The Monastery Of The Ascension is a community of fifteen Benedictine monks which has been in Southern Idaho since 1965. We live a life of prayer, work and reading accordng to the Rule of St. Benedict and try to serve the Catholic Church and the people of southern Idaho through various ministries which include parochial work, retreats, teaching and scholarship, ecumenical activities, counseling and spiritual direction, and social service.

Oblate Autobiographies

Some Oblates have written short autobiographies for inclusion with this manual. If you would care to be included in future editions, please submit a short paragraph or two. Your entry may be edited for length.

Mike and Pat Baker
We are Catechists at Holy Rosary Church where we teach second grade Religious Education, and help prepare the children for their First Reconciliation and First Communion. We are Eucharistic Ministers and actively participate in other church functions. We attend R.C.I.A. classes to learn more about our church and be available as sponsors when needed. We are also active in two prayer groups. Mike is a First Degree Knight of Columbus.

Joretta Burke
From childhood I have been interested in religious affiliation. When my husband Victor passed away in 1998, I attended a B.E. weekend and was impressed by the monks, especially Fr. Meinrad and Fr. Boniface. In August of that year I began my novitiate to become an Oblate, and made my final profession in 1999. My life has come full circle. I have had a good man’s love through marriage; have five children, fourteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Now as an Oblate of St. Benedict at the Monastery of the Ascension, my life has come full circle. I have had the best of all worlds.

Patty (Jutta of Huy ) Button
I have been blessed with a very full and rich life in my 46 years on this earth (as of 2002.) I have raised five beautiful children and am now a grandma. Grandmahood is absolutely terrific! I have worked as a registered nurse for 26 years and currently work for a home health agency. I also run a small adult family home in which I live with and care for adults with special needs. I first became aware of the Oblate program in 1981 while attending the Ministerial Development Program at the Priory. I started my novitiate shortly thereafter. I primarily attend prayer and Mass at the monastery although I consider St. Edwards my parish home. For fun I enjoy hiking, bird watching and gardening. Some of my hobbies are pottery, stained glass, and sewing.

Sam & Menna Cespedes
We are originally from the Island of Guam. We learned about and experienced the Monastery on two occasions through the Elderhostel Program -- the experience has brought us closer. We like to think of the Monastery as family.

Howard and Marlene Clark
We were married July 14, 1950 in the Church of the Pines at Macks Inn, Idaho. We have three children: Janet Clark living at home, Tauna (Jim) Davidson of Idaho Falls, and Dr. Clinton H. (Shelly) Clark of Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii. Also four grandchildren. Howard is a retired postmaster, and Marlene is still employed by Christ the King as coordinator of music and principal organist. We made our Oblation together in 1995.

Lynn A. Dolechek
My search for the Lord has been an ongoing need within me. I was a candidate several years ago at Cottonwood . However this was not easy for me due to my working schedule and the distance was just to far. When I learned that I could join the Benedictines at Jerome I was delighted. Most of all the wonderful community met once a month and at last I found a niche. I am employed at Sacred Heart Church in Boise. I have been working there for 13 years. I am the director of RCIA. A wonderful ministry. Full of surprises that the Holy Spirit brings each year. My husband Donald & I are parents of four grown children, and proud grandparents of six grandchildren. We relish in the role of grandparent. We moved to Pocatello Idaho in 1978 and lived there for 10 years . My husband was transferred to Boise in 1988 . We find Boise to be a good place to live and our life has most certainly been full. God sent us to the right place, we are blessed to be in the Catholic Community of Sacred Heart Church.

Jennie Ferrell
I am a retired early childhood teacher and school counselor. My first graduate degree was in human development, my second masters in counseling. I am ever fascinated with observing whether persons, cultures, art, nations follow a somewhat predictable sequence of developmental stages: moral, intellectual, creative, and spiritual, and how that manifests in these various entities. My own relationship with the Mystery is personal, passionate, and ultimately sustaining. By the way, I am one of the Protestant oblates, influenced by Kathleen Norris’ writings. My life experience is also enriched by a husband, three children, seven grandchildren, and exploring the natural beauty of Oregon.

Marypat Fields
Although I always considered myself a part of the Monastery extended family I did not make my final oblation until August of 2001. I am a member of St. Elizabeth's Church in Gooding and serve as a Reader and Eucharistic Minister. I am thankful for the sense of community which praying the liturgy of the hours gives me. My spiritual goal for 2002 is to more fully embrace Lectio Divina.

Ken and Irene Godbout
We belong to St. Mark’s parish. We are retired and do volunteer services at the Crisis Center, and have volunteered at Lourdes, France at the shrine for ten years. We have five children and fifteen grandchildren, some of whom live nearby for us to enjoy. Being an Oblate is a blessed gift to us.

Fran Golding
I am a Professor of Biology at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls. Born in 1946 in Southern California, where I attended schools until my MS in Biology was completed. Moved to Idaho to teach at CSI in 1971. I received my Ph.D. in 1991 from the University of Idaho. I have taught all these years (thirty-two as of 2002) at CSI. I have two sons Tom Golding 25, attending BSU, and Chaz Golding 15, a ninth grader at Robert Stuart Junior High, and an oblate novice too.

Toby and Ann Grindstaff
Toby and I became oblates in l996 at Jerome. We are members of St. Mark's parish in Boise. We are in the process of building a new church, as our numbers keep growing. Toby and I began our life together at the ripe old age of 13! “Going 'steady' is what they called it back then. We grew up in Jerome, moving to Boise for college. We have been married 46 years, four kids, seven grandkids, and at the moment one very spoiled little white dog-person that runs this place! Our spiritual journey has taken a few turns, but hopefully always headed in the right direction. We feel becoming oblates has enriched our lives. We try to make one retreat a year and that always is a highlight for us. We leave the monastery with many thoughts and ideas to digest. Each one seems to have something that we need to hear. Being able to have a relationship with the monks and a beautiful setting for these quiet times is such a blessing in our lives. We are looking forward to our next weekend getaway and meeting new and old oblate friends.

George Hardy
I was born to Morgan and Grace Hardy in St. Elizabeth Hospital in Baker City, OR on December 2, 1928. I was raised by my parents on my grandparents’ cattle ranch near Unity, OR. I married JoAnne Stiff on December 30, 1954. My wife and I raised our 6 children, 3 girls and 3 boys, on this same ranch. Our ranch was one of the century ranches in Baker County. We sold half the ranch in 1998 and moved to the upper half where we are semi-retired.

JoAnne Hardy
I was born at home in Baker City, OR to Earl and Clarice Stiff on December 4, 1935. While going to high school I worked at the Rexall Drug Store. After graduating in May, 1954, I met George Hardy who was a Catholic. I took instructions from Fr. Moore and Fr. Hayes so I would know something about the Catholic faith. I joined the Church on the 19th of December and George and I were married on the 30th in 1954. I went from being a city girl to a rancher’s wife and a Catholic. We held Mass in our home, where it had been held for many years, till our first child was born. It was then that St. Joseph’s Catholic Church was built. I have played the organ and led the singing for 44 years. I was postmaster of Unity for 22 years before retiring in 1999.

Pauline Harper
I am now 80 years old (2002). I have retired from many of my former activities, but my church is still and always will be very important to me. I would like to me more active at the Priory. Therefore, please keep me posted of Oblate activities and call me if I can help in the bookstore or other places.

Karen Harville
I was raised in Wishram, Washington, educated and graduated from Western Washington State College with a Master’s Degree from Western Michigan University in the area of speech-language pathology. I am married, my husband’s name is Dick. We have no children, but are host parents for international students through the Georgia Rotary Student Program, with a new student each school year. My husband is a consultant, aiding communities and municipalities with water and waste water management. I was raised Catholic, became an Oblate in 1989. The Benedictine approach to God, Christianity, and God’s people appeals to me as the way we can best look at the world around us. Although I live away from the Monastery of the Ascension, it has and does affect my life every day. Being an Oblate has added a wonderful dimension to my life as a physical and spiritual being.

Catherine Haynes
By His grace, I was directed to Ascension Priory where I began studying for my final Oblation, which took place January 12, 1991. My life has been richly blessed by knowing our Benedictine brothers, and my Oblate sisters and brothers. The Rule provides firm guidance for me within the structure of our Church, and expanse of my faith. A great blessing is the privilege of volunteering at the monastery. I am currently helping a bit where needed, mostly in the business office. I have one child, Autumn, whose beautiful spirit brightens my life.

Shirley Henderson
I moved to the Sun Valley area from Southern California in 1997 and became an Oblate of the Monastery of the Ascension two years later, soon after my first visit to this inspiring, spiritual oasis.

Dottie Henning
Dorothy Kitsch was born “too long ago” and married Richard Henning in 1943. They had five children born in New York and Maryland before moving to the Magic Valley in 1963. She worked at CSI for 17 years before retiring in 1985. That same year, Dottie began studying for her final Oblation, which took place in 1988. For several years she served as a faithful volunteer at Ascension, and today attends daily Mass faithfully when she can.

Jane Houston
I was born and raised in the Caldwell, Idaho, area, and have lived and worked in Boise my entire adult life. I’m a reference/research librarian for the Idaho State Library. I’m an active member of Boise First Presbyterian Church and one of the few Protestant oblates of the Monastery of the Ascension. I came to the oblate program after visiting the monastery during a church retreat and then reading Kathleen Norris’s book, The Cloister Walk.

Brenda Kezerle
I was born Brenda Kay Reilly in Baker City, OR December 16, 1967, and raised in Hereford, OR where I graduated high school in 1986. I moved to Louisiana in 1987 after meeting my husband Anthony. We were married February 14, 1988. We moved back to Hereford in 1989 to raise our family, where we currently reside with our five children, named Clayton, Richard, Celina, Rustin, and Kelsie.

Anita Koehn
I was born in a small farming community in Kansas into a family of two brothers and one sister. Our family has grown and I now have five nieces and one nephew. After high school, I attended McPherson College, a Church of the Brethren liberal arts college in Kansas, and graduated with a BA in Biology. After finishing my bachelor’s degree I spent a year in southern Germany studying forestry and continued on with those studies at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. Since graduate school I have been employed doing research in various areas of science. My favorite things to do are reading, snowshoeing, and generally being outdoors.

Sally Langley
I have been richly blessed with my decision to become an Oblate. I made my final oblation in 2000. I am a member of St. Michael’s Episcopal Cathedral in Boise and another part of my spiritual journey has been the practice of Centering Prayer. I have continued, also, in taking icon painting seminars and have a scheduled time of painting every week. Flower gardening is another way I feed my soul with the wonders of God’s creation. Every now and again I travel to Seattle, WA to share time with my son, his wife, and our grandson. We moved our daughter to Colorado Springs in August of 2002, where she is teaching. My husband is working only 2 days a week and enjoys sailing on our boat once a month in Seattle. I love to fish, but have not been very successful this year!

Lucy Lish
I have been married to Verl R. Lish for close to fifty years. I am a very strong Catholic and attend daily Masses. I am very fond of the Benedictine Order, and thank God for helping me to be an Oblate. I am a U.S.A. naturalized citizen, born in Costa Rica on October 14, 1922. Please keep us in your prayers.

Janey McGarry
I have worked for 26 years in the ICU at St. Alphonsus in Boise. I have been single for the last 14 years, and have two grown children, Katy and Thom. For many years I had been interested in becoming involved in some way as a lay person with a religious order. I was first introduced to the Oblates by Ginny Fontes. I knew I wanted to move further ahead in my spiritual life and I feel God led me, through Ginny, to the Monastery of the Ascension. With monastery so close, and knowing Fr. Hugh from various classes I had taken from him, it was an easy choice to make. I made my Oblation in August, 2001. I feel privileged to be a part of the Monastery of the Ascension, and to have met the wonderful people with whom I have become affiliated. God’s greatest blessings to you as we make our spiritual journey together.

Freddie Nikoloff
I was born, raised trilingual, and received primary and secondary schooling in Czechoslovakia; earned my Master’s Degree in linguistics at the University of Leipzig, Germany; acquired fluency in eight languages. Served five years in the Intelligence Corps of the British Army. In 1950 emigrated with my mother and husband (as political refugees) to the U.S. I worked sixteen years for Cornell University teaching and translating. After my husband’s transfer from New York to California I continued scientific translations for Cornell, Case Western, USDA, etceteras, and have continued to pursue my career in Idaho. I made my final oblation in February, 1984. Striving to live according to the Rule of St. Benedict is the apotheosis of my spiritual journey. Having surrendered to God (a lifetime process) I consider myself the richest, happiest creature on earth. At this stage of my 'maturity’ I could summarize my life as follows: I read and I write, I sing and I hike, I travel to live, and I live to travel … and still so many mountains to climb!

John and Letitia O’Hagan
We have been Oblates of the Monastery of the Ascension since 1990. We have been married for forty years, and have six children and (at last count) 17 grandchildren. John works for the Idaho Hospital Association, and Letitia is a full time wife, mother, and grandmother.

Susan J. Pohl
I was born and raised in Connecticut by a good Lutheran family and went to Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. I got a master's degree from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA and taught first grade for 4 years outside of Allentown. While filling in as organist at a small Presbyterian church in Slatington, PA, I met and later married a Presbyterian and became one myself. We lived in Dillsburg, PA; Denver, CO; Lafayette, IN; and Boise, ID, with Boise being my all-time favorite. We had 3 children, all of whom are wonderful and one of whom is autistic. My husband divorced me in '92 and I returned to the teaching field, this time in the area of music and, happily, at 2 Catholic schools (St. Mary's and St. Mark's in Boise). God has provided for me and my family in very clear ways, for which I am grateful. One of the blessings in my life is that of being an oblate. Although I'm still Presbyterian, my daughter claims I'm "mostly Catholic" and I thoroughly enjoy my in-between status. Thanks to my fellow-oblates and to the monks at the Monastery of the Ascension for inspiring me to live a more God-centered life.

Maria A. Rebbert
Born 1953 in Ottawa, Canada, but raised in the U.S.(Washington, D.C.) cradle catholic. Received a BA in French from Georgetown University, Ph.D. in French from The Catholic University of America with a specialization in the Middle Ages. Currently I teach French at Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI. I have taught in the CCD program for 2 years, and am currently a sponsor in the parish RCIA program. Interests include hiking, folk and square dancing. Met Fr. Hugh at an NEH Seminar on medieval manuscripts and thus became connected with Ascension Monastery. There is no Benedictine monastery close to me, so I'm very grateful to be allowed to join the Oblates at Ascension Monastery in spite of the distance. I hope to attend an oblate retreat in the not too distant future at the monastery.

Tish Ryan
I was born Letitia K. Hays in Monroe City, MO on July 31, 1927. I had 3 sisters and 1 brother. I was married to Leland Ryan on May 1, 1947. We moved to the San Francisco area and lived there 25 years. All nine children were born in California. Two sons deceased in 1986 and 1989. Leland and I divorced in 1972 and I moved to Middleton, Idaho with my five younger children. My ministry involvement includes coordinating groups for Separated and Divorced Catholics, and I was instrumental in the Beginning Experience Ministry in the State. I served as Director-Coordinator of Ministry Development Program in the State of Idaho. I’ve been deeply involved in education about HIV/AIDS in both the junior and senior high school levels, and at universities. I’ve also served the annual retreat for people living with AIDS at the Monastery of the Ascension for 9 years. My Oblate profession was made in 1984.

Bob and Peg Sass
We were married a couple of weeks after Pearl Harbor. It took five jobs (and five children) and nearly eight years before we found a way to get to Twin Falls, Idaho. Lucky us. The biggest discovery was the Priory just a couple of blocks from home. We were part of the procession from Falls Avenue to the present hilltop, and became Oblates in the first group on May 26, 1984. St. Benedict’s led to MDP and Cursillo and diaconate program. Our spirituality became something real and it has continued to develop through various programs and retreats. We thank our Lord and the monks of Ascension Monastery for all the benefits we have received.

India Sener
I was born in the badlands of Montana and raised in Boise. As an adult, I lived in California for 30 years, and returned to Boise in 1996. My husband Joseph is an Assistant Professor of Engineering at Boise State University. I am an RN who until recently was a hospice nurse. In 2002 I completed my BSN and now teach in the nursing department at BSU, work part-time doing quality assurance at Life’s Doors Hospice, and am the Coordinator of the Parish Nurse Ministry at St. John’s Cathedral. I also sing in the choir and serve on the Stewardship Council. I became an Oblate in 1998, and converted to Catholicism in 2000, which has been a great blessing in my life. I do all that can in my local community to practice ‘hospitality of the heart,” and I consider being an Oblate a great gift and privilege.

Carolyn Sessa
I am a member of Our Lady of the Snows in Sun Valley. Taught CCD for five years, and was on the core committee for renewal. I have two children two stepchildren, and four grandchildren. My husband is a pilot. I have also been a hospice volunteer for three years.

June Shira
I have been a member of St. Joseph’s Parish in Unity, Oregon for 42 years. I have four grown children, 1 son, 3 daughters and seven grandchildren, ages from 6 years to 20 years (as of 2002.) I was married to a wonderful man until he passed away just 4 months after our 45th anniversary in 2001. I retired from the U.S. Forest Service in 1996 after 22 years of service.

June St. James-Poufs
As several brother and sister Oblates know, on July 14th of 2001, I married Dr. R. William (Bill) Pfouts, retired professor of Economics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. That meant moving across the country, but the spiritual connection and love for Oblates of Monastery of the Ascension remains intact. Due to circumstances I was not able to make my final profession until December, 2001, and it was here, in Chapel Hill. Within the next few months, the Holy Spirit led me into a new work of helping to carry out the intentions of Our Blessed Mother, as a member of a very small Cenacle Prayer Group of the Marian Movement of Priests. The more I pray, the more I am aware of the on-going journey and difficulties of dying to self in order to live for and through Him. Yet this is what Our Lord, Jesus and His Blessed Mother, ask....to simply "do whatever He tells you" she said. I am looking forward to having a guide in hand (Oblate Manual) to live more closely an Oblate life.

Mary Walker
Mary Walker was born in New York City not far from the Twin Towers, where immigrant women went to have their babies. Soon after she moved with her family to Brooklyn, where she got her early education and religious training. She attend the Juilliard School of Music and Baden Conservatory in Germany studying opera. However, in order to make a living she went downtown and worked on Broadway in shows like Carousel, Finian’s Rainbow, Brigadoon, etc. She also worked in repertory where she learned her craft. She was a pioneer in television having done the first coast-to-coast show with Paul Whiteman from New York to California. Mary had a nightclub act all over the east coast. She enjoyed her career, but one night stood on a bare stage and asked herself if this was the life she wanted to live from then on. She had replaced the star in a Broadway show and was starting to be recognized. Her decision was that she wanted to marry and have children, something she had refused until that night. Shortly after that she was in a show where the producers wanted some men making noise and singing off stage. The Harvard employment office was called. One tall westerner after another walked in, Lloyd Walker among them. He was the perfect stage-door Johnie and waited for her every night. He was attending the Harvard Law School, and nearly flunked out due to his assiduous courting. They were married one year later, and had four children. Realizing that the Magic Valley had no theatre or music, Mary helped to form the Dilettante Group of Magic Valley. Since she had performed Carousel many times in summer stock she gave the actors the original Ruban Mamoulian staging. It was a hit. Mary then performed in several other shows. By this time she and her husband were very involved in Democratic politics. Lloyd was State Chairman and ran the John Kennedy campaign in Idaho. They were a busy couple, which took its tole on the marriage. They were divorced after thirty years of marriage but remained friends until he died. Mary lives in her Twin Falls home, very much involved with the Church. She was an original Oblate when they formed.

Lynn Webster
I was born in Michigan, and graduated from college and graduate school in Chicago. I moved to Idaho in 1984 to teach art at Albertson College of Idaho. I became involved in the Oblate program through my interest in medieval books of hours. My art reflects my personal interpretations of the liturgy of hours. My roots are in the reformed tradition, but I see this monastery as a place that unites peoples of faith.

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The Monastery Of The Ascension 541 East–100 South Jerome, ID 83338 208-324-2377 Would you like more information? Or just want to drop us a note? We would be happy to attempt to answer. It would be nice just to know that someone has looked at this Web Site!