About St. Mark's
List of Services
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1956List Item 1
Bishop Edward J. Kelly purchased land in 1956 at the corner of Cole and Northview in Boise (where the school is currently located) with a plan to someday establish a new parish. The first use of this land was the construction of Sacred Heart Mission School by Father James Hallissey. This Mission School was the first step in forming a new parish from the growing Sacred Heart Parish.
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1967List Item 2
This Mission School opened in 1967 with three classrooms for first, second, and third grades. The fourth, fifth, and sixth-grade classrooms were added in the next three years. The seventh and eighth-grade classrooms and the gymnasium were added later.
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1970List Item 3
Bishop Sylvester W. Treinen approved the new parish in June 1970. Mass for the new parish was held in the Bishop Kelly High School gym until space at the parish school was remodeled into a chapel with seating for 300. During the summer of 1970, the parishioners selected Saint Mark’s as the name of their church.
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1974List Item 4
In January 1974, Bishop Treinen appointed Father Raymond Peplinski as pastor at St. Mark’s.
Shortly after Father Peplinski’s arrival, the Parish Board appointed a building committee to plan for the construction of a new church and rectory. The first Mass in the new church was held at midnight, on Christmas Eve, 1975.
Father Peplinski retired from St. Mark’s in June of 1986. Bishop Treinen then appointed Father John F. Donoghue as the pastor at St. Mark’s.
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Monsignor Donoghue
Monsignor Donoghue was born July 22, 1926 in Pittsburgh, PA. He attended school at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, before completing his seminary studies at St. Edward Seminary in Kenmore, Washington. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 15, 1954, by Bishop Edward J. Kelly in St. John Cathedral. Father Donoghue served as an assistant pastor at St. Mary's, Boise (1954-57). In his first assignment at St. Mary's he became locally famous as both football coach and choir director. He also coached football at St. Theresa's Academy. He was pastor at St. Charles, Salmon (1957-62); St. Michael's, Mullan (1962-63), Sacred Heart, Boise (1970-77) and St. Mark's, Boise (1986-98). In 1963-64, Father Donoghue took graduate studies at Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, and was named first dean of students of Bishop Kelly High School in Boise (1964-68) when the school opened.
From 1968-72, Father Donoghue was assigned to create and then manage the diocesan office for schools and religious education. In 1977, he was appointed to build and then direct the Nazareth Retreat Center, serving there for nine years. During that time (1978-81), he was also director of the diocesan Vocations Office. Upon retiring in 1998, Father Donoghue was pressed back into service as diocesan administrator between the departure of Bishop Tod D. Brown and the appointment of Bishop Michael P. Driscoll, finally resettling into retirement following Bishop Driscoll's installation in 1999. Father Donoghue served as censor librorum for more than two decades (1967-93). Father Donoghue was known for his clarity, wisdom, and spiritual direction ability. His wit and humor grew over the years as did his holiness.
On November 11, Bishop Driscoll announced that Pope Benedict XVI had named Msgr. Donoghue a "Protonotary Apostolic," accorded the title of "monsignor."
A Funeral Mass was celebrated on January 12, 2009 at St. Mark's.
St. Mark's honored his time and service here by naming our the place of gathering and community...Donoghue Hall
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1998
Father John Donoghue served the Parish until his retirement in 1998. Under his leadership and guidance, the Parish purchased a new residence for the priests, the rectory was converted into Parish Offices, a new Cry Room was added and a Shrine for the Tabernacle was completed. Father Len MacMillan and Father Steve Rukavina were appointed as St. Mark’s Pastoral Team in 1998. Father Paul Materu served for one year with Father Steve from 2003 to 2004.
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2004
After years of planning, St. Mark’s purchased the building then used by Treasure Valley Bible Church with the intention of building a new sanctuary on the large lot. Our new Church building was finally completed in January 2004.
Father Steve served as our pastor until 2013.
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2013
Father Ben Uhlenkott was appointed to our parish and served as Pastor from 2013-2022. He moved to Risen Christ on May 1st, 2022.
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2021
Father Adrian Leszko was Parochial Vicar from 2021-2024. We were happy to be a part of his preparation to become a Pastor in Salmon, Idaho.
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2022
Father Paul O'Donnell served as Pastor from July 2022 - July 2024.
Father Paul was an artist and did many projects to beautify our church. He added the Reredo in the Santuary to make the Tabernacle more prominent in such a large space and he also brought in a statue of St. Mark.
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2024
We celebrated our 20th Anniversary on January 21st, 2024! We opened the time capsule and served everyone lunch! We fundraised for a new Reredo (altar piece), HVAC system, restriped the parking lot, and other capital expenses. Our St. Mark's community is SO generous!
Father John Mosier joined us as our Pastor in August of 2024. He continues to serve as our Pastor. Father Paul O'Donnell was our Senior Priest and is now retired and helping us as a fill-in.
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2025
Fr. Celestine Agwu joined us in August 2025 as our Parochial Vicar. He is from Nigeria. He was raised Catholic and was attending a prayer group (while in College to become a Doctor) and heard God's call on his life to be a priest. He was ordained in 2000, served in Cameroon (4 years) and Canada (17 years) and is now with the Diocese of Boise at St. Mark's.
