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Jay Wonacott walks his daughter, Cathleen, down the aisle of St. Mark's Church in Boise on her wedding day. (Courtesy photo/Starr Photo & Video) By Jay Wonacott Director of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Boise On February 1, 2026, I joined the ranks of parents who have had a child marry. My second daughter, Cathleen, married Tyler Tackett at St. Mark’s Catholic Church. Wedding days are filled with so much excitement, and as her father, I wanted to take a lot of “mental pictures” of the key events. I can say that it was truly one of the best days of my life. I know it was for my daughter and her new husband. It was amazing seeing Cathleen in her gorgeous wedding dress. It takes hours for a bride to get ready — hair, makeup, the fuss over the dress — everything must be just right. For the groom, it is different! Upon arriving at the church a few minutes late, Tyler needed my help getting his necktie on and pinning a boutonniere to his suit. I have only daughters, so I got a small glimpse of what it might be like to have a son and of the differences between men and women when it comes to weddings (and maybe life, too). Father Caleb Vogel, vicar general for the Diocese of Boise, blesses Cathleen Wonacott and Tyler Tackett during their marriage vows. (Courtesy photo/Starr Photo & Video) From generation to generation I was particularly touched by the traditional “giving away” ceremony, where the father of the bride joins the hand of his daughter with the hand of the groom. With the congregation of friends and family looking towards the back of the Church, I accompanied Cathleen as we processed up the main aisle to the altar. We bowed, and then I shook Tyler’s hand and took Cathleen’s hand, and put it in Tyler’s. I stepped back as Cathleen and Tyler proceeded to the altar together. This symbolized the action of what the book of Genesis calls the “leaving” and “cleaving.” The couple, after exchanging vows, conceives a new family. They “leave” their families to “cleave” to one another. The exchange of their vows creates a union that God blesses with the gift of one another as a couple and with possibility and openness to new life—the next generation. As the father of the bride, it hit home very clearly that my daughter was now a woman entering into a covenantal bond with a man, which hopefully will bring about grandchildren. I was reminded of the words of Mary’s Magnificat: “His mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear [the Lord].” It is a wonderous thing to consider the goodness of life through the eyes of the newly made bride and groom , who become husband and wife, who are open to love and life that it might bring. From generation to generation, witnessing the marriage of a man and woman open to life brings hope to the whole human race. All of those gathered to hear Cathleen and Tyler exchange vows witnessed the fact that marriage is truly a social sacrament. Those gathered are those who will also support them in their life together. Following their vows and the blessing by Father Caleb Vogel, the newly pronounced "husband and wife," Mr. and Mrs. Tackett, kiss. (Courtesy photo/Starr Photo & Video) One of the false myths of our society (maybe call it the “Disney princess effect”) is that marriage, in the eyes of popular culture, is the “perfect” man and “perfect” woman, problem-free, with unrealistic romantic notions of love at the center of their lives. The truth is that marriage involves imperfect people, often with many problems, and the cross—a different meaning of love—is at the center of life as a Christian. The good news is that God pours out his blessings, especially in the support of friends and family to help support a couple in all the stages of married life. The union of hearts in marriage is also the union of families. This connection with past generations is exemplified in Tyler’s and Cathleen’s wedding rings. On the wedding program, we shared the history of their rings: “Tyler’s dad, Forest, passed away when Tyler was just 13 years old. When Cathleen and Tyler became engaged last year, Tyler’s mom, Bonnie, offered Forest’s wedding ring to him, to serve as a reminder of his dad’s presence in his life and in his marriage. Tyler happily accepted the offer, and it is his dad’s ring that he will accept from Cathleen today.” “Cathleen’s grandfather, Bill Molitor, passed away on February 1, 2018. Grandpa Bill was Cathleen’s godfather, so having her wedding on the anniversary of his death is a special privilege. Cathleen’s grandmother, MaryLou, asked Cathleen if she would like to have her wedding ring, since she no longer wore it. Now, wearing the ring given to her grandmother by her Grandpa Bill will be a forever reminder of their steadfast love and their enduring marriage.” Marriage advice from Dad During the reception celebration, I shared with Cathleen and Tyler some marriage advice that I got from one of Cathleen’s favorite sitcoms, The Office. In communicating with my children, I try to find examples in popular culture that make a meaningful point and, in this way, speak a love language that my daughters understand. Our family’s love language is quoting our favorite TV shows to one another. Cathleen and Tyler Tackett recess to the back of the church following their wedding ceremony. (Courtesy photo/Starr Photo & Video) One of my favorite episodes of The Office is the one when Jim Halpert and Pam Beasley get married. There is a scene where Jim and Pam are talking about how quickly the wedding day goes by. Pam shows Jim how to take a “mental picture” of the day, so they don’t forget the special moments. Using this scene as context, I shared this advice with Cathleen and Tyler. I encouraged them to take lots of mental pictures every day of their lives together. Capture mental pictures of moments wherever you encounter goodness, truth and beauty in persons, places or things. At the end of each day, as you lie in bed together and examine the events of your day, take another look at the mental pictures of those moments that brought meaning to your lives that day. Take mental pictures also of those first times and the last times. On top of all the firsts, which are usually filled with joy, there will be mental pictures of things that are difficult or hard to face—like the goodbye of a friend or death of a loved one. Sharing one beautiful insight that brought meaning to your life that day will greatly impact your marriage and bring you both happiness. You will use these mental pictures to build an album of memories that you can take with you into 10, 20, 30, 40 or even 50 years of marriage. From left, Emma Rose, Teresa, Lucy, and Mary Wonacott, Cathleen and Tyler Tackett, Michelle and Jay Wonacott are at St. Mark's Catholic Church. (Courtesy photo/Starr Photo & Video) I know that I took many mental pictures of this wedding day in our lives as a family. We truly are blessed to see the next generation marry and open themselves to a new adventure of life and love. Let us continue to support marriage in our culture and encourage young people, like Tyler and Cathleen, to say “yes” to married life and all the goodness it brings to every generation.

Kaitlyn Facista's new book is a book for all who want to journey in a closer relationship with Jesus and His Church. (Courtesy photo/Ave Maria Press) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer The popularity of J.R.R. Tolkien’s writing has inspired many authors over the years. It would seem that commentary on his rich fantasy world of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings has been exhausted. However, a new book by Kaitlyn Facista brings a fresh and uplifting look at the Catholic spirituality in Tolkien’s world. Into the Heart of Middle-earth: Exploring Faith and Fellowship in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings ( Ave Maria Press ) is being released at the end of February. Readers do not need to be hardcore, Elvish-speaking Tolkien fans to appreciate Into the Heart of Middle-earth. Facista does an excellent job explaining Tolkien’s world in the preface and introduction. For those who want to understand his world in more depth, Facista has provided several appendices in the back. Although some Tolkien fans border on snobbery, rejecting the movies and TV shows that have followed Tolkien’s “canon,” Facista has an approachable and open attitude to readers. Her blog, “ Tea with Tolkien ,” is a popular and welcoming online platform for Tolkien fans of all backgrounds, levels of interest and religious beliefs. In the preface of her book, she explains her own journey as a fan of Tolkien’s works and into the Catholic Church. Anyone with even a mild interest in Tolkien and only a cursory knowledge of his tales will find her book engaging. Her intention is to provide insights and food for thought into the Catholic spirituality and virtues of Middle-earth, and she achieves this beautifully. Her tone is one of encouragement and friendship. The first two chapters, “Establish Your Shire” and “Open the Door to Providence,” provide the groundwork for the rest of the book. These two chapters lay out the importance of daily formation. Using examples from life in the Shire (one of the two regions where hobbits live), Facista explains how everyday, ordinary habits prepare one for the journeys brought by Providence. Although Tolkien was a devout Catholic, he was careful not to write his books as explicitly religious or an allegory. However, Catholic truth is woven into his stories. Facista shows readers how Tolkien’s ideas on formation are not so much in having second breakfast, gardening or indulging in teatime, but come from practicing Catholic virtues and values even when no one is looking. The following 12 chapters delve into Catholic spirituality beginning with “Discover the Little Way to Let Go of Your ‘Ring.’” Facista uses examples from different characters and stories to explore virtues such as mercy, hope and wisdom. Woven throughout, she approaches the difficulty of Fate and the free will of characters. Tolkien’s view of Fate in his book was based on his Catholic view of Providence (as opposed to a predestined or fatalistic view). Time and again, the characters make their choices through virtues that they have formed over time. Providence has brought the opportunity to them, but the characters must choose. Their choices come from what they have cultivated in their lives. Facista includes questions at the end of each chapter, with the heading “The Road Goes On,” to help readers consider how to apply the virtues and values of Middle-earth to their own lives. These questions could be used in a group setting, such as in a prayer group, or by individuals as journal prompts. The amount of research Facista did to write the book shows from beginning to end. She is able to take complex theological ideas and problems (such as the Eucharist and suffering) and explain them through Tolkien’s books with ease. It is often said that one does not understand a subject unless one can explain it to a child. It is clear that Facista knows Tolkien, his works and Catholic beliefs well. She writes without talking down to her audience with long, overdrawn explanations. She also writes without oversimplifying ideas to the point of being trite. This book is an excellent choice for teenagers and older. Author Kaitlyn Facista The Idaho Catholic Register reached out to Kaitlyn Facista with some questions about her work: You put so much research into this book. Are you working on a graduate degree in literature and Tolkien? I would love to do something like that someday! For now, this is something I enjoy in my free time. I’ve learned so much! But perhaps I could go back to school someday when my children are older. You point out Tolkien’s love of St. Thomas Aquinas and his metaphysics. How has this understanding of metaphysics through Tolkien impacted your faith journey? I’ve found that Tolkien’s works can almost serve as an introduction to philosophy and metaphysics in an approachable and applicable way. While I’ll admit that I find the great teachers of our Church history like Aquinas very intimidating, I’ve discovered that a lot of underlying yet more complex principles have become much easier for me to grasp after becoming so familiar with Tolkien. So it’s almost as if Tolkien’s works have been a bridge into a deeper understanding of my own faith - quite unexpectedly. You emphasized that though Fate/Providence bring opportunities, Tolkien’s characters still have free will and must make a choice. How do you think this would change the story if there was no free will? A world without free will is Sauron’s endgame. So, to put it plainly, the story would’ve been over before it even began. Tolkien places an emphasis on his heroic characters freely choosing good, while at the same time, his villains freely choose their own descents into evil. Nothing is created evil, and so to become evil is a choice. It’s in this choice that the story lives. You mention the circumstances that impacted Tolkien’s formation, including his connection to St. John Henry Newman through the Brompton Oratory. What have you found most helpful in your own formation and/or in the formation of your family? The simplest thing that we’ve done is trying to center our lives around our church community, whether that’s as simple as attending Mass at the same time every week, participating in as many church events as we can, or even taking on volunteer responsibilities. In a culture that is often so disconnected from one another, I’ve found that fully committing to my own parish has really cemented both a sense of belonging and of duty.

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).

Students lead the procession at the Treasure Valley All Schools Mass at St. Mark's Church in Boise. (ICR photo/(ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Across Idaho, more than 4,000 students in 16 Catholic schools celebrated Catholic Schools Week, from Jan. 25 to Jan. 31. Catholic Schools Week is promoted by the National Catholic Educational Association and has been celebrated nationally since 1974. The week is meant to highlight the importance of Catholic education in the life of the Church. “I want to give thanks during this Catholic Schools Week to all of our educators, administrators and families who understand that Catholic schools are not called to be a mirror of culture, but to evangelize in what they’re doing,” said Bishop Peter Christensen during his homily at the All Schools Mass in Boise on Jan. 28. “Catholic schools vangelize in teaching and presenting the fullness of the faith in clarity and charity. As a result, we’ll be helping the world around us to be set free.” Bishop Peter is with Caleb Welp, a third grade student at St. Mark’s School. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez) More than 1,700 students, faculty and staff attended the Diocese of Boise Treasure Valley All Schools Mass at St. Mark’s Church in Boise on Jan. 28, the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the patron saints of Catholic education. Bishop Kelly High School, St. Mark’s, St. Joseph’s, St. Mary’s, Sacred Heart Schools in Boise, St. Ignatius School in Meridian, and St. Paul’s School in Nampa attended or had representatives at the Mass. “Our world needs the wisdom Christ offers,” Bishop Peter said at the Mass. “We take that gift, in our schooling, in our faith and in our families, and take it to our heart, and live that as Jesus asked.” The Gospel reading was from Luke 2:41-52, when Mary and Joseph lost Jesus and found him in the Temple. “Jesus, at the young age of 12, teaches us what we must do for wisdom and where to go” Bishop Peter explained. “Go to your Heavenly Father, you will learn truth for your lives and that which is most important within your life. “My brothers and sisters, wisdom comes from God and spending time with God in our own private prayer, communal prayer, in being obedient to his commandments, and living as he desires us to live. Seeking God’s presence in our life is where it all begins.” Young students pray during the All Schools Mass. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez) We are blessed, he continued, because “Jesus never tires of giving himself from birth to death. He gives himself today in the Eucharist. He gives himself in the power of his Holy Spirit. All truth, all goodness, all love, all wisdom come through Jesus.” Father Germán Osorio, rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist and of St. Joseph’s School in Boise, and Father Vitalis Onyeama, SMMM, pastor at Holy Apostles and St. Ignatius School in Meridian, concelebrated the Mass. Deacon Don Blythe and Deacon Peter Lauder, both at St. Mark’s, assisted. A young student from St. Joseph’s School in Boise receives communion from Father Vitalis Onyeama, SMMM, pastor at Holy Apostles Parish and St. Ignatius School in Meridian. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez) At the end of the Mass, Bishop Peter thanked Tammy Emerich, superintendent of Catholic schools, and Christina Linder, assistant superintendent, for their work and dedication. The bishop asked all principals, administrators and teachers to stand for a special prayer and blessing. Catholic schools throughout the diocese celebrated each day of the week with daily themes and activities that highlighted vocations, the saints, parish life and community life.

Members of the Treasure Valley Teens for Life present the gifts during the offertory to Bishop Peter Christensen and Father Germán Osorio, rector at the Cathedral. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer The needs of the world are numerous, and none is more pressing than protecting the dignity of human life. “There’s a great deal more healing that needs to take place in our world at this time,” Bishop Peter Christensen said in his homily for the Mass for Life on Jan. 24 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise. More than 600 attended. “Our world needs greater peace, hope, unity and love,” he said. “Our world needs prayer. We pray especially for the protection and the respect of all human life, for each and every life is precious in the eyes of God.” More than 600 attended the Mass for Life. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) Although the world is struggling with so many things, there is also a movement of renewed faith, Bishop Peter continued. “Something is going on in our world. There’s a darkness that I haven’t seen before in 73 years of life, but there’s also a light that is coming,” he said with encouragement. This light is a renewal of faith, which is a sign that “a new day is dawning,” Bishop Peter said, adding that at the Cathedral, a record number of 120 people are preparing to enter the Church on Easter Vigil through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). St. Paul’s Student Center at Boise State also has the most they have seen in OCIA in its history. They have 35 people who are planning to become Catholic this Easter. This renewal of faith “is happening all over the country, all over the world.” “However, many people remain who have been numbed by a mundane and hopeless understanding of life, in which life holds little value,” Bishop Peter explained. “They see this life on a two-dimensional level without much purpose or value. Each of us needs to be courageous in spreading the news of the Kingdom of God among us.” It is through spreading the Gospel that people “will come to see their own value as created in the image and likeness of God, that the God of the entire universe is their loving Father,” he continued. “If people truly value their lives as unique and precious in the eyes of God, they would never even consider taking the life of another.” Sharing a story from his time in seminary, Bishop Peter highlighted the importance of considering what is truly worth dying for. When he was struggling with several difficulties at seminary, he went to speak to his pastor about the things that were bothering him. His pastor told him: “Peter, not everything in life is worth laying down your life for. Can you name just a few? Those things you have strong conviction about. Think about it.” After considering the question, Bishop Peter realized he was willing to lay down his life for the protection of human life and for the Eucharist. Bishop Peter greets Zane and Isabelle Pulver, who presented roses to the Blessed Virgin Mary. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) "I believe a child in the womb is a human being, needing protection in life,” he said. “I’m also convinced of the importance of the Eucharist. I saw then, as I do now, that the Eucharist is our faith in Jesus Christ and his Church. The Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ. It is the faith of the Church that Jesus is here. I would lay my life down for that.” Bishop Peter asked the congregation to consider the same question. “What is the most important thing in your life that you would lay down your life for it? You can think about them in the days to come. Being focused on just two has helped me to be a lot less petty– that was brilliant of my pastor. Stop worrying about the little things. You’re giving way too much energy to those things that don’t matter. What really matters? What would you give your life for?” Bishop Peter used the life of St. Peter, who gave his life for Christ and the Church, to illustrate the power of God’s love to transform us and the world. In the Gospel reading from John 21:15-19, the Risen Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. The first two times, Jesus uses the Greek word agape for love. Agape means a sacrificial, unconditional love. Peter says he does love Jesus, but each time he replies with phileo. Phileo means a friendly, brotherly love between people who have similar interests. The third time that Jesus asks Peter, he uses phileo, just as Peter used. “Jesus has switched it up,” Bishop Peter said. “Jesus never rejects Peter’s love. He’ll take the love he has to offer and grow it into agape love over time, as he does with each of us.” Although Peter confessed only a phileo love for Jesus each of the three times he was asked, Jesus ended each exchange with commands: “Feed my lambs,” Tend my sheep,” and “Feed my sheep.” He entrusted Peter with care for the Church, knowing that at Pentecost Peter’s love would be transformed. “Just 50 days after the Resurrection, the disciples are gathered back in the upper room, and the Holy Spirit is poured down upon them. It is at this point filled with the Holy Spirit that Peter is also filled with agape love for Jesus. Peter is no longer afraid. He’s no longer guarded, calculating his relationship with Jesus. He’s all in.” Peter immediately preached the Gospel to the crowd of thousands that were gathering near the apostles after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Because of Peter’s courageous witness, about 3,000 were baptized that day. “What happened to the betrayer? Peter figured out how much the Lord really truly loved him. Peter takes the grace of that love and incorporates it into his own mind and heart and being. Peter, is ready with agape love for the Lord, that unconditional, selfless, sacrificial love, a love that is willing to give all of one’s self for the other, which Peter certainly did.” Bishop Peter gives the final blessing at the Life Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) “We need to be courageous in spreading the Good News of our Lord’s agape love for others, by our words and our actions,” Bishop Peter continued. “If we do so, abortion will be no more.” “Let us follow Jesus above all else, for Jesus truly is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. May we join his mission, may we follow Him. The Lord hears our prayers. He hears you; he knows your heart; he loves you; he’s with you. Do not be afraid. He will direct you to all that is right and true.”

By Jay Wonacott Director of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Boise with Jim Otremba, M.Div, M.S., LICSW Writer’s note: Many faithful Catholics in our Diocese find themselves caught in a cycle of “survival mode”—juggling the demands of growing families, the pressures of work, and an ever-increasing sense of anxiety. I had the opportunity to speak with Jim Otremba—a licensed therapist and a frequent voice on Relevant Radio—to discuss part of the solution: the upcoming virtual retreat, “Naming & Taming Anxiety and Negative Stress,” which begins March 3. Jay Wonacott: Jim, we are so pleased to bring you to the people of the Diocese of Boise again, even if it is virtually. You and your wife, Maureen, were here in the fall of 2024 to lead a marriage retreat. I know many people who love God and love the Church, but they are absolutely exhausted. They feel guilty that they aren’t “joyful” enough. Why do you think so many faithful Catholics struggle with this? Jim Otremba: Jay, it’s a pleasure to be with you. You hit on a major pain point right away: the “guilt of the stressed Catholic.” We often tell ourselves, “If I just trusted God more, I wouldn’t feel this way.” But that’s a misunderstanding of how God designed our bodies. Anxiety isn’t a lack of faith; often, it’s a nervous system that has been stuck on “high alert” for too long. Whether it’s the high cost of living, the pressures of parenting in a digital age or personal wounds, our brains get wired for survival. When we are in survival mode, we can’t be fully present to our spouse, our children or even the Holy Spirit. We end up “time-a-ciding”—killing our time with worry instead of living in the peace Christ promised. Jay: You’ve been a therapist for nearly three decades. What makes this retreat different from a standard secular stress-management course or a typical parish mission? Jim: It’s a “whole-person” approach. Most secular programs focus only on the brain, and some spiritual retreats focus only on the soul. But God created us as a unity of body and spirit. This retreat bridges 21st-century brain science with the timeless truths of our Catholic faith. We aren’t just “sprinkling Bible verses” on top of self-help. We are inviting Christ into the very biology of our stress. For example, in Week 2 of our four-week program, we look at the Gospel of John alongside brain biology to understand how to rewire our response to triggers. We use the tools God gave us—both scientific and spiritual—to move from chronic stress to Christ-centered calm. Jay Wonacot Jay: Let’s talk about the structure. It’s a four-week journey starting March 3, 2026. What can a busy dad or a stressed-out mom expect when they log onto Zoom each Tuesday night? Jim: I designed this to be “Maximum Engagement, Minimum Stress.” I know people are tired, so I don’t want to give them more “homework.” Here’s the four-week schedule. • Week 1: Name It to Tame It We use validated tools like the GAD-7 to see where you actually are. We look at the roots of your anxiety and start using Gospel-based self-talk to stop the cycle of negative thoughts. We also jump right into other interventions that will help your stress today. • Week 2: Rewire Your Response This is where we learn about the nervous system. We practice the “Prayerful Choice”—a specific way to shift from a state of panic to a state of virtue. • Week 3: Anchor Your Heart We dive into the “forgiveness fundamentals.” Unresolved wounds are often the fuel for anxiety. We also practice Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) to help the body physically let go of tension. • Week 4: Create a New Rhythm Finally, we build your “Rhythm of Peace.” This ensures that when the retreat ends, the transformation continues. Jay: I appreciate the fact that you use the terms “Gospel-based self-talk.” I think many of us are our own worst critics. We wouldn’t talk to a friend the way we talk to ourselves. God doesn’t speak to us this way either. Jim Otremba,  M.Div, M.S., LICSW  Jim: Exactly. One of our past participants, Colleen, mentioned she struggled with perfectionism. She learned that “little changes make positive differences” and that it’s okay not to do it all perfectly. That is the Holy Spirit at work. We replace the “garbage self-talk” with God’s Word. When you do that, your brain biology actually begins to change. Jay: You’ve helped thousands of couples throughout the U.S. through the Fully Engaged marriage prep program. How does this retreat impact marriages and parenting? Jim: It’s transformative. One mother who took the class mentioned she signed up because of her 11-year-old son who was struggling. After she started using the Catholic meditation that I teach and calming tools she learned in the first session, they went eight school mornings in a row without a panic attack! When a parent or spouse learns to “tame” their own anxiety, it changes the entire atmosphere of the home. You become “available” to the Holy Spirit and to your family again. You move from reacting to your children to responding to them with the gentleness of Christ. Jay: I know that some can be skeptical of “virtual” retreats. They wonder if they can really connect or get their questions answered through a screen. How do you handle that? Jim: Every session is live. This isn’t a pre-recorded video series. We spend 45 minutes on active skill-building—we actually fill out the handouts together—and then we have 15 minutes of dedicated, live Q&A. I am there with all the participants. Plus, if someone signs up before February 24, he will get the “Early-Bird” bonuses, which include two months access to unedited retreat recordings, and two months of email follow-up from me to help him integrate these habits. Jay: Jim, for the exhausted person who is reading this right now, feeling like they are just barely treading water, what is your message to them? Jim: My message is: You were not created to simply survive. God wants you to thrive in your vocation. Whether you are struggling with work stress, sleep issues or a constant “hum” of worry, there is a way out. I have seen patterns that work in my 28 years of clinical practice, and I’ve seen the power of the Holy Spirit move in ways science can’t explain. This retreat is a safe, Spirit-led environment where you can finally get the tools you need. It’s $97 for the whole four weeks—that’s about $25 a session. It is an investment in your mental health and your spiritual life that will pay dividends for your family for years to come. Space is limited, so register today. I truly believe this is going to be a blessing for the Diocese of Boise. To register, visit lowermyanxiety.com . Retreat Details at a Glance • What: Naming & Taming Anxiety and Negative Stress (a 4-Week Virtual Retreat) • When: Tuesdays: March 3, 10, 17, & 24, 2026 • Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM MST (Boise time) • Where: Live on Zoom (flexible replays available) • Cost: $97.00 total (less than $25.00 per session). • Early-Bird Deadline: Register by Feb. 24, 2026, for free recordings and email follow-up support. • Limited Space: Register today. Register here: www.lowermyanxiety.com

At right, from left, Natasha Mwiinga, Chloe Hey, Alexis Scott and Vanessa Gamero show their support for the sanctity of human life. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Idaho is often considered one of the most pro-life states in the country. It’s Defense of Life Act and heartbeat laws protect the most vulnerable of society– preborn babies. However, preborn babies will not be protected at all if the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act (RFPA), currently a ballot initiative, is voted into law. The RFPA was the focus of this year’s Boise March for Life. The march was presented by Right to Life of Idaho (RTLI) on Jan. 24. More than 2,500 marched from Julia Davis Park in downtown Boise, according to Emily Naugle, president of RTLI. The march ended at the Capitol steps for a rally with singing, prayer and speakers. More than 2,500 walked from Julia David Park in downtown Boise to the State Capitol steps in the Boise March for Life, organized by Right to Life of Idaho. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) If the initiative passes, Idaho will no longer be the most pro-life state, said Matt Britton, keynote speaker at the rally. Britton, board ex-officio and general counsel for 40 Days for Life, is an attorney who has served in public office for four terms. He is an international speaker and commentator on pro-life issues. Everywhere at all times, abortion is homicide, Britton said. However, currently in Idaho, abortion is truly murder, because “murder” is a legal term. “You are facing an existential crisis with this constitutional amendment,” he continued. “Abortion will go from ‘being murdered’ to being a woman’s right.” Matt Britton was the keynote speaker at the Boise March for Life rally. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) Abortion is construed as helping women. “An abortion minded woman believes the lies that abortion will make her life better. Ask any woman who’s had an abortion: If they’re uneducated, did they come out [of the abortion clinic] with a PhD? If they’re homeless, do they come out with a home? If they are poor, did they come out with money? If they’re being abused and beaten, do they get away from their abuser after they come out? Abortion solves no problems. It’s never solved a problem. And it sends a woman home alone, bleeding.” Although protecting the unborn through good, life-affirming laws is important, ultimately what is needed is to change hearts to be pro-life. “When no woman wants an abortion, It won’t matter how bad our laws are,” he said. “Support Her, Protect Them” was this year’s pro-life theme. Pregnancy care centers are a main resource for supporting pregnant mothers in Idaho, Naugle said at the rally. “Idaho has 25 pregnancy resource centers to help women in crisis pregnancies. They offer emotional as well as material support. They just love on these moms, walking with them step by step during this very vulnerable time.” Although Idaho is protecting babies with its laws, with the RFPA ballot initiative “a storm is coming,” Naugle continued. “2026 is going to be a critical year for the pro-life movement in Idaho,” she said. Naugle presented the RTLI 2026 Pro-life Warrior Award to Blaine Conzatti, president of the Idaho Family Policy Center. Emily Naugle, president of Right to Life of Idaho, speaks to the crowd from the Capitol steps. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) “Blaine has been relentless in his pursuit to protect and defend the unborn,” Naugle said. “He has an established, proven track record of achievements in the family policy movement, including successfully drafting and championing the Heartbeat Bill, the No Public Funds for Abortion Act, and the Children’s School and Library Protection Act. All this work takes strength, strategy, and a servant’s heart.” Megan Wold, attorney and lobbyist, presented the legislative update for RTLI and addressed the misinformation from proponents of the RFPA ballot initiative at the rally. “The Idaho Supreme Court has made it clear that a woman does not need to be in imminent risk of death for a doctor to act,” she said. “But unfortunately we hear misinformation about Idaho’s laws. They say that doctors can’t practice medicine here or that they must transfer women out of state in medical emergencies. And that is not true.” Proponents of RFPA, she explained, are using misinformation to trigger empathy in voters and convince them to make abortion legal in Idaho. “This misinformation is also politicizing the relationship between women and their doctors and interfering with women’s care,” she continued. “Women are the victims of this misinformation.” Bishop Peter Christensen, Bishop of Boise, gave the convocation prayer and blessing. He affirmed Naugle’s feeling that a storm is coming with the ballot initiative. “It’s going to be a tough one,” he said. “But the good news is that we’re going to get through it.” Bishop Peter Christensen, Bishop of Boise, gave the convocation prayer and blessing at the rally. (ICR photo/Emily Woodham) Bishop Peter told the story of Jesus calming the storm, from the Gospel of St. Luke, chapter 8: the apostles and Jesus were sailing on Lake Galilee when a furious storm caused waves to break over their bow. Jesus was asleep during the storm, while the apostles feared for their lives. When they wake up, he asks, “Where’s your faith?” And then he calmed the wind and the waves, and there was peace. “The apostles marveled at this. Jesus was with them, and he is with us,” Bishop Peter said. God also encourages us, he explained, as he encouraged the Old Testament prophet Daniel. “The Lord speaks to him and says, ‘Daniel, fear not, beloved, you are safe. Take courage and be strong,’” Bishop Peter continued. “I want us to take that to our hearts. ‘Take courage’— I love that because I’d rather take the Lord’s courage than rely on my own. Take courage, and use it.” He then quoted St. Francis de Sales, whose feast day was the day of the March for Life: “We shall steer safely through every storm, so long as our heart is right, our intentions fervent, our courage steadfast and our trust fixed on God.” Visit rtli.org for more information.

Lauren and Mike Trana with their six children. “We want to keep family first,” Lauren said. (ICR photos/Joe Egbert) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Lauren and Mike Trana did not have an elaborate business plan when they got married in 2009. However, their family business, River Valley Auto Repair, has stayed successful through economic downturns, a pandemic and all the unpredictability of raising a family of six children. “We’ve always been of the mindset to do what’s best for the family,” Lauren Trana said. “We’ve made our decisions through prayer and discernment.” Mike and Lauren met in 2007 although their paths had crossed years before. They both attended Holy Spirit Parish in Meridian, which eventually consolidated with St. Matthew’s Parish in Eagle to form Holy Apostles Parish in north Meridian. They both attended Bishop Kelly High School in Boise, but because Mike was five years older, they were never on campus at the same time. After high school, they both left the Catholic faith. “We met in a recovery group with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Mike was already involved again with the Church, but I had just come back to the faith. We got to know each other doing charitable work together,” Lauren said. They started dating at the beginning of 2008. “Mike went to daily Mass at Holy Apostles and was really active in the church. We talked a lot about the faith,” she explained. During that time, Mike was studying the Theology of the Body by Pope St. John Paul II through books by author and speaker Christopher West. “I would read Christopher West’s books in Adoration and really pray about how to apply Theology of the Body to my life,” Lauren continued. “Mike and I talked a lot about Theology of the Body before we got married.” Just months after they began dating, Mike was laid off, and decided to start his own auto repair business, Michael’s Mobile Autoservice. “He would go to people’s houses to repair their cars. Because he knew so many people from daily Mass, he never needed to advertise. He also helped people in AA with their cars so they could keep going to work. He did a lot for people who were trying to get their lives back on track. Even though the economy was really bad at that time, he always had business.” Lauren and Mike Trana at the new location for their business, River Valley Auto Repair. (ICR photo/Joe Egbert) But continuing in auto repair was not what Mike envisioned for the rest of his life. After the couple married at Holy Apostles on August 15, 2009, he went to Boise State to pursue a degree in counseling. “He loves helping people, and he’s really good with academics. So, he had no trouble taking classes while keeping up with his business,” Lauren said. Lauren became pregnant on their honeymoon. Because of her severe morning sickness, she had to quit her job. “After Miryana was born, I just knew my calling was to be a stay-at-home mom,” she said. “Mike totally supported that calling. He looked me in the eye, told me not to worry about it, and that we would make it work.” Mike went back to work for the powerline company after their first child, Miryana, was born. “He really wanted to provide well for our family, but he had to travel a lot. The powerline company had fleets in different states, including Kansas and Texas. So, he was gone a lot.” Lauren began having complications during her third pregnancy in 2013. “It was then that we decided it wasn’t worth it to have Mike work for a large corporation,” she said. “It just wasn’t good for the family for him to be gone so much. So, we opened Trana’s Garage.” They used property near his parents’ house in Meridian to set up shop for his auto repair business. Around that time, they found a larger home for their growing family in Boise and joined St. Mark’s Parish. They tried to sell their property in Meridian, but each time it fell through. Mike continued his work at his garage in Meridian. He also decided to pursue a degree in counseling again at Boise State. Although he did well in his classes, he discerned that God wanted him to be involved in his work as a mechanic. “People often just open up to him about things while they’re hanging out at the shop waiting for their car,” Lauren said. “He really listens to them.” At the beginning of 2025, the company had grown so much that they needed to move. “It was definitely a God-thing when we found the building in Boise for our business,” she explained. “We really needed to move; Mike had more work than he could do on his own. Every now and then, he would hire someone to help him, but the garage in Meridian was too small to have more than one employee. So, we rebranded as ‘River Valley Auto Repair,’ and we found a new garage in March in Boise.” They now have three mechanics and the space to work on more than one car at a time. Lauren also works part-time as the office manager. “Mike goes above and beyond to help customers with their cars. He still works on cars even though he’s a supervisor, but it’s so nice because the business isn’t completely dependent on him now. It gives him more freedom.” The arrangement has given Mike more time with family. “Our oldest is at Bishop Kelly now,” Lauren explained. “We are homeschooling our five other kids through a co-op, St. Benedict’s Academy in Eagle. The time just flies by, and we want to keep family first.” For more information about River Valley Auto Repair, visit rivervalleyautorepair.com .

By Tish O’Hagan Worship Director Diocese of Boise   The Church has two liturgical seasons whose main purpose is to prepare us for our great feast days — Christmas and Easter — and both seasons have a twofold nature. Advent is both eschatological (looking forward to the end times) and rooted in the coming celebration of the birth of Christ (looking backward to, and celebrating, a profound event in the history of salvation).   Lent, the season we are about to enter, is a season of repentance and baptism: “…the Lenten liturgy prepares for celebration of the Paschal Mystery both catechumens, by the various stages of Christian initiation, and the faithful, who recall their own Baptism and do penance” ( Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Calendar , No. 27).   In keeping with the emphasis on penance, during Lent the Church is vested in purple. Music is muted, and there should be no flowers in the sanctuary (nor any other unnecessary decor, such as elaborate displays meant to represent a “desert” time of the soul). At Mass, there is no Gloria, and the Alleluia is not sung or said.   Nonetheless, Lent is at its root an optimistic season (the word Lent comes from an old Anglo-Saxon word for springtime, the most optimistic time of year). For those anticipating baptism at Easter, Lent is the initiation period into a life of grace as a Christian.   Meanwhile, we, the already baptized, are called to deepen our commitment to this life of grace through acts of charity and atonement that hopefully reflect more than surface asceticism. These acts acknowledge a collaboration with God that began with our own baptism, a collaboration in which we willingly take on the aspects and obligations of Christian life that are clearly delineated in the Gospels.   Lenten liturgies are also a communal summons to enter this collaboration. We celebrate the scrutinies along with those about to be baptized. The readings on the Sundays of Lent speak of transformation, resurrection and the complicated history of God’s relationship with his children. We fast and pray, spiritually accompanying the catechumens as they prepare to become new creations in Christ.  Lent’s twofold nature springs from our fallen human nature — born to sin and repent, to be saved and exalt. Through our participation in the Paschal mystery, in our observance of the rites and character of this liturgical season, and in our accompaniment of the catechumenate, we encounter the ever-unfolding, ongoing Christian story.   Our Lenten liturgies acknowledge in a particular way that our salvation is rooted in the mercy of God, whose abundant love provides the reparation we ourselves cannot provide. We recognize that we have entered into divine life with God, and we pray for those about to undergo that same transformation at Easter. We see that this new life springs into being not in isolation, but in the body of Christ, which is the Church.   Lenten Observances and Guidelines Lent begins Feb. 18, on Ash Wednesday, and runs until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday (April 2).   The faithful support those preparing for baptism at Easter and undergo their own conversion process through the three spiritual disciplines of Lent: penance, almsgiving and prayer. Catholics are encouraged to observe the season by attending Lenten services such as the Stations of the Cross; by “fasting from” particular habits and indulgences; by cultivating additional practices of prayer and service; and by being deliberate in their almsgiving. It is also recommended that Catholics receive the sacrament of reconciliation before Easter.   • Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. • For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 through age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together do not equal a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding on members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onward. • If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the “paschal fast,” to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus and to prepare to share more fully in the celebration of his resurrection. • Those excused from fasting and abstinence outside the age limits include the physically or mentally ill, including individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes, as well as pregnant or nursing women. In all cases, common sense should prevail, and ill persons should not further jeopardize their health by fasting.

Over 70,000 signatures needed to qualify for Nov. 2026 election Thousands participated in the 2026 March for Life and rally at the Capitol building on Saturday, March 24. Speaker Blaine Conzatti and keynote speaker Matt Britton urged the public to education themselves on the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act (RFPA), which seeks to legalize abortion and sex change surgeries for minors. (ICR photo/Philip A. Janquart) By Philip A. Janquart ICR Editor   An abortion rights group is proposing a ballot measure that would privatize abortion decisions, overriding Idaho’s pro-life laws and effectively dismantling decades of legislative work, according to the pro-life organization Right to Life of Idaho (RTLI).   Boise-based Idahoans United for Women & Families (IUWF) is proposing the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act (RFPA), which the group wants added to the Nov. 3, 2026, election ballot.   Supporters have until April 30 to submit the 71,000 signatures, or 6% of registered voters in 18 of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts, required for the initiative to be added to the ballot.   “A storm is coming,” said Right to Life of Idaho President Emily Naugle at the Jan. 24 March for Life rally at the steps of the Capitol building in downtown Boise. This year’s theme was “Support Her, Protect Them.”   “Just like the Gospel of Luke, we know that we don’t need to panic, but we do need to be sure that Jesus is awake in the boat,” she said, noting that prayer and educating others are the keys to preparing for that storm.   Blaine Conzatti was one of the speakers at the Jan. 24 March for Life, winning the “2026 Pro-life Warrior Award.” He emphasized that the initiative is “too extreme for Idaho,” and encouraged supporters to visit tooextremeforidaho.com . The online home for the Decline to Sign campaign seeks to educate the public about the RFPA, specifically what it would mean for pro-life laws in Idaho and how it would affect women, minors and the preborn.   “According to a poll released just a few days ago by Boise State University, if the election were held today, about 60% — that’s six-zero — of Idaho voters would support this ballot initiative,” he said, addressing a crowd of about 2,500 pro-life supporters, an increase in attendance of about 500 over the 2024 event.   Conzatti is the president of the Idaho Family Policy Center and drafted and championed the Heartbeat Bill, the No Public Funds for Abortion Act and the Children’s School and Library Act, among other notable contributions to the pro-life cause.   “Ballot initiative supporters have already raised $1 million, and we expect them to raise millions more … so, more likely than not, they are going to get this on the ballot, and we’ve got our work cut out for us,” he said.   If the RFPA is added to the Nov. 3 ballot, Idahoans will vote on a proposed measure that asserts women have the “right to make decisions about their own bodies,” paving the way for them “to make private reproductive health care decisions, including abortion up to fetal viability and in medical emergencies,” IUWF stated in a certificate of review submitted to Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane on Nov. 21, 2024.   Brian Conzatti speaks at the Jan. 24, 2026 March for Life.  (ICR photo/Emily Woodham)  “Up to fetal viability” typically means the point at which a baby can survive outside its mother’s womb, or 23-24 weeks’ gestation. But the act redefines “fetal viability” as the “significant likelihood” of survival without “extraordinary measures,” according to RTLI. This could extend legal abortion in the third trimester.   “The Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act recognizes that reproductive health care choices — such as the use of contraception, fertility treatments, childbirth care, miscarriage care, the decision to continue one’s own pregnancy and abortion — are deeply private matters that should be decided by a person in consultation with their health care provider,” according to IUWF’s statement of purpose, which adds that women and their health care providers should not be subjected to external pressures, punitive consequences or government interference.   Conzatti said the RFPA is about more than “reproductive rights.” “If you thought this was just about abortion, it’s not: this ballot initiative would even establish a statutory right for minor children to undergo sex-change surgeries behind the backs of parents,” he said, pointing to what he described as a real-world struggle between good and evil, which is sure to culminate in eternal consequences.   “Right now, these children do not have voices to advocate for themselves,” Conzatti said. “One day, each of us will give an account to God for how we stewarded the opportunities he entrusted to us. We must earnestly desire to defend the preborn with all the strength that God has given us.   “It’s my prayer that God will use you in mighty ways to defeat this attack on preborn life, women and families in our state … we still have a long way to go, especially with the black-market chemical abortion pills that are flooding into our state. The biggest fight is still ahead of us.”   Fellow keynote speaker Matt Britton said Idaho, as a leading pro-life state with robust pro-life laws, faces an existential threat, stating that abortion is never health care, but rather an intent to end life, making it “homicide, not a constitutional right.” Matt Britton speaks at the Jan. 24, 2026 March for Life.  (ICR photo/Emily Woodham)    “Abortion never saves a life,” he said. “The definition is taking the life of an unborn child. That is the definition of an abortion in every medical textbook on earth … it causes death.”   Britton has had an expansive legal career, including four terms as an elected prosecutor, county attorney and counsel to many nonprofits in the U.S. He is a major law firm litigator and general counsel. He has written and spoken on a range of legal and pro-life issues across the U.S., Europe, Asia and South America. He leads the Institute of Law and Justice, a special project of 40 Days for Life, in protecting American freedoms as pro-life supporters and the unborn across the country.   (Visit 40daysforlife.com for more information on a campaign whose slogan is “The beginning of the end of abortion.”)   He lauded Idaho’s partial-birth abortion ban, restrictions on abortion pills and various bills that have made the state consistently pro-life, a distinction, he said, that is rare among other U.S. states.   Britton noted that 100,000 babies are aborted in the U.S. every month.   “We talk about the drug epidemic and the people dying. Do you know how many people die of drugs in America every year … 100,000,” he said. “We’ve turned the entire country upside down, and every death is a tragedy. Every early death is a tragedy.”   Like Conzatti, Britton said there will be eternal consequences.   “You are facing an existential crisis (in Idaho) with this constitutional amendment,” he said. “It will go from being murder to being a woman’s right. Every embryology textbook on earth says life begins at conception, and we are all made in the image of God. We will be judged as a society on how we treat the most vulnerable among us.”   For more information about Right to Life of Idaho, visit rtli.org .

De izquierda a derecha: Ralph May, director ejecutivo de SVdP Southwest; Rigo González Jr., tesorero; Carolina Carachuri, secretaria; Memo Gutiérrez, vicepresidente; Guadalupe Rodríguez, presidenta; Becky Swartz, presidenta del Consejo; y Cathy Hagadone, tesorera del Consejo, durante la instalación del comité de la recién establecida Conferencia Hispana. (ICR foto/Vero Gutiérrez) Vero Gutiérrez Editora Asistente Desde el espíritu de su fundador, Federico Ozanam, y la inspiración de su santo patrón, San Vicente de Paúl, se iniciaron las primeras reuniones formales, en las que quedó legalmente constituido el comité para la Primera Conferencia Hispana, cuya misión será brindar atención personal a las familias más necesitadas de habla hispana en esta región del Estado. El nombre de la Conferencia es Espíritu Santo y su primer comité quedó integrado por Guadalupe Rodríguez, presidenta de la Conferencia, Memo Gutiérrez, vicepresidente, Carolina Carachuri, secretaria, y Rigo González, Jr. Tesorero. “Una red de amigos, inspirados por los valores del Evangelio, para crecer en santidad y construir un mundo más justo a través de las relaciones personales y el servicio a las personas en necesidad”. Es la misión de la espiritualidad vicentina que ahora este nuevo grupo que conforman la Primera Conferencia Hispana están llamados a hacer realidad en su comunidad. Los integrantes de la Conferencia Hispana avanzan cumpliendo con cada uno de los requisitos de la Sociedad de San Vicente de Paúl, como paso previo al inicio de su labor de servicio a la comunidad hispana en situación de necesidad. (ICR foto/Vero Gutiérrez) Como parte del proceso de conformación para una nueva conferencia, se llevó a cabo la instlación del comité en las oficinas de San Vicente de Paul. Cada uno de los miembros aceptó el compromiso de cumplir con los estatutos de la Sociedad de San Vicente de Paúl. Becky Swartz, Presidenta del Consejo, Ralph May, Director Ejecutivo, Cathy Hagadone y Norma Pintar Coordinadora de Asuntos Hispanos estuvieron presentes para atestiguar este importante acontecimiento y tomar protesta a los nuevos miembros del comité que dirigirá la Conferencia Hispana una vez que se haya cumplido con todos los requerimientos administrativos. Como parte de la formación que deben recibir los miembros de la Sociedad Vicentina parte de los miembros del comité se sumaron a la clase de Orientación Ozanam el pasado 24 de enero en la parroquia de Holy Apostles en Meridian. Cathy Hagadone, tesorera del Consejo SVdP, durante su presentación en la Orientación Ozanam. (ICR foto/Vero Gutiérrez) La clase tuvo una duración de seis horas, donde los nuevos integrantes hispanos recibieron temas sobre la historia, la organización y la espiritualidad de la Sociedad, junto con información básica sobre la pobreza y las visitas domiciliarias. Además de recibir información sobre la historia de los vicentinos, su misión y los detalles de su labor de servicio a lo largo de los años —desde su fundación hasta su llegada a Estados Unidos—, este encuentro fue también un tiempo especial para compartir experiencias y testimonios con quienes cuentan con más años de servicio en otras conferencias. La Conferencia Hispana podrá ofrecer acompañamiento y servicio a las personas en situación de necesidad, brindando información, referencias y apoyo en casos de emergencia o requerimientos especiales. Asimismo, ofrecerá atención cercana a quienes se encuentran solos o afligidos. voluntarios de San Vicente de Paúl de diversas conferencias, entre ellos integrantes del Comité de la Conferencia Hispana, participaron en la Orientación Ozanam llevada a cabo en la parroquia Holy Apostles . (ICR foto /Vero Gutiérrez) Los puntos clave de la misión a la que están llamados como conferencia comienzan desde el interior del propio grupo que ha iniciado este nuevo proyecto de San Vicente de Paul. Según el Manual de la Sociedad Vicentina, quienes forman parte de esta conferencia están llamados a ser amigos entre sí, a cuidarse unos a otros y a vivir con fidelidad las prácticas religiosas de la Sociedad, siguiendo el ejemplo de Cristo. Desde esa vivencia fraterna, se identifican con los pobres, a quienes están llamados a visitar con prontitud, regularidad y atención, reconociendo en ellos el rostro mismo de Cristo. Además, se busca que los voluntarios puedan establecer relaciones a largo plazo, basadas en la confianza y la amistad, que ayuden a las personas a transformar sus vidas. Un aspecto fundamental de este esfuerzo será también la promoción de la justicia. Este pequeño grupo que conforma la Primera Conferencia Hispana de la SVdP está integrado por personas pertenecientes a la Catedral Saint John The Evangelist, Sacred Heart, Saint Mary y Saint Paul. Sin embargo, la invitación permanece abierta para todos aquellos que sientan el llamado al servicio de los pobres y deseen integrarse como voluntarios. Si están interesados en participar o necesitan más información favor de comunicarse a las oficinas administrativas de San Vicente de Paul con Norma Pintar, Coordinadora de Asuntos Hispanos al teléfono 208- 484- 1482 o bien enviarle un correo a la dire- cción norma.pintar@svdpid.org

Photo of St. Mary's Catholic Students at All Schools Mass By Bishop Peter F. Christensen Catholic Schools Week invites our diocesan family to pause in gratitude and hope as we celebrate the life of our Catholic schools—their academic excellence, their communities of care, and their generous service. Yet this week also calls us to something deeper: to renew our commitment to the distinctly evangelical vocation of Catholic education entrusted to us as shepherds, educators, parents, and families of faith, flows from fidelity to the Church’s mission of evangelization fulfilled in making disciples and building the Kingdom of God. In a cultural moment that often prizes neutrality over conviction, Catholic schools are called to a particular kind of courage: the courage to be unmistakably Catholic. This courage does not reject dialogue or academic rigor; rather, it flows from fidelity to the Church’s mission to exalt the risen and victorious Christ as Lord and Savior for all humanity.  The Directory for Catechesis  reminds us that education and evangelization are inseparable in the life of the Church. Catholic schools are not simply institutions that include religious content alongside secular subjects; they are communities where the Gospel permeates the entire educational climate. Their purpose is not limited to conveying information about the faith, but to propose Christ as the definitive meaning of human life. To dilute or bracket this evangelical purpose in the name of neutrality is not an act of respect, but a failure to live the vocation entrusted to Catholic education. The challenge of truth stands at the heart of this vocation. In the Passion narrative, Jesus stands before Pontius Pilate and declares, “For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate responds with a question that continues to echo through history: “What is truth?” That question—asked with skepticism and distance—captures a temptation that still confronts Catholic education today. When truth is treated as relative, provisional, or purely subjective, the proclamation of the Gospel is reduced to one opinion among many. Catholic schools, however, are called to stand not with Pilate’s doubt, but with Christ’s witness. The Church has never taught that all religions are equal in their truth claims or moral vision. While she acknowledges that elements of truth and goodness can be found in other religious traditions, she also professes—clearly and consistently—that the fullness of truth is revealed in Jesus Christ and entrusted to the Church. The General Directory for Catechesis  insists that catechesis and Catholic education must present this fullness faithfully and confidently. Authentic dialogue does not require the suspension of truth; it presupposes it. For this reason, Catholic schools must resist the temptation of false neutrality. A purely descriptive or non-committal presentation of Catholicism—one that avoids doctrinal clarity or moral claims for fear of controversy—empties Catholic education of its missionary heart. Evangelization is not coercion. As the Directory for Catechesis  makes clear, it is the loving proposal of Christ, offered with respect for freedom and conscience, yet never reduced to vague spirituality or a lowest-common-denominator ethic. This evangelical vocation extends to all students, not only those who are already Catholic. Catholic schools rightly welcome families from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds, and such diversity enriches the school community. Yet hospitality must never be confused with silence. To enter a Catholic school is to enter a community that believes something definite about God, the human person, morality, and salvation. To obscure those convictions in the name of inclusivity is neither honest nor charitable. The Church’s educational vision has always been one of integral formation—intellectual, moral, spiritual, and human. Catholic education seeks not merely to inform minds, but to form hearts and consciences in truth and freedom. Truth, as the Church teaches, is not an abstract idea imposed from without; it is a Person who liberates. When Catholic schools confidently proclaim Christ, they serve not only Catholics, but every student entrusted to their care, offering a vision of life grounded in dignity, meaning, and hope. In an age shaped by relativism and uncertainty, Catholic schools must recover the courage that belongs to their vocation. This courage does not close doors; it opens them—inviting students to encounter the living Christ and to discover the truth about themselves and the world. As your bishop, I give thanks during Catholic Schools Week for educators, administrators, and families who understand that Catholic schools are not called to mirror the culture, but to evangelize it. By presenting the fullness of the faith with clarity and charity, Catholic education remains faithful to its mission and to the truth that sets all humanity free. References Sacred Scripture: John 18:37–38. Congregation for the Clergy. Directory for Catechesis . Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2020. Sacred Congregation for the Clergy. General Directory for Catechesis . Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997. Second Vatican Council. Gravissimum Educationis  (Declaration on Christian Education), 1965. Congregation for Catholic Education. The Catholic School , 1977. Congregation for Catholic Education. Educating Together in Catholic Schools: A Shared Mission Between Consecrated Persons and the Lay Faithful , 2007.