey.” Jesus walked from town to town, proclaiming the good news of a God who loves everyone. During His travels, He arrived in the village of Sychar and sat down by Jacob’s well. A Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well to quench her thirst. Jesus and the Samaritan woman met in the same place, both thirsty. There could not have been a better moment! Jesus initiates the dialogue: “Give me a drink.” Without further ado, the defiant and belligerent Samaritan woman vents all her feelings against the Jews. “How can you, a Jewish man, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” Jesus seizes the opportunity to speak of a thirst that is quenched forever and surprises her even more: “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would ask Him, and He would give you living water.” When she incredulously and mockingly points out that she doesn’t have anything to draw water with, she thinks she has ended the conversation by appealing to the Messiah, who will reveal all truth. The answer was right in front of her. “I am He who is speaking to you.” The “good news” spread immediately and continues to circulate throughout the world to this day: “Come and see...” This scene is real in this Lenten dialogue with Jesus. “Give me a drink” is the request Jesus makes of us all. Lent gives us the opportunity to reflect on whether following Jesus, who is “the way, the truth, and the life,” truly quenches our thirst. As He told the Samaritan woman, Jesus will tell us “everything we have done,” and we will proclaim through our testimony that He has truly saved us through his cross and resurrection. It seems that dialogue was the key that opened the Samaritan woman’s heart to receive God’s gift. Jesus expresses His intimate desire to her: “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would ask Him, and He would give you living water.” Holy Week celebrates the fountain of eternal life: the redeeming love of Jesus. He tells us, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends,” and then adds, “You are my friends,” and asks us: “Love one another as I have loved you.” What if we listen to how He asks His Father before His passion? “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me, where I am.” Jesus’s cry on the cross, “I thirst,” echoes to the ends of the earth.

By Margaret Hampton Development Director Diocese of Bois e “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn 8:12). In a world often marked by uncertainty, division and need, Christ’s words from the Gospel of John shine with renewed urgency. Jesus does not merely promise light; he invites each of us to walk in it — and to reflect that light to others. This year’s Idaho Catholic Appeal embraces that call with the theme Share His Peace, Be His Light, reminding us that through our faith and generosity, Christ continues to touch lives across our diocese. The Idaho Catholic Appeal is more than an annual Lenten fundraiser. It is a shared mission that supports more than 20 life-giving ministries, each one an expression of Christ’s peace and light in action. Through the Appeal, seminarians are formed and prepared to answer God’s call to the priesthood, ensuring that the sacraments and pastoral care remain vibrant for generations to come. Deacons and lay leaders receive essential training, equipping them to serve faithfully in parishes, schools and ministries throughout our communities. The Appeal also strengthens Catholic education at every stage of life. From our elementary and secondary schools to parish faith formation programs and campus ministries, young people are guided to know Christ, grow in faith and live as disciples. College students, navigating some of the most formative years of their lives, encounter a faith community that grounds them in truth, hope and purpose. Beyond formation and education, the Idaho Catholic Appeal extends Christ’s compassion to families and individuals facing real challenges. Outreach ministries supported by the Appeal provide assistance to families in need, promote healing and hope, and strengthen marriages and family life. Youth and young adult ministries help form faithful leaders who are ready to bring Christ’s light into the world with courage and joy. When we support the Idaho Catholic Appeal, we become active participants in this mission. Our gifts — whatever their size — join with those of others to make Christ’s presence tangible: in classrooms and parishes, in moments of hardship and in the quiet discernment of those called to serve. As we reflect on Christ’s promise to be the light of the world, may we respond generously. Contributions can be made online through the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise or at your parish. For questions, contact Margaret at (208) 350-7539 or email mhampton@rcdb.org. Idaho Catholic Appeal at a Glance Goal: $3,775,000 The Catholic Appeal supports more than 20 life-giving ministries across our diocese, including: • Formation of seminarians for the priesthood • Training of permanent deacons and lay leaders • Catholic education partnerships with schools, parishes and campus ministries • Outreach to individuals and families in need • Faith formation for youth and young adults An Important Promise: Every dollar collected beyond your parish’s goal is returned to your community to support local programs, ministries and parish projects, strengthening our faith communities close to home.

A view from the back of Holy Apostles Catholic Church in Meridian, looking toward the altar where Bishop Peter F. Christensen celebrated Mass marking the beginning of the 2026 Idaho Catholic Men’s Conference. (Victor Sanchez Photography) By Deacon Gene Fadness For the Idaho Catholic Register MERIDIAN —It’s said that speakers like those at the Jan. 31 Idaho Catholic Men’s Conference don’t have a conference call or group chat to synchronize messages in advance. They know the theme—this one, “Keep Your Eyes Fixed on Christ” — but that is the extent of the collusion. However, to hear the messages of Bishop Peter Christensen, Bishop Joseph Coffey, Father Chris Alar and Justin Fatica, one might find it hard to believe there was no coordination, making it more likely to trust the obvious: the Holy Spirit is the One doing the spiritual legwork. Those doing the physical legwork, chief organizers Johnny Horn and Travis Wingo, the staff at Salt & Light Radio, including Keith Pettyjohn and Carol Brown, all know that their hard work, buttressed by divine intervention, is what makes this conference, among the largest in the Northwest, so successful. It’s been a dozen years since Horn and Wingo attended a men’s conference in Pendleton, Ore., and wondered, why can’t Boise do the same? Now it does: religiously held on the only weekend early in the year that doesn’t include a bowl game, an NFL playoff game or the Super Bowl. Bishop Christensen, left, delivers his homily during the 2026 Idaho Men’s Conference opening Mass. (Victor Sanchez Photography) This year’s conference was the 11th annual, coinciding with the number of years Bishop Peter Christensen has served the Diocese of Boise. He has spoken at every conference, opening this year, as always, with Mass. As the conference has grown, it has expanded to include “watch parties,” for men who couldn’t attend at Holy Apostles Catholic Church in Meridian. Watch parties this year included, but were not limited to, Challis, Grangeville, Lewiston, Moscow, Pocatello, Rupert, Salmon, Sun Valley and Boise. This year’s registration at nearly 1,100 was the largest to date, with tickets selling out more quickly than ever before, according to Wingo. The men heard several examples of what it is like to be encouragers and examples to others: Jesus to his disciples, particularly Peter; St. Paul to the Church at Corinth; St. Francis de Sales to St. John Bosco and to Bishop Peter Christensen; Sister Winifred to Bishop Joseph Coffey; Father Larry Richards to Justin Fatica; and St. Faustina to Father Chris Alar. The day began with Mass and a message from Bishop Peter Christensen urging the men not to dwell on their past and to look forward in faith. Bishop Coffey, auxiliary bishop to the Archdiocese of Military Services, spoke of the call to vocation, be it his own priesthood or, for others, marriage and family. Father Alar spoke of responding to one’s call by developing a deeper sacramental life, particularly in the Mass and with devotion to Divine Mercy. Justin Fatica, a fiery, lay Catholic “preacher,” told the men how, once converted, they can change the lives of others via “unreasonable encouragement.” “Our Christianity is an interesting journey to say the least,” Bishop Peter said. “Looking back at my life, I had no idea that I would be called to do what I do today.” He didn’t get to where he is by dwelling on his past, he said. One of the biggest obstacles to growth is a “tendency to look back on our past, including sins and failures.” By looking back on past failures, “we get paralyzed from moving forward, doubting ourselves and weakening any semblance for self-worth.” It’s important to learn from mistakes, but not to dwell on them, the Bishop said. Doing so, “makes us fear from doing what is being asked of us, fearing we will not be prepared for what’s coming.” Men attended the Idaho Catholic Men's Conference from around the region, filling Holy Apostles Church in Meridian to capacity. (Victor Sanchez Photography) The Bishop quoted the writer to the Hebrews who told the believers to “rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us, while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.” The gospel story of Peter’s attempt to walk on the water is a good illustration of what happens when we take our eyes off Jesus, the Bishop said. Peter walks on water, briefly, “but he broke his focus, his eyes were off Jesus.” When Peter cries out, “Lord save me,” the scripture says Jesus immediately stretched out his hands to save him. “I like that it says immediately,” the Bishop said. Perhaps more interesting, he noted, is that Peter’s doubt is used to strengthen all the disciples’ faith.” Jesus confirms his love to Peter and others, he said, “offering ongoing healing to their weak faith.” Jesus encouraged Peter and the others to “not dwell on their past, nor should we dwell on ours.” However, their mistakes were not wasted because they helped them to know God’s love and mercy toward them, he said. An avid sailor, the Bishop provided an illustration in moving forward by explaining the role of a “coxswain,” or the forward-facing leader of a rowing crew. All other crew members face backward, while the coxswain directs the crew whose members are looking to him for direction. “The cockswain steers the boat and keeps his eyes on the goal, and the crew keeps their focus on him,” the Bishop said. The crew members can see how far they’ve come, but they are not to dwell on the finish line by looking over their shoulders. “Like each of us, they don’t see the full picture of where everything is going. It is a journey of trust; trust in Jesus who is directing because He sees the beginning, the end and the everything in-between of our lives.” To follow Jesus as our leader is an act of faithfulness and obedience, he said. “Rowers don’t stop to ask, ‘Why?’ every time directions are given. Trust means obeying, even when we don’t understand.” The Bishop quoted his patron saint, St. Francis de Sales who wrote, “You shall steer safely through every storm as long as our heart is right, our intention fervent, our courage steadfast and our trust is fixed on the Lord.” The day of the conference was the feast day of St. John Bosco, who learned the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales and named the order St. John Bosco founded — the Salesians — after St. Francis. St. John Bosco likely did not see the fruit he would produce in his life, Bishop Peter said, but because he trusted in the Lord, he was able to do great things. He cared for neglected boys in his home city of Turin, Italy, beginning with six in his home, but eventually growing to 600. St. John Bosco taught them to read and took them to Mass, promoting devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. When he died at age 77 in 1888, there were 768 members of his religious community and today the Salesians are a worldwide congregation devoted to the religious education of youth. A relic of St. John Bosco was made available at the conference. Bishop Joseph Coffey is an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese for Military Services. (Victor Sanchez Photography) Bishop Joseph Coffey is one of five auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese for Military Services, with a primary responsibility to visit priest-chaplains at 150 Veterans Administration hospitals, which he did while in Boise. As a young man, Bishop Coffey was a member of the crew team at LaSalle University in his hometown of Philadelphia. After graduating from LaSalle, he taught in Catholic school, where a nun, Sister Winifred, told him he was going to become a priest, and directed all the young women “to keep their hands off” him. Coffey didn’t take Sister Winifred too seriously. Struck by a wanderlust, he taught fifth-graders for just one year and then left to become a ski instructor in Switzerland. Later he was in Germany where “I sold Japanese cars to American soldiers in Germany.” Adventuresome as they were, those experiences didn’t provide any answers about his future. In 1988, while living in Belgium, Bishop Coffey said he started praying about his future, praying every night for six months. He came across a newspaper story that said 500 pro-life people, including his own sister, were arrested in Cherry Hill, N.J., just across the river from his boyhood home. “Something’s going on in America, and I want to be part of it,” the Bishop told himself. Ten days later, he was arrested in Delaware at a pro-life rescue. “I could make one phone call, and it was to my mother. It was her birthday.” Then, on Good Friday of 1989, Coffey, his mother and seven of her kids were arrested. “We were pro-life crazy people, but always peaceful, always non-violent.” He attended a pro-life retreat at Malvern Retreat House in Philadelphia. While praying before a painting of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, his call to the priesthood became clear. “That was 35 years ago, and I’ve never looked back.” His ordination came 14 years after Sister Winifred’s prophecy. She attended his first Mass. Bishop Coffey said he planned to become a parish priest in Philadelphia until a military chaplain told him about the opportunity to serve God and country in the military. He received permission from his bishop, Anthony Bevilacqua, now a Cardinal, to train in San Diego as a reservist while still in seminary. Ordained in 1996, he taught in Philadelphia schools for five years, waiting for a release from his Bishop to go on active duty. He wrote the bishop, but didn’t hear anything for three months. “I prayed before the Blessed Sacrament, and the next day a letter came allowing me to go on active duty,” he said. Military chaplains endure the same rigors of training as anyone in the Marines, the branch he chose. “Everything they did, I did. When they went on a long hump in the pouring rain, I was with them,” Bishop Coffey explained. One day, while participating in a gas mask drill with Navy chaplains at Camp Johnson, N.C., word got out of an attack on the Twin Towers in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. “I will never forget seeing on TV those towers coming down. I felt sick to my stomach and true fear,” he said. “I knew we were at war, and chaplains have died on the battlefield.” He served on an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf, the only priest for 5,000 sailors. “I would visit other ships in our strike group by helicopter. I loved being a chaplain on an aircraft carrier.” He spent some time at a Coast Guard boot camp in New Jersey, talking recruits out of going home. He was later assigned to a Marine Air Group in Pendleton, Calif., his squadron later going to Afghanistan for seven months. “That was pretty scary. I worried about getting shot by a sniper or blown up by an IED.” That fear, however, did not stop him from showing up with his small Mass kit anywhere where Marines needed him. Back home, he became a military recruiter of a different sort: persuading bishops and religious order superiors to give their priests and brothers an opportunity to serve as chaplains. His final assignment, after 19 years of duty, was at a Marine boot camp in San Diego. After one more year in the military, he looked forward to returning home and becoming a parish priest. Those plans abruptly changed when he got a call from Christophe Pierre, papal nuncio to the United States, asking Coffey to become an Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese for Military Services. “’Do you accept?” the papal nuncio wanted to know now. Bishop Coffey said a quick prayer and, while praying, thought of St. Francis de Sales, who said, “Seek nothing, refuse nothing.” “That gave me peace, so I accepted. I’m glad I said yes.” He was ordained bishop on March 25, 2019. Not all men are called to priesthood, but, as important, are the majority who are called to be fathers and husbands. “Every man I know suffers from temptation,” he said. To fight it, he encouraged the men to develop the chief cardinal virtue of prudence; the others being justice, fortitude and temperance. “Cardinal means ‘hinge’ because all other virtues hinge on these. Prudence is the strongest because it helps us distinguish right and wrong,” Bishop Coffey urged. “We hear a lot of confessions, and the thing they struggle with most is pornography,” he said. Pornography is ubiquitous when compared to the days when it was accessible only at movie theatres and in sealed bags with brown paper wrapping, he said. “Now with cell phones, a little kid can see more hard-core porn in five minutes than anyone could ever see years ago.” He encouraged the men to seek the aid of St. Joseph, attend Mass and Reconciliation frequently and pray the rosary. “Finally, don’t give up on kids who have stopped going to Church. Be strong and be faithful.” Father Chris Alar, MIC speaks about Divine Mercy at the Idaho Catholic Men's Conference. (Victor Sanchez Photography) Father Chris Alar, MIC , is the Provincial Superior for the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, responsible for all the Order’s priests in the United States, England and Argentina. He is based at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Mass. The Order is best known for promoting the message of Divine Mercy as revealed in apparitions of Jesus to Sister Faustina Kowalska in Poland beginning in 1931. Father Alar appears regularly on the Eternal World Television Network with his programs, “Explaining Divine Mercy,” and “Living the Faith.” He spent much of his time explaining the celebration of the Mass and how it pertains to Divine Mercy. Divine Mercy, Father Alar said, is the “heart of the gospel,” tracing its beginnings back to the book of Genesis where God, after the fall, promises Adam and Eve the gift of a mother and the promise of a savior. (Gen. 3:15) “It’s the culmination of salvation,” he said. “After the fall, God could have crushed us out of existence, but he didn’t. He gave us the first message of divine mercy in the garden.” “One word gets us to heaven and that is grace,” Father Alar reminded. “If we don’t have God’s grace, we’re not going to make it.” Grace comes when, realizing we are sinners, we ask for God’s mercy. “The unforgivable sin, or the sin against the Holy Spirit, is not asking for God’s mercy,” he said. Jesus told St. Faustina that trust is the vessel by which all grace is received. “Trust is simply accepting the help somebody offers you,” Father Alar said. Mercy comes to the believer in three primary ways, Father Alar said. The first act of mercy was creation, attributed to God the Father. The second was redemption, attributed to Jesus, and the third great act of mercy is sanctification, attributed to the Holy Spirit. Jesus had to die on the cross because of God’s own law, which said the penalty for sin is death. In the Old Testament, Israel sacrificed animals to atone for sin. “It wasn’t a goat that committed sin,” Father Alar said. “The goat was offered up as a reparation for the sins of Jews; the term ‘scapegoat’ comes from that. A life had to be given and blood had to be shed, that’s how serious sin is.” From Old Testament times and even to today, one can’t have worship without sacrifice, Father Alar said. “The sacrifice of the Mass is necessary because a sacrifice has to be made to atone for sin. Jesus accepted that and died on our behalf.” That sacrifice of Jesus is made present at every Mass, he added. The reason most altars are elevated is because they represent Mount Calvary. When we are at Mass, we are at Calvary because in eternity there is no time. “God is outside of time.” To illustrate, Father Alar provided the example of the conception of Mary, who was saved from her sin through her Immaculate Conception nearly 50 years before Jesus died on the Cross. Also, at the Last Supper, Jesus told the disciples that the bread represented his body and the wine his blood, even though he had not yet been crucified.The Greek term “anamnesis” refers to Jesus’ words, “Do this in memory of me,” because at the Last Supper, Jesus is doing something that, on the altar, will always be present. During the Mass, heaven and earth are united, Father Alar said, quoting Pope Benedict, who said that during the Mass “historical time and sacred time come together.” Coming up the aisle to receive the Eucharist is a “wedding march,” he said. “The Mass is the wedding feast of the Lamb. Mother Church is the bride. Waiting for her at the altar is Christ, the bridegroom.” During Eucharist, Jesus enters the bride, and the union between the bride (the Church) and the bridegroom (Christ) is consummated. “It’s union, it’s communion,” Father Alar said. “The entire Bible is about God seeking his wayward bride—Israel—to bring her back.” In the Old Testament, every bride was to be spotless, before the groom could take her home to his mother and father. At Mass, during the penitential rite, venial sin is forgiven. If one does not have deadly or mortal sin, all venial sins are forgiven and the bride is spotless for the bridegroom. However, even after being forgiven our sins, there is still consequence—or temporal punishment—for sin. “God did not say he would let you out of any consequence, even though you are forgiven,” Father Alar said. “Love includes discipline.” A father may forgive his son for breaking a window with his baseball, but the son will still have to pay for the broken window. When a Catholic confesses, he or she is often given penance, which can include prayers, fasting and sacrifice. Having said all that, Father Alar noted that even in the Old Testament, there were special times of grace when all sin and all punishment were forgiven. For example, once a year at Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies to make reparation for the sins of the nation. In Jewish tradition, seven was regarded as the perfect number as it relates to time, while eight was the perfect number for infinity or eternity. Jesus told St. Faustina that on the eighth day after Christ’s victory over sin and death at the resurrection, the faithful could be absolved of all sin and all the punishment related to sin. The eighth day after Easter is Divine Mercy Sunday. St. Faustina’s diary records this message from Jesus about Divine Mercy Sunday: “On that very day, the very depths of my tender Mercy are open, I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the Fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sin and punishment.” The eighth day also represents the day of our death after having lived our “seven days” of time and now we enter into the eighth day of eternity. “On that day, your groom is coming for you to take you to his father and his mother, if he finds you spotless,” Father Alar stressed. That is accomplished by asking for God’s mercy and by receiving the Sacraments, particularly in Reconciliation and in the Sacrifice of the Mass. “At Mass you are getting a foretaste of what is going to happen to you at the end of your life,” he said. “The bride is going to come to the groom, who wants to take you back to his Father and mother. Your whole purpose in life is to be created by him, to be redeemed by him and to be sanctified by him and then be returned to the Father.” All this is accomplished, first, by the mercy of God. Jesus told St. Faustina that Divine Mercy is mankind’s last hope of salvation. “If you don’t pass through the doors of mercy, you must pass through the doors of my justice,” the Lord told the Polish saint. Another Pole, St. John Paul II, said the world needs nothing more today than Divine Mercy. Father Alar encouraged the men to remember ABC: “Ask” for God’s Mercy; “Be” merciful to each other; and “Completely” trust in the mercy of God. The Divine Mercy image revealed to St. Faustina shows white and red rays coming from the heart of Jesus. When Jesus was crucified, a Roman soldier thrust a spear into Jesus’ side. The spear went through Jesus’ chest cavity and pierced his heart, causing blood to come from his heart. The white or pale rays represent water, which makes souls righteous. The red rays represent the blood, the life of the soul. Justin Fatica encouraged men to make time for the people in their lives and to believe in others as Christ believes in each of us. (Victor Sanchez Photography) Justin Fatica is the founder of Your Amazing Fitness and Hard As Nails. He challenges men to “step up, live with purpose, take faith seriously and do unreasonable things for the Lord every day.” Everyone needs encouragement, even if it seems unreasonable or is mocked by the world. Showing a picture of the crucifixion, he said, “That’s unreasonable encouragement.” “We should bring unreasonable encouragement to every day of our life,” and not worry about how we look, talk or feel. The possibility of rejection should not be what moves us. “The love of the Father should move us,” he said, showing two more photos of unreasonable encouragement: the Pieta sculpture and St. Teresa of Calcutta among the poorest of the poor. Fatica attended an all-Catholic boys’ prep school in Erie, Pa., where he, and a few others, did their best to get teachers to quit as soon as possible. One teacher, in particular, took an interest in Fatica and recognized that “I wasn’t good for what I did, I was good for who I am.” “That priest did some unreasonable things,” including praying for Fatica every day even though the two battled daily in the classroom. God prompted the priest to invite Fatica, then a junior in high school, on a retreat. The priest later told Fatica that he wrestled with God’s prompting, confessing that he couldn’t imagine spending 48 minutes with Fatica, let alone 48 hours. But the priest did not hold back and invited Fatica to the retreat. “I challenge each one of you today to stop holding back your love,” Fatica said in his staccato, pentecostal, preaching style. “We’re afraid of being rejected, but when we see Christ, we know who we are, and no one who rejects us can take away our encouragement, our love and our belief in all humanity,” he said. We believe in others “not because of what they believe but because of who they are, sons and daughters of the most high king, who had his son die for us.” When the priest invited Fatica on the retreat, he said he was a “17-year-old boy who didn’t know he had a father who loved him.” His own father, though extremely wealthy, paid him little heed. The retreat was life-changing. He went to confession, then prayed from his heart for the first time in Adoration. Worried about troubles in school and in relationships, “I opened my mouth for the first time in prayer. My first prayer was, ‘I’ll give you everything if you get me through this.” Looking at a crucifix, he prayed, “Jesus you died for me, I want to die for you.” “Don’t pray that prayer unless you mean it, but I meant it like any 17-year-old kid could,” he said. Fatica started going to Daily Mass and, in his forceful way, bringing other teammates with him. The priest who tried to tolerate Fatica in the classroom, sometimes without success, and who invited him to the retreat was Father Larry Richards, a well-known Catholic speaker and author. “From that day he has been my spiritual father,” Fatica said of Father Richards. “He has been my constant encouragement,” Fatica said, noting that Father Richards texts him frequently now that Fatica’s dad is in the final stages of his life. “We can be men and still be tender-hearted,” Fatica said. Men should pray each day, asking God, “Who are you calling me to believe in and inspire today, who are you calling me to love?” Thousands of kids have approached Fatica during his ministry, some saying they were going to take their lives. “Many of them never had a father,” Fatica said. “I tell them they’re going to be great husbands and fathers. I tell them I believe in them. They need people to believe in them like Christ believes in us.” Men need to make time for the people in their lives, Fatical said. “Kids are on social media because we don’t make appointments with kids and grandkids.” The best friend he had in life was a grandmother who made time for him, Fatica said. “We talked every two weeks for two hours. There wasn’t one time when I called that she didn’t pick up.” She recently passed away, he said. “Her legacy was one word: presence. Can we be that one person in someone’s life?”

"St. Diego Giving Alms" by Bartolome Esteban Murillo, c.1645 (Public Domain) By Marco Roman, Ph.D. Director of Communications Lent is not merely a time of self-denial; it is a privileged season of disciplined discipleship, in which the Church calls us to strive intentionally for holiness and deeper union with Christ. Each year, the Church calls us back to the Gospel with urgency and tenderness: urgency because sin dulls our hearts; tenderness because Christ never stops inviting us to deeper communion with him. Lent, therefore, is a season for continuing and maturing discipleship—a time when we are both challenged and encouraged to become more fully what we were made to be in Christ. Jesus begins his public ministry with a clear summons that defines every Lent: “Repent and believe in the Gospel” (Mk 1:15). This is not a momentary conversion but a lifelong journey. The Christian life is not static; disciples are meant to grow, deepen, and be purified. As St. Paul reminds us, “We are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Cor 3:18). Lent gives us a concentrated time to cooperate with this work of transformation. Dr. Marco Roman The catechism and the meaning of Lent The Catechism of the Catholic Church situates Lent within the Church’s liturgical rhythm as a time of interior renewal and preparation for Easter. In speaking of the liturgical year, the Catechism teaches that Lent is ordered toward repentance, conversion and a more profound participation in Christ’s Paschal Mystery (CCC 540; 1095). It is a season in which the Church accompanies the Lord into the desert—not to escape the world, but to be strengthened for mission within it. Lent, therefore, is not a retreat from discipleship but its intensification. Mature disciples do not simply “give something up”; they allow the Holy Spirit to reorder their loves so that Christ stands at the center of their lives. Prayer: deepening communion with Christ The first great Lenten discipline is prayer. The Catechism reminds us that prayer is “a vital and personal relationship with the living and true God” (CCC 2558). Lent invites us to move beyond routine prayer, toward an intentional, sustained, personal encounter with the Lord. Jesus himself teaches that prayer is the heart of discipleship: “When you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret” (Mt 6:6). Mature disciples learn to create real space for God—not only in moments of crisis, but as a daily habit of love and friendship. This is where fasting becomes deeply connected to prayer. We do not fast merely to test our willpower; we fast to free our hearts and make more time and room for God. If we give up unnecessary distractions—excessive screen time, social media, constant entertainment or over-scheduling—we gain precious silence in which the Lord can speak. Here, a simple personal reflection may be helpful. Many of us, including myself, readily devote three or four hours each week to the gym in order to care for our physical and mental well-being. We plan for it, protect time, and accept the discipline because we know our bodies and minds need it. If we are that intentional about our physical health, how much more should we be willing to give the same amount of time to our spiritual well-being—to prayer, scripture, Adoration or silent listening before the Lord? Lent challenges us to bring that same intentionality, consistency and generosity to the care of our souls. In practical terms, this Lent might invite each of us to ask: Where can I simplify my life to pray more? Can fasting from something result in more room for daily Mass, Scripture or quiet prayer? How can my family pray together more intentionally this season? Fasting: training the heart of a disciple The Catechism teaches that fasting helps us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart (CCC 2043). Christian fasting is not self-punishment; it is spiritual training. Just as athletes discipline their bodies to compete well, disciples discipline their desires to love well. Jesus warns us that fasting must be sincere, not performative: “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites” (Mt 6:16). The goal is not appearance but conversion. For mature disciples, fasting is most fruitful when it is ordered toward charity and prayer. This means choosing sacrifices that sharpen our focus on God and others rather than ourselves. A meaningful Lenten fast should make us more patient, more attentive, more generous and more prayerful. Almsgiving: Love in Action If prayer turns our hearts to God and fasting purifies our desires, almsgiving directs our love outward in concrete charity. The Catechism describes almsgiving as a work of mercy that witnesses to fraternal charity and justice (CCC 2447). Jesus places almsgiving at the center of authentic discipleship: “Give alms… for where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Mt 6:19–21). Lent asks us to examine not only what we spend, but what we value. In the Diocese of Boise, this has particular pastoral significance. Mature disciples are called to support both their local parish and the broader mission of the Diocese, which serves the poor, forms youth and families, supports Catholic schools, cares for immigrants and refugees, and proclaims the Gospel throughout Idaho. This Lent is an opportunity to ask: How can my family give more intentionally to our parish? Can we redirect part of our discretionary spending toward charity? How might our sacrifices strengthen the ministries of the Diocese? Salt and Light in a Lenten World Jesus calls His disciples to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Mt 5:13–16). Lent does not draw us inward for our own sake; it prepares us to shine more brightly in the world. Mature disciples do not merely survive Lent—they witness through it. Our patience, generosity, prayerfulness and joy become a quiet proclamation of Christ to those around us. In workplaces, schools, families and parishes, our Lenten discipline should make others ask: “What gives them that peace, serenity and evident conviction that draws others to inquire — and to friendship?” A Season of Growth, Not Perfection Finally, Lent is not about proving our spiritual excellence but deepening our dependence on grace. The Church walks this journey with us—through the Sacraments, especially Reconciliation and the Eucharist—so that Christ Himself forms us more fully in His image. As we begin this holy season, let us embrace Lent not as a burden, but as a gift: a time to grow, mature and be renewed as disciples who pray more deeply, fast more wisely and give more generously for the life of the Church in the Diocese of Boise. May this Lent draw us closer to Christ, deepen our love for His Church and prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter.

By Bishop Peter F. Christensen For the Idaho Catholic Register My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, On Ash Wednesday the Church marks our foreheads with ashes and gently invites us to begin again. These ashes remind us that our lives are fragile and finite, yet they also speak a deeper truth: we are beloved by God, and he never grows tired of calling us back to himself. Lent is not first a season of our effort or self-improvement. It is, above all, a season of God’s mercy and action in our lives through the gift of the Holy Spirit. At the same time, this gift is never forced upon us. The Holy Spirit is freely given, but he must also be freely received. During these forty days, the Lord invites us to open our hearts more fully, to listen more attentively, and to cooperate more generously with the Spirit’s gentle promptings. We are not passive spectators in Lent; we are beloved sons and daughters who are called to walk willingly with the Spirit who leads us. Bishop Peter F. Christensen For forty days we accompany Jesus into the desert. Yet we do not walk there alone or by our own strength. St. Luke tells us that Jesus himself was “filled with the Holy Spirit” and “led by the Spirit in the desert” (Lk 4:1). This is the pattern for our own Lenten journey: like Christ, we allow the Spirit to guide us, shape us, and draw us closer to the Father. In a reflection I shared with you during Lent last year, I spoke from my heart about the temptation we all face to rely only on ourselves. I encouraged you — and I continue to encourage you — to hear the Lord’s invitation to trust him more deeply: “Fast from your self-sufficiency, fast from your self-reliance. Rely on me for your true identity and for all that you need… I will lead you if you just hold on to my hand. I will be with you.” ( Idaho Catholic Register , March 20, 2025). This remains at the heart of Lent. The Holy Spirit does not simply correct our behavior from the outside; he works within us, healing our hearts, reordering our loves, and reminding us that our true identity is found in being God’s children. Lent is like a family retreat for the whole Church — a time of quieter prayer, deeper listening, and renewed trust in our heavenly Father. Sacred Scripture consistently presents the Holy Spirit not merely as a force or agent, but as the divine Person; a consoler who walks alongside us purifying and sanctifying the people of God. His work is gentle and yet, powerful. He comes close to our hearts, meets us in our weakness, and patiently shapes us into the image of Christ. Lent is the season when we give him more room to do this saving work within us. The prophet Ezekiel speaks tenderly of God’s promise: “I will sprinkle clean water upon you… I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” (Ez 36:25–27). Each day in Lent, the Church places on our lips the prayer of Psalm 51: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Ps 51:12). St. Paul then invites us to understand what life in the Holy Spirit truly looks like. The following passage so clearly reveals the drama of conversion and the beauty of a Spirit-filled life. I invite you to read it often, take it to prayer and examine your life to more fully be filled by the Holy Spirit. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. Now the works of the flesh are plain: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like; I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit; let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another. (Ga 5:16, 19-26). This passage is not meant to frighten us, but to convict our hearts and move us toward the light of truth. Lent is the time when we allow the Holy Spirit to gently uncover what needs healing, so that his beautiful fruits — love, joy, and peace — can flourish more fully in our lives. When we fast, pray, and give alms, we are not trying to earn God’s love. We are making space for his Spirit to work more freely within us. Fasting quiets our appetites so that our hearts can listen. Prayer opens us to God’s voice and presence. Almsgiving loosens our grip on possessions and teaches us generosity. When these practices are rooted in faith, they become cooperation with the Holy Spirit — our humble “yes” to his transforming grace. Many of you tell me that you want to be more aware of the Holy Spirit in your daily life. Lent gives us a simple and practical path. Begin each morning with a quiet prayer: “Come, Holy Spirit. Purify my heart. Lead me today in truth and charity.” If possible, kneel before a crucifix or holy image. Then pause for a moment in silence — this is often where the Spirit speaks most clearly. Choose one interior fast this Lent. Ask the Spirit to reveal what most needs healing — perhaps impatience, harsh speech, resentment, gossip, or too much time online — and gently commit to fasting from it. This may open the door of time for a personal visit to a Church to sit in front of the Divine Physician in the Blessed Sacrament. Make Confession a central part of your Lent. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin not to condemn us, but to free us. In Reconciliation, we experience the joy of mercy and the renewal of grace. My hope for all of us this Lent is not simply that we “do better,” but that we become freer — freer from sin, freer from fear, and freer to love God and one another. If we allow the Holy Spirit to work, we will notice his fruits slowly growing in our lives: more patience in our families, more peace in our hearts, more generosity toward the poor, and deeper joy in our faith. As we begin this sacred season together, let us ask for one grace above all: the grace to be led by the Holy Spirit — led into repentance, led into truth, and led into the radiant joy of Easter. May the Holy Spirit purify every heart in our Diocese of Boise, strengthen relationship we hold dear, and renew our Church in holiness and love. With my prayers and God’s blessings, Bishop Peter F. Christensen