The Third Order of St. Dominic in Idaho, or also known as the Idaho Lay Dominicans, focuses on the Truth of the Catholic Faith, in an effort to understand it and live it, by reading, learning and imitating Our Lord, with St. Dominic as our spiritual father, and St. Thomas Aquinas as our guide, in our prayers and study to pursue the truth, and in sharing our contemplation with others.  It is all in the effort to seek and discover the True, the Good, and the Beautiful, in lifting our hearts and minds up to God in this life, with the firm faith and hope to share, love, and live with Him in the next.

In October 1997, the Blessed Margaret of Castello Chapter was initiated when Stephanie DeNinno, Mark Gross, Gayle Boyer and John Keenan met together to forming a Dominican chapter in Boise.  The Chapter has continued to meet every succeeding month since that date.  The Chapter was formed at the encouragement, teaching, inspiration, and persistent guidance of Fr. Bart de la Torre, O.P.  

In October of 1998, the Chapter held its initial formal meeting as a chapter-in-formation with 14 people in attendance, that included Fr. George Matanic, O.P.—the provincial promoter of the lay people in the Western United States at the time.

From 1998, the Chapter focused on formation and the pillars of Dominican life, which includes Prayer, Study, Preaching, and Community, a formation that is an ever-refreshing inquiry into the life of Jesus Christ and the Order of Preachers. In 1998, the Chapter elected Stephanie DeNinno as its prioress and its first leader. She served in that capacity each year through 2004.

In July 2004, the Holy Name of Jesus (Western Dominican) Province admitted the Chapter formally named for Blessed Margaret of Castello, the only Dominican presence in Idaho at the time and continuing thereafter. On August 15, 2004, twelve members were perpetually professed into the Order which became the foundation of the Order in Idaho.

In 2004, Mark Gross was elected prior, serving two terms until 2010. Kathleen Schuck (d. June 9, 2012) was elected in 2010 and serve as prioress until 2012. She was succeeded by Carolyn Reese in 2012. Carolyn served in that capacity until 2016 whereupon Leslie Fitzpatrick was elected as prior. He served until April 2018 and upon retirement, he and his wife, Bonnie began to travel. The Council elected John Keenan as the prior in June 2018 who continues to serve in that capacity presently. Elections to the Chapter council and officers occur every three eyars.  Elections were held in September 2019. The offices on the Council include prior(ess), subprior(ess), secretary, treasurer, hospitality, and LPC representative and one at-large member. Novices, temporarily- and perpetually-professed members are eligible to nominated officers and temporarily- and perpetually-professed members are eligible to vote.

Over the years, the Chapter has held various colloquia, or conferences, on various relevant subjects, including indulgences in 2001, the Holy Eucharist in 2004, the Blessed Virgin Mary in 2005, and the social doctrine of the Catholic Church in 2015.

Members of the Chapter have served in various responsible positions on the Lay Provincial Council (“LPC”) for the Holy Name of Jesus (Western Dominican) Province. These include Mark Gross as the editor of the Truth be Told newsletter from 2007 until 2018; Mike Turner served as the LPC treasurer for a three year term until 2018; Carolyn Reese presently serves as the store promoter for the provincial religious goods store (www.stdominicsstore.com); and, John Keenan has served in two provincial offices, that presently includes vice president. Ken Jercha is the current LPC Representative.

The object of the Chapter is formation in Christ in the tradition and charisms of St. Dominic; along with prayer, study, and fellowship. In building the members of a Chapter, it is necessary to remain focused on the pillars of the Order, along with the Scriptures, the Catechism, the VII documents and other essential Church writings. We recall well too, that members of the Order become like a true family over time. Formation is the process by which members begin to think like Dominicans, develop a Christian worldview, and develop a deeper understanding of Dominican Spirituality as part of the greater Catholic Faith. The formation director is tasked with developing a curriculum that focuses the Chapter on formation and study. 

The initial level of commitment to the Order is the postulant, asking the question whether the Order is right for them; and, after much prayer and attendance, it becomes apparent that the Order of Preachers is home; the second level is called a novice, one who is new to the Order, learning the traditions, spirit, and the purposes of the Order. The next step is temporarily-professed and finally perpetually professed members. The Chapter holds professions every October, with a Dominican friar., to profess and receive people into the Dominican Order.

The worldwide Order of Preachers is divided into geographic provinces, with four in the United States.   The Boise-based chapter is affiliated with the Holy Name of Jesus Province which makes up most of the Western United Sates. The Chapter has a seat on the LPC and is represented at its annual council meeting the first weekend of August, often the closest to the feast day of +St. Dominic, on August 8 of each year. These meetings are held at St. Albert’s Prior in Oakland, CA.

The Chapter necrology can be found on this website.  Here.  May the souls of the Dominican faithful of the Boise Chapter, rest in peace and may eternal light shine upon them! It is an historical Dominican tradition to pray for, and make small sacrifices for those lay members of the Order who have died and gone before us in the friendship of God.  

As the Chapter commences its third decade, may the Lord grant the Saint Margaret of Castello Chapter, its focus on propagating the work of Christ in our lives and of our family’s lives, as well as others in the charism and tradition of our spiritual father, St. Dominic.

As of April 24, 2021, Pope Francis canonized our patronsess as Saint Margaret of Castello.  The Chapter formally changed its name to Saint Margaret of Castello Chapter at its periodic Chapter Council meeting in early June 2021. 

+Please join us on the third Saturday, of each month, at 10:00 o'clock a.m. at St. Mark's Catholic Church in Boise, Idaho.