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The following story appeared in the May 27 Idaho Catholic Register. By Emily Woodham Staff Writer The choir of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise is presenting Mozart’s Vesperae so-lennes de confessore (“Solemn Vespers for a Confessor”) at the Cathedral on Saturday, June 11, at 7 p.m. Last year, the Cathedral choir performed “The Seven Last Words of Christ” by Théodore Dubois for the Cathedral’s centennial celebration. Due to the success of last year’s concert, Morvant decided to present Mozart’s work to the community this year. “This is not a concert. It’s a liturgy,” said Dr. Raphael Morvant, music director and organist for the Cathedral. The community is invited to prayerfully participate during the Solemn Vespers. “I view aesthetics as a spiritual dimension in music,” he said. “We have choirs who do beautiful music because it helps open our hearts and puts us more in a spiritual and contemplative state.” The community can actively listen and pray Mozart’s psalm settings in the Vespers, just as it participates and prays actively by listening to the Eucharis-tic prayers in Mass, Morvant said. Those who attend are also invited to sing the antiphons, prayers and hymns that are a part of Vespers. “Sacrosanctum concilium, the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy from Vatican II, mandated that cathedrals and large churches should preserve the musical treasures of the Church,” Morvant said. In keeping with the Constitution, Morvant uses traditional Catholic music on a regular basis at the Cathedral. Presenting larger and more classical works from the Church to the community is also a part of following those mandates, he said. Vespers are a part of the Divine Office, also known as the Liturgy of the Hours. The liturgy is comprised of sets of prayers and psalms said at different hours of the day. Vespers are prayed in the evening. In a church setting, vespers are usually presided by a priest or deacon. In large church settings, the prayers and psalms are often chanted antiphonally between a choir and congregation. Mozart’s “Solemn Vespers” was written in 1780 for Salzburg Cathedral in Austria. It includes parts for a priest or leader, the congregation, a choir and four soloists. The Vespers comprise five psalms (Psalms 110, 111, 112, 113 and 117) and the Magnificat, the canticle of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the Gospel of St. Luke. According to music historians, the final psalm, Psalm 117 is the most celebrated of the pieces from the Solemn Vespers. These vespers are set apart with its designation “for a Confessor.” Historians think that it was meant to be prayed on the Feast Day of St. Rupert of Salzburg, who was also known as “St. Rupert the Confessor,” for his gift for bringing consolation to penitents. Dr. Morvant is playing the organ and directing the choir. Father Mariusz Majewski, rector at the Cathedral, is presider. The soloists are Christie Bell, soprano; Naomi Spinelli, alto; John Mauldin, tenor; and Jeffrey Sappala, bass. “I think this is a great opportunity for outreach to the community,” Morvant said. “It’s an evangelization opportunity. Anyone can come and pray.” If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the May 13 Idaho Catholic Register. Bible study and prayer are both important components of a women’s Bible study including members of Holy Spirit Catholic Community in Pocatello. Small faith communities are seen as an effective means to keep people connected in parishes that are increasingly larger and served by fewer priests. Many priests in the U.S. Church say a natural outgrowth of small faith groups is increased spirituality in the individual members, which leads to increased involvement and contribution to parish life, thus revitalizing parishes. Members of this Pocatello group are clockwise from lower left, Vicky Jones, Cindy De La Cruz, Anastasia Dumesnil, Rosemary Nett and Kathryn Venable. (Courtesy photo/Kathryn Venable) By Emily Woodham, Staff Writer and Gene Fadness, Editor They dub themselves the “ungodly hour group.” Deacon Jason Batalden of Idaho Falls rouses himself out of bed in order to meet with a small community of other men every Thursday at “the ungodly” hour of 6 a.m. At that hour, coffee is a must, but this is no ordinary coffee klatch. Along with the coffee, the group reads the Gospel passage for the following Sunday and then discuss its meaning in their lives. Deacon Batalden, who is the director of religious education at Pope St. John Paul II Parish in Idaho Falls, says his small faith community that has been meeting faithfully for eight years is important for two reasons: faith formation and engagement in the life of the Church. Above, members of the “Ungodly Hour” small faith community gather every Thursday at 6 a.m. to discuss the readings for the following Sunday. Members, from left, are Dan Ackerman, Art Rood, John Walker, Dean Tracey, Fred Grinnell, Joe Saye and Lyle Roybal. Not pictured is Andrew Slaughter and Deacon Jason Batalden. (Courtesy photo/Deacon Jason Batalden) Small faith communities are “essential to the life of the church because they allow people to engage with other Catholics in events outside of the Mass. The Mass is the source and summit, and these groups provide other opportunities to build relationships and develop community,” Deacon Batalden said. Small faith communities (SFCs) are not uncommon in the life of the Church, but most Catholics do not belong to one. As parishes get larger and priests fewer, the importance of the personal connection in small faith groups increases. The communities help people to live out the benediction at the end of Mass to “announce the Gospel” or “glorifying the Lord by your life,” Deacon Batalden said. “For our men’s group, we try to keep each other accountable, keep each other moving forward in the faith,” he said. “Iron sharpens iron,” quoting Proverbs 27. “That’s our point,” he said. “Small faith groups lead to and are signs of the health of a parish,” he said. IN HIS APOSTOLIC exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis calls the parish a “com-munity of communities,” a “sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink,” and “a center of constant missionary outreach.” However, Pope Francis also warns that the vitality of a parish is only possible if it avoids becoming “a useless structure out of touch with people” or “a self-absorbed group made up of a chosen few.” Many parishes in the Diocese of Boise have found that small faith communities are the answer to Pope Francis’ challenge for parishes to be more vibrant. Parishioners who attend small groups tend to be more active in the Church overall, said Father Brad Neely, pastor at All Saints Parish in Lewiston. “Whether groups focus on praying the Rosary together, Bible study, or are more formal, such as (Cursillo) Fourth Day groups, these are important for people. Even for priests, it’s important to gather with a small group of priests to share ideas,” Father Neely said. It is crucial for Catholics to be involved with the Church in some way other than just going to and from Mass, he said. “Small groups can be good because they foster a sense of community, and they also foster authenticity, sincerity and accountability of the living the faith,” said Father Francisco Flores, pastor at Pope St. John Paul II Parish in Idaho Falls. Small faith communities are often the end-product of a spiritual retreat, such as an Evangelization Re-treats, a Marriage Encounter weekend or a Cursillo weekend. It’s important, Father Flores advises, that people understand that the mountaintop retreat experience not became an end in and of itself, but that people continue to progress from what they gained on the retreat weekend by participating in their small faith communities. “An intimate community that mutually encourages and aids in Christian living must follow these larger group experiences, and small groups can fit the bill,” Father Flores said. A challenge to small groups is learning to discern the consensus or “group think” of the group in comparison to the sound teaching and Tradition of the Church, Father Flores said. “An authentic small group should foster living in fidelity to the Church,” he said. ST. MARK’S PARISH in Boise has been a home to small faith communities for nearly 30 years, beginning when Monsignor John Donoghue introduced the Evangelization Retreat to the parish. Three years ago, Ed Herrera, a parishioner at St. Mark’s and discerning the diaconate, was asked to help restart a parish Small Faith Group Committee to strengthen the small groups in the parish. “Small faith communities are an important touch point within the community. It’s another opportunity to practice your faith and to have support in a smaller setting,” Herrera said. The committee at St. Mark’s meets every two months, opening their meetings with prayer, worship songs and a short talk. Then leaders discuss their experiences and needs. “We are hoping to create stronger small communities of faith,” Herrera said. Herrera and his wife have belonged to a small faith community at St. Mark’s for four years. “As the years go by, our SFC has become an extension of our family. Together we share in celebrations and help carry the burdens that life brings. Our SFC has truly been a blessing to us,” he said. “As I’ve grown in my faith, it has been important to have several touch points between Sunday Masses. Whether this means a daily Mass during the week, Adoration or a small faith community, these are all opportunities to grow closer to Christ,” he said. “Especially now, in our fractured society, the small faith community offers another connection to the Body of Christ and an opportunity to learn together, to pray together and to share our faith.” Ed and Stephany Herrera with Ginger Mortensen, right, during their small faith community group at St. Mark’s Parish in Boise. Herrera is part of a committee at St. Mark’s that is seeking to strengthen small faith communities in his parish. (Courtesy photo/Ed Herrera) Most of the small faith communities at St. Mark’s are a result of the Evangelization Retreat weekends sponsored at the parish over several years. At the end of the retreat, participants join an established SFC or create a new one. To allow more parishioners to be involved in a small faith group, the committee has encouraged that groups be open to any who want to participate, not just for those who complete a retreat weekend. In fact, many small faith groups are started by parishioners who have a common interest in Bible study and prayer. DEACON GEORGE IVORY in Lewiston leads a Bible study that was started before he arrived at All Saints Parish. He joined the group 10 years ago because it was the only Bible study available. Their Bible study has used different studies from various sources, including Ascension Press and the FORMED.org website. The number fluctuates, but they average about 12 at meetings. A bittersweet dynamic of their group is that most members are near the end of their lives, Deacon Ivory said. “One member celebrated her 100th birthday with us, but then soon after she was not able to travel. Several members have passed away,” he said. Sharing prayer intentions at the end of the study is an important part of building their relationships with each other, he said. Kathryn Venable, a parishioner at Holy Spirit Catholic Community in Pocatello, was asked by Deacon Scott Pearhill to facilitate a women’s Bible study. The group started at the end of 2020 and has five members. Being such a small group has allowed deep, personal discussions, she said. “We are truly supportive of each other,” Venable said. To provide a place of trust, all members are asked to keep conversations and prayer intentions at their meetings confidential. That confidentiality is typical for nearly all small faith communities. In order for members to be able to be truly open and vulnerable, confidentiality is a key to the success of a small faith community. Venable’s community meets faithfully twice each month. Four of them share a similar journey of having left the Church and then returned, wanting to renew their faith. One member is not Catholic. “It’s not just open to our Catholic parishioners. It’s open to any woman in the community,” she said. “All women are welcome to come and join us.” “Watching everybody grow, including myself, is so inspiring to me. I feel like I am doing what God has led me to do. This this is where I am supposed to be, and this is what I am supposed to be doing,” she said. In the lower photo, Deacon George Ivory, second row on far left, leads a Bible study group at All Saints Parish. They call themselves the “Forever Learning Institute.” (Courtesy photo/Deacon George Ivory) WHILE MANY small faith communities are self-starting, most still come out of retreats like the Worldwide Marriage Encounter, Cursillo or the Evangelization Retreat. Pete Hillman, a parishioner at St. Edward’s Parish in Twin Falls, values the accountability he has in his “Fourth Day” group. Fourth Day groups are part of the Cursillo Movement. Men and women attend a three-day Cursillo (Spanish for “short course”) retreat, but the spiritual fruits of the weekend continue past the three days to the ongoing “Fourth Day” where members meet to help each continue on the Cursillo’s “tripod” method of spiritual growth: piety, study and action. Fourth Day groups meet weekly throughout the Diocese to share what they are doing in their lives to increase their personal piety (devotions), what they are reading or studying, and the apostolic action – service, missionary work – in which they are currently engaged. Hillman has been a part of his Fourth Day group since October of 1994. “We share struggles and victories. We pray for each other and give encouragement,” Hillman said. “This helps grow our faith for dealing with the real world,” he said. Hillman’s group meets during lunch to make it easier for members. Although he is a part of many ministries in his parish, he said that his Fourth Day group is a large part of his personal faith formation. A deacon in the Diocese of Boise who asked to remain anonymous believes his Fourth Day group was instrumental to his staying in the Church. Recently divorced and in a new city, the man attended a large parish for several weeks, largely unnoticed, as is, unfortunately, the case for older Catholics who are divorced or widowed. “I was feeling sorry for myself and told myself that I could quit attending and no one would notice, which was largely the case,” he said. Missing small faith community, he resumed attending his smaller evangelical church on Sunday nights. At about the same, a Catholic friend invited him to a Cursillo weekend. “That weekend, and especially the small faith community that grew out of it changed my whole outlook on life and gave me a small group of friends who I could pray with, be accountable to and grow in my Catholic faith,” he said. He eventually went on to be ordained a deacon. A Cursillo “Fourth Day” group meets weekly during which members review each other’s progress in the Cursillo “tripod” of piety (devotional life), study, and action. Cursillo includes both men’s and women’s groups. Members of this Twin Falls Fourth Day group include, from left, Marvin Makay, Dave Ellingsen and Pete Hillman. (Courtesy photo/Peter Hillman) ARNE STEVENS , a parishioner of St. Mary’s in Boise, has been a part of a small faith community for more than 20 years. His group started after an Evangelization Retreat. The secret to the longevity of his group, he said, is being creative and not dogmatic. “We have what we call ‘holy conversations,’ ” Arne said. His group has varied in its focus from Bible studies to lectio divina (a method of meditating on scripture) to reading spiritual books. “We have also discussed the latest Idaho Catholic Register ,” he said. His group has varied in size, but there are eight to 12 members who attend on average, he said. They have also met at different times or changed their meeting location, all depending on the needs of the members. Consistency in meeting with flexibility, listening to the Holy Spirit and being open to new ideas for the group are keys to the longevity of the community, Stevens said. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the April 28 Idaho Catholic Register. By Emily Woodham Staff Writer (Author’s Note: Very little has been written of St. Joseph Luu in English. The Idaho Catholic Register contacted the Bishop’s House of the Diocese of Vinh Long in Vietnam, which graciously provided details of St. Joseph Luu’s story from their records. Because the document was in Vietnamese, information for the article comes from an imperfect translation that would have been difficult to understand without the help of Father Dat Vu, pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Boise.) In the 16th century, French Catholic missionaries were welcomed to Vietnam and surrounding areas because of their connections to trade. But as political powers in Vietnam shifted in the 17th century through the 19th century, the Church would wax and wane in accord with the government’s view toward the Church. From 1630 to 1886, the Vatican estimates that 130,000 to 300,000 Catholics were martyred in Vietnam. (Because whole villages were sometimes massacred, it is impossible to have an accurate count of those who died.) Although European missionaries are among those martyred in Vietnam, most of these martyrs were faithful Vietnamese. Many of them were native priests and religious. They knew that the gospel was not a made-up story from the West, but that it was the truth. They were tortured and slaughtered because they refused to recant their faith in Jesus. St. Joseph Luu is among the 117 Martyrs of Vietnam canonized by Pope St. John Paul II in 1988. Joseph Luu was born in 1789 to Christian parents. His mother died when he was young. His father remarried a loving and kind woman, and they had four more children. Joseph followed in his father’s footsteps in his faith and hard work. He is believed to have married while in his late teens or early 20s. His first born child died during birth, but he and his wife had six more healthy children. Joseph was dedicated to his family, parish and community. He was a farmer, but spent his free time catechizing his family and neighbors. He faithfully prayed morning and evening prayers with his family. He also went to Confession and Mass regularly. One story says that as he was walking along the road one day, he noticed a neighbor’s rice fields had been neglected. He immediately jumped in and saved the fields with his hard work. Another story says that whenever he walked home from fishing, he would give fish to whomever asked for food, keeping only enough to feed his family. He was made the president of the Mac Blac parish council because of his leadership in the parish as a catechist and his exemplary life. In 1847, the Emperor Tu Duc took the throne. Four years later, he issued a decree against Christians. All those who refused to recant their faith and trample the Crucifix were to be tortured and killed, and their families were to be either killed or exiled. (The punishments were more extensive for clergy and Church leaders.) Joseph knew that the sacraments were vital to the life of the faithful. He weighed the cost and decided to risk his life so that Confession and Mass could continue. He hid priests in his home and secretly gathered Catholics so they could receive the sacraments, Mass and catechism classes. In 1853, three men demanded money from one of the priests, Father Peter Luu (probably not related to Joseph). Father Peter did not have any money, and so the embittered men betrayed him and Joseph by reporting their underground church. As officials secretly made plans to capture the underground church, Father Peter left to help in another village, and Father Philip Minh came to take his place. The officials sent a woman to Joseph’s house to ask for Confession, but Joseph didn’t trust her. Officials then sent someone else to spy on Joseph. Later that evening, while Father Philip Minh was catechizing students, the military surrounded the house. Father Philip happened to overhear them give the order to capture the Christians and was able to alert the students to hide. Not wanting the soldiers to find Father Philip, Joseph told the soldiers that he was the only one they needed to arrest. But Father Philip, seeing the soldiers beat Joseph, stepped out of hiding, hoping that the soldiers would let the elderly Joseph go free. He begged them to let everyone else go, but the soldiers refused to bargain. Joseph was imprisoned for a year, where he was tortured and starved. But he refused to give up his faith. He continued to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and also to pray the Mass when the priests were in prison with him. (The priests who helped Joseph were martyred at different times.) It seems the authorities were afraid to kill Joseph because he was so well-loved. However, they kept him in prison. He became seriously sick, confessed his sins and did penance for 15 days. He was then sent to a hospital. He was in excruciating pain, but he continued in his faith. His last prayers were: “Jesus, Mary, Joseph: Oh! Our Lady, my Mother, please help me!” When he died, he looked so happy and peaceful that the authorities thought he was faking. They burned his toes until they were black to make sure he was truly dead. His body was brought back to his parish. Four priests concelebrated his funeral, which was attended by 2,000 people. His body was buried in the foundation of the parish church. (It is assumed that the persecutions had abated for a time due to threats from France.) After the beheading of a bishop in 1857, the French government stepped in more directly to stop the torture and killing of Catholics. St. Joseph Luu is the patron saint of the Diocese of Vinh Long. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

Worship, catechesis continue unabated at St. Ann’s-Mud Lake The following story appeared in the April 8 Idaho Catholic Register. During the early morning hours of July 1, 2021, a fire nearly destroyed the tiny church of Saint Ann’s at Mud Lake in eastern Idaho. Almost one year later, the community made up of families of farmers and migrant workers continues strong in their faith, fighting to rebuild their chapel. (Photo courtesy of Father Ron Wekerle) By Vero Gutierrez Staff Writer Mud Lake – Almost a year after a fire destroyed St. Ann’s in Mud Lake, a mission church of Saint John Paul II Parish based in Idaho Falls, the Hispanic Catholic community remains vibrant and united. But, above all, committed, not missing celebrating the Eucharist a single Sunday since the July 1, 2021 fire, as they work on gathering the resources to rebuild their beloved chapel. Very little was recovered from the fire, except for an image of Christ on the altar, the Paschal candle, and a statue of the Divine Child Jesus, which is currently on pilgrimage with families in the community. This is how the crucifix looked above the tabernacle in St. Ann’s chapel after the fire consumed most of the interior. (Photo/Father Ron Wekerle) After the fire, Father Ronald Wekerle, who was then pastor of the parish, appointed a couple from Mud Lake, Jaime, and Lina (Coco) Renova, as “godparents” to organize the community when the priest could not be present. The first Sunday Eucharist after the fire was celebrated at the Senior Citizens Center in Mud Lake, Jaime Renova said. Firefighters from the area were invited and thanked for their service. With the kind assistance of Shane Williams, superintendent of the West Jefferson School District, the remaining Masses and catechism classes have been held at the West Jefferson High School campus. The parish’s current pastor, Father Francisco Flores, and parochial vicar, Father Germán Ruíz, make sure Mass is celebrated there every week. Jaime and Coco Renova say the community, made of about 40 Hispanic families, has been responding well to efforts at getting a new chapel built. The community has put its creativity to work planning everything possible to raise money. They have sold tamales, tacos, donuts, flowers, candy, and auctioned a romantic night for two and organized a rodeo. The community of Roberts, about 23 miles southeast of Mud Lake, has joined this work of the Catholic community of St. Ann’s, offering their support and financial resources. Roberts is a small farming community with many of its residents belonging to St. John Paul II Parish. Coco Renova is grateful for the help St. Ann’s is receiving not only from fellow Catholics but also from other churches. Mormons and Baptists, in particular, have donated toward the restoration of the Mud Lake church. The St. Ann’s community is still waiting to hear what they will receive from the insurance company. In the meantime, they will continue to raise funds, Jaime Renova said. Jaime and Coco’s work to help the parish recover from the fire has had its own unique set of complications. A month ago, they had to suspend their activities due to COVID-19. During this time, they received the help of another couple who are also committed to working with the community, Nazario and Claudia Figueroa. At left, Claudia and Nazario Figueroa, their son, Anthony, Father Germán Ruíz, parochial vicar at Saint John Paul II Parish, and Jaime and Coco Renova. (Photo/Ian Renova) Despite those challenges, Jaime Renova said the pastoral work at St. Ann’s continues. He and Coco are currently preparing a group of 13 young men who will receive Confirmation on April 21. The Renovas took Bible studies from the Missionaries Servants of the Word based at the Monastery of the Ascension in Jerome. “Coco and I are now transmitting this knowledge to the young people in our parish. It is wonderful to see how well they know how to handle the Bible by themselves.” Jaime Renova arrived in the United States when he was 13 years old, which is also how old Coco was when she arrived. Both are originally from México, he from Chihuahua, and she from San Luis Potosí. Coco is a manager at the Bank of Commerce in Mud Lake and Jaime works for a communications company. They are parents to 22-year-old twins, Ian and Evan. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the April 8 Idaho Catholic Register. Bishop Peter Christensen incenses a statute of the Blessed Virgin Mary during a Solemnity of the Annunciation Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist on March 25. The Bishop joined Pope Francis and other Bishops throughout the world in an act of consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Bishop Peter Christensen joined Pope Francis and Catholics around the world in consecrating Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. “The time is now to use the powerful weapon for peace given to each of us through the intercession of our Blessed Mother, who is filled with grace,” Bishop Peter said about the Act of Consecration during his homily to more than 200 who attended the Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise. This grace of Mary is God’s gift given to her by her Son, the Bishop said, and this gift is, in turn, “given to each of us who call upon and rely on her.” “As you are well aware, these are sobering times as the entire world is living in a tension created by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia,” Bishop Peter said. “The war between these two countries gives pause for us to realize just how fragile the entire world is to the threat of an even greater war spreading.” Because the consecration happened to coincide with the Feast of the Annunciation, Bishop Peter expounded on the Gospel reading on the Annunciation from the first chapter of Luke, when the archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would conceive and give birth to the Savior. Just as Mary found favor with God, we have also found favor with God through our baptism, he said. “By your presence here today, you continue to show your willingness to be used by God’s graces given for His favor and purpose, to submit our wills and to serve our Lord in what He continues to ask of us,” he said. Before Mary gives her fiat, her “yes,” to God’s plan for her, Gabriel reminded Mary that nothing would be impossible for God, Bishop Peter said. People may feel helpless because they cannot do anything about the war in Ukraine, Bishop Peter said. However, just as Mary was told at the Annunciation that “nothing was impossible with God,” Christians are reminded that much can be accomplished through fervent and faithful prayer. “The gift of prayer is what we actuate in a very deliberate way today, seeking our Lord’s intervention through His Mother to bring greater peace, His peace to our world,” Bishop Peter said. “We open ourselves to live lives in submission to the will of God. We place our trust in the God who has chosen us for a great work in our world at this time in our history, this day. And we hear the same words spoken by Gabriel to Mary that nothing will be impossible for God,” he said. Bishop Peter prayed the act of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary following the reception of Holy Communion in the Mass. At nearly the same time as Bishop Peter prayed the Act of Consecration, Pope Francis was doing the same during a penitential service at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. During his homily, Pope Francis said that the consecration “is no magic formula but a spiritual act.” “It is an act of complete trust on the part of children who, amid the tribulation of this cruel and senseless war that threatens our world, turn to their Mother, reposing all their fears and pain in her heart and abandoning themselves to her,” the pope said. The following is the entire Act of Consecration offered by Pope Francis, Bishop Peter and other bishops throughout the world: ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY O Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, in this time of trial we turn to you. As our Mother, you love us and know us: no concern of our hearts is hidden from you. Mother of mercy, how often we have experienced your watchful care and your peaceful presence! You never cease to guide us to Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Yet we have strayed from that path of peace. We have forgotten the lesson learned from the tragedies of the last century, the sacrifice of the millions who fell in two world wars. We have disregarded the commitments we made as a community of nations. We have betrayed peoples’ dreams of peace and the hopes of the young. We grew sick with greed, we thought only of our own nations and their interests, we grew indifferent and caught up in our selfish needs and concerns. We chose to ignore God, to be satisfied with our illusions, to grow arrogant and aggressive, to suppress innocent lives and to stockpile weapons. We stopped being our neighbor’s keepers and stewards of our common home. We have ravaged the garden of the earth with war and by our sins we have broken the heart of our heavenly Father, who desires us to be brothers and sisters. We grew indifferent to everyone and everything except ourselves. Now with shame we cry out: Forgive us, Lord! Holy Mother, amid the misery of our sinfulness, amid our struggles and weaknesses, amid the mystery of iniquity that is evil and war, you remind us that God never abandons us, but continues to look upon us with love, ever ready to forgive us and raise us up to new life. He has given you to us and made your Immaculate Heart a refuge for the Church and for all humanity. By God’s gracious will, you are ever with us; even in the most troubled moments of our history, you are there to guide us with tender love. We now turn to you and knock at the door of your heart. We are your beloved children. In every age you make yourself known to us, calling us to conversion. At this dark hour, help us and grant us your comfort. Say to us once more: “Am I not here, I who am your Mother?” You are able to untie the knots of our hearts and of our times. In you we place our trust. We are confident that, especially in moments of trial, you will not be deaf to our supplication and will come to our aid. That is what you did at Cana in Galilee, when you interceded with Jesus, and He worked the first of His signs. To preserve the joy of the wedding feast, you said to Him: “They have no wine” (John 2:3). Now, O Mother, repeat those words and that prayer, for in our own day we have run out of the wine of hope, joy has fled, fraternity has faded. We have forgotten our humanity and squandered the gift of peace. We opened our hearts to violence and destructiveness. How greatly we need your maternal help! Therefore, O Mother, hear our prayer. Star of the Sea, do not let us be shipwrecked in the tempest of war. Ark of the New Covenant, inspire projects and paths of reconciliation. Queen of Heaven, restore God’s peace to the world. Eliminate hatred and the thirst for revenge, and teach us forgiveness. Free us from war, protect our world from the menace of nuclear weapons. Queen of the Rosary, make us realize our need to pray and to love. Queen of the Human Family, show people the path of fraternity. Queen of Peace, obtain peace for our world. O Mother, may your sorrowful plea stir our hardened hearts. May the tears you shed for us make this valley parched by our hatred blossom anew. Amid the thunder of weapons, may your prayer turn our thoughts to peace. May your maternal touch soothe those who suffer and flee from the rain of bombs. May your motherly embrace comfort those forced to leave their homes and their native land. May your Sorrowful Heart move us to compassion and inspire us to open our doors and to care for our brothers and sisters who are injured and cast aside. Holy Mother of God, as you stood beneath the cross, Jesus, seeing the disciple at your side, said: “Behold your son” (John 19:26). In this way he entrusted each of us to you. To the disciple, and to each of us, He said: “Behold, your Mother” (v. 27). Mother Mary, we now desire to welcome you into our lives and our history. At this hour, a weary and distraught humanity stands with you beneath the cross, needing to entrust itself to you and, through you, to consecrate itself to Christ. The people of Ukraine and Russia, who venerate you with great love, now turn to you, even as your heart beats with compassion for them and for all those peoples decimated by war, hunger, injustice and poverty. Therefore, Mother of God and our Mother, to your Immaculate Heart we solemnly entrust and consecrate ourselves, the Church and all humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine. Accept this act that we carry out with confidence and love. Grant that war may end and peace spread throughout the world. The “Fiat” that arose from your heart opened the doors of history to the Prince of Peace. We trust that, through your heart, peace will dawn once more. To you we consecrate the future of the whole human family, the needs and expectations of every people, the anxieties and hopes of the world. Through your intercession, may God’s mercy be poured out on the earth and the gentle rhythm of peace return to mark our days. Our Lady of the “Fiat”, on whom the Holy Spirit descended, restore among us the harmony that comes from God. May you, our “living fountain of hope”, water the dryness of our hearts. In your womb Jesus took flesh; help us to foster the growth of communion. You once trod the streets of our world; lead us now on the paths of peace. Amen. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the March 25 Idaho Catholic Register. By Vero Gutierrez Staff Writer After two years of cancellations due to the pandemic, weekend wedding gatherings for Hispanic married couples will be back this year. Carlos and Nora Arana have been chosen as the coordinators for Worldwide Marriage Encounter and will be advised by Father Eladio Vieyra, pastor at Saint Therese of the Little Flower Parish in Burley. “Seeing many couples transform their lives makes the time dedicated to this apostolate worthwhile,” said Carlos Arana. “The testimonies that are shared during the weekend by other couples are impressive and motivating for the participants,” Nora Arana said. The next encounter has been scheduled for May 12-13 at the Monastery of the Ascension in Jerome. It will be the first Marriage Encounter weekend for the Hispanic community in southern Idaho since November of 2019. Weekends that were planned in Boise and then in Jerome in 2020 were canceled due to the COVID pandemic. Father Eladio Vieyra is the new spiritual director for the Marriage Encounter movement. He will be in charge of providing spiritual advice to the coordinators and other people who participate in the weekend in southern Idaho. Another priest who will be part of the Marriage Encounter Movement is Father Julio Vicente, pastor at St. Edward the Confessor Parish in Twin Falls. He will be the priest at the next meeting in May. Father Adrián Vázquez, parish priest of St. Jerome and Father Francisco Flores, parish priest of St. John Paul II Parish in Idaho Falls will also be assisting the movement on future weekends. There will be some minor changes in the upcoming weekend, including a reduction from three days to two days. The weekends used to start on Friday and end on Sunday, but to reduce expense, a Saturday-Sunday weekend was selected. Also, couples who want to participate are being asked that they be vaccinated. COVID vaccines are not a requirement for the Marriage Encounter week-end, but is being requested by Ascension Monastery, as an effort to protect the health of the elderly Benedictine monks and the Missionary Servants of the Word religious communities who live at Ascension. Carlos and Nora Arana are replacing Alfredo and Rosy Morales who have completed their three-year term as coordinators for this region. In a 2020 interview with the Idaho Catholic Register Rosy Morales said the Marriage Encounter weekends “changes lives and strengthen activity in the Church.” “The successes that have been achieved during these weekends have been thanks to the fact that we have prayer as one of our strongest pillars,” she said. “In addition, during this time the couples really get excited about having time just for themselves, paying attention to each other. That time allows them to open their hearts to each other and to God.” Before the pandemic, about 80 Hispanic married couples – 50 in the Boise area and 30 in Jerome – participated in Marriage Encounter. Of those, about 60 percent become much more involved in their parish, according to Alfredo Morales. “We have heard some priests say this, and we have even seen it ourselves,” he said. According to the official website of the World Marriage Encounter, nine out of 10 couples who attend a Marriage Encounter weekend recognize a positive and lasting effect on their lives. “World Marriage Encounter is an enrichment for married couples who value their relationship and desire a richer, fuller life together,” the website says. “But it is also for priests and religious who want to strengthen their relationship with their ecclesial communities.” During the weekend, couples are provided the tools that will help them to remain strong and united as a couple, and thus provide a stable and loving environment for their children. As the parents become “empty-nesters,” they will be able to use the same tools to continue to grow and prosper in their relationship, making their love a lifelong reality. To register, you can request an application at your parish or contact the coordinators, Nora and Carlos Arana, directly by phone at 208-550-4514. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

A children’s holy hour with Jesus can lead lead to a holy life with Jesus The following story appeared in the March 11 Idaho Catholic Register. Sarah Dyson and her children, from left, Lucas, Thomas and John Paul receive personal Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament from Brother Johannes of Verbum Spei. Brother John Francis, background, asssists at the Holy Hour of Adoration for Children at the Verbum Spei monastery of Our Lady of Ephesus in Boise. Bringing people, especially children, to Jesus in Adoration is a charism of the fraternity. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer That child squirming about and making noise during Adoration may be getting more from the experience than their anxious parents may realize. Teresa Wittry, director of Montessori programs and development at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise, does not agree with some who think children should not go to Mass or Adoration until they are old enough to be still. “Some people will say, ‘Why should I take them when they’re not getting anything out of it?’ ” Wittry said. That belief tends to forget the fact those children have been baptized, and, consequently, the Holy Spirit is working, she said. “That work is between the Holy Spirit and the child. Why do we think we have to know what the Holy Spirit is working in them?” Brother Joseph Smith at Our Lady of Ephesus Monastery in Boise, one of the few places with Adoration especially for children, agrees. “You never know what is happening at Adoration. It’s really Jesus who is working,” and that can lead to changes in the children and parents as well, he said. Brother Johannes of Verbum Spei gives personal Benediction to children and their parents. “It’s important to tell children that it is Jesus in the Eucharist, He loves us and gives all of Himself to us, said Brother Joseph Smith, who helps lead holy hours at the monastery. “All you have to do is look at Him and love Him,” he said. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez) Brother Joseph, who was involved in his native New Zealand in a ministry to provide Adoration during missions to parishes and schools, said leading a children’s hour with Adoration at Verbum Spei is something younger brothers at the monastery enjoy doing. The experience teaches children that Adoration is an important part of the Christian life, he said. “Doing Adoration with children helps to educate them to pay attention to Jesus and to be in a peaceful state. The purpose is to know Him, so that we can love Him.” The Verbum Spei Brothers lead the children in songs and reflections during Adoration. They also use the monstrance to give personal Benedictions to each child and their parents, which allows them to approach the monstrance and see Jesus in the Eucharist face-to-face. “It’s not everywhere that you can have a place of silence and prayer, where you can go and sit and just be with Jesus,” Brother Joseph said. “If you want to really choose the faith yourself, you have to meet Jesus in a personal way.” Adoration is a way of building that intimate relationship with Jesus in simplicity, he said. ALTHOUGH MOST parents want their children to have this personal relationship with Jesus, many are concerned that Adoration does nothing for a wig-gly, giggly child who would rather blow bubbles or make mud pies. Ginger Mortensen , director of elementary faith formation at St. Mark’s in Boise, reminds parents that the Holy Spirit is at work through the Blessed Sacrament, even if parents can’t sense it. A friend of Mortensen’s was a seminarian in Slovakia who volunteered at an orphanage. “They held Adoration for the children at the church, and a little girl kept running around, making noise. He tried to take her out of the church, but she dodged him and went in line with the children for personal Benediction,” she said. “As she approached the monstrance, she became very still. As soon as the blessing was done, she ran to my friend and shouted, ‘Who is that? Who is that in there? Oh, He loves me! He loves me so much!’ ” Although the little girl did not have a grasp of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, she still experienced His presence. “Do not forget the grace of the Sacrament. The Holy Spirit is at work,” Mortensen said. “Jesus is there. He loves the children. He loves you.” Parents are often more distracting than the children with their “constant shushing” of their children, she said. Teresa Wittry , who oversees Immaculata Catholic Montesorri and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at the Cathedral, agrees that parents are too worried that their children are being noisy in Adoration. “‘If the church isn’t crying, it’s dying,’ we say at the Cathedral. Children need to be in Mass and Adoration,” she said. “The best preparation for children for Adoration is taking them to Mass,” Wittry said. Children need the foundation of the Mass in order to grasp the significance of Adoration, she said. She points out that it can be more difficult for a child who is 7 to sit still in Mass or Adoration who has never been before, than for a child who has been going since he or she was an infant. It’s important to remember that anyone can experience the Presence of Jesus in Adoration, for any length of time, Wittry said. “My teens have taken non-Catholic friends with them to Adoration. They tell their friends, ‘This is what you need to know: That’s Jesus in the monstrance, and we’re silent.’ ” Teaching children that Jesus is present in the Blessed Sacrament is simple, Wittry said. “The faith of young children is pretty profound.” TO PREPARE CHILDREN for silence, Wittry and Mortensen recommend parents play games that encourage silence, reading books to children about Mass and Adoration, and practicing rubrics, such as kneeling, genuflecting and blessing themselves with holy water. Pointing out to children that people act differently for different occasions can also help, Mortensen said. This lets children know that in some places playing and being noisy is OK, but in sacred spaces they need to be still and quiet. Knowing that Jesus is fully present in the Eucharist helps children to adore Him, but they do not need to know what transubstantiation is, Mortensen said. “They need to know He loves them. He wants to be so close to us that He found a way to make Himself small so that He could be in us, and we could be transformed into Him. And so He could give us strength,” Mortensen said. Through Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, children learn that the bread and wine become Jesus through the words of the priest and the work of the Holy Spirit. Mortensen used the example of God’s Word at Creation to explain this to children. “When God at the Creation of the world said, ‘Let there be light.’ What happened? There was light. And when Jesus, who is God, said over the bread, ‘This is my body.’ And over the wine, ‘This is my blood,’ they became His body and blood,” she said. Children then learn that the priest, who acts as the Good Shepherd, uses these special words of Christ to make the bread and wine the Body and Blood of Christ. As children grow into the teen years and ask more questions about the Real Presence, they can be given more information about transubstantiation, Mortensen said. Until then, all that suffices is to let children know that Jesus is physically with them. “He is looking at them, and they can look at Him,” she said. If going as a family to Adoration is too difficult, Mortensen recommends parents take turns taking children individually as a special time of prayer with mom or dad. Also, going to Holy Hours that are dedicated especially to children can help families be more relaxed with their children in Adoration. Sometimes bringing a special little chair or rug for the child helps them to be still, Mortensen said. They can also write or draw in a journal or look at books that are intended solely for their time in Adoration. For families new to the Church or returning to their faith, Wittry says honesty and perseverance are key. “Tell them that you know that sometimes Mass or Adoration seems boring, but that it’s important to you that you all go,” she said. Setting realistic expectations, realizing that the family is learning something new together, can also help ease tensions over Mass and Adoration, she said. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the February 24 Idaho Catholic Register. Most saints’ lives of the early centuries are hidden in legends. However, St. Perpetua, who was martyred in 203 A.D., wrote about her experiences in prison. Two others – a fellow martyr and an eyewitness to the execution – contributed to her writing, creating a little book called, “The Passion of St. Perpetua, St. Felicity and their Companions.” Perpetua’s book became so important to the early Christians that it was included in their liturgical readings. Through the centuries, the book has been valued by religious and secular historians as a unique glimpse into Ancient Rome and the Church. Vibia Perpetua, which is the full name she gives herself at the beginning of her journal, does not provide a lot of details of her early life, but historians in general agree that she was born in 181 A.D. in Carthage (modern day Tunisia). Her parents were wealthy nobles. Her indulgent father made sure she received an excellent education, which was rare in that time for women. The persecution of Christians was sporadic during Perpetua’s life. Her mother became a Christian, but her father remained a pagan. Persecutions intensified during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus (193-211). After Perpetua had married a nobleman and had her first child, she secretly attended catechesis to prepare for baptism. She never mentions her husband, only that she was married and had a nursing baby at the time of her arrest in 203. (Some historians think she was widowed; others think her husband abandoned her when she refused to recant her faith.) The reasons for her arrest and the four catechumens with her are not given, only that they were arrested for their faith. It is assumed that they were arrested during a meeting. Of her four companions, Felicity and Revocatus were slaves or servants. Saturninus and Secundulus were freemen. (In tradition, Felicity is Perpetua’s slave, but Perpetua never explicitly says that in her writing.) Before being taken to prison, Perpetua was baptized. Although she found prison terrifying, she said her greatest fears were for her infant son. Two deacons, Tertius and Pomponius, bribed the soldiers so that she and her friends would be sent to a better section of the prison that allowed them to see family. She received permission to keep her baby with her. She was so relieved, she said that the prison “suddenly became a palace.” Hilarianus, the proconsul (Roman governor) of Carthage, chose an easy path for Christians to recant their faith. He required that they only had to burn incense before an image of the Emperor in the presence of a magistrate. Hilarianus pleaded with Perpetua to recant her faith out of pity for her father and infant son. She refused. Hilarianus sentenced her to death, and her father left with her son. In her misery, she suddenly thought of her brother Dinocrates, who had died at the age of 7 from gangrene. She prayed for him and had a vision of him in a dark place, where he was filthy and parched. She began praying for him every day, until she had a vision of him clean, welldressed, and playing with joy. She knew his soul had entered heaven. (This story of her visions of her brother is historical evidence that the ancient Church prayed for the dead.) Felicity was eight months pregnant at the time of their imprisonment. Because it was illegal to kill a pregnant woman because of the innocence of her unborn baby, she could not be martyred until after she gave birth. She feared having to go to her death without her friends. Knowing that she could not escape death, her friends also worried that they would have to face martyrdom without her. They prayed together for God’s mercy and for her to deliver her baby. She then went into labor and gave birth to a daughter, whom she gave to her sister to raise. Having pity on Felicity and her companions, the prison guard allowed them to have visitors on the night before they were to be killed by wild animals in an arena. Her father came again and tried to dissuade her, but she would not recant. They held an agape (love feast), as best as they could, which was a type of meal held before (sometimes after) the Eucharist in the first through fourth centuries. They sang psalms and quoted Scripture to encourage each other. While Felicity slept, she had a dream that her true battle was with Satan, and not with the beasts. She saw that the only way to defeat Satan was to fight him as a warrior without mercy until she won. Because cows were symbols of fertility, the authorities decided to use a rabid cow to trample Perpetua and Felicity as a way of mocking their womanhood. At first they were thrown naked into the arena, but the horrified crowd, seeing their youth and that Felicity had just given birth, insisted the soldiers clothe them. When Perpetua was tossed by the cow, her tunic tore. Although she was thrown with such force that she became dazed, she still adjusted her tunic to keep her modesty. She also insisted that they bring her a pin so that she could fix her disheveled hair, which the authorities granted. It is noted in commentaries that these were not considered acts of vanity, but instead were motivated by her desire to keep her dignity and to honor her coming death for Christ. Because they had survived the cow, a soldier was sent to kill them by the sword. Perpetua was stabbed near the ribs, but the soldier hit bone, which made her scream in pain. The soldier then became too afraid to kill her. So Perpetua reached and took the point of his sword to her neck. He executed her and then killed Felicity. Perpetua and Felicity were immediately venerated as saints. Saints Perpetua and Felicity are patron saints of mothers, ranchers and butchers. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the February 11 Idaho Catholic Register. Sara Cox will begin duties as the new principal at Sacred Heart Catholic School this fall. She’s pictured with her husband, Jared, children, Stella, on the right, and Collins and very large dog Frank. (Courtesy photo/Sara Cox) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer After six months of searching, Sacred Heart Catholic School in Boise has a new principal. Sara Cox, currently a first grade teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School in Boise, is new to administration, but brings to Sacred Heart 13 years of experience as a Catholic educator. “Sacred Heart is a great fit. I can’t wait to jump in and work with the faculty and staff,” Cox said. Cox is a cradle Catholic, who comes from a family steeped in education. Her father is a teacher, and she has an aunt who is a university professor. Cox completed her degree in education at the University of Northern Iowa in 2008. She and her husband, Jared, moved to Boise in 2009. She began teaching first grade at St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Boise soon after settling in the area. In order to offer more to her first grade students, she completed a master’s degree in literacy at Boise State in 2013. Although she had not considered a role in administration, St. Joseph administrators encouraged her to look into a career in leadership. As she prayed about it, she was given more leadership opportunities within her role as a teacher. With encouragement from her community, she decided to go back to Boise State for a master’s degree in educational leadership, graduating in 2020. “I graduated right when COVID hit. So I decided to wait a little bit to take that jump into leadership. I wanted to wait for an opportunity for a position that felt right. Sacred Heart hit that spot,” she said. Although she believes that there is great value in public education, she loves bringing faith and education together in Catholic schools, she said. “I love the aspect of being able to incorporate our faith with our kids every day in our classrooms,” she said. “At St. Joe’s, the staff gets together and prays for each other. I think this really builds a feeling of family within the community.” To help children grow in Catholic morals and values adds greatly to the educational experience, she said. Cox will continue as a first grade teacher at St. Joseph’s School until the end of the school year. However, she is also using this semester to spend time getting to know Sacred Heart’s faculty and staff. John Loffer, interim principal for Sacred Heart, is helping her transition so that she can start the new school year strong. “They are a true family at Sacred Heart. It encompasses that whole aspect of why Catholic education is so important and why I really believe in Catholic education,” Cox said. “I’m very humbled and honored that Sacred Heart is willing to take a risk on me.” Cox and her family are looking forward to becoming members of the Sacred Heart community by joining the parish. “I’ve been encouraged a lot along the way. So I really owe it to the people that I’ve worked with for helping and giving me that strength,” she said. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

Spiritual retreat leads Father Francisco Godínez to make some major life choices The following story appeared in the February 11 Idaho Catholic Register. By Vero Gutierrez Staff Writer FRUITLAND – In the first hours after arriving at a retreat to which a friend had invited him, Francisco Godínez thought to himself, “Someone get me out of here!” Although he says he initially wanted to run from the retreat as the hours progressed, he realized that something was transforming inside him. Francisco was about 17 at the time and, he said, would never have even thought of being a priest. His goal 25 years ago was to be an accounting auditor. Midway through his accounting studies, one of his female classmates who was attracted to him invited him to the retreat. His family was astonished to learn that he had agreed to participate in the spiritual retreat because when he went to Mass it was only to please his mother. Religion was not on his list of priorities. As the retreat began, he was deter-mined not to participate, not to go to confession nor to Eucharist because he had been away from the sacraments for a long time. “It’s funny because it wasn’t even the end of the first day of the retreat, and I already wanted to run away from that place,” said Father Godínez. “However, I had an unhealthy motivation that helped me stay there.” That motivation, he said, was the delicious food and spontaneous fun with friends. However, he recalls being impressed by the powerful prayer to bless the food. “I had never done anything like this before in my family,” he said, “but I found so much meaning in giving thanks to God because He has given us food to feed us. That definitely ap-pealed to me. It was the first time I felt like giving thanks to God.” He also recalled experiencing a real conversion during a Mass on this retreat, which was called, “Journey of the Christian Life.” “When I received Communion, it was the first time that I experienced what it means to be at peace with God,” he said “They asked us to write a letter, which I still keep. I didn’t know it at the time, but that letter marked a change in me that would last the rest of my life.” Reading the Bible, sometime after the retreat, Father Godínez came across Matthew 10:37: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.” “I was trying to discern what was happening, because that biblical passage was disturbing,” said Father Godínez because he knew he might have to make a choice of his faith or his family. “I spoke with a friend who told me, ‘Maybe God is calling you to something else.’ ” No longer able to concentrate on his classes at the university, he decided to do a discernment retreat at Morelia Seminary in his native Mexico. He found that he was happy at the seminary. His life had indeed changed. He was no longer criticizing priests but was instead defending them. After a few setbacks at the seminary in Morelia, a friend invited him to join him in the United States. Father Godínez first came to Idaho in September 2002. Before he could resume his seminary studies, he studied English full-time with classes in the morning at Boise State University and personal tutoring in the afternoon. Having already completed his Philosophy studies at Conception Seminary in Mexico, he completed his Theology courses at Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon. Diocese of Boise Bishop Michael Driscoll allowed him to be ordained a deacon by Bishop Carlos Suárez Cáza-rez, in his hometown of La Piedad, Michoacán. He was ordained a priest a year later, on June 10, 2010, by Bishop Driscoll at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Since his ordination, Father Godínez, many times affectionally referred to as “Father Pako,” has served at St. Pius X in Coeur d’Alene, St. Nicholas in Rupert and currently at Corpus Christi in Fruitland. At St. Pius X in Coeur d’Alene, he worked to unite the Anglo and Latino communities by starting the Virgin of Guadalupe festivities and the international food festival so that parishioners could enjoy the cultural richness of different countries. At St. Nicholas in Rupert, he helped create new groups and ministries such as the Daughters of the Sacred Heart, Nocturnal Adoration, and the Guadalupanas, a group dedicated to caring for the sick. While at St. Nicholas, he left for two years to study Canon Law at St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada. His degree in canon law has been helpful in processing annulment cases for the Latino community in the Diocese of Boise, especially those who are not fluent in reading or writing English. “Before issuing a verdict as a judge, I ask the Holy Spirit for His intervention so that He is the one who makes the final decision (in an annulment case),” Father Godínez said. “I trust that under His inspiration, His will and not mine will be done.” Father Godínez stressed that in his vocation he has learned to work in humility and that God can do great things if we allow Him to do so. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the January 27 Idaho Catholic Register. By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Saint Hyacintha (in Italian, “Giacinta”) Marescotti (some spell this, “Mariscotti”) is among the Counter-Reformation saints, despite the fact that she was not a theologian or an academic. She was born 22 years after the final session of the Council of Trent, which implemented the reforms for the Church’s response to the heresies and challenges of the Protestant Reformation. The devotion to Eucharistic Adoration made popular by St. Philip Neri and St. Francis de Sales became a hallmark of her ministry. Pope Benedict XVI said her encouragement of Eucharistic Adoration “gave life to institutions and projects for prisoners and social outcasts.” She was born to a noble family on March 6, 1585 and baptized Clarice at a castle at Vignanello, Italy, near the city of Viterbo. She was the second of three daughters and the most free-spirited. Although she seemed to have a love for Jesus and the Church when she was a young child, as she grew older, she became more and more self-indulgent. Her parents sent her and her sisters to a convent for their education. Clarice muddled through the convent training, obeying the rules outwardly, but her longing was go to go back to life at court. It was recorded that when she was 17 her life was miraculously spared in an accident. Despite this providential intervention, Clarice preferred to live life with nominal faith. How-ever, her older sister decided to become a nun. When she was 20, she became infatuated with a handsome young nobleman. He had great wealth and influence; whoever married him would be guaranteed an opulent life. However, he did not want to marry Clarice. Instead, he fell in love with Clarice’s younger sister. When her younger sister married the nobleman, Clarice was furious. She became petulant, moody, demanding and impossible to live with. Her parents decided to place her in a Franciscan convent, but as a Third Order layperson, not a Religious Sister. Clarice escaped back to her home, begging to stay. Seeing that she had no change of heart, her father took her back. However, he gave her a generous allowance and showered her with gifts to encourage her to stay at the convent. For at least 10 years, Clarice (who, at her tertiary vows took the name “Hyacintha,” most likely after St. Hyacinth of Poland) lived as a noble-woman among the religious. Her quarters were two large rooms, comfortably furnished and suitable for entertaining guests. Without seeking permission, she visited friends. A servant brought her food to supplement the strict Franciscan diet so that she would not be hungry and could enjoy the delicacies made for nobility. Her only acts of obedience were to pray and eat with the community when she was at the convent. When her Confessor, taking Communion to her on a day that she was mildly ill, saw the luxurious state of her quarters and all the food she kept stored, he told her she needed to repent and that her disobedient presence at the convent was helping only the devil. Clarice agreed to repent, but grudgingly. Not keeping to her word to obey the Franciscan Rule, Sister Hyacintha soon became gravely ill. During her suffering, she had a true conversion of heart. She begged St. Catherine of Siena to help her be holy. After a thorough Confession, she professed her sins to the other Sisters. After that, Sister Hyacintha committed herself to living a holy life of service. Her love of Jesus in the Eucharist fueled her passion to love others and help the sick, the incarcerated, the poor and the outcasts. Through her encouragement, devotion to Eucharistic Adoration spread, especially in the practice of “40 Hours Devotion,” which is perpetual Adoration for 40 hours, usually celebrated before the start of Ash Wednesday, but can be celebrated at any time as a part of spiritual revival. During a plague outbreak, she courageously tended to the sick. She also created charitable groups (“confraternities”) for laity. Members of these groups were officially called, “Oblates of Mary,” but the townsfolk called them “Sacconi,” for the large sacks they used to collect funds and items for prisoners and the poor. She died at 54, on Jan. 30, 1640. Locally, she was known as a saint, but she was not canonized until 1807. At her canonization, it was said that more souls were converted by her than many of the popular preachers of her time. She has no official patronage. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the January 13 Idaho Catholic Register. By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Although St. Timothy never wrote anything that we know of and was not known for any theological insights, his example of humble and loving leadership has been an inspiration since the first century. In Philippians 2:20-22, St. Paul said of Timothy, “For I have no one comparable to him for genuine interest in whatever concerns you. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know his worth, how as a child with a father he served along with me in the cause of the gospel.” Despite this honor given to St. Timothy, his life’s story is known only through piecing together scripture and tradition. It is believed Timothy (whose name means “honoring God”) was born around 17 A.D. His mother, Eunice, was Jewish. His father (whose name we don’t know) was Greek. It is not known whether his father died early in his life or abandoned the family. Despite not being circumcised according to Jewish law, Timothy was raised in the Jewish scriptures (most likely the Greek Septuagint), and Paul mentions that his mother and grandmother, Lois, shared their faith with him. Traditionally, Paul met Timothy and his family during his first missionary journey to Lystra (now a part of Turkey) in about the year 48. Because Paul called Timothy his “child in the faith” and his “beloved child,” some scholars agree with the tradition that Timothy, with his mother and grandmother, converted during Paul’s first visit. However, Acts does not mention Timothy joining in Paul’s ministry until Paul’s second visit to Lystra, three years later (Acts 16:1-3). Before Timothy accompanied Paul in his missionary work, Paul insisted that Timothy be circumcised. Although Paul condemned circumcision as being unnecessary to the Christian faith in several of his epistles, he did not object to circumcision for Jews. Paul had Timothy circumcised, not as a requirement for salvation but to help Jewish audiences be more open to Timothy’s testimony since he was well-known for having a Jewish mother. Timothy worked with Paul for 17 years. He is mentioned as a co-sender of six of Paul’s epistles: 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians and Philemon. Timothy accompanied Paul frequently including to Ephesus, Macedonia, Corinth, and Asia Minor. He also worked with Silas at Beroea and Thessalonica. He was sent by Paul on pastoral visits to the Corinthians, Philippians and Thessalonians. Timothy was with Paul at Jerusalem, but after Paul’s imprisonment, he went to Ephesus. At Paul’s request (2 Tim. 4:21), Timothy visited Paul in Rome, while he was in prison. We don’t know when Timothy was ordained “by the laying on of hands” by Paul (1 Tim. 4:14, 2 Tim. 1:6). However, scholars interpret the epistles of Paul to convey that Timothy had great compassion and concern for those under his pastoral care. Timothy was ordained the first Bishop of Ephesus, most likely before Paul’s death in 65 A.D., since the letters to Timothy are addressed to him while he was in Ephesus. (Although there is scholarly debate about the authorship of the epistles to Timothy, some scholars side with tradition that Paul is their original author due to the letters’ personal nature.) Timothy himself was imprisoned and released, though it is uncertain when or where (Hebrews 13:23). Traditionally, it is believed that he was shy by nature, which is why Paul told the Corinthians to be sure Timothy was “put at ease” (1 Cor. 16:10). He also needed the exhortation from Paul, “Let no one have contempt for your youth” (1Tim. 4:12). Timothy had stomach problems and was frequently ill, for which Paul recommended drinking some wine (1 Tim. 5:23). Despite being intro-verted and suffering from poor health, Timothy persevered in his call to missionary work and ministry. In 97 A.D., he was martyred when he tried to stop a pagan celebration of the goddess Diana. In the fourth century, his relics were transferred to Constantinople (now Istanbul). St. Timothy is the patron saint of those with stomach ailments. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.