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This striking mural is located on the side of the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store in Coeur d’Alene, in North Idaho. (Courtesy photo) SVdP North Staff For the ICR   COEUR D’ALENE – In a tangible expression of faith and community service, St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho’s thrift store operations have provided more than $24,000 in emergency assistance vouchers over the past year to help over 1,000 families and individuals in crisis across our region.   The voucher program allows those in need to receive essential items such as clothing, household goods, and furniture at no cost. These emergency resources are made possible through the generosity of community donors, parish partners and thrift store shoppers whose purchases directly support local outreach efforts.   “Every item donated, every purchase made, becomes part of a greater mission,” said SVdP Chief Executive Officer Scott Ferguson. “Through these vouchers, we’re able to meet urgent needs quickly providing dignity, warmth and stability for families when it’s needed most.” A St. Vincent de Paul thrift store volunteer assists a shopper.  (Courtesy photo) St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho partners closely with Catholic parishes, local nonprofits and social service agencies to identify households facing hardship. Vouchers are often used to assist families experiencing sudden displacement, domestic violence survivors setting up new households and individuals recovering from fire or flood losses.   The program reflects the organization’s Catholic mission to serve “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40) and embodies St. Vincent de Paul’s legacy of compassion and practical assistance.   Those wishing to support this work can contribute gently used items to any St. Vincent de Paul thrift store location in North Idaho or make a financial gift online at stvincentdepaulnorthidaho.org/ .   About St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho: St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho is a faith-based nonprofit organization committed to ending homelessness, preventing hunger, and providing hope to individuals and families in need. Through housing programs, social services, and thrift store operations, SVDP serves thousands of residents each year in Kootenai County and beyond.

Bishop Christensen will offer Mass and bless guest house on Oct. 11 Sister Mary Beverly Greger looks out across the landscape from a window in the newly constructed Jubilee Guest House at the Marymount Hermitage in Mesa. The hermitage is place of retreat for individuals, couples and groups who want to disconnect and spend time with the Lord in quiet contemplation and prayer. The 4,000-square-foot Jubilee House will allow more retreatants to visit. (ICR photo/Philip A. Janquart) By Philip A. Janquart ICR Editor Mesa, Idaho — After more than a year of planning, prayer and construction, Marymount Hermitage co-founder Sister Mary Beverly Greger is finally settling into the newly finished Jubilee Guest House, a 4,000-square-foot building that triples the capacity of Marymount to host retreatants. “I’m so excited; we are finally getting furniture moved in and some ladies are getting the rooms decorated,” Sister Beverly of the Hermit Sisters of Mary told the Idaho Catholic Register on Monday, Aug. 4. “It just looks so beautiful!” Jubilee House is the newest addition to Marymount Hermitage’s 13-building campus, spread across 100 acres of mesa. The desert landscape is home to many species of wild-life—including elk, deer, coyotes and foxes— offering sweeping picture-postcard views of Idaho’s West Central Mountains. The new Jubilee Guest House has been completed and features a great room, laundry facilities, full kitchen, parlor and rooms to house retreatants. (ICR photo/Philip A. Janquart) What God wills Designed as a guest house rather than individual hermitages, Jubilee House answers a long-held prayer for more space to welcome visitors. Sister Beverly said she didn’t have plans to build a guest house but was inspired over time. “It was in October of 2023 when the Lord really put it on my heart that what I needed was more space for retreatants,” she said. “And for some reason, it never crossed my mind to make more hermitages. What crossed my mind was that I could have a guest house: bedrooms and large rooms in the house that everybody could use—living room, kitchen and dining room, for instance.” Jubilee Guest House has a wing with four small bedrooms, each with its own color palette, saintly dedication and character. Each room has a bathroom, and there is another wing with one larger bedroom and bath-room for long-term retreatants. All the bedrooms have a queen-size bed and can accommodate either individuals or married couples. Each bathroom has either a walk-in shower or a shower/tub combination. One bathroom is fully accessible for guests with physical limitations and includes adaptive fixtures and grab bars. “There’s a room for Our Lady of Guadalupe with an aqua green wall,” Sister Beverly said. There are rooms dedicated to St. Joseph, the Child Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The master bedroom is dedicated to Mary, Mother of the Church. All of the rooms have different exterior views and configurations, “Not at all the same and sterile like a motel,” Sister Beverly added. The great room boasts of a soaring 20-foot arched ceiling and large windows that flood the space with natural light. A 4-by-10-foot hickory dining table, handmade by a Mennonite craftsman, anchors the dining room with seating for 12. Neutral tones run throughout the interior, complemented by a black quartz countertop island in the kitchen, slate tile flooring sourced from the mountains of Afghanistan and custom cabinetry crafted by a local man from nearby Council. “His work is so meticulous—you can’t find any flaws,” Sister said. “The drawers are soft-close, which I had never seen before. In the kitchen are two refrigerators for use when groups reserve the building, and two pantries to accommodate either groups or individuals. The utility room has a washer and dryer, and it will be my work room when retreat-ants depart. But those appliances can also be used by retreatants who stay longer than a few days.” Jubilee House will host its first retreatants this month. Sister Beverly is considering holding a monthly open house, allowing the public to tour the facility and see what their support helped build. People are welcome to email or call Sister Beverly to schedule a private tour. The formal blessing of Jubilee House and Mass will take place Oct. 11, celebrated by Bishop Peter Christensen of the Diocese of Boise. The liturgy begins at 11 a.m., followed by the blessing and a light lunch reception. All are welcome. “At Mass, we will honor in a special way Jack Roberts of PMR, Inc., who was the general contractor,” Sister Beverly said. “Jack came out of retirement to help me with this building project, which began with site-clearing in July 2024 and was completed with remarkable speed due to his diligence, dedication and lifelong experience. Most of the men who worked on Jubilee House were locals, and I am proud to showcase the talent and skill of these very hard-working tradesmen.” She added, “Jack Roberts believes in families who live, work and recreate together. Work was usually done only on weekdays, rarely on Saturday and never on Sunday, unlike the prevailing culture in the area. Many of the men and boys who worked were part of Jack’s extended family. Sawyer Wells, his 12-year-old grandson, proudly delivered and installed the two wooden picnic tables he assembled for the back patio of Jubilee Guest House. When the bishop comes to bless the Guest House, that’s when it becomes officially dedicated.” Funding Funded entirely through donations, the $1 million project drew support from across the country. Contributions came from Sister Beverly’s 3,000-person mailing list, including locals, Boise-area residents, out-of-state friends, retreatants and longtime supporters of Marymount, which celebrated its 40th anniversary last year. “When this (the Jubilee House) was first proposed, people said, ‘A little nun in the middle of nowhere is trying to raise a million dollars? Probably not going to fly.’ But when the Lord really wants something, he puts it on people’s hearts.” Sister Beverly initially sought per-mission under her vow of obedience. “The first step was going to Bishop Peter (Christensen) and saying, ‘This is what God is putting on my heart,’ that this is what I should do,” she said. “I asked his permission, and he said, ‘Yes.’ So, that’s affirmation that I’m on the right track. If Bishop Peter had said, ‘No,’ it would have been no. “And for me, having a vow of obedience, that’s where the freedom comes from. I don’t have to worry if this is God’s will or not. With obedience … it makes things really easy.” Although the building came together quickly, the journey carried hidden burdens. “I wasn’t aware of how stressed I really was all last year,” she said. “Now that it’s done, and we’re using it, I feel so much better. Looking back, I think some of those little ailments I had were stress. But it’s completely gone now.” Marymount Hermitage, founded 41 years ago under the late Bishop Sylvester Treinen, began as a place for hermit sisters to live in prayer and silence. Although some women discerned life there, most eventually left. Sister Beverly and co-founder Sister Rebecca Mary Bonnell, who passed away last year, became Marymount’s two remaining residents. “There were the two of us, and we thought other women would join us, so we built three more hermitages for them to live in,” she explained. “We had women come and discern, but they decided it wasn’t God’s will for them, so they would leave. In the meantime, I thought, ‘These buildings aren’t going to sit here empty; we’ve got to do something with them.’ “So, instead of having women come and hoping that they stay, I figured if people just want to pray, they could come here for the weekend or the week. It was just a way to make sure the buildings were not just sitting empty. We didn’t intend for it to be a retreat center; that was never the plan. I had been thinking we had to do something else, but God is always surprising us.” Jubilee House is the fruit of that evolution. “It’s meant to be welcoming and homey,” Sister Beverly said. “When people come here, it’s just them and God. That’s what we hope to provide.” For more information or to schedule a stay, visit marymount-hermit-age.org or call (208) 256-4354.

A message from the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem By David Fofanoff For the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem   Recently all eyes have been fixed on the Middle East and the Holy Land. Once again war has consumed the land and its people which, for almost two millennia have been the central focal point of the Earth’s three major monotheistic religions; Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.   Yet, amidst this fatal backdrop of conflict there is operating around the world, a group of Catholics who have been given a special and unique mission by our Holy David Fofanoff Father, the Pope. Their mission for the past one thousand years has been to cultivate a peaceful coexistence among the peoples of the Holy Land, to support the often overlooked Christians who call that land their ancestral home, and to preserve the Holy Places at the heart of our faith.   This group is the  Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (EOHSJ), and it is the only surviving ancient Chivalric Order of Knighthood recognized by the Holy See. Our name describes our precious task – to ensure that the Gospel message of the Holy Sepulchre of our Lord Jesus in Jerusalem continues to be proclaimed and preserved for each generation.   Today’s EOHSJ has almost 30,000 members around the world who work together to fulfill this mission and to serve the Catholic Church in the Holy Land. These members are arranged geographically into Lieutenancies, and within the Northwestern Lieutenancy (which is responsible for the Pacific Northwest region) and living within the Diocese of Boise there are around 35 Knights and Dames. They are your fellow parishioners located across the state of Idaho from Coeur d’Alene in the northern panhandle, down to Boise, and the surrounding communities in the South, West, and East.   The Northwestern Lieutenancy has an additional special focus of providing support for the students, families, and staff of Bethlehem University, the only Catholic institution of higher education in Palestine. Recently Knights and Dames of our Lieutenancy had the honor of speaking via teleconference with current and former students at the University who benefit directly from the Order’s patronage. We found the students who are right in the heart of the war zone full of thanksgiving and a living faith, with hope for their futures. They are scared, yet they persevere in their hardship because for them, the Holy Land is not a news story, it is their home, and they are encouraged that other people genuinely care about them. Bishop Jaime Soto, Grand Prior of the Northwestern Lieutenancy, formally creates a new Knight during the Solemn Investiture Mass of 2024.  (Courtesy photo) For us in America, it was both humbling and an inspirational conversation. Most of the time you do not get a chance to visit directly with those you support and see and hear in real time how much of a difference your faithful service and sacrifices can make in improving just one person’s life. We take heart in knowing that these young adults are staying in the Holy Land to pass on their own gifts in faith to their neighbors, to keep Faith alive amid sadness, and I (along with my brother and sister Knights and Dames) am proud to be a part of their faith journey and their lives.   Being called to be a Knight or Dame of the Order is both a personal commitment of faithful service and a special honor of our Universal Church. Accepted members are knighted under authority delegated by the Pope, invested with a solemn and ancient charge, and expected to faithfully carry out their commitments to this calling. They are to be of service to those who most need our help to live their own lives of faith in communion with their neighbors in God’s Holy Land.   Membership in the Order is open to all baptized and practicing Roman Catholics (clergy and lay persons) who feel called to undertake this mission and who meet other requirements for formation and admission.   I have been a Knight of the Order for 13 years and each day I give thanks to God that he has allowed me to serve His People in such a noble cause and with such a committed spiritual family. If this message has awakened something in your spirit, I invite you to learn more about the Order in Idaho by visiting our website at https://eohsjnwusa.org   or by reaching out to me directly via email at dafofanoff@eohsjnwusa.org   or another Knight or Dame you may already know.   Whether or not you feel called, we invite you to pray with us and Holy Mary, Our Lady, Queen of Palestine for the full measure of Peace, Hope and Joy to return to the Holy Land. A small group of Knights and Dames from the Northwestern Lieutenancy gather before the Solemn Investiture Mass at the 2024 Annual Meeting in Vancouver, Washington. (Courtesy photo)

Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life (Courtesy Photo) Carol Tobias will address new threats to Idaho laws that protect sanctity of life   By Emily Woodham Staff Writer   National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) President Carol Tobias will be the keynote speaker for the “Unwavering Witness” dinner to be held at St. Mark’s Parish in Boise on Tuesday, Aug. 12.   Hosted by Right to Life of Idaho, the event aims to inspire and equip the Catholic community to stand strong in the face of new threats to Idaho laws that protect the sanctity of life.   Doors open at 6 p.m., with a taco dinner served at 6:30 p.m. The night’s theme is “Let’s Taco ‘Bout a Path to Victory for Life!” The dinner is $20 per individual and $10 for students. Proceeds benefit Right to Life Idaho’s mission to advance reverence for human life in the state.   Tobias, who will speak about the current challenges to pro-life laws in Idaho, has served on the NRLC board of directors since 1987, as president and in various other roles, including political director from 1991 to 2005, and has been a commentator on major national and international news networks.     “Idaho’s strong prolife laws are coming under attack,” said Emily Naugle, coordinator for St. Mark’s Respect Life and a member of the board for Right to Life of Idaho.   “Signatures are being collected at this very moment for the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act (RFPA),” she said of a proposed measure that supports the restoration of abortion rights in Idaho and would effectively serve as a counter to the Defense of Life Act passed by Idaho’s legislature in 2020.   The Act was created as a “trigger law,” intended to go into effect after the anticipated overturn of Roe v. Wade . This 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision made abortion a right under federal law. On June 24, 2022, the court overturned that decision, reverting abortion law to state legislatures, triggering Idaho’s Defense of Life Act, which makes abortion illegal except in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is in danger.   “If passed, this (RFPA) would be more destructive than Roe v. Wade ,” Naugle said. “We need all hands on deck so we can soundly defeat this assault on the sanctity of life.”   Naugle said a petition in support of the RFPA is making the rounds via the nonprofit organization Idahoans United for Women and Families, whose mission is to advocate for and restore “comprehensive reproductive health care for women,” which includes abortion and contraception.   The group must collect signatures from at least 6% of registered voters in 18 of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts by May 1, 2026 to qualify for the November 3, 2026 general election.   The organization claims on its website that the Defense of Life Act does not adequately account for medical concerns in which an abortion would benefit the mother’s health. The website also says that medical care in Idaho is declining because of the pro-life act.   A report released in 2024 by the Idaho Coalition for Safe Healthcare stated that 22 percent of OB-GYNs left Idaho due to the Defense of Life Act. Though this statistic is widely quoted by different news sources, several of the citations listed in the organization’s report were expired or unavailable for verification at press time.   The most recent academic document on Idaho physicians comes from the Center for Health Workforce Studies of the University of Washington and uses data from 2021.   “The Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act allows abortion up to fetal viability, but uses its own definition of fetal viability that is vague and therefore permissive beyond what even Roe v. Wade allowed,” Naugle said.   Visit rtli.org for more information.

Discerning technology’s dangers and limitations   By Deacon Thomas Middleton Pope Saint John Paul II Catholic Parish For the ICR   A couple of months ago, my son-in-law, who is a Ph.D. research psychologist and serves on staff at an Idaho medical institution, introduced me to Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.   He is passionate about the benefits of AI and its ability to synthesize large volumes of data from innumerable sources in an instantaneous manner. The utility of this relatively new technology in the medical community is self-evident, and doctors are finding it to be a valuable tool in the practice of medicine.   I started using a couple of different AI apps, just to familiarize myself with the technology. It is an amazing tool, and most of the information presented is reliable, including answers to complex Catholic theological questions. For example, as a test, I asked ChatGPT to write a “four-hundred-word Catholic homily in the Augustinian tradition regarding the relationship between faith and reason.” In just a few seconds, it provided a beautifully worded homily that was completely Catholic and Augustinian, including quotes from the saint, and succinct conclusions pertinent to the circumstances of our time. I have no doubt that if I had given the AI homily at Mass, it would have been regarded as one of my best! It is a telling example of the wonder but also the danger of this incredible technology.   Not human, not God The problem with my AI homily was that God was not in the loop. A homily is not just a speech or talk. It is a sacramental act of preaching and must be rooted in a lived faith. I did not pray about the AI homily. I did not meditate on the Word. I did not study Church teaching or the saints. The AI homily did not come from a heart and mind inspired by the Holy Spirit. God’s wisdom was not sought. Love for Christ and his Church was not part of the homiletic chemistry. Apart from the formation of the original question, it was a completely electronic, i.e., not human, product.   As a preacher, I am faced with an ethical decision. Do I preach the AI produced homily because of its excellence, or do I write my own homily; a homily inspired by the Holy Spirit, imperfect, but flowing from God’s love and grace? The fact that AI is so readily accessible and able to produce instant results, makes the temptation to let it do the hard spiritual work for me, and every other preacher, a serious everyday decision.   The question I must ask myself, and the Church must ask itself, is “What will we become if we allow AI to do our spiritual work for us?” The level of preaching might increase in a dramatic fashion, but it might also damage our communion with God and His Spirit. It becomes a question of choosing the good, choosing Christ, doing the right thing, over expedience.   I was talking to my 13-year-old granddaughter the other day. At her school, they are provided with electronic devices, i.e., “tablets,” to allow them to do schoolwork, including AI and other internet use. The system administrator controls internet access and blocks any sites or programs the school deems inappropriate, and rightfully so. The problem is that the students spend almost every waking moment discovering ways around the system admin blockers. Just like many young people, they have become very good at manipulating technology. A continuous game of cat and mouse exists where the school installs blockers and the students find ways to defeat them. (Image created using ChatGPT) The good and the bad The electronic battle occurring in my granddaughter’s school is not unique, and many other institutions, from government to industry, spend an extraordinary amount of time and money trying to stay one step ahead of ever-advancing technology. It makes a very real point about its nature. Electronic technology is elusive, constantly evolving and cannot be barricaded from our lives. It must not be ignored. AI is already ubiquitous and has a plethora of legitimate uses. Its growth will continue at an overwhelming rate. In a short period of time, AI will be part of everything. It is already woven into the fabric of human decision-making.   Google Maps, Siri, Alexa, smartphone cameras and chatbots are AI tools on which we have all come to rely. Platforms like Facebook, Tik Tok, Instagram and You Tube all use AI to organize your feed and recommend content. Uber and Lyft use AI to match drivers with riders. Microsoft Editor uses AI to suggest writing improvements. Tesla self-driving cars, and other newer cars, use AI for lane-keeping, braking, object detection and route planning. Like every other human technology, it can be used for good and/or evil. AI can serve the human person and human dignity or it can reduce/replace them.   It is imperative that Catholic moral thinking, Catholic ethics and Catholic critical thinking be introduced into the AI technology arena at a local level. AI is knowledge, not wisdom. The world needs Catholics, including Catholic clergy, to start educating themselves on AI capabilities to become moral and ethical thought leaders on its applications. For example, tech companies developing AI must see themselves as moral actors accountable for making moral decisions in its application.   Catholics must stand up In 2024, Pope Francis expressed serious concern about AI being incorporated into the ability to make war, i.e., autonomous weapons systems and weapons platforms. Today, that train has already left the station. To protect human goodness, Catholics have to stand up and be counted in real time. If we do not engage as the Church, AI technology is going to run over us.   In this new industrial revolution, many other areas need Catholic AI moral and ethical thought leadership at a working level – healthcare, criminal justice and law enforcement, human resources organizations, social media platforms, finance and banking, education and more. Human beings who use AI technology must be guided by principles grounded in natural law and divine revelation. AI cannot be used to replace human conscience. Human beings must remain accountable.          The developments in AI technology are not a call for panic but for discernment. Like all fruits of invention, AI is a product of the human intellect. The human intellect is good. It is created in God’s image, but it also is not God. No algorithm, no code, no technology can redeem us - only Jesus. AI can never become an idol. It cannot be something that we trust more than God’s grace, conscience or God’s truth.   Technology can assist us in our humanity, but it cannot absolve us of moral responsibility. It cannot love. It cannot pray. It cannot sacrifice for a loved one.   Faith and reason are not opposed. Faith and innovation are not opposed. Faith elevates both these things. Faith allows us to shape technology with the light of Christ in order to serve God’s truth and human dignity.

By Father Ron Rolheiser For the ICR In a book entitled “Peculiar Treasures,” the renowned novelist and spiritual writer Frederick Buechner reflects on the character of Judas, the man who betrayed Jesus with a kiss and then died by suicide. Buechner, who had lost his own father to suicide, speculates on the reasons why Judas dies by suicide. Referring to an ancient church tradition, he suggests that perhaps Judas chose suicide out of hope instead of despair, that is, he felt dammed and counted on Jesus’ mercy after death, thinking that perhaps “hell might be his last chance of making it to heaven.” Then, imagining Jesus’ descent into hell, Buechner writes, “It’s a scene to conjure with. Once again, they met in the shadows, the two old friends, both of them a little worse for wear after all that had happened, only this time it was Jesus who was the one to give the kiss, and this time it wasn’t the kiss of death that was given,” Jeffrey Munroe wrote in “Reading Buechner,” published by InterVarsity Press. As Christians, as a very article of faith in our Creeds, we believe that after his death, Jesus “descended into hell.” What’s meant by that? The popular conception of this in the language of our catechesis, in our iconography and Christian piety might be summarized this way: After the sin of Adam and Eve, “original sin,” the gates of heaven were closed, so that from the time of Adam and Eve until the death of Jesus, no one could go to heaven. However, in his death, Jesus atoned for our sins and during the time between his death on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday, he went to that place in the underworld, Sheol, where all the good people who had died throughout history were waiting, and he led them into heaven. This was his “descent into hell.” But, whatever the literal truth in that popular conception, there’s a powerful theological truth undergirding the doctrine. In essence, it’s this: The love and compassion that Jesus manifested in his death have the power to go into hell itself. That is, there is no “hell” (physical, psychological or spiritual) we can create that Christ’s love cannot penetrate so as to offer healing for the very wound which caused that hell itself. God’s love, healing and forgiveness can penetrate any hell we can create and heal the wound that caused that hell. (Image created using ChatGPT) This is perhaps the single most consoling doctrine not just in Christianity but in all religions. When we are powerless to help others or ourselves, God can still help us. It’s for this reason that Christians don’t believe in reincarnation. It isn’t needed. We don’t need to get ourselves completely right to go to heaven. When we are powerless, God can still do for us what we can’t do for ourselves. That’s a deep consolation because not everyone dies a happy death. Many of us die in anger, in bitterness, not fully reconciled with others, with unfinished business of the soul. And some of us die by suicide, imprisoned in a private hell where, due to illness and wound rather than moral fault, we believe our death is our only way to life. The doctrine of Jesus’ descent into hell is particularly helpful regarding how we might understand how those who die by suicide are met by God after their deaths. For too long we have been falsely anxious about this, fearing that suicide is a grave human and moral failure, an act of despair, unforgiveable (certainly on this side of eternity). However, in most cases, it is an illness, one not freely chosen. Like cancer, a heart attack or an accident, it takes someone out of life against his or her committed choice. For this reason, we are encouraged to no longer use the phrase “committed suicide.” Nobody “commits” cancer or “commits” a heart attack. He or she “succumbs” to it. So, too, for most suicides. With this in mind, we can better appreciate the image Frederick Buechner uses in speculating about Judas’ suicide and his meeting with Jesus in hell. In essence, this is Buechner’s image: After his betrayal of Jesus, Judas descends into a private hell wherein he senses that what he has done cannot be forgiven and he is doomed forever to live in that darkness. That falsity, that illness, that fatally misguided logic tells him that going to hell is his last chance of going to heaven. So, he takes his own life. After his death, Jesus meets him in the shadows of that misguided hell and kisses him, not in condemnation or damnation, but in unconditional love, understanding and forgiveness. This image, I believe, can help us understand what happens in suicide: the misguided logic of those taking their own lives, and God’s loving, compassionate, forgiving, invitational descent into their private hell within which they believe their deaths are a favor to their loved ones and that “hell might be their last chance to go to heaven.” Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser is a Professor of Spirituality at Oblate School of Theology and an award-winning author. He can be contacted through his website www.ronrolheiser.com. You can also follow him on Facebook www.facebook.com/ronrolheiser

Dear Catholic Faithful, As we continue in our Jubilee Year of Hope, I am pleased to share the launching of our first-ever Idaho Catholic Marriage Conference on October 18, 2025. Over the past decade, we have seen the success of Salt and Light Radio’s Catholic Men’s and Women’s Conferences. Also, we have for many years hosted our annual Idaho Catholic Youth Conference (ICYC), which is now a staple of our offerings for youth. More than ever in our culture, there is a need to uplift and support the Sacrament of Marriage, the foundation of family life. I am pleased to be offering this conference opportunity through our Bishop Peter F. Christensen Diocese of Boise Diocesan Marriage and Family Life Office. We are calling the conference: Anchored in Hope. This conference is a crucial event to support the fundamental cell of the Church, society, marriage and family. In the midst of the Jubilee Year of Hope, this a wonderful time to celebrate the eternal hope we have in Christ Jesus. Our keynote speakers for this conference are Dr. Scott and Kimberly Hahn of St. Paul’s Center for Biblical Theology and Christopher and Wendy West of the Theology of the Body Institute. Our diocese’s own Fr. John Mosier will also be one of our keynote speakers. We are pleased to have Johnny and Lorissa Horn as the emcees for this inaugural Idaho Catholic Marriage Conference. I ask all our married couples to consider attending this first-time Idaho Catholic Marriage Conference. If this event is successful, I hope it will become an annual offering. I will also be celebrating our annual Milestone Anniversary Mass at this conference. If you are a couple celebrating a key milestone anniversary (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50 and 50-plus), please consider registering. This marks the 10th anniversary of our Diocese hosting these Milestone Anniversary Masses. This year’s Mass and Conference will be held at the Boise Centre West in downtown Boise for this special conference and Mass. Prayer teams available to pray with you for the needs of your married life; a book sale and signing by our keynotes speakers during lunch time; and an after-conference social (ticketed event) to continue the conversation at the end of the conference. Please help me by encouraging one another to attend this wonderful event during the Jubilee Year of Hope. The early bird pricing will be good through the end of August. Please take the time to register for the conference this month. Use the QR code for more information and to register. I believe this will be one of the most important events of our Jubilee celebrations. I would love to fill the Boise Centre on October 18 with Catholic couples in love with Jesus and their Catholic faith. I hope to see you there. Sincerely Yours in Christ, Most Reverend Peter F. Christensen, Bishop of Boise

Purchase tickets for the 2025 Harvest of Hope Gala & Dinner now while they are still available   By Philip A. Janquart ICR Editor   For 25 years, Catholic Charities of Idaho (CCI) has supported those in need, providing services and programs rooted in the Gospel.   But the mission would fall short without Bishop Peter F. Christensen speaks during the 2024 CCI Gala and Dinner Fundraiser. (Courtesy photo) the generous donations of CCI supporters. The annual gala and dinner, the organization's most significant fundraiser of the year, is scheduled for Oct. 25, 2025, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Chateau des Fleurs, located at 176 S. Rosebud Lane in Eagle.   “Catholic Charities of Idaho is celebrating 25 years of serving Idahoans in need; let’s come together in gratitude and hope, helping support their invaluable work for the next quarter century,” said Idaho Bishop Peter F. Christensen in a statement.   This year’s gala, titled the “Harvest of Hope Gala and Dinner,” carries the theme “Anchored in Hope,” echoing Pope Francis’ 2024 declaration that 2025 would be a Jubilee Year of Hope.   Registration for the event ends Friday, Oct. 10, at 5 p.m. Mountain time. However, tickets have historically sold out quickly, so those planning to attend are encouraged to purchase well in advance.   To purchase tickets or sign up as a sponsor, visit ccidaho.org/gala , call Donor Relations Manager Shyla Rankin at (208) 350-7482 or scan the QR code.   Sponsorships Catholic Charities of Idaho Executive Director Eddie Trask said efforts are underway to secure sponsors, which are crucial components in the nonprofit organization’s ability to provide faith-based counseling, immigration legal services and social services.   “We depend on our donors and sponsors to help us continue to provide these critical services to all those in need,” he told the Idaho Catholic Register (ICR) . “This year, we are giving a nod to the saints through our sponsorship packets. There is a saint tied to every sponsorship level, from immigration to charity workers.” This year, the highest-level sponsorship is designated as the Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Presenting Sponsor.   Also known as Elisabeth of Thuringia, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, a princess of the Kingdom of Hungary and the landgravine of Thuringia, is the patron saint of charity workers. She was married at 14 and widowed at 20, but regained her dowry, using the money to build a hospital where she served the sick. She became a symbol of Christian charity after she died in 1231 at the age of 24 and was canonized on May 25, 1235. A live auction is part of the Catholic Charities of Idaho's 25th anniversary Gala and Fundraiser to be held from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Chateau des Fleurs in Eagle, Idaho on Oct. 10. (Courtesy photo)   Those committing to this highest level of sponsorship receive two tables of eight, four bottles of premium wine per table, a full-page ad in the gala program with logo/name on invitations and event signage, and a special thank you and recognition at the dinner.   This level of sponsorship impacts an average of 250 families.   Other sponsorship packages are represented by Saint John Bosco, patron of youth; Saint Damien of Molokai, patron of outcasts; Saint Dymphna, patron of mental health; Saint Francis Cabrini, patron of immigrants; and Saint Jeanne Jugan, patron of the elderly and destitute.   Expansion? Catholic Charities of Idaho currently has two locations, at 7201 W. Franklin in Boise (adjacent to Bishop Kelly High School), and 611 Wilson Ave., Suite 6B in Pocatello.   “We are not in a position to release a strategic plan, but the board has approved some pretty ambitious strategic ideas, a nod to the fact that they want to serve more Idahoans. We all have a strong desire to expand our reach.”   Rankin added that CCI is always open to ideas from the public.   “If there are things in the community that people want to see happen, we want to hear your feedback,” she told the ICR . “Don’t be afraid to call and ask questions. We don’t know unless we talk.”     Community impacts through Catholic Charities of Idaho Editor’s note: The following information was pulled from CCI’s Impact Report for fiscal year 2023-24.   People served through faith-based counseling – 170, with 14,000 counseling clinical hours provided Immigration representations – 227 People served through community education events – 304 Community legal screenings – 107 Senior housing clients – 47 Hygiene kits distributed – 63 Case management clients – 40 Family housing stabilization clients – 34 Referrals provided – 1,156 Families sponsored for Christmas giving – 100 Resettlement clients – 10 Hours providing referrals – 1,326 Diapers distributed – 13,034 Cold-weather clothing articles provided – 2,211 ($49,747) Victims of human trafficking supported – 7 ($6,403.27)

Padre Camilo García, Párroco de Saint Nicholas en Rupert y las niñas Briseida y Alesandra Gil, durante la kermes de la parroquia donde participó la estación de radio Sal y Luz . (Foto/cortesía de Mirella Silva Gil) 'No solo sostenemos una radio...sostenemos almas' La estación Sal y Luz lanza una campaña especial para invitar a sus radioescuchas y a toda la comunidad a ser parte activa de esta gran misión de evangelización a través de la radio. Tu apoyo mensual puede marcar una gran diferencia. Con una do- nación desde $20, $50, $100 o más al mes, estarás ayudando a que esta voz de fe, esperanza y consuelo siga llegando a los hogares de quienes más lo necesitan: personas solas, enfermas o imposibilitadas de asistir a su parroquia. La radio es, para muchos, el único medio por el cual pueden participar en la vida de la Iglesia y seguir cre- ciendo en su fe. Tu donativo mantiene viva esta misión. Nuestra meta es reunir los fondos necesarios para seguir al aire por mucho más tiempo y extender el alcance de este apostolado. Sé un pilar de Sal y Luz y ayúdanos a llevar la Palabra de Dios a cada rincón. Para más información, comunícate al 208-860-1024 o escribe a info@saltandlightradio.com Radio Católica Sal y Luz – Evangelizando con amor, esperanza y fidelidad

Casi  5 mil misioneros FOCUS de Estados Unidos, reunidos en Avemaría en Florida, una iglesia construida en un terreno de más de dos mil hectáreas y en su inte-  rior se puede apreciar una escena de la Anunciación de 9 metros de altura tallada en mármol. (Foto/ cortesía Mauricio Rodríguez) Graduado de la Universidad de Idaho, Mauricio Rodríguez, cambia el teclado por    la misión y parte a Colorado como misionero universitario con FOCUS. Por Vero Gutiérrez Editora Asistente   En lugar de salir de la universidad en busca de un salario competitivo, Mauricio Rodríguez eligió un camino muy distinto: dejó a un lado una prometedora carrera como ingeniero en computación para convertirse en misionero. Su meta no es hacer dinero, sino pedirlo, para poder dedicarse de lleno a evangelizar a jóvenes universitarios. Mauricio, egresado de la carrera de Ciencias de la Computación en la Universidad de Idaho, en Moscow, es el primer joven hispano graduado de esta institución que dedica dos años de su vida al servicio misionero. Su destino: la Universidad de Mesa en Denver, Colorado. Cuando Mauricio Rodríguez escuchaba sobre FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), no le llamaba mucho la atención. La idea de tener que recaudar fondos para poder evangelizar le parecía algo incómoda, incluso vergonzosa. “Eso fue lo que más me detenía... pensar que tenía que pedir dinero para poder ser misionero”, confiesa. Sin embargo, todo cambió cuando empezó a ver el impacto real de los misioneros en la vida de sus compañeros de universidad. “El año pasado todavía estudiaba Ciencias de la Computación en la Universidad de Idaho. La mentalidad que se vive ahí es: estudias, te gradúas y, consigues un buen trabajo para poder ganar mucho dinero. Yo pensaba hacer eso mismo.” El equipo de Colorado Mesa University. De izquierda a derecha Joseph Zavala, Amanda Schaul, Mauricio Rodríguez, Jaclyn Gazewood. (Foto cortesía Mauricio Rodríguez)   Durante un trabajo temporal en una planta azucarera, se dio cuenta de algo importante: aunque trabajaba en programación, alineado a su carrera, no sentía plenitud. “Ahí entendí el valor del trabajo de ingeniero, pero también que yo quería hacer algo más. No me llenaba.” Sin compromisos familiares ni personales, sintió que era el momento de entregar su tiempo para ayudar a otros. Exploró varias opciones mi-sioneras: organizaciones que trabajan con personas en situación de calle, grupos seculares que llevan agua a comunidades necesitadas... hasta que volvió a mirar a FOCUS. Después de discernir durante varios meses, y con el acompañamiento de un sacerdote, tomó la decisión. “Él me dijo algo que me marcó: en esta misión no solo puedes ayudar a las personas en esta vida, sino también  para la eternidad. Eso me dio claridad.” Rodríguez decidió seguir adelante con los ojos puestos en el grupo de misioneros FOCUS, con quienes por cierto había tenido una experiencia muy enriquecedora durante el verano de 2023. Misioneros de diferentes lugares, reunidos en Lincoln, Nebraska. (Foto cortesía Mauricio Rodríguez) En ese tiempo Mauricio era estudiante del cuarto semestre de la licenciatura en Ciencias de la Computación en la Universidad de Idaho y fue invitado por los misioneros de FOCUS para vivir una experiencia como misionero en el estado de Maine. A partir de ese momento la vida de Mauricio comenzó a tomar un giro y de ser un estudiante un poco distante de la fe, comenzó a sentir el deseo de participar asiduamente de la Eucaristía y apoyar activamente en su parroquia de St. Agustine’s Catholic Center en Moscow y después en St. Jerome su parroquia de origen. Mauricio Rodríguez en la primera fila agachado, con el resto de jóvenes que fueron seleccionados , en la reunión de la región Southwest de FOCUS , antes de salir a sus respectivas misiones . (Foto Cortesía) El siguiente paso para Rodríguez consistió en acudir a una entrevista con FOCUS en noviembre, en Denver para determinar si podía ser seleccionado como misionero. “Ver a otros jóvenes con distintos caminos de vida —algunos recién graduados, otros profesionales— me inspiró. Me llamaron poco después para decirme que había sido aceptado.” El 12 de mayo de 2025 se graduó oficialmente como ingeniero en computación. Y el 20 de mayo viajó a Lincoln, Nebraska, para comenzar su formación como misionero junto a 125 jóvenes de todo Estados Unidos. “FOCUS  tiene nueve  años en la Universidad de Idaho, pero soy el  primer hispano egresado de aquí que se une como misionero.”  El entrenamiento se realizó durante cinco semanas y se formaron en cinco áreas: humana, espiritual, intelectual, apostólica y en desarrollo de apoyo financiero. “Tuvimos clases de teología, Biblia, cómo invitar a otros a conocer a Jesús. también aprendimos cómo pedir fondos para sostener nuestra misión. El día empezaba a las 8:45 a.m. y terminaba hasta las 9 de la noche. Fue intenso y transformador.” Mauricio fue asignado a la Universidad de Colorado Mesa, en Denver. Su equipo está formado por cuatro misioneros. “Nos dieron una carta como una misión especial, luego nos encontramos en un parque para conocer a nuestro equipo. Fue muy emotivo.” Su compromiso es por dos años. En agosto se reunirá con su equipo para conocer la ciudad y prepararse para el nuevo año escolar. “Lo que más espero de este tiempo es crecer en mi relación con Dios. Ser misionero no es algo seguro ni tradicional, implica confiar mucho en Él. También quiero crecer como hombre, en paciencia, comunicación y virtudes. Y poder ayudar a los estudiantes que están perdidos, que sienten tristeza o confusión, sobre todo en ambientes universitarios donde la fe se ha apagado.” Aunque al principio sintió temor de contarles a sus padres, su decisión fue bien recibida. “Pensaba que se enojarían, como hispanos vinieron a este país con el sueño de que sus hijos tuvieran una carrera y un buen trabajo. Pero me sorprendieron. al decir: si tú eres feliz, nosotros también lo somos. Mi mamá, que ahora se involucra más en nuestra parroquia local, está feliz. Mi papá, que trabaja en una lechería, también me apoya. Ellos saben que no es fácil, pero creen en mí.” Mauricio tiene 22 años. Es el mayor de tres hermanos. Su hermana está por terminar la universidad y su hermano menor acaba de graduarse de la preparatoria. “Mis papás me enseñaron que la educación es lo más importante. Y ahora, estoy convencido de que compartir la fe también lo es.”

(Foto cortesía ACIPRENSA )                      Por el Diácono Thomas Middleton Hace un par de meses, mi yerno, que es doctor en Psicología e investigador y trabaja en una institución médica de Idaho, me habló de la tecnología de la inteligencia artificial (IA). Le apasionan las ventajas de la IA y su capacidad para sintetizar grandes volúmenes de datos de innumerables fuentes de forma instantánea. La utilidad de la IA en la comunidad médica es evidente y los médicos la consideran una herramienta valiosa en la práctica de la medicina. Empecé a utilizar un par de aplicaciones de IA diferentes, solo para familiarizarme con la tecnología. Es una herramienta increíble y la mayor parte de la información que presenta es fiable, incluidas las respuestas a complejas preguntas teológicas católicas. Por ejemplo, a modo de prueba, le pedí a ChatGPT que escribiera una «homilía católica de cuatrocientas palabras en la tradición agustiniana sobre la relación entre la fe y la razón». En solo unos segundos, me proporcionó una homilía bellamente redactada, completamente católica y agustiniana, que incluía citas del santo y conclusiones sucintas pertinentes a las circunstancias de nuestro tiempo. No tengo ninguna duda de que si hubiera pronunciado la homilía de la IA en misa, ¡habría sido considerada una de mis mejores! Es un ejemplo revelador de la maravilla, pero también del peligro, de esta increíble tecnología. El problema con mi homilía generada por IA era que Dios no estaba presente. Una homilía no es solo un discurso o una charla. Es un acto sacramental de predicación y debe estar arraigado en una fe vivida. No recé por la homilía generada por IA. No medité sobre la Palabra. No estudié las enseñanzas de la Iglesia ni a los santos. La homilía generada por IA no provenía de un corazón y una mente inspirados por el Espíritu Santo. No se buscó la sabiduría de Dios. El amor por Cristo y su Iglesia no formaba parte de la química homilética. Aparte de la formulación de la pregunta original, era un producto completamente electrónico, es decir, no humano.       (Foto cortesía ACIPRENSA ) Como predicador, me enfrento a una decisión ética. ¿Predico la homilía producida por la IA debido a su excelencia, o escribo mi propia homilía, una homilía inspirada por el Espíritu Santo, imperfecta, pero que fluye del amor y la gracia de Dios? El hecho de que la IA sea tan fácilmente accesible y capaz de producir resultados instantáneos hace que la tentación de dejar que ella haga el difícil trabajo espiritual por mí, y por todos los demás predicadores, sea una decisión cotidiana seria. La pregunta que debo hacerme a mí mismo, y que la Iglesia debe hacerse a sí misma, es: «¿En qué nos convertiremos si permitimos que la IA haga nuestro trabajo espiritual por nosotros?». El nivel de la predicación podría aumentar de forma espectacular, pero también podría dañar nuestra comunión con Dios y su Espíritu. Se trata de elegir el bien, elegir a Cristo, hacer lo correcto, por encima de la conveniencia. El otro día estaba hablando con mi nieta de trece años. En su colegio les proporcionan dispositivos electrónicos, es decir, «tabletas», para que puedan hacer los deberes, incluyendo el uso de la inteligencia artificial y de Internet. El administrador del sistema controla el acceso a Internet y bloquea cualquier sitio o programa que el colegio considere inapropiado, y con razón. El problema es que los alumnos se pasan casi todo el tiempo buscando formas de sortear los bloqueos del administrador del sistema. Al igual que muchos jóvenes, se han vuelto muy hábiles en el manejo de la tecnología. Existe un juego continuo del gato y el ratón en el que la escuela instala bloqueadores y los alumnos encuentran formas de burlarlos. La batalla electrónica que se libra en la escuela de mi nieta no es única, y muchas otras instituciones, desde el gobierno hasta la industria, dedican una cantidad extraordinaria de tiempo y dinero a intentar adelantarse a los avances tecnológicos. Esto pone de manifiesto una realidad muy importante sobre su naturaleza. La tecnología electrónica es escurridiza, está en constante evolución y no puede ser excluida de nuestras vidas. No debe ser ignorada. La IA ya es omnipresente y tiene una gran cantidad de usos legítimos. Su crecimiento continuará a un ritmo abrumador. En poco tiempo, la IA formará parte de todo. Ya está integrada en el tejido de la toma de decisiones humanas. Google Maps, Siri, Alexa, las cámaras de los teléfonos inteligentes y los chatbots son herramientas de IA en las que todos hemos llegado a confiar. Plataformas como Facebook, Tik Tok, Instagram y YouTube utilizan IA para organizar tu feed y recomendarte contenido. Uber y Lyft utilizan la IA para emparejar a los conductores con los pasajeros. Microsoft Editor utiliza la IA para sugerir mejoras en la redacción. Los coches autónomos de Tesla y otros coches más nuevos utilizan la IA para mantener el carril, frenar, detectar objetos y planificar rutas. Como cualquier otra tecnología humana, puede utilizarse para el bien y/o para el mal. La IA puede servir a la persona humana y a la dignidad humana, o reducirlas o sustituirlas. Es imperativo que el pensamiento moral católico, la ética católica y el pensamiento crítico católico se introduzcan en el ámbito de la tecnología de la IA a nivel local. La IA es conocimiento. No es sabiduría. El mundo necesita que los católicos, incluido el clero católico, comiencen a formarse en las capacidades de la IA para convertirse en líderes morales y éticos en sus aplicaciones. Por ejemplo, las empresas tecnológicas que desarrollan IA deben considerarse a sí mismas como actores morales responsables de tomar decisiones morales en su aplicación. En 2024, el papa Francisco expresó su profunda preocupación por la incorporación de la IA a la capacidad de hacer la guerra, es decir, a los sistemas de armas autónomos y las plataformas de armas. Hoy en día, ese tren ya ha salido de la estación. Para proteger la bondad humana, los católicos tienen que levantarse y hacerse oír en tiempo real. Si no nos comprometemos como Iglesia, la tecnología de IA nos arrollará.      (Foto cortesía ACIPRENSA ) En esta nueva revolución industrial, hay muchas otras áreas que necesitan el liderazgo moral y ético católico en materia de IA a nivel práctico: la sanidad, la justicia penal y la aplicación de la ley, las organizaciones de recursos humanos, las plataformas de redes sociales, las finanzas y la banca, la educación y muchas más. Los seres humanos que utilizan la tecnología de IA deben guiarse por principios basados en la ley natural y la revelación divina. La IA no puede utilizarse para sustituir la conciencia humana. Los seres humanos deben seguir siendo responsables. Los avances en la tecnología de IA no son motivo de pánico, sino de discernimiento. Como todos los frutos de la invención, la IA es un producto del intelecto humano. El intelecto humano es bueno. Está creado a imagen de Dios, pero tampoco es Dios. Ningún algoritmo, ningún código, ninguna tecnología puede redimirnos, solo Jesús. La IA nunca puede convertirse en un ídolo. No puede ser algo en lo que confiemos más que en la gracia de Dios, la conciencia o la verdad de Dios. La tecnología puede ayudarnos en nuestra humanidad, pero no puede absolvernos de nuestra responsabilidad moral. No puede amar. No puede rezar. No puede sacrificarse por un ser querido.

Heart of a Child Ministries travels nation spreading pro-life message via live ultrasounds Sonographer Maci Binder, a member of the Heart of a Child Ministries team, which evangelizes youth and adults on the sacred gift of life, uses a portable ultrasound machine to show guests at a June 22 presentation at Holy Apostles in Meridian what a baby in its mother's womb looks like. Holy Apostles parishioner Rachel Thompson, on table, volunteered for the presentation. (Photo: Philip A. Janquart) By Philip A. Janquart ICR Editor   Rachel Thompson will never forget her first ultrasound, when she was given a glimpse of the tiny baby growing inside her womb.   For Thompson, a Holy Apostles (Meridian) parishioner, it was hard to express the feeling that came over her in that moment.   “There are no words to describe it,” she told the   Idaho Catholic Register   (ICR) following a June 22 Heart of a Child Ministries presentation held in Holy Apostles’ meeting hall.   Based in Omaha, Nebraska, Heart of a Child Ministries is a homegrown nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing its pro-life message at Catholic schools and parishes nationwide through in-person presentations.   Using a “4S” (science, scripture, stories and service) model developed in-house, the organization educates children and adults by giving them a first-hand look at a developing baby through live ultrasounds.   There were three sessions at Holy Apostles that day: two in the morning, following the 9 and 11 a.m. Masses, and another specifically for teens and young adults after the 6 p.m. Mass.   At about 26 weeks into her fourth pregnancy, Thompson volunteered for the early morning session after seeing an announcement in the church bulletin. Rose Nistler, a parishioner at St. Mark’s, signed up for the late-morning slot. Kallen Maher, who read the same announcement while attending Mass at Holy Apostles with her parents, made the drive from Greenleaf to participate in the evening session. The day before, on Saturday, Holy Apostles parishioner Kaley Carrion stepped in as a test subject to help calibrate the ultrasound equipment.   On Sunday, several curious kiddos left their seats and stood near the table where Thompson lay to get a better view as sonographer Maci Binder moved the probe from a portable ultrasound machine over Thompson’s belly.  The resulting images, one of them 3-D, were projected onto a large screen, clearly revealing the sleeping baby’s features, including head, nose, mouth, ears, arms, hands, fingers and eyes.   “The only way I can describe it is . . . unbelievable,” Thompson said of her initial experience. “The first one is at eight weeks, and it’s like a little flicker at first. The second one is at 20 weeks, and in that time, it has grown so much; it’s a little baby.”   Husband Eric was equally amazed when he saw his first child’s form appear on the monitor before him.   “You can see something that looks like a little kidney bean, and it has a head and a crown, and the little heartbeat just really goes, something like 180 beats per minute. It’s crazy,” he said.   The Thompsons’ baby, a girl, is due Sept. 9.   A call from God Nikki Schaefer, founder and executive director of Heart of a Child Ministries, holds a master’s degree in social work and art therapy. She previously served as a pro-life counselor at Birthright and as a family counselor in the Expectant Parenting Unit at Catholic Services. She is also an author and freelance writer for Aquinas Press.   Heart of a Child Ministries was breathed into life in 2012 during a Holy Hour for Life at her parish, St. Robert Bellarmine, in Omaha, Nebraska.   “We were at a Holy Hour for Life, on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and at the beginning of the hour, I experienced a profound presence of our Lady,” Schaefer told the ICR . “I felt her all around me, and I heard very clearly in my heart, ‘I want you to do something in the community again for pro-life.’ I said, ‘Mary, if there is something you want my family or me to do, tell me what it is.’”   Mary’s response became almost immediately clear.   “At the end of the hour, I looked at my kids and my seven-year-old daughter Grace had a tear in her eye,” Schaefer recalled. “I got right in front of her and asked her what was wrong. She said, ‘I just don’t know why anyone would do this to a precious baby, mom. Those babies may be small, but they are people, too.’” Shown above is a view of Zane and Isabelle Pulver's baby at eight weeks. Baby Pulver is about the size of a raspberry. Isabelle is the daughter of Diocese of Boise Human Resources Coordinator and ICR Advertising Manager Sheri Boicourt. The image was captured during a July 23, 2025 ultrasound session. (Photo courtesy of Zane and Isabelle Pulver.)   Schaefer told Grace she once counseled women considering abortion.   “You have to explain it from a child’s perspective, so I told her that they aren’t doing it to be mean, that many of them are poor and are scared they won’t be able to buy diapers and things like that, and that we are called to help them,” she said.   “So, she (Grace) says, ‘Well, I want to help them. I want to make something, and I want to sell it. I want to give the money to mommies so they can buy diapers and not have abortions.’ And this whole conversation happened right in front of the Blessed Sacrament.”   Grace was specific about what she wanted: a stuffed cross, a baby and a heart with rays emanating from it. When Schaefer heard her daughter’s vision, it immediately triggered a memory.   “When she said that, the Holy Spirit gave me this image of her (Grace),” she explained. “When I would check in on her at night, she would be holding a pillow in one hand and a rosary in another. That image immediately came to mind, and I felt the Lord was showing me that this stuffed cross was meant to be a pillow and that the call to prayer of the rosary was meant to be incorporated.”   That night, Schaefer and Grace began sketching out their vision, which resulted in two distinctive designs – one with a baby on a Cross, Grace’s original idea, and one with Mary holding a baby in the palm of her hand. Both of these designs can be purchased at heartofachildministries.org/store/ . Nikki Schaefer, founder and executive director of Heart of a Child Ministries, explains to a group of children, youth and adults what it means to be made in the image of God during her June 22 presentation at Holy Apostles in Meridian. (Photo: Philip A. Janquart)    The seamstress “We had a seamstress scheduled to come into our house to teach my kids how to sew the very next day, after the Holy Hour for Life,” Schaefer continued. “I took the risk and told her what happened. Then I showed her the drawings, and she started to sob. She told me, ‘Nikki, I had an abortion when I was 16. My parents made me do it; I didn’t want to. When I finally healed at a Project Rachel retreat in my forties, that is the exact image I saw in prayer.   (You can learn about Project Rachel here: https://hopeafterabortion.com )   The seamstress continued with her story, telling Schaefer that she saw a vision of Mary in her heart, holding her baby in the palm of her hand and heard her say, “His name is Michael.”   Schaefer and the unnamed seamstress came to an agreement.   “I agreed to devote this ministry to Michael, and she taught me how to sew, along with my daughters,” Schaefer said. “So, that’s how it all began. If you think about it, who does our Lady come to? The little children. What does she tell them to do? To spread the call to the Rosary and Prayer.”   Ministry expands Schaefer and Grace raised $40,000 over three years by selling the pillows, and in 2015, they received their first invitation to make a presentation to school children.   “We were featured in different articles and then we started getting invited to go into schools to teach kids how to make a difference, too,” she said. “So, I prayed on it: ‘Lord, what do you want me to do and say?’ Well, he wanted me to use the three things that Grace said: ‘They are small, but they’re people, too,’ and I knew that I wanted to educate kids on why they are people.   “And then, the older kids . . . well, I wanted to talk about the issue of abortion, talk about how it hurts not only babies, but women. And then, the third thing, the heart with rays of light: I knew I wanted to educate them on who we are as children of God.” Nikki Schaefer shows the ICR one of the designs she and daughter Grace came up with when they decided to sew pillows and sell them to benefit mothers considering abortion. (Photo: Philip A. Janquart)   Schaefer has since added numerous components to her presentation, including guest speakers, songs and storytelling to spread God’s message of life.   Perhaps Schaefer’s greatest tool in disseminating that unambiguous message is the live ultrasounds.   At Holy Apostles, Schaefer highlighted an ultrasound image clearly showing a cross-shaped structure. But what was it and where did it come from?   She explained that the image represented the human heart in its earliest stages of development.   “This was your heart when you were being created in your mother’s womb, when all four chambers were present; the tissue in the middle makes a perfect cross,” she explained, as children gaped at the monitor with wide-eyed fascination.   Schaefer said she has also developed a model for public schools that provides information on pre-birth development, incorporating live ultrasound, which can be a moving experience for many.   “When a person has never seen an ultrasound and then sees one for the first time, that’s profound,” she said. “It changes hearts.”   Measuring the impact Heart of a Child Ministries gauges the impact of its message through guest assessment forms completed after parish, middle school and high school presentations.   “We want to know if you are fully pro-life, partially pro-life or fully or partially in support of abortion and whether that changed following the presentation,” Schaefer explained. “Well, we have a 56% conversion rate in kids who identified themselves as pro-abortion in some way.   “For the older kids, it’s the testimony,” she added. “You know . . . social media tells them that abortion is easy for women, that it’s no problem. But when you hear a speaker that talks about how it affected their life, how they turned to drugs or alcohol or whatever, that changes their hearts, so that part of our ministry, the personal testimony, is really important, too.” Above, physical representations of a baby at different stages of development. (Photo: Philip A. Janquart)  Michael Vanek, a campus minister and theology teacher at Archbishop Bergan Catholic School in Fremont, Nebraska, was deeply moved by the impact and depth of the presentation.   In a testimonial featured on the Heart of a Child Ministries website, Vanek wrote: “Heart of a Child Ministries gave the most positive and life-affirming presentation of the pro-life message I’ve ever seen. There was no condemning or judging of people—only compassion and a desire for all to be loved and supported as God wills. With joy and passion, Nikki … shared the reality that life begins at conception and emphasized the inherent value and dignity of every person.”   To date, Heart of a Child Ministries has sold 2,207 pillows, traveled 27,582 miles to give presentations and reached 30,103 students.   More presentations in Idaho Cindy Lange is a Holy Apostles parishioner, member of the parish’s Legion of Mary, ministry coordinator for Holy Apostles’ Respect Life ministry, and president of Choose Life Idaho. (Think of the pro-life license plate available to Idahoans through this successful campaign.) She was the primary force behind the effort to bring Heart of a Child Ministries to the state.   “I found Nikki through EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network), with their Pro-Life Weekly special,” she told the ICR . “It took two years and a lot of hard work, and it almost didn’t happen, but, you know, the Holy Spirit works in marvelous ways.”   Lange expressed an urgent need to convey the truth to all, especially children.   “We need to change the hearts of our youth, so they know the dignity of life; that from conception, that spark of life, is a human being created by God,” she said, articulating the critical value of education.   Claire Gauthier, also a member of Holy Apostles Respect Life, played an essential role in the effort to bring Heart of a Child Ministries to Idaho. She, too, emphasized the importance of conveying the pro-life message to younger generations.   “I really think the idea is to encourage children, who are innately pro-life,” she said. “Little kids love babies, and they love knowing there is a baby in mom’s belly. It’s important to solidify that, to keep that in their minds, so that when they get older, the culture doesn’t take over and tell them that it’s not a baby; it’s not a life; it’s not important. So, it’s to encourage that in children, to have them then go to their families and friends and nurture that culture of life.”   She noted that many volunteers made the June 22 presentations possible and expressed joy over their contributions.   Though it was the first in the Diocese of Boise, it won’t be the last.   Gauthier said that about five people within the diocese, including herself and Lange, have been busy training to deliver the presentations and arrange for live ultrasounds on their own.   “We have already done training via Zoom and have read all the materials, so this is really our hands-on training, to watch how these presentations go,” she said. “We will be certified educators and will be able to take this program to other parishes, churches of different denominations, youth groups or anyone who wants to have this, to spread the word of life while making it fun, accessible and easy.”   Gauthier said she has already received phone calls from other parishes, including St. Edward the Confessor in Twin Falls.   “They might be our first presentation; they are very, very excited to host us,” she said, adding that the burgeoning pro-life message in the United States has given her hope for the future while inspiring her to continue helping to spread that critical message of life.   For more information or to request a presentation at your parish or school, email Cindy or Claire at RespectLifeHA@gmail.com . FUN BABY FACTS: *Editor’s note: Development stages listed below are based on general timelines and can vary from pregnancy to pregnancy. Information is provided, in part, by babyolivia.liveaction.org .   ·         At fertilization – Baby’s gender, ethnicity, hair color and eye color and other traits are already determined. ·         Baby starts out as an embryo, but at 22 days, a heartbeat can be detected. ·         7 days  – Baby is implanting in mother’s uterus. ·         4 weeks  – Buds of arms and legs appear. ·         5-6 weeks  – Baby begins to move, with spontaneous and reflexive movements. ·         6 weeks  – Baby’s brain activity can be recorded, and bone formation begins. ·         7.5 weeks  – Baby can bring hands together, and separate fingers and toes emerge. Baby can also begin to hiccup. ·         9 weeks  – Baby will have grown from a single cell into almost 1 billion cells and is now called a fetus. ·         10 weeks  – Baby can suck thumb, swallow, grasp objects, sigh and stretch out in mother’s womb. ·         11 weeks  – Baby is playing in womb, moving body and exploring environment. ·         12 weeks  – Baby’s taste bud cells have matured, but are still scattered throughout mouth. ·         14-18 weeks  – Mother first senses baby’s movements, an event called “quickening.” ·         18 weeks  – Ultrasounds show speaking movements in voice box. ·         20 weeks  – With a lot of help, babies have survived outside the womb. ·         27 weeks  – Baby’s eyes respond to light and can recognize parents’ voices and even recognize lullabies and stories. ·         38 weeks  – Baby will signal to mother that it’s time for delivery.