Dear Parishioners,
During Advent, the Church focuses on two specific themes: Penance and hope. Penance is a required part of the spiritual life. We must be people of reconciliation and humility. I wonder, however, if we as Catholics get too preoccupied by our sense of guilt and forget the hope that God can give us when we live in faith. In this blog, I'd like to share a few concrete reasons that we have for hope.
First Annual Auction
This past weekend, our parish held our very first silent and oral auction. Simply put, it was a huge success! I was stunned at the generosity of the volunteers, the doners, as well as those who came and bid for the items up for auction. From the moment the wheels were put into motion for planning to the very last moment of cleanup after the event, everyone had a lot of fun. Sometimes fundraising can be drudgery, but everyone had the best of attitudes and were focused on the goal to help our parish ministries. One item in particular was the purchasing of needed tables and chairs for our facilities. The process of raising the money was very inspiring. The auction company, Markus and Markus, were professional and were great at encouraging bidders and, once again, made it fun.
Archdiocese Bankruptcy Coming to An End
Another reason to celebrate is the news that the Archdiocese has agreed to settle 150 sex abuse claims that have come against the Archdiocese. This news was first given via news conference by U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan on the date of this entry. This means that the dark cloud that has been hanging over the heads of the victims and non-victims alike can now begin to clear away. As the Archdiocese comes out of bankruptcy, a plan will become effective in which tort claims will be settled and the archdiocese will restructure itself.
Confidence in Christ's Second Coming
The recent events of the auction and bankruptcy proceedings are certainly reasons for hope. But, more than these, our deepest hope is in the confidence we have in the second coming of Christ. The Church testifies to Christ's coming and recorded this testimony in the Scriptures (cf. John 14:3 and Mark 13:32-37) and the Nicene Creed. Sometimes the fact that it hasn't happened yet can lull us into drowsiness or become slack in our zeal and confidence. But, it is a reality and we should stay awake for that day and hour. It isn't something to dread, but rather have hope for, because the gift of salvation is given for those who are faithful and ready. So, let us rejoice in the things of earth, but always keep our focus on heaven.
Blessings in Christ,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Monday, December 11, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
A Birthday & A Bishop
Dear Parishioners,
The Birthday Update
November 15th marked my 40th birthday. I didn't actually celebrate it on that specific day. However, my beloved staff did. They got up early that day and proceeded to TP my entire office! It was a sight to behold. In a strange way, I must admit that I found it hilarious. More than that, I felt loved by them. Thank you staff! You are super. I couldn't do what I do without you. The weekend that followed, we had a birthday party after each of the Masses. The parishioners were so kind and loving. It turned out just as I had hoped, that is an opportunity to celebrate us, our community. I was just the excuse for the party. I received several gifts. Two of note were a monetary gift and a beautiful chasuble purchased in Croatia with the image of Our Lady of Medjugorje on it. I'll try to post images from the celebrations as I get them from parishioners. The timing was great as we have two big celebrations coming: Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe. After our Spanish Mass, the Hispanic community really knocked themselves out to celebrate. There was cake, presents, a piñata, and good natured teasing. Unbeknownst to me, the community wanted me to take a bite out of the cake, so I proceeded to cut a piece out and eat it. They all told me that I was supposed to put my face into the cake to eat it. Hesitantly, I did that and then without any warning, some folks pushed the cake all the way into my face! I hake cake up my nose and all over my face. It was quite the surprise. So, I quickly then leaned over and made sure that the culprits shared in the cake by making them wear some of it too. Let's just say a food fight was on the brink of happening. Peace prevailed and all was well. Thank you all for your kindness and generosity. I will always remember my 40th birthday with joy.
One of the most wonderful ways to conclude my birthday celebrations was celebrating XLT (a.k.a. Exalt) with our community. XLT is a Life Teen-based approach to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. After our Life Teen Mass on Sunday evening, we darkened the Church, put out a ton of candles around the altar, then proceeded to process in with the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance accompanied by all our High School teens. From that point, we simply gathered around the front of the altar and sang praise and worship songs to Our Lord. At one point, I took the monstrance and processed through the community gathered in the Church and blessed each of them. I hope that such devotional moments will encourage and awaken a love for the Eucharist and the Mass. For me, I found it very moving to have all our young people giving praise and adoration to Christ who is our all in all (cf. Col. 3:11, 1 Cor. 15:28). Now that is what I call a climax and conclusion to a birthday!
Cardinal Levada and Mount Angel Seminary
Just yesterday I had the honor of concelebrating a pontifical Mass with Cardinal William Levada the prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Mass and subsequent events happened at Mount Angel Seminary's Official blessing of their new Center for Theological Studies called Annunciation. Cardinal Levada recalled the numerous trips to the seminary as the Archbishop, a member of the Board of Directors for the Seminary, and as the Chair of the Board of Regents. It was a quite an honor to have him back now as one of the most influential persons at the Vatican next to Pope Benedict XVI.
After Mass, the new building was dedicated and blessed by both Cardinal Levada and Archbishop Vlazny, our current archbishop. After all that, both dignitaries received their guests. I met a seminarian, Ysrael Bien, who I noticed was taking photos. I asked if he could snap a few of me and the Cardinal. Ysrael was very kind and proceeded to capture the one on the right. Thanks Ysrael!
In a blog many months ago, I spoke about how kind Cardinal Levada really is. He is a soft spoken person who could never be labeled gregarious. Upon greeting him, he still remembered my name. That's pretty incredible since I am nobody of any significance other than one of his former seminarians for a time.
If you are ever in the Pacific Northwest or specifically near Portland, take the time to travel to Mount Angel Seminary. If you're ever wishing to just sit and pray with the monks, just come to the Abbey Church during the times when they chant the Liturgy of the Hours. It's a beautiful place of prayer with a wonderful Abbey Church, Retreat House, library, bookstore, Seminary, and now a center for theological studies. The landscaping on campus has been completely redone. There used to be parking on the top of the hill where the buildings are, but now it is more peaceful and full of walkways for pedestrians. The seminary is bursting at the seams with seminarians and lay students alike. My best wishes to Cardinal Levada and especially to the continuing development of Mount Angel Seminary.
Blessings in Christ,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
The Birthday Update
November 15th marked my 40th birthday. I didn't actually celebrate it on that specific day. However, my beloved staff did. They got up early that day and proceeded to TP my entire office! It was a sight to behold. In a strange way, I must admit that I found it hilarious. More than that, I felt loved by them. Thank you staff! You are super. I couldn't do what I do without you. The weekend that followed, we had a birthday party after each of the Masses. The parishioners were so kind and loving. It turned out just as I had hoped, that is an opportunity to celebrate us, our community. I was just the excuse for the party. I received several gifts. Two of note were a monetary gift and a beautiful chasuble purchased in Croatia with the image of Our Lady of Medjugorje on it. I'll try to post images from the celebrations as I get them from parishioners. The timing was great as we have two big celebrations coming: Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe. After our Spanish Mass, the Hispanic community really knocked themselves out to celebrate. There was cake, presents, a piñata, and good natured teasing. Unbeknownst to me, the community wanted me to take a bite out of the cake, so I proceeded to cut a piece out and eat it. They all told me that I was supposed to put my face into the cake to eat it. Hesitantly, I did that and then without any warning, some folks pushed the cake all the way into my face! I hake cake up my nose and all over my face. It was quite the surprise. So, I quickly then leaned over and made sure that the culprits shared in the cake by making them wear some of it too. Let's just say a food fight was on the brink of happening. Peace prevailed and all was well. Thank you all for your kindness and generosity. I will always remember my 40th birthday with joy.
One of the most wonderful ways to conclude my birthday celebrations was celebrating XLT (a.k.a. Exalt) with our community. XLT is a Life Teen-based approach to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. After our Life Teen Mass on Sunday evening, we darkened the Church, put out a ton of candles around the altar, then proceeded to process in with the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance accompanied by all our High School teens. From that point, we simply gathered around the front of the altar and sang praise and worship songs to Our Lord. At one point, I took the monstrance and processed through the community gathered in the Church and blessed each of them. I hope that such devotional moments will encourage and awaken a love for the Eucharist and the Mass. For me, I found it very moving to have all our young people giving praise and adoration to Christ who is our all in all (cf. Col. 3:11, 1 Cor. 15:28). Now that is what I call a climax and conclusion to a birthday!
Cardinal Levada and Mount Angel Seminary
Just yesterday I had the honor of concelebrating a pontifical Mass with Cardinal William Levada the prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Mass and subsequent events happened at Mount Angel Seminary's Official blessing of their new Center for Theological Studies called Annunciation. Cardinal Levada recalled the numerous trips to the seminary as the Archbishop, a member of the Board of Directors for the Seminary, and as the Chair of the Board of Regents. It was a quite an honor to have him back now as one of the most influential persons at the Vatican next to Pope Benedict XVI.
After Mass, the new building was dedicated and blessed by both Cardinal Levada and Archbishop Vlazny, our current archbishop. After all that, both dignitaries received their guests. I met a seminarian, Ysrael Bien, who I noticed was taking photos. I asked if he could snap a few of me and the Cardinal. Ysrael was very kind and proceeded to capture the one on the right. Thanks Ysrael!
In a blog many months ago, I spoke about how kind Cardinal Levada really is. He is a soft spoken person who could never be labeled gregarious. Upon greeting him, he still remembered my name. That's pretty incredible since I am nobody of any significance other than one of his former seminarians for a time.
If you are ever in the Pacific Northwest or specifically near Portland, take the time to travel to Mount Angel Seminary. If you're ever wishing to just sit and pray with the monks, just come to the Abbey Church during the times when they chant the Liturgy of the Hours. It's a beautiful place of prayer with a wonderful Abbey Church, Retreat House, library, bookstore, Seminary, and now a center for theological studies. The landscaping on campus has been completely redone. There used to be parking on the top of the hill where the buildings are, but now it is more peaceful and full of walkways for pedestrians. The seminary is bursting at the seams with seminarians and lay students alike. My best wishes to Cardinal Levada and especially to the continuing development of Mount Angel Seminary.
Blessings in Christ,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Friday, November 10, 2006
Let's Celebrate Us!
Dear Parishioners,
Ah, November! It is a month of may things dear to my heart, All Saints Day, Thanksgiving Day, my 40th birthday, conclusions of NCAA football programs,the beginning of a pledge drive for the SQPN, and the final days of Ordinary Time in the Church. Instead of talking about all of these, I'd just like to focus on a couple.
The Birthday Boy!
November 15th will mark my 40th birthday. For many, this is a sign of getting old, a marker of the end of youth. However, I do not see it quite that way. Instead, with every passing year, I pray that I have grown in wisdom and faith. I pray that I will become more tolerant and seasoned in my ability to love God, myself, and others. My parish will be hosting several parties after each Mass on the weekend following my birthday. I confess that I started the idea of a party, but not for completely selfish reasons. However it may look, I believe that a Church should celebrate their pastor and mark special moments for him. So, even if I wasn't the person for whom these celebrations were being offered, I would be right up there encouraging it to happen. The other reason for such a celebration is the most potent of all: The Church needs to celebrate who we are. We need to gather more and celebrate life more often. We need to lift each other up and thank God for the many gifts he has given us. I am truly thankful that has happened to me. The pastor of any Church is the sign of unity of that community. By focusing a celebration around the priest, we are actually celebrating the Church, ourselves in the person of the priest. With all that has bombarded us in these past several years, we need to remember that we are people of celebration. So, let party!
SQPN Support Needed
As you may already know, I am part of the Starquest Production Network, a.k.a. SQPN, with the shows The Da Vinci Cast and TWICC. Well, Fr. Roderick , the founder, alongside Greg and Jennifer Willits, the CEO and CFO of the SQPN nonprofit group, have begun the process of making many dreams come true. This month marks their first ever SQPN Fund Drive. If you have ever listened to the Daily Breakfast, Catholic Insider, Rosary Army, or other productions from the SQPN, you may very well be familiar with the dreams that the SQPN hopes to accomplish. For more information, you can listen to Episode 191 of the Daily Breakfast and hear what Fr. Roderick has planned. Please check it out and see if the SQPN is a venture in evangelization that you feel called to support. Whether or not it is something that you can help with financially, please keep the SQPN in your prayers.
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Ah, November! It is a month of may things dear to my heart, All Saints Day, Thanksgiving Day, my 40th birthday, conclusions of NCAA football programs,the beginning of a pledge drive for the SQPN, and the final days of Ordinary Time in the Church. Instead of talking about all of these, I'd just like to focus on a couple.
The Birthday Boy!
November 15th will mark my 40th birthday. For many, this is a sign of getting old, a marker of the end of youth. However, I do not see it quite that way. Instead, with every passing year, I pray that I have grown in wisdom and faith. I pray that I will become more tolerant and seasoned in my ability to love God, myself, and others. My parish will be hosting several parties after each Mass on the weekend following my birthday. I confess that I started the idea of a party, but not for completely selfish reasons. However it may look, I believe that a Church should celebrate their pastor and mark special moments for him. So, even if I wasn't the person for whom these celebrations were being offered, I would be right up there encouraging it to happen. The other reason for such a celebration is the most potent of all: The Church needs to celebrate who we are. We need to gather more and celebrate life more often. We need to lift each other up and thank God for the many gifts he has given us. I am truly thankful that has happened to me. The pastor of any Church is the sign of unity of that community. By focusing a celebration around the priest, we are actually celebrating the Church, ourselves in the person of the priest. With all that has bombarded us in these past several years, we need to remember that we are people of celebration. So, let party!
SQPN Support Needed
As you may already know, I am part of the Starquest Production Network, a.k.a. SQPN, with the shows The Da Vinci Cast and TWICC. Well, Fr. Roderick , the founder, alongside Greg and Jennifer Willits, the CEO and CFO of the SQPN nonprofit group, have begun the process of making many dreams come true. This month marks their first ever SQPN Fund Drive. If you have ever listened to the Daily Breakfast, Catholic Insider, Rosary Army, or other productions from the SQPN, you may very well be familiar with the dreams that the SQPN hopes to accomplish. For more information, you can listen to Episode 191 of the Daily Breakfast and hear what Fr. Roderick has planned. Please check it out and see if the SQPN is a venture in evangelization that you feel called to support. Whether or not it is something that you can help with financially, please keep the SQPN in your prayers.
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
A Trilogy of Holy Days
Dear Parishioners ,
As of this writing, we begin a trilogy of celebrating our faith beginning with All Hallow's Eve (Halloween),
All Saints Day, and All Souls Day (a.k.a. Day of the Dead). What is this all about? Simply put, it is our way of connecting with the reality and the persons who have gone before us marked with the signs of faith. I love it also because of the fun had by our children dressing up in costumes. Today, for example, I was at St. Francis Catholic School in Roy, OR to meet with the kids and talk about these special days. I must say that the kindergardeners were the cutest of all!
Halloween has become popularized in our culture to the point of being only second to Christmas when it comes to retail sales. It has become a point of discussion for many whether or not Christians should be celebrating this day as it is also the high "unholy" day of the satanic church. My response to this is quick: since when did we give over to Satan any of our holy feast days? Satan always tries to take what is good and turn it bad as well as tell us what is bad is really good. So which came first? Halloween has a history which finds its roots in the Irish feast of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). For information on that, check out the History Channel's web site and Wikipedia.com. Additionally, St. Anthony Messenger Press offers a wonderful article entitled, How Halloween Can be Redeemed.
All Saints Day is so important to Catholics that we consider it an obligation for all parishioners to celebrate those saints who, while not famous like St. Francis or St. Anthony, we believe share in the beatific vision of God in heaven. We share a communion with them as we are also striving to be saints here on earth and ask for their prayers. This day connects closely with All Souls Day where we also gather in prayer at Mass for those who have died yet have not come to the grandeur of the vision of heaven. These "poor souls" as we call them are on the journey to heaven and are being purified by the mercy of God. This event is also called Purgatory. Yes, we still believe in purgatory. Some folks find this an antiquated idea, yet, when I ask other non-Catholic Christians what happens to those who die with sin on their souls, the response is that they are cleansed by the blood of the lamb (Rev. 7:14). Well, that is in harmony with the Catholic teaching of purgatory. In purgatory people are cleansed by the saving act of Christ's passion, death, and resurrection. The text in the book of Revelation speaks of a time of distress while Rev. 12:11 also tells us that it was in the synergy of Jesus' action and the testimony of those who have already been purified (ref. Rev. 6:9) that the souls who have died can be aided on their way to heaven. In our Hispanic community, All Souls Day takes on further dimensions. For them the day is called Dia de los Muertos or The Day of the Dead. During these days, culminating on All Souls Day, the community remembers and prays for their loved ones who have died. They remember them using potent symbols which also mock death. In the Christian view, death is a door as well as a great equalizer. Christ has opened the door for the faithful, and in death we are all seen by God as his own beloved children, nobody more lovable than the other. It has been my observation that this fascination with death carries over into their day to day lives. In the Mexican culture, death is not so feared as it is in the Anglo culture. It is simply a fact of life to be
Happy Trilogy of Holy Days! God bless you!
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
As of this writing, we begin a trilogy of celebrating our faith beginning with All Hallow's Eve (Halloween),
All Saints Day, and All Souls Day (a.k.a. Day of the Dead). What is this all about? Simply put, it is our way of connecting with the reality and the persons who have gone before us marked with the signs of faith. I love it also because of the fun had by our children dressing up in costumes. Today, for example, I was at St. Francis Catholic School in Roy, OR to meet with the kids and talk about these special days. I must say that the kindergardeners were the cutest of all!
Halloween has become popularized in our culture to the point of being only second to Christmas when it comes to retail sales. It has become a point of discussion for many whether or not Christians should be celebrating this day as it is also the high "unholy" day of the satanic church. My response to this is quick: since when did we give over to Satan any of our holy feast days? Satan always tries to take what is good and turn it bad as well as tell us what is bad is really good. So which came first? Halloween has a history which finds its roots in the Irish feast of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). For information on that, check out the History Channel's web site and Wikipedia.com. Additionally, St. Anthony Messenger Press offers a wonderful article entitled, How Halloween Can be Redeemed.
All Saints Day is so important to Catholics that we consider it an obligation for all parishioners to celebrate those saints who, while not famous like St. Francis or St. Anthony, we believe share in the beatific vision of God in heaven. We share a communion with them as we are also striving to be saints here on earth and ask for their prayers. This day connects closely with All Souls Day where we also gather in prayer at Mass for those who have died yet have not come to the grandeur of the vision of heaven. These "poor souls" as we call them are on the journey to heaven and are being purified by the mercy of God. This event is also called Purgatory. Yes, we still believe in purgatory. Some folks find this an antiquated idea, yet, when I ask other non-Catholic Christians what happens to those who die with sin on their souls, the response is that they are cleansed by the blood of the lamb (Rev. 7:14). Well, that is in harmony with the Catholic teaching of purgatory. In purgatory people are cleansed by the saving act of Christ's passion, death, and resurrection. The text in the book of Revelation speaks of a time of distress while Rev. 12:11 also tells us that it was in the synergy of Jesus' action and the testimony of those who have already been purified (ref. Rev. 6:9) that the souls who have died can be aided on their way to heaven. In our Hispanic community, All Souls Day takes on further dimensions. For them the day is called Dia de los Muertos or The Day of the Dead. During these days, culminating on All Souls Day, the community remembers and prays for their loved ones who have died. They remember them using potent symbols which also mock death. In the Christian view, death is a door as well as a great equalizer. Christ has opened the door for the faithful, and in death we are all seen by God as his own beloved children, nobody more lovable than the other. It has been my observation that this fascination with death carries over into their day to day lives. In the Mexican culture, death is not so feared as it is in the Anglo culture. It is simply a fact of life to be
Happy Trilogy of Holy Days! God bless you!
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
A Pastor's Musings
Dear Parishioners ,
My Favorite Saint
On the day of this writing, the Church celebrates one of my favorite saints, St. Ignatius of Antioch. Born just a few years after Jesus' death and as a follower of St. John the Apostle, then Bishop Ignatius was given a choice by the tempore to deny the faith or be sent to Rome to be killed. Ignatius chose martyrdom. But, he didn't simply get hauled off to the eternal city, but instead, stopped en route to many bf the cities and towns along the way. How do we know? Well, Ignatius spent time and wrote seven, now famous, letters to the various communities. He encourages the faithful to hold fast to the Church's witness and obey her teachings. His popularity was such that he had to tell the people not to stop his journey to Rome where he would face the lions in the Circus Maximus. He is the first to coin the word, "The Catholic Church" and "Where the bishop is, let the people be, as where Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church" and he spoke forcibly about the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist. He is a saint who is now receiving the rewards of his faith. This courageous man died ca. 107 A.D.
Job Openings
In the past month, both our Coordinator of Faith formation and Youth Ministry notified me of their decisions to resign. Both Tania DeSantis and Mary Kiefer have done fantastic jobs in their respective positions. I am sure we will all hate to seem the leave. Yet, they both would testify that their decisions are the fruit of much discernment. Given that fact, I wish them the best for the future and have confidence that they are listening to God's prompting's. They have always inspired me and have been a true delight to work along side with in the vineyard of the Lord. I have since began publishing these openings at 20 hrs/wk with benefits and will pray that God will open the hearts of those who need to come forward and continue where Tania and Mary left off. I must admit that I have panicked many times about all kinds of happenings in our parish, but strangely enough I am not worried. These events are pretty big in our small community and that just reminds me that I am not in control. Rather, it is all in God's hands. If God opened doors for Tania and Mary, then he's clearly got a plan for us too. If you know of someone who has a heart for children, teens, and ministry, then please encourage them to send me a cover letter and resume. Our parish continues to grow. The families here at St. Anthony's are amazing. I am privileged to be part of the life of this parish. Let us all join in prayer to stir the hearts of those whom God is calling to join us in our journey toward Christ. In the meantine, I encourage you to offer your thanks and well-wishes to Tania and Mary on the next chapters in their lives. Well done, good and faithful servants!
Thank You
Since my last posting where I asked for financial assistance for my podcasting ministry, I received monies that will subsidize the St. Anthony's Podcast for almost a year. Thank you to the donors who have so generously given to this noble cause. I pledge to continue and hopefully expand the podcast as listeners offer ideas.
Thank you for all your prayers! God bless you!
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
My Favorite Saint
On the day of this writing, the Church celebrates one of my favorite saints, St. Ignatius of Antioch. Born just a few years after Jesus' death and as a follower of St. John the Apostle, then Bishop Ignatius was given a choice by the tempore to deny the faith or be sent to Rome to be killed. Ignatius chose martyrdom. But, he didn't simply get hauled off to the eternal city, but instead, stopped en route to many bf the cities and towns along the way. How do we know? Well, Ignatius spent time and wrote seven, now famous, letters to the various communities. He encourages the faithful to hold fast to the Church's witness and obey her teachings. His popularity was such that he had to tell the people not to stop his journey to Rome where he would face the lions in the Circus Maximus. He is the first to coin the word, "The Catholic Church" and "Where the bishop is, let the people be, as where Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church" and he spoke forcibly about the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist. He is a saint who is now receiving the rewards of his faith. This courageous man died ca. 107 A.D.
Job Openings
In the past month, both our Coordinator of Faith formation and Youth Ministry notified me of their decisions to resign. Both Tania DeSantis and Mary Kiefer have done fantastic jobs in their respective positions. I am sure we will all hate to seem the leave. Yet, they both would testify that their decisions are the fruit of much discernment. Given that fact, I wish them the best for the future and have confidence that they are listening to God's prompting's. They have always inspired me and have been a true delight to work along side with in the vineyard of the Lord. I have since began publishing these openings at 20 hrs/wk with benefits and will pray that God will open the hearts of those who need to come forward and continue where Tania and Mary left off. I must admit that I have panicked many times about all kinds of happenings in our parish, but strangely enough I am not worried. These events are pretty big in our small community and that just reminds me that I am not in control. Rather, it is all in God's hands. If God opened doors for Tania and Mary, then he's clearly got a plan for us too. If you know of someone who has a heart for children, teens, and ministry, then please encourage them to send me a cover letter and resume. Our parish continues to grow. The families here at St. Anthony's are amazing. I am privileged to be part of the life of this parish. Let us all join in prayer to stir the hearts of those whom God is calling to join us in our journey toward Christ. In the meantine, I encourage you to offer your thanks and well-wishes to Tania and Mary on the next chapters in their lives. Well done, good and faithful servants!
Thank You
Since my last posting where I asked for financial assistance for my podcasting ministry, I received monies that will subsidize the St. Anthony's Podcast for almost a year. Thank you to the donors who have so generously given to this noble cause. I pledge to continue and hopefully expand the podcast as listeners offer ideas.
Thank you for all your prayers! God bless you!
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Happy Anniversary!
Hello All,
One-Year Anniversary for St. Anthony's Podcast
On the 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Sept. 24th), I will have completed an entire liturgical year of podcasting! My first podcast was actually on Sept. 21st, 2005, but I am looking at it through the Church's calendar. It has been a lot of fun. I've had to learn a lot about the technical side of things as well as the artistic side of thing in order to make it all come out well. I recall listening to the award winning productions of Fr. Roderick Vonhögen's Catholic Insider and Leo Laporte's TWiT (This Week in Tech) podcasts from which came my inspiration to begin this venture. From that original podcast sprang three other ones: The Da Vinci Cast (Picked up by the SQPN), The Children's GIFT Blog & Podcast, and a family-only podcast about our camping experiences called Camp On Dude Podcast. In cooperation with Fr. Roderick, I was part of an initiative to begin a podcast which would chronicle events in the Church and offer a variety of commentary. It is called TWiCC (This Week in the Catholic Church). It struggles, however to really get off the ground. But, who knows what the future has in store. I even encouraged a couple priest friends to offer podcasts of their own: Fr. Mike's Podcast and Fr. Gary Zerr's Homilies.
An Evolution
It went from borrowing someone's microphone and making a simple recording to purchasing my own condenser microphone and bringing in professional music and doing some live podcasts with staff and parishioners. I began with a simple account with Apple, soon outgrew it, then changed to another company, Libsyn.com, who now hosts all of my podcasts. I began an online blog, learned some basic JAVA script and began to create my own liturgical calendar that automatically displays the saint of the day. Listenership first began with people in the parish and eventually grew to reach all over the world. I've had hits on my podcast page from every continent in the world. It's truly amazing how podcasting can reach so far beyond one's own little humble abode. There were times that I wondered if I would have the time or stamina to complete an entire year of podcasting. The sheer busyness of being a pastor made it sometimes pretty difficult. But, I also learned that producing an episode or developing my web site was a refreshing break from the stresses of pastoral work and administration. In the course of this past year, I even launched a new site dedicated to Catholic Geek news which can be found at www.geekisgood.org.
Idea for the Future
For some time I've toyed with the idea of encouraging listener feedback via e-mail or recorded voice comments. I've hesitated to do it as it adds another layer of work to produce the podcast. Yet, I have decided to encourage it as I come to my second year. I figure that it will give a new dimension to the program and could allow folks to hear another voice besides mine. So please consider sending me some audio feedback that I could put on the program.
Financial Assistance
As I begin year two, I thought I would invite people to consider helping me defray the costs of producing this podcast by making donations via PayPal. The music I use cost me $200 last year. The fee for use of the server which hosts my audio files is $10/month. My broadband connection runs about $45/month. There have been other costs like the purchase of a microphone, headphones, software and an SD card for my Palm Treo in order to do interviews in the field, and other items that I won't get into. Basically, I am looking for assistance for the regular costs that I know occur either annually or monthly. If you have found the St. Anthony's Podcast to be a worthwhile ministry for you, would you consider making a donation to help me lower my costs? If so, you can simply click the link below. If not, I certainly would appreciate your prayers not only for the podcast, but for me as a pastor and St. Anthony's as a Church.
Podcast Expo
On Sept. 29-30, the Podcast Expo will be held and celebrate three awards to programs from the SQPN: The Catholic Insider, The Daily Breakfast, and the Rosary Army. I am very happy for Fr. Roderick of the Catholic Insider and Daily Breakfast as wekk as Greg & Jennifer for the Rosary Army. Furthermore, I am even more excited to be able to go to this wonderful even if only for the first day. I will be able to meet these new friends whom I've only had conversations with via the Internet. I am excited to cheer on these three as standouts in the sea of podcasts.
I will be flying to Ontario, CA and back the same day just to attend the conference. It may seem crazy (and it very well may be), but I am very excited about the opportunity to meet these new friends as well as feed my geeky hobby of podcasting. Yipee! I hope even to do a podcast while I'm there, but we'll see. This is going to be my first time at this Expo. Heck, it's only the second run for the organizers of this Expo.
If you are reading this and are wondering, "What the heck is a podcast I why should I care?" Well, I'm so glad you asked! A podcast is basically an audio file on the internet that people canlisten to directly or through special software which allows them to automatically receive the latest episode. People from all over the world can listen to and create podcasts right from their homes. It's like radio without boundaries. Most podcasts are actually quite bad, but there are many that are outstanding. The shows from the SQPN are a perfect example. Podcsting exploded as a phenomena when Apple introduced iTunes with podcast subscription capability. So, today, people can go to many places and simply subscribe to a podcast of their choice. I am so glad that awards are now being given in recognition of the outstanding work by podcasters. I think it will encourage others to increase the quality of their show, but also inspire others to begin their own podcast.
That's probably enough for one blog for now. Thank you for all your prayers!
God bless you all,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
One-Year Anniversary for St. Anthony's Podcast
On the 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Sept. 24th), I will have completed an entire liturgical year of podcasting! My first podcast was actually on Sept. 21st, 2005, but I am looking at it through the Church's calendar. It has been a lot of fun. I've had to learn a lot about the technical side of things as well as the artistic side of thing in order to make it all come out well. I recall listening to the award winning productions of Fr. Roderick Vonhögen's Catholic Insider and Leo Laporte's TWiT (This Week in Tech) podcasts from which came my inspiration to begin this venture. From that original podcast sprang three other ones: The Da Vinci Cast (Picked up by the SQPN), The Children's GIFT Blog & Podcast, and a family-only podcast about our camping experiences called Camp On Dude Podcast. In cooperation with Fr. Roderick, I was part of an initiative to begin a podcast which would chronicle events in the Church and offer a variety of commentary. It is called TWiCC (This Week in the Catholic Church). It struggles, however to really get off the ground. But, who knows what the future has in store. I even encouraged a couple priest friends to offer podcasts of their own: Fr. Mike's Podcast and Fr. Gary Zerr's Homilies.
An Evolution
It went from borrowing someone's microphone and making a simple recording to purchasing my own condenser microphone and bringing in professional music and doing some live podcasts with staff and parishioners. I began with a simple account with Apple, soon outgrew it, then changed to another company, Libsyn.com, who now hosts all of my podcasts. I began an online blog, learned some basic JAVA script and began to create my own liturgical calendar that automatically displays the saint of the day. Listenership first began with people in the parish and eventually grew to reach all over the world. I've had hits on my podcast page from every continent in the world. It's truly amazing how podcasting can reach so far beyond one's own little humble abode. There were times that I wondered if I would have the time or stamina to complete an entire year of podcasting. The sheer busyness of being a pastor made it sometimes pretty difficult. But, I also learned that producing an episode or developing my web site was a refreshing break from the stresses of pastoral work and administration. In the course of this past year, I even launched a new site dedicated to Catholic Geek news which can be found at www.geekisgood.org.
Idea for the Future
For some time I've toyed with the idea of encouraging listener feedback via e-mail or recorded voice comments. I've hesitated to do it as it adds another layer of work to produce the podcast. Yet, I have decided to encourage it as I come to my second year. I figure that it will give a new dimension to the program and could allow folks to hear another voice besides mine. So please consider sending me some audio feedback that I could put on the program.
Financial Assistance
As I begin year two, I thought I would invite people to consider helping me defray the costs of producing this podcast by making donations via PayPal. The music I use cost me $200 last year. The fee for use of the server which hosts my audio files is $10/month. My broadband connection runs about $45/month. There have been other costs like the purchase of a microphone, headphones, software and an SD card for my Palm Treo in order to do interviews in the field, and other items that I won't get into. Basically, I am looking for assistance for the regular costs that I know occur either annually or monthly. If you have found the St. Anthony's Podcast to be a worthwhile ministry for you, would you consider making a donation to help me lower my costs? If so, you can simply click the link below. If not, I certainly would appreciate your prayers not only for the podcast, but for me as a pastor and St. Anthony's as a Church.
Podcast Expo
On Sept. 29-30, the Podcast Expo will be held and celebrate three awards to programs from the SQPN: The Catholic Insider, The Daily Breakfast, and the Rosary Army. I am very happy for Fr. Roderick of the Catholic Insider and Daily Breakfast as wekk as Greg & Jennifer for the Rosary Army. Furthermore, I am even more excited to be able to go to this wonderful even if only for the first day. I will be able to meet these new friends whom I've only had conversations with via the Internet. I am excited to cheer on these three as standouts in the sea of podcasts.
I will be flying to Ontario, CA and back the same day just to attend the conference. It may seem crazy (and it very well may be), but I am very excited about the opportunity to meet these new friends as well as feed my geeky hobby of podcasting. Yipee! I hope even to do a podcast while I'm there, but we'll see. This is going to be my first time at this Expo. Heck, it's only the second run for the organizers of this Expo.
If you are reading this and are wondering, "What the heck is a podcast I why should I care?" Well, I'm so glad you asked! A podcast is basically an audio file on the internet that people canlisten to directly or through special software which allows them to automatically receive the latest episode. People from all over the world can listen to and create podcasts right from their homes. It's like radio without boundaries. Most podcasts are actually quite bad, but there are many that are outstanding. The shows from the SQPN are a perfect example. Podcsting exploded as a phenomena when Apple introduced iTunes with podcast subscription capability. So, today, people can go to many places and simply subscribe to a podcast of their choice. I am so glad that awards are now being given in recognition of the outstanding work by podcasters. I think it will encourage others to increase the quality of their show, but also inspire others to begin their own podcast.
That's probably enough for one blog for now. Thank you for all your prayers!
God bless you all,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Saturday, September 9, 2006
School's In
Dear Parishioners,
School is In
Each year when I was a student I recall having dreams of forgetting where my classes or locker were or what my locker combination was. As a teacher, I would dream that my classes were completely out of control and in a state of anarchy. Ah, dreams! Thank goodness that they were only that. As the schol year begins, our minsitries begin to wind up. If you have children or teens in your family, now is the time to connect with our Coordinators of Faith Formation for the young ones and our Coordinator of Youth Ministry for your teens. We also have opportunities for adult faith fomration. I'll be teaching a series of classes on Christology through the Archdiocese. While people can take it for credit towards a certificate in ministry, folks can also simply audit the class for their own personal faith formation.
Thank You!
This past month, our parish put on a rummage sale. It was a wonderful success! Thank you to all of you who spent so much time making it work. The outcome of the revenue will be directed towards out needs in personnel. From reports I've heard, it was more than just a fund raiser, it was also a friend-raiser. It was an opportunity for St. Anthony's to come together and work towards a common goal. It was also a form of connection with the larger community of Forest Grove and beyond. Many charities were also able to come and receive things free of charge to help them in their work.
Parish Picnic
One of our annual fun gatherings I always look forward to is our annual parish picnic sponsored by the Pastoral Council. The weather is going to be nice and I hope that you can come. I thouroughly enjoy seeing everyone in a different environment with their families. There will be games and lots 'o food. Bar-b-que hamburgers and hotdogs will be offered in addition to whatever items you plan to bring. Bring on the nitrates!
Sincerely,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
School is In
Each year when I was a student I recall having dreams of forgetting where my classes or locker were or what my locker combination was. As a teacher, I would dream that my classes were completely out of control and in a state of anarchy. Ah, dreams! Thank goodness that they were only that. As the schol year begins, our minsitries begin to wind up. If you have children or teens in your family, now is the time to connect with our Coordinators of Faith Formation for the young ones and our Coordinator of Youth Ministry for your teens. We also have opportunities for adult faith fomration. I'll be teaching a series of classes on Christology through the Archdiocese. While people can take it for credit towards a certificate in ministry, folks can also simply audit the class for their own personal faith formation.
Thank You!
This past month, our parish put on a rummage sale. It was a wonderful success! Thank you to all of you who spent so much time making it work. The outcome of the revenue will be directed towards out needs in personnel. From reports I've heard, it was more than just a fund raiser, it was also a friend-raiser. It was an opportunity for St. Anthony's to come together and work towards a common goal. It was also a form of connection with the larger community of Forest Grove and beyond. Many charities were also able to come and receive things free of charge to help them in their work.
Parish Picnic
One of our annual fun gatherings I always look forward to is our annual parish picnic sponsored by the Pastoral Council. The weather is going to be nice and I hope that you can come. I thouroughly enjoy seeing everyone in a different environment with their families. There will be games and lots 'o food. Bar-b-que hamburgers and hotdogs will be offered in addition to whatever items you plan to bring. Bring on the nitrates!
Sincerely,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Monday, July 24, 2006
Summertime Heats Up
Dear Parishioners,
The Heat Is On
Recently, we have been suffering through hot days in the high 90's and even 100's. As I write this, the weather service tells me that the high today was 106 degrees. That is very hot. As such, I abbreviated parts of the Mass as was appropriate this weekend. Yes, I am capable of a short homily. Whoo hooo! I'm glad that none of our celebrations were during the peak of any of this heat.
With our eyes on the weather, I've decided to add a weather widget to my home page. It defaults to Forest Grove, but you can add any zip code to get the temperature of the city of your choice. I will eventually put it at the bottom of this web page. Check it out.
Update On New Cathedra
As I mentioned in my previous blog (click here for previous blogs), we have set in motion to replace the presider's chair and server's chairs in our sanctuary. The decision has been made and the chairs have been picked out and paid for. Below you will see how the chairs will look. The center chair, the cathedra, will have a crown back with a cross on it (see photo below on right). We should receive these chairs in four to six weeks. The fabric will be red, though not a solid as seen in these photos. The reason behind this is to hide any possible stains in the future. The Liturgy Committee chose the wood stain color to match our altar and the fabric to contrast the back of the sanctuary. I am very excited to replace the chairs we have so faithfully used for so many years. I believe you will agree that these new chairs will be dignified replacements.
Sincerely,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
The Heat Is On
Recently, we have been suffering through hot days in the high 90's and even 100's. As I write this, the weather service tells me that the high today was 106 degrees. That is very hot. As such, I abbreviated parts of the Mass as was appropriate this weekend. Yes, I am capable of a short homily. Whoo hooo! I'm glad that none of our celebrations were during the peak of any of this heat.
With our eyes on the weather, I've decided to add a weather widget to my home page. It defaults to Forest Grove, but you can add any zip code to get the temperature of the city of your choice. I will eventually put it at the bottom of this web page. Check it out.
Update On New Cathedra
As I mentioned in my previous blog (click here for previous blogs), we have set in motion to replace the presider's chair and server's chairs in our sanctuary. The decision has been made and the chairs have been picked out and paid for. Below you will see how the chairs will look. The center chair, the cathedra, will have a crown back with a cross on it (see photo below on right). We should receive these chairs in four to six weeks. The fabric will be red, though not a solid as seen in these photos. The reason behind this is to hide any possible stains in the future. The Liturgy Committee chose the wood stain color to match our altar and the fabric to contrast the back of the sanctuary. I am very excited to replace the chairs we have so faithfully used for so many years. I believe you will agree that these new chairs will be dignified replacements.
Sincerely,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Let Us Rejoice in Faith
Dear Parishioners,
Ordinary Faith
Now that Easter is truly over and we've completed the three post-easter solemnities (Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, & Corpus Christi), one might begin to think that we no longer have reason to celebrate. Ah, hah! Ordinary Time is not so ordinary as one might think. Look around. Summer is officially here! The weather has turned hot and the skies are clear. Nature is anything but ordinary. The liturgy is also not so boring nor the lectionary so drab. For the coming weeks, we will be challenged to have faith, to not fear, to trust in the Lord. This is still a challenge for each one of us. What are the things that cause you stress, doubt, or fear? When you come to Mass in the coming weeks, plan to have these disabilities confronted and maybe even healed. Ordinary? That's not so ordinary. This is a time to rejoice for life is all around us. God never leaves us alone. His creation is the sign of his love. So, look around and recognize the beauty of God's love and rejoice.
For more reflection, check the readings out for yourself: USCCB Web Site for the Lectionary.
I also want to extend my gratitude to all the parishioners who have been bringing the harvest of their flower gardens for use in the Church. All of these flowers look extraordinary. It's quite amazing. It is also amazing the volunteers who come each Saturday morning to arrange them in our sanctuary. It looks like we have professionals doing all our labor. Next time you see the flowers in the Church, say a prayer for all those who have donated them and those who have arranged them. It's quite an honor. The liturgy is all the more beautiful for the natural gifts of creation inside the Church.
Speaking of the Liturgy!
The U.S. Bishops just recently met in Los Angeles to make a final approval of our revised Sacramentary, soon to be renamed The Roman Missal. The revisions now go to the Vatican for final approval. But, don't think that the changes will happen soon. Likely we won't see the new Roman Missal nor its adaptations or changes for a couple more years. But noteworthy will be some of our responses at Mass. For example, when the presider proclaims, "The Lord be with you" we are used to replying, "And also with you." But that response, according to the latest working edition of the Roman Missal sent to Rome, will be "And with your spirit." You might ask why? Well, it's quite simple actually. The Church desires that the English texts used be closer to the original Latin. Monsignor James P. Moroney also expressed that the Vatican desires "a deeper language that's more expressive and more poetic." In an AP report, other texts are being revised as well. See below for some of the details.
Below is the text from Archbishop John Vlazny's e-column also found in the Catholic Sentinel. He give some background of these events as they hapened:
CELEBRATING THE SACRED MYSTERIES
Archbishop Vlazny 6/29/2006
Last month I attended the annual spring assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. This year we gathered in Los Angeles and were privileged to concelebrate the Eucharist at the new Los Angeles Archdiocesan Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. In many ways that was especially appropriate this time, since probably our most important discussion during the meeting focused on the new English Translation of the Order of Mass.
Early in the meeting we were privileged to be addressed by the Most Rev. Arthur Roche, Bishop of Leeds, England, Chairman of ICEL (the International Commission on English in the Liturgy). He was elected to that position four years ago from among the representatives of the 11 English-speaking countries that are member of ICEL. Francis Cardinal George is the American representative.
For years we have known that the English version of Mass we currently use is far from perfect. I am privileged to celebrate the Eucharist in Spanish frequently, and I can recognize the difference in richness between the two texts. When the first English version was published after the Second Vatican Council, the bishops of ICEL at the time recognized that some revision of their work would eventually be needed. Back in the early 1970s, the bishops were eager to make an acceptable English version available to people as soon as possible.
Hence the work was done quickly, and as in all hurried matters, the need for improvements quickly surfaced. Bishop Roche reminded us that the translators back then clearly were focused on bringing the liturgy closer to the people. But it remains important for us to preserve and transmit our inherited liturgical tradition as it has been passed onto us. This time both objectives have been uppermost in the minds of the translators.
What is ICEL? The International Commission on English in the Liturgy is a mixed commission of Catholic bishops' conferences in countries where English is used in the celebration of the sacred liturgy according to the Roman rite. Its purpose is to prepare English translations of each of the liturgical books and any individual liturgical texts in accordance with the directives of the Holy See.
The 11 conferences of bishops which are currently full members of ICEL are Australia, Canada, England and Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Scotland, South Africa and the USA. The bishops from the English-speaking countries who were attending the Second Vatican Council set up the commission in Rome back in 1963. The Holy See later that year formally established ICEL as a mixed commission in accordance with the mind of the Holy Father and the council fathers.
In 2001 the Holy See issued an instruction on the use of vernacular languages in the publication of the books of the Roman liturgy. In many ways this altered the compass for those working on such translations, including the members of ICEL. This instruction is commonly referred to by its Latin name Liturgiam Authenticam. It sets forth authoritatively the manner in which vernacular translations of the texts of the Roman liturgy are to be derived from the original Latin text.
Of particular note was the insistence that the translated text was not to be seen so much as a work of creative inventiveness as one of fidelity and exactness in rendering the Latin texts into the vernacular. Consideration, of course, must be given to the particular way that each language expresses itself. Likewise the vocabulary chosen for translations should be easily comprehensible and at the same time expressive of the dignity and oratorical rhythm of the original. A very important consideration is to be given to the fact that liturgical texts are intended to be publicly proclaimed aloud and even sung.
Over the years some differences surfaced that impeded the collaborative efforts of the members of ICEL with the Roman Congregation for Worship. In order to facilitate this collaboration and clarify some questions the Roman Congregation established in 2001 the Vox Clara Committee, a group of senior bishops from episcopal conferences throughout the English-speaking world whose purpose would be to give advice to the Congregation concerning the translation of Latin texts into the English language and to strengthen the relationship between the Congregation and the 11 conferences represented in ICEL. Five advisors from the English-speaking world were appointed by Rome to assist in the work of the Vox Clara committee. They include our own Father Jeremy Driscoll, OSB, of Mount Angel Abbey.
The major project under consideration by the Roman Congregation, the members of ICEL and the Vox Clara Committee is the completion of the translation of the Roman Missal. As you know, in recent years the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has approved vernacular editions of the Lectionary for Mass and the Rites of Ordination of a Bishop, a Priest and of Deacons. Both of these texts were confirmed by the Holy See and are now in use throughout the USA.
On June 15, during the Plenary Session of our USCCB Spring Assembly, we bishops approved the translation presented to us by ICEL. We also offered 62 amendments to ICEL as proposed by the bishops with the recommendation of our own committee on liturgy. We paid particular attention to the precision, proclaimability and memorability of the translation. In a separate action we also approved eight adaptations to the Order of Mass. Both of these actions will require confirmation from the Holy See.
Most of the adaptations have already been a part of the Roman Missal in present usage. If approved, there will be no discernable change as far as worshipers are concerned. The two new adaptations concern the eventual inclusion of additional proper formulae in the Eucharistic Prayers and the inclusion of proper forms of the Act of Penitence for the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter.
These changes have received some attention in the media, but the end result is still a couple of years away. I know that many of our priests, pastoral ministers, liturgists and musicians have serious concerns about the proposed changes and the effect they will have upon the full and active participation of our people.
I am confident that the eventual agreement of all our English-speaking countries on a single version of the Mass will be, as Bishop Roche reminded us American bishops last month, a wonderful sign of our catholicity. I ask for your patience and I encourage the cooperation of all as we continue to promote and assure beautiful and prayerful worship in keeping with the authentic tradition of our Roman Catholic faith. Special thanks to all who continue to make the liturgical celebrations in parishes across western Oregon the best that they can be.
New Cathedra
Since I arrived four years ago, we've been saving the stipends offered for Masses requested for loved ones. With these restricted funds, we have purchased new items for our liturgies such as vessels and a chasuble. We are now in the final stages of purchasing new chairs to replace the ones that have been with us so long. The current chairs are getting old and showing it. So, as we get closer, I will post images of the chairs we will be getting. One might ask why the chairs matter. Again, the answer is quite simple. The chair or cathedra is the sign of the bishop. In fact, the cathedra in the Church of the bishop is where we get the name for his Church, a cathedral. It is the "seat' of the local ordinary or bishop. So, I don't just sit in the cathedra or presider's chair, but rather I have been chosen by the bishop to be his agent and sit in his stead. So, the chair is an important symbol along with the altar and the ambo. These three pieces of furniture make up the most important pieces of furniture within the sanctuary. All of these, by the way, also symbolize Christ. The altar is the symbol of Christ the priest and sacrifice, the ambo is the symbol of Christ as the Word of God, and the cathedra is the symbol of Christ as head of the Church. These could also be seen as the roles of priest, prophet, and king. However, the presider should not preside over the community as a king might lord over his subjects in any authoritarian way. The leadership of Christ and his priest is one of a shepherd and servant leadership.
Sincerely,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Ordinary Faith
Now that Easter is truly over and we've completed the three post-easter solemnities (Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, & Corpus Christi), one might begin to think that we no longer have reason to celebrate. Ah, hah! Ordinary Time is not so ordinary as one might think. Look around. Summer is officially here! The weather has turned hot and the skies are clear. Nature is anything but ordinary. The liturgy is also not so boring nor the lectionary so drab. For the coming weeks, we will be challenged to have faith, to not fear, to trust in the Lord. This is still a challenge for each one of us. What are the things that cause you stress, doubt, or fear? When you come to Mass in the coming weeks, plan to have these disabilities confronted and maybe even healed. Ordinary? That's not so ordinary. This is a time to rejoice for life is all around us. God never leaves us alone. His creation is the sign of his love. So, look around and recognize the beauty of God's love and rejoice.
For more reflection, check the readings out for yourself: USCCB Web Site for the Lectionary.
I also want to extend my gratitude to all the parishioners who have been bringing the harvest of their flower gardens for use in the Church. All of these flowers look extraordinary. It's quite amazing. It is also amazing the volunteers who come each Saturday morning to arrange them in our sanctuary. It looks like we have professionals doing all our labor. Next time you see the flowers in the Church, say a prayer for all those who have donated them and those who have arranged them. It's quite an honor. The liturgy is all the more beautiful for the natural gifts of creation inside the Church.
Speaking of the Liturgy!
The U.S. Bishops just recently met in Los Angeles to make a final approval of our revised Sacramentary, soon to be renamed The Roman Missal. The revisions now go to the Vatican for final approval. But, don't think that the changes will happen soon. Likely we won't see the new Roman Missal nor its adaptations or changes for a couple more years. But noteworthy will be some of our responses at Mass. For example, when the presider proclaims, "The Lord be with you" we are used to replying, "And also with you." But that response, according to the latest working edition of the Roman Missal sent to Rome, will be "And with your spirit." You might ask why? Well, it's quite simple actually. The Church desires that the English texts used be closer to the original Latin. Monsignor James P. Moroney also expressed that the Vatican desires "a deeper language that's more expressive and more poetic." In an AP report, other texts are being revised as well. See below for some of the details.
| Rite of the Mass | Current Version | Revised Version |
| Presidential exchanges | "And also with you" | "And with your spirit" |
| Penitential Rite | "through my own fault" | "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault" |
| Nicene Creed | Introductory words: "We believe" | "I believe" |
| Sanctus/Holy | "Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might" | "Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Hosts" |
| Communion Rite | "Lord I am not worthy to receive you" | "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof." |
Below is the text from Archbishop John Vlazny's e-column also found in the Catholic Sentinel. He give some background of these events as they hapened:
CELEBRATING THE SACRED MYSTERIES
Archbishop Vlazny 6/29/2006
Last month I attended the annual spring assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. This year we gathered in Los Angeles and were privileged to concelebrate the Eucharist at the new Los Angeles Archdiocesan Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. In many ways that was especially appropriate this time, since probably our most important discussion during the meeting focused on the new English Translation of the Order of Mass.
Early in the meeting we were privileged to be addressed by the Most Rev. Arthur Roche, Bishop of Leeds, England, Chairman of ICEL (the International Commission on English in the Liturgy). He was elected to that position four years ago from among the representatives of the 11 English-speaking countries that are member of ICEL. Francis Cardinal George is the American representative.
For years we have known that the English version of Mass we currently use is far from perfect. I am privileged to celebrate the Eucharist in Spanish frequently, and I can recognize the difference in richness between the two texts. When the first English version was published after the Second Vatican Council, the bishops of ICEL at the time recognized that some revision of their work would eventually be needed. Back in the early 1970s, the bishops were eager to make an acceptable English version available to people as soon as possible.
Hence the work was done quickly, and as in all hurried matters, the need for improvements quickly surfaced. Bishop Roche reminded us that the translators back then clearly were focused on bringing the liturgy closer to the people. But it remains important for us to preserve and transmit our inherited liturgical tradition as it has been passed onto us. This time both objectives have been uppermost in the minds of the translators.
What is ICEL? The International Commission on English in the Liturgy is a mixed commission of Catholic bishops' conferences in countries where English is used in the celebration of the sacred liturgy according to the Roman rite. Its purpose is to prepare English translations of each of the liturgical books and any individual liturgical texts in accordance with the directives of the Holy See.
The 11 conferences of bishops which are currently full members of ICEL are Australia, Canada, England and Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Scotland, South Africa and the USA. The bishops from the English-speaking countries who were attending the Second Vatican Council set up the commission in Rome back in 1963. The Holy See later that year formally established ICEL as a mixed commission in accordance with the mind of the Holy Father and the council fathers.
In 2001 the Holy See issued an instruction on the use of vernacular languages in the publication of the books of the Roman liturgy. In many ways this altered the compass for those working on such translations, including the members of ICEL. This instruction is commonly referred to by its Latin name Liturgiam Authenticam. It sets forth authoritatively the manner in which vernacular translations of the texts of the Roman liturgy are to be derived from the original Latin text.
Of particular note was the insistence that the translated text was not to be seen so much as a work of creative inventiveness as one of fidelity and exactness in rendering the Latin texts into the vernacular. Consideration, of course, must be given to the particular way that each language expresses itself. Likewise the vocabulary chosen for translations should be easily comprehensible and at the same time expressive of the dignity and oratorical rhythm of the original. A very important consideration is to be given to the fact that liturgical texts are intended to be publicly proclaimed aloud and even sung.
Over the years some differences surfaced that impeded the collaborative efforts of the members of ICEL with the Roman Congregation for Worship. In order to facilitate this collaboration and clarify some questions the Roman Congregation established in 2001 the Vox Clara Committee, a group of senior bishops from episcopal conferences throughout the English-speaking world whose purpose would be to give advice to the Congregation concerning the translation of Latin texts into the English language and to strengthen the relationship between the Congregation and the 11 conferences represented in ICEL. Five advisors from the English-speaking world were appointed by Rome to assist in the work of the Vox Clara committee. They include our own Father Jeremy Driscoll, OSB, of Mount Angel Abbey.
The major project under consideration by the Roman Congregation, the members of ICEL and the Vox Clara Committee is the completion of the translation of the Roman Missal. As you know, in recent years the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has approved vernacular editions of the Lectionary for Mass and the Rites of Ordination of a Bishop, a Priest and of Deacons. Both of these texts were confirmed by the Holy See and are now in use throughout the USA.
On June 15, during the Plenary Session of our USCCB Spring Assembly, we bishops approved the translation presented to us by ICEL. We also offered 62 amendments to ICEL as proposed by the bishops with the recommendation of our own committee on liturgy. We paid particular attention to the precision, proclaimability and memorability of the translation. In a separate action we also approved eight adaptations to the Order of Mass. Both of these actions will require confirmation from the Holy See.
Most of the adaptations have already been a part of the Roman Missal in present usage. If approved, there will be no discernable change as far as worshipers are concerned. The two new adaptations concern the eventual inclusion of additional proper formulae in the Eucharistic Prayers and the inclusion of proper forms of the Act of Penitence for the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter.
These changes have received some attention in the media, but the end result is still a couple of years away. I know that many of our priests, pastoral ministers, liturgists and musicians have serious concerns about the proposed changes and the effect they will have upon the full and active participation of our people.
I am confident that the eventual agreement of all our English-speaking countries on a single version of the Mass will be, as Bishop Roche reminded us American bishops last month, a wonderful sign of our catholicity. I ask for your patience and I encourage the cooperation of all as we continue to promote and assure beautiful and prayerful worship in keeping with the authentic tradition of our Roman Catholic faith. Special thanks to all who continue to make the liturgical celebrations in parishes across western Oregon the best that they can be.
New Cathedra
Since I arrived four years ago, we've been saving the stipends offered for Masses requested for loved ones. With these restricted funds, we have purchased new items for our liturgies such as vessels and a chasuble. We are now in the final stages of purchasing new chairs to replace the ones that have been with us so long. The current chairs are getting old and showing it. So, as we get closer, I will post images of the chairs we will be getting. One might ask why the chairs matter. Again, the answer is quite simple. The chair or cathedra is the sign of the bishop. In fact, the cathedra in the Church of the bishop is where we get the name for his Church, a cathedral. It is the "seat' of the local ordinary or bishop. So, I don't just sit in the cathedra or presider's chair, but rather I have been chosen by the bishop to be his agent and sit in his stead. So, the chair is an important symbol along with the altar and the ambo. These three pieces of furniture make up the most important pieces of furniture within the sanctuary. All of these, by the way, also symbolize Christ. The altar is the symbol of Christ the priest and sacrifice, the ambo is the symbol of Christ as the Word of God, and the cathedra is the symbol of Christ as head of the Church. These could also be seen as the roles of priest, prophet, and king. However, the presider should not preside over the community as a king might lord over his subjects in any authoritarian way. The leadership of Christ and his priest is one of a shepherd and servant leadership.
Sincerely,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Tuesday, June 6, 2006
A Season of Renewal
Dear Parishioners,
Pentecost
Now is the time for us to rejoice in the gift of our faith. Why? Because the Holy Spirit is with us. This Pentecost we celebrate the birthday of the Church and the gifts that come along with the indwelling of God's Spirit. Too often, we do not appreciate or even know that those gifts are there. Maybe we don't utilize them or don't know how to offer them. It is very simple, yet very challenging to have a "life in the Spirit." Our postmodern culture is suspicious of anything supernatural. Furthermore, we all struggle with the desire to do things our own way. We struggle with pride.
In order to live a life in the Spirit, I must first recognize God's Lordship in my life. I must submit myself to God's plan and ask for the strength to let go of any of my own selfish desires. Then, I simply ask God to help me to be open to the prompting of the Spirit. What gifts might the Spirit offer? Well, there's the ones mentioned in 1 Cor. 12:8-11, 1 Pt. 4:11, Eph. 4, Rom. 12, and Is. 11:1-5. But, this list is not intended to be exhaustive. For each person, there is a particular gift. The question is, what is yours, and are you offering it to build up the community? If you sense that you are embarrassed to offer your gift, take some more time and ask God to give you the courage you need. Regarding the various ministries in your Church, spend some time discerning how God is calling you to offer your gifts to your community. Then, make yourself known to whomever is responsible for the ministry related to your gifts. If your Church doesn't have such a ministry, maybe you are the one being called to start it and lead it. Don't be afraid and don't assume that it needs to be huge. Maybe it would involve just a few people. Maybe it needs more time to germinate. Maybe it needs to be brought to your pastor or Pastoral Council for advisement. Ultimately, God will bless you if you listen and just try to be obedient to the Spirit's prompting's.
TWiCC is Here!
The Starquest Podcast Network (a.k.a. SQPN) produced by Fr. RoderickVonhögen is now offering a new podcast entitled "This Week in the Catholic Church," or " TWICC" for short. I participated in the first recording on Monday via Skype and had a ball doing it. The show is hosted by Fr. Roderick. It includes several other very intelligent and funny people talking about current events and things of interest within the Church. I am excited to see how it will grow and develop. I hope that it will be a source of encouragement for people. Check out www.twicc.com or www.sqpn.com to listen to episode #1. You can also subscribe to it via iTunes by clicking here.
In this first episode we talk about all kinds of things including the largest gathering at the Vatican for Pope Benedict XVI, astronomy and faith, the significance of the date 6/6/06, a Jesuit surprise, the latest in the TV show LOST, a review of the Omen movie, and much more. Please check it out and give us your feedback. We're looking for topics that may interest you.
Summertime and Church
Finally, as summer approaches, all of us find opportunities to go on vacation. I just recently returned from four days away with friends. There's nothing better than to retreat and recharge. I hope that you and your family find the needed time to enjoy the coming days of summer.
Often our vacations take us to places far away from home. They give us opportunities to visit other parishes and connect with the universality that is present in the Church. I always appreciate my own parish and miss my community after being away and visiting other Churches. Sometimes, however, people simply forget to go to Church and participate in the Eucharist while on vacation. Sometimes our plans preclude this as a possibility while other times they are mutually exclusive due to large distances. Whatever your situation may be, I hope that you will do your best to also plan for your faith as well as playtime while on vacation.
It is common for Churches to also struggle financially during this time as families sometimes also take a vacation from the financial support they typically give to their homes of worship. I can testify that our bills still come in and still have to be paid. So, I want to encourage all of us not to forget the commitments we have all made, particularly to St. Anthony's. Here at our parish, we are particularly sensitive to this ebb and flow and want to find ways to even out the valleys that cause stress in the business side of things. A simple way to help in this matter is to either pay forward the amount your family committed to make before leaving on vacation or make a special effort to make up any donations that weren't made while they were away. Every effort helps. When talking to parishioners who report such behaviors, I am truly humbled and thankful for their faithfulness. No matter what situation you find yourself in during this summer, please pray for your community of faith. Prayer matters and so do you.
Graduation
Now is also the season for graduations of all kinds. It is a time of goodbye's to old friends. It is also a time of stress and excitement for those moving on. It is a time of new beginnings. My best wishes for all of you who are in any way connected to someone graduating at this time. May this time of change be an opportunity for God's amazing grace grow and strengthen in you.
Safe Travels
Finally, enjoy the gifts that summertime offers you. Spend some time to slow down and re-create with God at your side. Know that God's grace is abundant no matter where you are. May God bless you and give you safe travels.
Sincerely,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Pentecost
Now is the time for us to rejoice in the gift of our faith. Why? Because the Holy Spirit is with us. This Pentecost we celebrate the birthday of the Church and the gifts that come along with the indwelling of God's Spirit. Too often, we do not appreciate or even know that those gifts are there. Maybe we don't utilize them or don't know how to offer them. It is very simple, yet very challenging to have a "life in the Spirit." Our postmodern culture is suspicious of anything supernatural. Furthermore, we all struggle with the desire to do things our own way. We struggle with pride.
In order to live a life in the Spirit, I must first recognize God's Lordship in my life. I must submit myself to God's plan and ask for the strength to let go of any of my own selfish desires. Then, I simply ask God to help me to be open to the prompting of the Spirit. What gifts might the Spirit offer? Well, there's the ones mentioned in 1 Cor. 12:8-11, 1 Pt. 4:11, Eph. 4, Rom. 12, and Is. 11:1-5. But, this list is not intended to be exhaustive. For each person, there is a particular gift. The question is, what is yours, and are you offering it to build up the community? If you sense that you are embarrassed to offer your gift, take some more time and ask God to give you the courage you need. Regarding the various ministries in your Church, spend some time discerning how God is calling you to offer your gifts to your community. Then, make yourself known to whomever is responsible for the ministry related to your gifts. If your Church doesn't have such a ministry, maybe you are the one being called to start it and lead it. Don't be afraid and don't assume that it needs to be huge. Maybe it would involve just a few people. Maybe it needs more time to germinate. Maybe it needs to be brought to your pastor or Pastoral Council for advisement. Ultimately, God will bless you if you listen and just try to be obedient to the Spirit's prompting's.
TWiCC is Here!
The Starquest Podcast Network (a.k.a. SQPN) produced by Fr. RoderickVonhögen is now offering a new podcast entitled "This Week in the Catholic Church," or " TWICC" for short. I participated in the first recording on Monday via Skype and had a ball doing it. The show is hosted by Fr. Roderick. It includes several other very intelligent and funny people talking about current events and things of interest within the Church. I am excited to see how it will grow and develop. I hope that it will be a source of encouragement for people. Check out www.twicc.com or www.sqpn.com to listen to episode #1. You can also subscribe to it via iTunes by clicking here.
In this first episode we talk about all kinds of things including the largest gathering at the Vatican for Pope Benedict XVI, astronomy and faith, the significance of the date 6/6/06, a Jesuit surprise, the latest in the TV show LOST, a review of the Omen movie, and much more. Please check it out and give us your feedback. We're looking for topics that may interest you.
Summertime and Church
Finally, as summer approaches, all of us find opportunities to go on vacation. I just recently returned from four days away with friends. There's nothing better than to retreat and recharge. I hope that you and your family find the needed time to enjoy the coming days of summer.
Often our vacations take us to places far away from home. They give us opportunities to visit other parishes and connect with the universality that is present in the Church. I always appreciate my own parish and miss my community after being away and visiting other Churches. Sometimes, however, people simply forget to go to Church and participate in the Eucharist while on vacation. Sometimes our plans preclude this as a possibility while other times they are mutually exclusive due to large distances. Whatever your situation may be, I hope that you will do your best to also plan for your faith as well as playtime while on vacation.
It is common for Churches to also struggle financially during this time as families sometimes also take a vacation from the financial support they typically give to their homes of worship. I can testify that our bills still come in and still have to be paid. So, I want to encourage all of us not to forget the commitments we have all made, particularly to St. Anthony's. Here at our parish, we are particularly sensitive to this ebb and flow and want to find ways to even out the valleys that cause stress in the business side of things. A simple way to help in this matter is to either pay forward the amount your family committed to make before leaving on vacation or make a special effort to make up any donations that weren't made while they were away. Every effort helps. When talking to parishioners who report such behaviors, I am truly humbled and thankful for their faithfulness. No matter what situation you find yourself in during this summer, please pray for your community of faith. Prayer matters and so do you.
Graduation
Now is also the season for graduations of all kinds. It is a time of goodbye's to old friends. It is also a time of stress and excitement for those moving on. It is a time of new beginnings. My best wishes for all of you who are in any way connected to someone graduating at this time. May this time of change be an opportunity for God's amazing grace grow and strengthen in you.
Safe Travels
Finally, enjoy the gifts that summertime offers you. Spend some time to slow down and re-create with God at your side. Know that God's grace is abundant no matter where you are. May God bless you and give you safe travels.
Sincerely,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Friday, May 19, 2006
"Veni, Vidi, Da Vinci?"
Dear Parishioners,
"He, Came. He Saw, but, did he (Dan Brown) conquer the box office?" Time will tell. Unfortunately, too many people have given their minds over to the attractive arguments made in the best selling novel and movie, "The Da Vinci Code. " Bottom line: It's a suspense-thriller novel, but disingenuously claims to be based in accurate historical facts, a lie that should make all authors grimace and seek cover.
I will go to see it and make my own critique of the movie. But, in the meantime, I have read the book and combed through many of the details. My conclusion? The book is trite and laughable for those who are educated about their faith. It is dangerous, deceptive, and a work that does not give glory to God for those who are ignorant of Church history and the Catholic Church. It has made many people ponder and doubt the witness of the believers of the early Church. It has thrown into doubt the historicity of the Sacred Scriptures and lifted up heretical texts in their place. It has fed right into our critics, but in a way that even makes them look stupid. I could go on, but instead, I would like to draw your attention to a podcast I've been producing entitled, Jesus, Mary & Da Vinci. It was going to be a three-part series, but has been continually growing since the first episode.
Just recently, Fr. Roderick of the Starquest Podcast Network , The Catholic Insider, and Daily Breakfast invited me to join his community of podcasters and make these episodes available as a separate feed on his network. I was honored and agreed. So, you can now also go to The Da Vinci Cast: Jesus, Mary and Da Vinci via SQPN as well as subscribe via iTunes.
While many of the TV shows debunk the historical events, people, and places (an easy thing to do), I've spent time reflecting on the authority and value of the witness of the early Church, Gnosticism, The Gnostic texts, chapter 55 of the book, and answer listeners' questions.
The USCCB have produced what looks to be a good program, Jesus Decoded, about the real historical Jesus. The makers spend time debunking the bad research that comes from the book and offer a wonderful web site with supplementary information. Check out the video trailer by clicking this link. Thank you to all who have given generously to the Catholic Communications Campaign for making their web page and TV special possible.
Should you see it or not? That is ultimately an individual's decision. I will be seeing it. I have an obligation to do so. You need not see it nor read the book. However, know that if you don't, your ability to argue the case for the Jesus Christ of our faith will be less effective. Either way, check out books or TV programs that offer responses to the fast-food theology and history that is the Da Vinci Code.
Thank you again, Fr. Roderick for the honor of collaborating with you and your fellow SQPN podcasters.
Here are some related links for you to check out:
Sincerely,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
"He, Came. He Saw, but, did he (Dan Brown) conquer the box office?" Time will tell. Unfortunately, too many people have given their minds over to the attractive arguments made in the best selling novel and movie, "The Da Vinci Code. " Bottom line: It's a suspense-thriller novel, but disingenuously claims to be based in accurate historical facts, a lie that should make all authors grimace and seek cover.
I will go to see it and make my own critique of the movie. But, in the meantime, I have read the book and combed through many of the details. My conclusion? The book is trite and laughable for those who are educated about their faith. It is dangerous, deceptive, and a work that does not give glory to God for those who are ignorant of Church history and the Catholic Church. It has made many people ponder and doubt the witness of the believers of the early Church. It has thrown into doubt the historicity of the Sacred Scriptures and lifted up heretical texts in their place. It has fed right into our critics, but in a way that even makes them look stupid. I could go on, but instead, I would like to draw your attention to a podcast I've been producing entitled, Jesus, Mary & Da Vinci. It was going to be a three-part series, but has been continually growing since the first episode.
Just recently, Fr. Roderick of the Starquest Podcast Network , The Catholic Insider, and Daily Breakfast invited me to join his community of podcasters and make these episodes available as a separate feed on his network. I was honored and agreed. So, you can now also go to The Da Vinci Cast: Jesus, Mary and Da Vinci via SQPN as well as subscribe via iTunes.
While many of the TV shows debunk the historical events, people, and places (an easy thing to do), I've spent time reflecting on the authority and value of the witness of the early Church, Gnosticism, The Gnostic texts, chapter 55 of the book, and answer listeners' questions.
The USCCB have produced what looks to be a good program, Jesus Decoded, about the real historical Jesus. The makers spend time debunking the bad research that comes from the book and offer a wonderful web site with supplementary information. Check out the video trailer by clicking this link. Thank you to all who have given generously to the Catholic Communications Campaign for making their web page and TV special possible.
Should you see it or not? That is ultimately an individual's decision. I will be seeing it. I have an obligation to do so. You need not see it nor read the book. However, know that if you don't, your ability to argue the case for the Jesus Christ of our faith will be less effective. Either way, check out books or TV programs that offer responses to the fast-food theology and history that is the Da Vinci Code.
Thank you again, Fr. Roderick for the honor of collaborating with you and your fellow SQPN podcasters.
Here are some related links for you to check out:
Sincerely,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Thursday, May 4, 2006
"The Faith and the Da Vinci Code"
Coming May 19th will be the release of the Summer blockbuster movie, "The Da Vinci Code." Reactions from Christians and non-Christians alike have varied from intrigue, surprise, amazement, scandal, offense, anger, as well as ambivalence. But how should we react? How are Catholic Christians to respond to this best selling novel and soon to be released movie?
I've just completed the first in a set of three episodes of my own in an attempt to reflect on the theology offered in the book and movie. Entitled, Jesus, Mary, & Da Vinci, I spend time reflecting on the importance of the lived community as the the foundation for understanding who Jesus is. I try to offer an explanation as to how any "objective" unearthing of the historical Jesus outside of the believing community is seriously flawed and by no means neutral. While many of the TV shows debunking the secular source material (an easy thing to do), I spend time reflecting on the authority and value of the canonical Gospels and offer some reasons why the "Gnostic Gospels" shouldn't be given the same authority.
I hope to put out one episode each week, though my own work schedule will determine how that will happen. Either go to my podcast page or click the link above in order to download and listen to my podcast. Whether or not you go to the movie or read the book (now under $5 at Costco), it is important to do our own research and understand why we believe what we do. This is an opportunity for us all.
On my other web site, Geek is Good, I've offered several reflections. Better yet, the US Bishops have produced a TV special to be aired on the opening weekend of the "Da Vinci Code" movie. They have also created a very nice web site to accompany this special. The program and web site are both called Jesus Decoded. Check out the video trailer by clicking this link. Thank you to all who have given generously to the Catholic Communications Campaign for making their web page and TV special possible.
Archbishop Vlazny just wrote about how we are to respond to the movie in his weekly article in our archdiocesan newspaper, The Catholic Sentinel. Click here to read his reflection.
In cooperation with the movie producers and hollywoodjesus.com, an series of ecumenical reflections have been posted on a new web site called, The Da Vinci Dialogue. It's definitely worth reading.
In my opinion, we need to understand what we believe and know what teachings are contrary to our belief. 1 Peter 3:15-16 offers another way of putting it: "Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope. but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame."
We must be careful not to be fanatical about this issue, but clear and kind. I don't recommend picketing or making grand protests as such politic have historically backfired. We should all understand what the issues are and be able to respond to them. Reading the book nor going to the movie is necessary. Yet, be aware that the skeptics will likely stop listening to you if you have not made any of these efforts. Unfortunately, this is a common fallacy in logic, but it is sadly our human nature.
The issues presented in the fictional story are many and varied, but the most important is the claim about Jesus' "true" identity. To posit one contrary to the witness of the early Church is not only be an act of unfaithfulness, but intellectual dishonesty. The facts that have been reported even outside of Christian circles verify that Jesus was understood to be the Messiah, God incarnate, and the Lord of all. Any other depiction is simply fiction and ahistorical. So, let us remember that "The Da Vinci Code" is truly fiction, but a powerful fiction that deserves an appropriate response. I hope that those who have read the book or will see the movie will be inspired or encouraged to learn more about the facts of history. I highly recommend the book, "The Da Vinci Hoax" by Carl Olson and Sandra Miesel. Cardinal Archbishop George of Chicago calls it "the definitive debunking."
In the coming weeks, I will be releasing the first of a series of podcasts reflecting on the issues presented in the book. It is my hope that this book and movie will be an occasion for people to seek out the truth and understand the fictional nature of the details offered in "The Da Vinci Code."
Sincerely,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
I've just completed the first in a set of three episodes of my own in an attempt to reflect on the theology offered in the book and movie. Entitled, Jesus, Mary, & Da Vinci, I spend time reflecting on the importance of the lived community as the the foundation for understanding who Jesus is. I try to offer an explanation as to how any "objective" unearthing of the historical Jesus outside of the believing community is seriously flawed and by no means neutral. While many of the TV shows debunking the secular source material (an easy thing to do), I spend time reflecting on the authority and value of the canonical Gospels and offer some reasons why the "Gnostic Gospels" shouldn't be given the same authority.
I hope to put out one episode each week, though my own work schedule will determine how that will happen. Either go to my podcast page or click the link above in order to download and listen to my podcast. Whether or not you go to the movie or read the book (now under $5 at Costco), it is important to do our own research and understand why we believe what we do. This is an opportunity for us all.
On my other web site, Geek is Good, I've offered several reflections. Better yet, the US Bishops have produced a TV special to be aired on the opening weekend of the "Da Vinci Code" movie. They have also created a very nice web site to accompany this special. The program and web site are both called Jesus Decoded. Check out the video trailer by clicking this link. Thank you to all who have given generously to the Catholic Communications Campaign for making their web page and TV special possible.
Archbishop Vlazny just wrote about how we are to respond to the movie in his weekly article in our archdiocesan newspaper, The Catholic Sentinel. Click here to read his reflection.
In cooperation with the movie producers and hollywoodjesus.com, an series of ecumenical reflections have been posted on a new web site called, The Da Vinci Dialogue. It's definitely worth reading.
In my opinion, we need to understand what we believe and know what teachings are contrary to our belief. 1 Peter 3:15-16 offers another way of putting it: "Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope. but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame."
We must be careful not to be fanatical about this issue, but clear and kind. I don't recommend picketing or making grand protests as such politic have historically backfired. We should all understand what the issues are and be able to respond to them. Reading the book nor going to the movie is necessary. Yet, be aware that the skeptics will likely stop listening to you if you have not made any of these efforts. Unfortunately, this is a common fallacy in logic, but it is sadly our human nature.
The issues presented in the fictional story are many and varied, but the most important is the claim about Jesus' "true" identity. To posit one contrary to the witness of the early Church is not only be an act of unfaithfulness, but intellectual dishonesty. The facts that have been reported even outside of Christian circles verify that Jesus was understood to be the Messiah, God incarnate, and the Lord of all. Any other depiction is simply fiction and ahistorical. So, let us remember that "The Da Vinci Code" is truly fiction, but a powerful fiction that deserves an appropriate response. I hope that those who have read the book or will see the movie will be inspired or encouraged to learn more about the facts of history. I highly recommend the book, "The Da Vinci Hoax" by Carl Olson and Sandra Miesel. Cardinal Archbishop George of Chicago calls it "the definitive debunking."
In the coming weeks, I will be releasing the first of a series of podcasts reflecting on the issues presented in the book. It is my hope that this book and movie will be an occasion for people to seek out the truth and understand the fictional nature of the details offered in "The Da Vinci Code."
Sincerely,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Saturday, March 25, 2006
"Cardinals and Oblates"
Dear Parishioners,
William Joseph Cardinal Levada
This weekend marks the beginning of an historic period of time for our Church and our Archdiocese in particular. On March 24, 2006, 15 new cardinals were made by Pope Benedict XVI. The first of whom was our former archbishop, William Levada. As the new Prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, Levada now ranks just below the Vatican Secretary of State who is just below the Pope himself. This is the highest any American Catholic has ever served in the Curia of the Church.
Levada served in our Archdiocese from 1985 to 1995. He was sometimes seen through the most critical of views as arrogant, stuffy, right-wing, and mean. However, nothing could be further from the truth. As a seminarian, he was my archbishop for five out of my seven years of schooling. I found him to be a gentleman, an intellectual, and an introvert. He was on the board of regents of Mount Angel Seminary and should be given credit for helping Mount Angel Seminary become the preeminent seminary in the United States that it is today. When confronted with difficult situations, I observed him demonstrate kindness, moderation, and tolerance. Sometimes when he would gather all of us seminarians together, I would would express my naive passion (another way of saying I put my foot in my mouth) and he was always loving when he responded to my silliness. When in San Francisco, I believe he again showed great insight when having to thread the needle of politics and Church teaching when legislation was being proposed that involved domestic partnerships and health benefits as well as the reorganization of struggling parishes within his archdiocese.
I believe that his appointment will also help give the Vatican a greater insight into the cultural struggles of the Church in the United States. I am proud of our former archbishop and wish him all the grace that will be needed to carry out the duties required of his new position.
Days of Lenten Renewal
This coming week of March 26th-30th, Fr. Robert Morin, OMI will be guiding our parish in a journey of what we are calling our Days of Lenten Renewal. Fr. Morin is a priest in the of Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The title of his talks is "This Wondrous Love." On Tuesday, he will lead us in our only communal reconciliation service during lent. We will have five priests present for individual confessions. Fr. Robert is a dynamic and friendly man with a wonderful sense of humor. Through story, ritual, and scripture he will be leading us through a journey of reconciliation and healing. If you've been looking for that "shot in the arm" for your soul this lent, here is your opportunity.
Fr. Morin's talks will begin at 7 pm after our Life Teen Mass on Sunday. He will then offer sessions after our morning Masses (Mon. - Thurs.) as well as in the evening again at 7 pm. The evening talk will be a repeat of the morning talk for those whose work day or daily schedule makes one or the other impossible. There will be refreshments afterwards where you can chat with Fr. Morin and fellow parishioners.
He will be preaching at all the Masses this weekend and I plan on recording his homily for this week's St. Anthony's Pocast.
Come to renew your heart. You'll be glad you did.
Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
William Joseph Cardinal Levada
This weekend marks the beginning of an historic period of time for our Church and our Archdiocese in particular. On March 24, 2006, 15 new cardinals were made by Pope Benedict XVI. The first of whom was our former archbishop, William Levada. As the new Prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, Levada now ranks just below the Vatican Secretary of State who is just below the Pope himself. This is the highest any American Catholic has ever served in the Curia of the Church.
Levada served in our Archdiocese from 1985 to 1995. He was sometimes seen through the most critical of views as arrogant, stuffy, right-wing, and mean. However, nothing could be further from the truth. As a seminarian, he was my archbishop for five out of my seven years of schooling. I found him to be a gentleman, an intellectual, and an introvert. He was on the board of regents of Mount Angel Seminary and should be given credit for helping Mount Angel Seminary become the preeminent seminary in the United States that it is today. When confronted with difficult situations, I observed him demonstrate kindness, moderation, and tolerance. Sometimes when he would gather all of us seminarians together, I would would express my naive passion (another way of saying I put my foot in my mouth) and he was always loving when he responded to my silliness. When in San Francisco, I believe he again showed great insight when having to thread the needle of politics and Church teaching when legislation was being proposed that involved domestic partnerships and health benefits as well as the reorganization of struggling parishes within his archdiocese.
I believe that his appointment will also help give the Vatican a greater insight into the cultural struggles of the Church in the United States. I am proud of our former archbishop and wish him all the grace that will be needed to carry out the duties required of his new position.
Days of Lenten Renewal
This coming week of March 26th-30th, Fr. Robert Morin, OMI will be guiding our parish in a journey of what we are calling our Days of Lenten Renewal. Fr. Morin is a priest in the of Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The title of his talks is "This Wondrous Love." On Tuesday, he will lead us in our only communal reconciliation service during lent. We will have five priests present for individual confessions. Fr. Robert is a dynamic and friendly man with a wonderful sense of humor. Through story, ritual, and scripture he will be leading us through a journey of reconciliation and healing. If you've been looking for that "shot in the arm" for your soul this lent, here is your opportunity.
Fr. Morin's talks will begin at 7 pm after our Life Teen Mass on Sunday. He will then offer sessions after our morning Masses (Mon. - Thurs.) as well as in the evening again at 7 pm. The evening talk will be a repeat of the morning talk for those whose work day or daily schedule makes one or the other impossible. There will be refreshments afterwards where you can chat with Fr. Morin and fellow parishioners.
He will be preaching at all the Masses this weekend and I plan on recording his homily for this week's St. Anthony's Pocast.
Come to renew your heart. You'll be glad you did.
Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
"Thank You"
Dear Parishioners,
Thank you to all who gave of their time to the 24th Italian Dinner and all the festivities surrounding it. A big thank you needs to go to Becky Pettit and her chairpersons. Without them, it simply couldn't have happened. The Italian Dinner has traditionally been our moment to show what is great about St. Anthony's: the people! Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Heck, with a plate of linguini and the fixin's, who could frown? From a pastor's point of view, I just love the Italian Dinner. It not only warms my heart, but my tummy too. Each year I am amazed at the turn out of people who spend their time to make the event what it is. Service is at the heart of the Gospel, and so too with the Italian Dinner. To observe everyone working together is truly inspirational. I am so proud of all of you who served in what ever capacity you could whether out in the public eye or behind the scenes. You inspire me!
I'd like to especially thank those who continued their tradition of helping out in the roles they have become so accustomed to whether that was in serving, cleaning, setting up, taking down, doing the accounting, cooking, food preparation, sign making, etc. You are our faithful veterans. Thank you also to those who were new to the whole thing. There was a wonderful outpouring of new faces who heard the call and responded. Thank you to all who donated the fruits of their talents to the Bazaar. It's amazing to see all the hand-crafted items that were created with love. The addition of our own home-spun entertainment was truly a delight! The religious gift store peaked many people's interest too. There was even talk about having an enhanced store throughout the year.
So, the clean up is done, people are massaging their feet and backs, and Becky and her chairpersons need to rest. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I love St. Anthony's and all that happens here. As I have said before, this is truly the crown jewel of the archdiocese. Today is a day to lift our heads in celebration. We did it. The Italian Dinner has once again brought out the best in us all. Thank you!
Now, we have meatballs to sell.
Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Thank you to all who gave of their time to the 24th Italian Dinner and all the festivities surrounding it. A big thank you needs to go to Becky Pettit and her chairpersons. Without them, it simply couldn't have happened. The Italian Dinner has traditionally been our moment to show what is great about St. Anthony's: the people! Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Heck, with a plate of linguini and the fixin's, who could frown? From a pastor's point of view, I just love the Italian Dinner. It not only warms my heart, but my tummy too. Each year I am amazed at the turn out of people who spend their time to make the event what it is. Service is at the heart of the Gospel, and so too with the Italian Dinner. To observe everyone working together is truly inspirational. I am so proud of all of you who served in what ever capacity you could whether out in the public eye or behind the scenes. You inspire me!
I'd like to especially thank those who continued their tradition of helping out in the roles they have become so accustomed to whether that was in serving, cleaning, setting up, taking down, doing the accounting, cooking, food preparation, sign making, etc. You are our faithful veterans. Thank you also to those who were new to the whole thing. There was a wonderful outpouring of new faces who heard the call and responded. Thank you to all who donated the fruits of their talents to the Bazaar. It's amazing to see all the hand-crafted items that were created with love. The addition of our own home-spun entertainment was truly a delight! The religious gift store peaked many people's interest too. There was even talk about having an enhanced store throughout the year.
So, the clean up is done, people are massaging their feet and backs, and Becky and her chairpersons need to rest. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I love St. Anthony's and all that happens here. As I have said before, this is truly the crown jewel of the archdiocese. Today is a day to lift our heads in celebration. We did it. The Italian Dinner has once again brought out the best in us all. Thank you!
Now, we have meatballs to sell.
Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Sunday, February 12, 2006
"Technology, Da Vinci, & Meatballs"
Dear Parishioners,
What's New on the Web?
For some time now, I've been recording my homilies and posting them on my web page as well as making them available as a free subscription through the iTunes Music Store. Additionally, I've been working monthly on the above liturgical calendar which I've named the Liturgical Calendar Live!© I've made it so that your web browser will check the day and thendisplay the saint of the day or other memorial or feast of the Church. It's geared for our Archdiocese which means that it doesn't show other local celebrations, just universal ones and those specific for our region. I've also set out to create a simple web page which offers a popouri of news items that specifically merge faith with technology or in some way connect these two together. That web site is called "Geek is Good. God is Better", or http://www.geekisgood.org for the more internet saavy.
Jesus, Mary, and Da Vinci
The book, "The Da Vinci Code," will soon be coming out in the theater and I think it's important for Catholics to be informed as to what is true, false, or some shade of grey within the book. Consequently, I've been preparing three different presentations for our adult education ministry entitled, "Jesus, Mary, and Da Vinci." Hysteria should not be our reaction, but rather education. In the past when controversial movies or books have been released, I have noticed that the Church's reaction has simply caused the story to become even more popular. Moderation may be more of what we need. If you are planning on going to the movie or read the book, I would urge you to read one of the many books which offer correction to the shoddy research done by the author, Dan Brown. I highly recommend The Da Vinci Hoax by Carl Olson and Sandra Miesel. There are also some helpful links on geekisgood.org as well as a large set links on our web site, www.stanthonysforestgrove.org
Italian Dinner
Finally, our 24th Annual Italian Dinner is approaching very soon. I encourage you to plan on coming to the parish or swinging by our drive-thru for the latest in pasta and meatballs. Mmm. They make my mouth water as I write this. Anyhow, there are many opportunities to volunteer. Our web site, once again, has many of these listed out. Tickets are available through our web site or you can just come to the office any Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. We will also be offering wine from Shafer Vineyard Cellar Wines an, of course, our wonderful Bazaar of homemade baked goods and crafts. This is truly a labor of love by so many at our parish. Please come and enjoy the food and fellowship.
Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
What's New on the Web?
For some time now, I've been recording my homilies and posting them on my web page as well as making them available as a free subscription through the iTunes Music Store. Additionally, I've been working monthly on the above liturgical calendar which I've named the Liturgical Calendar Live!© I've made it so that your web browser will check the day and thendisplay the saint of the day or other memorial or feast of the Church. It's geared for our Archdiocese which means that it doesn't show other local celebrations, just universal ones and those specific for our region. I've also set out to create a simple web page which offers a popouri of news items that specifically merge faith with technology or in some way connect these two together. That web site is called "Geek is Good. God is Better", or http://www.geekisgood.org for the more internet saavy.
Jesus, Mary, and Da Vinci
The book, "The Da Vinci Code," will soon be coming out in the theater and I think it's important for Catholics to be informed as to what is true, false, or some shade of grey within the book. Consequently, I've been preparing three different presentations for our adult education ministry entitled, "Jesus, Mary, and Da Vinci." Hysteria should not be our reaction, but rather education. In the past when controversial movies or books have been released, I have noticed that the Church's reaction has simply caused the story to become even more popular. Moderation may be more of what we need. If you are planning on going to the movie or read the book, I would urge you to read one of the many books which offer correction to the shoddy research done by the author, Dan Brown. I highly recommend The Da Vinci Hoax by Carl Olson and Sandra Miesel. There are also some helpful links on geekisgood.org as well as a large set links on our web site, www.stanthonysforestgrove.org
Italian Dinner
Finally, our 24th Annual Italian Dinner is approaching very soon. I encourage you to plan on coming to the parish or swinging by our drive-thru for the latest in pasta and meatballs. Mmm. They make my mouth water as I write this. Anyhow, there are many opportunities to volunteer. Our web site, once again, has many of these listed out. Tickets are available through our web site or you can just come to the office any Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. We will also be offering wine from Shafer Vineyard Cellar Wines an, of course, our wonderful Bazaar of homemade baked goods and crafts. This is truly a labor of love by so many at our parish. Please come and enjoy the food and fellowship.
Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Monday, January 23, 2006
"Our Hope is in Christ"
Dear Parishioners,
The Crown Jewel
When asked who are we and what we are about, I quickly brag about St. Anthony's being the crown jewel of the Archdiocese and that I am spoiled by the love of the people here. When we run into issues or problems, I know that in comparison to some of the things that have happened in the world around us, we are very fortunate.
In the 3+ years I've been here, we have been able to increase our ability to evangelize, educate, and bring Christ close to our hearts. In wonder and awe, I testify that our faith has grown as well as our joy. Three years ago, our Pastoral Council put forth a new mission statement which drives everything we do. Providentially, the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council recently did the same and set forth three pastoral goals which are akin to the direction we have already been traversing. Amazing, no? Check out our parish mission and the three goals of the Archdiocese:
The Crown Jewel
When asked who are we and what we are about, I quickly brag about St. Anthony's being the crown jewel of the Archdiocese and that I am spoiled by the love of the people here. When we run into issues or problems, I know that in comparison to some of the things that have happened in the world around us, we are very fortunate.
In the 3+ years I've been here, we have been able to increase our ability to evangelize, educate, and bring Christ close to our hearts. In wonder and awe, I testify that our faith has grown as well as our joy. Three years ago, our Pastoral Council put forth a new mission statement which drives everything we do. Providentially, the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council recently did the same and set forth three pastoral goals which are akin to the direction we have already been traversing. Amazing, no? Check out our parish mission and the three goals of the Archdiocese:
St. Anthony's Parish Mission Statement
We are a welcoming and diverse community, empowered by the Spirit to carry within us the living Word of God, and sent by Jesus Christ to love and serve the Lord and each other.
Archdiocesan Pastoral Council Goals
1. Faith formation at all levels,
2. Youth and young adult ministry, and
3. Multicultural ministry.
1. Faith formation at all levels,
2. Youth and young adult ministry, and
3. Multicultural ministry.
Take a look at the makeup of our staff and you will see that we have all three goals present. Our mission and these goals go well together. Our staffing and the vision of the Archdiocese match. It has taken much dedication, work, and prayer in order for it all to happen. They are all a work in progress, and we still have much work to do in each of these areas. We have also put forth a Parish Offertory Program in order to increase participation in the financial stewardship of the mission of the parish. Like never before, there are more people involved in the growing ministries, and the level of involvement in the stewardship of our facilities has been extraordinary. All of these things are signs of life, vitality, and health in our faith community.
Financial Situation
Part of that life, vitality, and health is also a continual reviewing and critique of what we are doing and where we are going. It means that we need to talk about our issues and do so truthfully with compassion. Otherwise, our mission is empty and all our words are artificial, akin to saccharine, similar taste but not real. As people of faith, we have an obligation to take a sober look at our progress towards our mission goals and refine as we go.
When we concluded the previous year's Parish Offertory Program, we noted an alarming number of pledges that went unfulfilled, thus creating a financial problem whereby our income has not kept up with our budgeted expenses. I realize that there are countless reasons why this may have happened. For every reason, there are human stories of struggle involved. Several weeks ago, I made a generic plea at Mass for families who were behind. I asked them to do what they could to complete their pledge, and some did just that, for which I am grateful. Once again, we demonstrated the greatness present in our parish. Our current dilemma certainly demonstrates that we are all in this together and that everyone's actions effect the whole. I believe, furthermore, that we have the ability to solve this situation. An ad-hoc committee gathered recently and generated a basic plan for addressing our situation. Upon their recommendations, I have agree to begin these steps immediately. First, we must cut expenses. Second, we must get creative about how we can bring up our income.
First, I have implemented many spending cuts including a 20% cut in personnel costs. That means that our core staff is working less hours with fewer resources. The philosophy in my approach to cutting has been driven by our parish mission. I believe we need to maintain, as far as possible, the ministries currently present so as to continue in the direction set by the Pastoral Council. That is why I tried to cut expenses across the board. Because of these cuts, our level of service will be diminished by a similar factor. That is why I decided to close the office one day a week (20% of the work week). Friday is our least busy day and is close to the weekend, so I chose that day for staff to be absent. Another approach is to target areas and make deeper cuts while leaving others relatively untouched. I tried to avoid this where ever possible. As with life, hard decisions had to be made. It is a matter of philosophy and it's driven by mission. Regardless, this is very difficult for all of the staff. Everyone of them works incredibly hard and is driven by the Spirit to help spread the faith. Please pray for them. Such cuts will not stop us from going forward with the life, vitality, and health of our parish. Our mission is still the same. We are still dedicated to moving forward.
Secondly, both Administrative and Pastoral Councils have been making plans to understand the root of this problem and then begin to brainstorm ways to increase the income of the parish. Part of that process is to begin a parish-wide pastoral survey. Again, please pray for them as they go about this challenging task. All of them have the best intentions for the parish community and want to be the best of stewards. They all have busy lives and are working as much as time permits to find the appropriate avenues for resolution of our financial problem. Please be patient with them as they work through the necessary processes of problems solving.
Parish Survey
Plans are afoot to make an attempt to call every active parish household in order to get a better sense of direction. A committee will be meeting soon to determine how this could be done and what questions should be asked in order to help us gather statistically significant and relevant information. It won't be a time to air out all one's complaints or praises, but must must be concise and well directed. Please be gracious and answer the questions when our wonderful volunteers call you. You will be helping your parish family discern what road we need to take for the future. As I publish this on the internet, there are always people who are scammers. Please know that nobody at the Church will be calling you as part of this survey and ask you to divulge personal information about your bank account, credit card numbers, or the exact dollar amount of your giving.
Despair or Joy?
We may all have opinions as to why our income is down, but I caution us from drawing conclusions before we have completed this survey. In the meantime, I want to encourage every household to pray for guidance, wisdom, and joy. I mention joy because, it is in times like these that the spirit of despair can find a home in our hearts. I reject that spirit and encourage you to do the same. Furthermore, I believe that these times will bring out the best in St. Anthony's as gold is tested in fire. We will find a solution and put into place a plan to avoid such a problem in the future. Times are tough, but the Spirit of the Lord is strong. I have good reason to believe that we will be a stronger community because of this struggle. And so I also want to encourage you to reject any sentiments that tell you that the sky is falling. That simply isn't the case, and such an attitude demonstrates a sad lacking in faith. That is not who we are. It is not our struggles that define us, but our response to those struggles. It is our faith in action that defines us. So I invite you to remember who you are and set your heart steady on that vision.
On a personal note, I have come to a new realization about being dependent on God. I have worried quite a bit about this situation and conclude that this situation is beyond my ability to solve alone. Instead, I am resolved to know that I have and will continue to do what the best I can and leave the rest to the Holy Spirit. So, I choose not to worry so much anymore, but trust that God will take care of it. We are Christians. As such, we are all called to be people of faith. So, let us all do the best we can and continually give it over to God.
Our Hope is in Christ
In closing, I am reminded of so many other larger problems in our world. I think about the souls of those who suffered so greatly during the tsunamis in Southeast Asia and Africa. I look to the lives of those who are still in disrepair in the Gulf Coast. I imagine the struggles of the people who have been crushed by the earthquake in Iran. I ponder on all these things and I realize how fortunate we have it here at St. Anthony's. I turn to our Archbishop and observe his reaction to the struggles of the bankruptcy (read his latest article in the Catholic Sentinel) and I am amazed at his faith and hope. Finally, I turn to God and ask, what are you trying to tell us? Certainly, God does not cause such problems, but is always ready and deeply desiring to pour upon us even greater grace (Rom. 5:20). Let us place our hope in Christ. Let us claim that promise. Let us look for those moments. Let us show the world, our community, our loved ones just who we are and in whom we trust. We are St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Forest Grove, Oregon. We place our hope in Christ.
Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Wednesday, January 4, 2006
"Let Peace Reside in Your Hearts"
Dear Parishioners,
Happy New Year! And what a year is will be if we all seek peace in our lives. It may seem daunting to think that our personal inner peace will effect the world. But, it will. It must begin with each one of us. The first day of the year is a dual celebration: Mary, Mother of God and World Day of Peace.
Peace sure seems elusive for us, the people of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. With the recent ruling against the Archdiocese in the bankruptcy court, some might get discouraged or angry. But, this will be another opportunity for us to show our faithfulness. Don't let the nay sayers win the day. Rather, stay fast in your faith and remain constant in your convictions. This is a time for us to remember what we are about and why we gather each week for Mass. We come to celebrate Christ's saving actions in our lives and to encounter him in the flesh through the Eucharist. No bankruptcy, no judge ruling, no scandalous behavior should deter us from proclaiming Christ alive in our hearts.
On January 3rd, the Archbishop released a statement which he hopes all parishioners will read. We will make it available at all the Masses this coming weekend.
This is how we offer our lives as spiritual sacrifices. Let peace reside in your hearts, a peace that the world does not know.
For more reflection on the recent events surrounding the bankruptcy as well as a wonderful message on World Day of Peace, check out the following links:
Archbishop John G. Vlazny's Statement: PDF doc or html
Oregonian Report on Judge Parris' decision
Statement of the Archdiocese of Portland
Pope Benedict XVI's message: "In Truth, Peace"
Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
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