BOISE, IDAHO – On the occasion of the canonization of Saint Pope Paul VI and the 50th anniversary of the publication of Humanae Vitae, the Diocese of Boise held a “Growing a Culture of Life Symposium” on October 19-20, 2018. The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, Pocatello, were involved in the planning of the symposium and led Morning Prayer on the second day of the conference. Sister John Mary Sullivan, FSE, of Vancouver, BC, presented the first talk on Saturday morning to the conference participants. Her topic, “Made in the Image of Love: A Biblical Understanding of the Human Person,” was “an overview of some of the key Scripture passages that reveal to us an understanding of the dignity of the human person, made in the image and likeness of God who is Love.” Sister John Mary is a Life, Marriage and Family Program Specialist for the Archdiocese of Vancouver.
Franciscan Apprentices (lay associates of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist) presented breakout sessions on Saturday afternoon. Ruth Hayes-Barba, a therapist and marriage and family life educator, Portland, Oregon, spoke on “Humanae Vitae through the Life Cycle: Clinical and Pastoral Perspectives.” David and Wendy Behrend of Boise, educators and parents, presented “Blessings from Humanae Vitae.”
Jay Wonacott, Director of the Marriage and Family Life Office for the Diocese of Boise, and Sister John Mary at the conference.