Deacons

Name: Chris Reilly

  • Date of birth: 12/07/51
  • Ordination date: 10/08/05
  • Place of birth: Iowa
  • Staff position: Deacon
  • Home email: reilly@cableone.net
  • Home number: 221-2087

Biography:

  • Born in Iowa, the 7th of 17 children. I attended Catholic grade and high school. Achieved a B.A. in Government from St. John's U., Collegeville, MN (1974). I discovered a love of teaching while working as a volunteer for a parish in Durango, CO. From there, I acquired a B.S. in Elementary Ed. from St. Cloud St. U. (1979). I returned to the mountains after graduation and taught for one year at St. Nicholas in Rupert, ID. After moving to Idaho Falls, I met and married Marilyn. We both took part in a LIMEX program and graduated with Masters in Pastoral Studies from Loyola U., New Orleans (1998); I also have a Masters in Technology in Education from Idaho St. U. (2002). I joined the deacon formation program in 2000 and was ordained 10/8/2005. I love serving God, the Church, and the people of Idaho Falls as a deacon.

Hobbies: Golf. Guitar, Gardening

  • ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name: Eric Shaber

Biography:

  • Born and Baptized in Oklahoma, Eric came to Idaho in 1951. In Idaho Falls as a boy, he attended Holy Rosary Grade School (1-8), graduated from Idaho Falls High, and attended University of Idaho, earning a degree in Metallurgical Engineering in 1973. Eric was inactive in the Church as a teenager until meeting Charlotte at the Newman Center in Moscow. Eric became a “social” Catholic and got married in 1971.
  • After college and some brief training as a Reserve Army Officer, Eric, Charlotte and his son Craig, moved to Helena, Montana, working as a plant supervisor and metallurgist. At Easter, 1976, a series of events caused Eric’s family to move to the Tri-Cities in Washington to work at Hanford, and made our faith and trust in God grow rapidly. We became part of a vibrant Catholic Parish and prayer group that challenged us to grow as we participated in prayer group leadership, marriage encounter, religious education, Parish Retreat Programs, and RCIA.
  • Changes in the Nuclear Industry caused our family (now including Kevin and Paul) to return to Idaho Falls to work at the INL in 1988. In Idaho Falls, we worked in Parish Renewal, Religious Education, RCIA, Cursillo, and Evangelization Retreats. In 1998, Eric completed his Master’s Degree in Metallurgical Engineering. In 2000, Eric began discernment and studies toward ordination to the Diaconate which occurred in October 2006. Our family now consists of three married sons, two engineers and one teacher. We also have eight wonderful grandchildren ranging from one to twelve years of age.

Hobbies:

  • Spending time with family, woodworking, metalworking, hunting, fishing, and reading a good book.

Sayings or quotes:

  • “I just wanna go fishin.”
  • Eph 1:4 - Before the world began God chose us, chose us in Christ, to be holy and spotless, and to live through love in his presence.
  • Col 3: 23-24 - Whatever you do, do it for the Lord rather than for men, for from Him shall come your reward!

Other facts:

  • Eric first felt the calling to the Diaconate in 1985. Although the call was affirmed, Eric delayed due to feelings of unworthiness. Through Cursillo and continued prayers and support from Charlotte, Eric accepted the call in 2000.
  • What did we miss that you would like included:
  • God chose us (Eph 1:4) and Jesus keeps calling us to himself. He does not ask us to be perfect, exceptional, or even qualified; I know I’m not….He just asks us to be obedient and faithful. When we say YES in prayer and humility, He accepts us, just as He did with the first 12. He fills us with the Holy Spirit and puts us in His vineyard. The beauty is that it really works as St. Paul says: We have died, and now it is not us, but God working through us! I am simply a broken vessel which God keeps filling faster than His love and joy and peace can flow out.