Dear Parishioners,
Merry Christmas! This is a season of celebration, parties, gift-giving, and family gatherings. It is also a time when we often look back on the year and measure what has happened. Here at St. Anne’s many things have happened. One event of real change was the transfer of Msgr. Moys and Fr. Ron to new assignments and the arrival of two new priests, me and Fr. Paschal. Here are some other things that have happened in the subsequent months.
Soon after our arrival in July, Fr. Paschal moved into an apartment and the parish house has under- gone extensive renovation. Sometime after Christmas, I will hold an open house at the parish house for parishioners to come and visit. Two months after our arrival, we finally finalized the budget which included some serious cuts in order to balance the budget. I held many listening sessions which allowed me to quickly get a sense of the parish’s warp and woof as well as desire for the future. In the weeks ahead, a summary of those sessions will be published in the bulletin. The Pastoral Council has been hard at work reflecting on the mission of the parish and advising me as to the pastoral needs of the community. The various committees of the Pastoral Council have yet to be revived, but in time they will be renewed. The Administrative Council has grown to nine members and now meets every month. I am still trying to get a sense of how things work. After all, a large parish, two missions, and a school involves a complexity that will take some time to understand.
In all, I am glad to be in Grants Pass and glad to be your pastor. You have been very supportive and loving. Thank you! In this week's bulletin, you will find reflections of the year from the various ministers on staff. Please take time to read their reflections and pray for them to continue the good news which continues in their respective ministries.
Remember that Christmas Joy is found in the celebration of Christ come as man for our salvation. That is truly good news. From the staff of St. Anne’s, please have a blessed and safe Christmas and New Year.
One more thing, someone sent me a delightful e-card which I found to warm my heart, especially since it involved a dog. Here is it for your viewing pleasure: Click Here
Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Examples of God's Love
Dear Parishioners,
We’ve entered the last week of the Advent season, and for many, the quest for the perfect gift, perfect house, perfect party, etc. may not have happened. Our expectations, while good, have let us down in some way. But, don’t let that bring down the fact that Christmas is about Jesus, the perfect Son of God who be- came one like us so that we could be like him. Through his incarnation, he showed us what love truly is. Whether or not our plans go as we expected, God’s unchanging love for us will always be perfect. Thank you Jesus! I’ve heard and witnessed many situations as of late that have reminded me of how powerful God’s love can be incarnated in each of us. Recently, our two mission churches have exemplified this giving love.
First, on December 6th, Our Lady of the River held a party for their 40th anniversary as a faith community. Their church community began in simple fashion and has grown to now reside in their own church building. I’m sure there are many wonderful experiences of God’s love that they have shared along the way. Their anniversary gathering was filled with food (pot-luck style), family, and friendship. It was a delight to see how they came together to make their celebration warm and friendly. Still being new and trying to get a sense of bearings, I was still welcomed as one of them. Thank you! They have much to be proud of, and their faith-filled gathering inspired me.
St. Patrick of the Forest recently experienced a different kind of communal coming together and incarnation of Christ in their
midst. This past week, as the cold weather began to ease, parishioners found themselves involved in the emergency work of mopping up the church after a water line broke. The vestibule, sacristy, confessional, and half of the church were covered in inches of water. It was reported to me that between 200 and 300 gallons of water were removed by the army of parishioners with the wet/dry vacuums. Mass was held that Saturday in their hall, a move that will likely continue depending on the restoration work. Parishioners were exhausted by the emergency, taking turns throughout the night to secure the church while the doors were left open to speed up drying. Yet, the sense of oneness and community quickly became apparent as they quickly mobilized together to solve the problem. A professional restoration com- pany has since taken over the arduous task of completing the work. The parishioners of St. Patrick of the Forest have much for which to be thankful, and much for which to be proud.
These are just two examples of how wonderful God works in our communities. I pray that as Christmas Day comes ever nearer, you will find time to count your blessings. God’s love is constant and perfect. Let him love you as you love him.
Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
We’ve entered the last week of the Advent season, and for many, the quest for the perfect gift, perfect house, perfect party, etc. may not have happened. Our expectations, while good, have let us down in some way. But, don’t let that bring down the fact that Christmas is about Jesus, the perfect Son of God who be- came one like us so that we could be like him. Through his incarnation, he showed us what love truly is. Whether or not our plans go as we expected, God’s unchanging love for us will always be perfect. Thank you Jesus! I’ve heard and witnessed many situations as of late that have reminded me of how powerful God’s love can be incarnated in each of us. Recently, our two mission churches have exemplified this giving love.
First, on December 6th, Our Lady of the River held a party for their 40th anniversary as a faith community. Their church community began in simple fashion and has grown to now reside in their own church building. I’m sure there are many wonderful experiences of God’s love that they have shared along the way. Their anniversary gathering was filled with food (pot-luck style), family, and friendship. It was a delight to see how they came together to make their celebration warm and friendly. Still being new and trying to get a sense of bearings, I was still welcomed as one of them. Thank you! They have much to be proud of, and their faith-filled gathering inspired me.
St. Patrick of the Forest recently experienced a different kind of communal coming together and incarnation of Christ in their
midst. This past week, as the cold weather began to ease, parishioners found themselves involved in the emergency work of mopping up the church after a water line broke. The vestibule, sacristy, confessional, and half of the church were covered in inches of water. It was reported to me that between 200 and 300 gallons of water were removed by the army of parishioners with the wet/dry vacuums. Mass was held that Saturday in their hall, a move that will likely continue depending on the restoration work. Parishioners were exhausted by the emergency, taking turns throughout the night to secure the church while the doors were left open to speed up drying. Yet, the sense of oneness and community quickly became apparent as they quickly mobilized together to solve the problem. A professional restoration com- pany has since taken over the arduous task of completing the work. The parishioners of St. Patrick of the Forest have much for which to be thankful, and much for which to be proud.
These are just two examples of how wonderful God works in our communities. I pray that as Christmas Day comes ever nearer, you will find time to count your blessings. God’s love is constant and perfect. Let him love you as you love him.
Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Sunday, December 13, 2009
The Joy of Reconciliation
Dear Parishioners,
Advent is well underway, and as you know the two themes of the season are that of preparation for the celebration of Christ’s first coming at Christmas and preparation for the second coming of Christ. As I mentioned in last week’s homily, this season is considered one of joyful preparation. However, for some, this season is one which reminds them of the sadness of the loss of someone special or the breakup of a relationship. Some feel overly burdened by the weight of expectation and materialism of the secular part of Christmas. For others the sadness and difficulties find themselves rooted in the pervasiveness of sin. For all these people, Advent can be especially challenging.
This is where the Church comes in. While we may not be able to solve the struggles of others, we can certainly play a role in reminding one another of God’s unwavering love for each of us. We can lend an ear to listen and offer a hand to help. We can make a simple phone call to let those we love know how much we care. We can offer gifts of money or food to our nearby agencies that help out the poor. We can invite them over to our house for a meal or anonymously give them something they need. This past week, my sister and her friend came to visit me and spent their entire time helping clean and unpack the majority of items that have been stored away until now. They even decorated the parish house for Christmas. I am so thankful. God is good. So, you see, there are many things we can do, big and small, that can let others know of God’s amazing love.
A really potent way to prepare during Advent is to make an effort to reconcile oneself with God. Imagine no longer being haunted by the guilt of the sin which has beset itself in your life. Imagine the freedom and joy that can be yours by simply letting God know your sins through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is amazing how much our sadness or anger can be relieved by the outpouring of God’s love and grace in Reconciliation. Almost without fail, people report that it is their least favorite Sacrament. This is understandable. However, don’t let that fear keep you away. Once you go and receive absolution from the priest in the name of Christ, remember the joy that you feel immediately afterwards. Isn’t that worth it? Now imagine that joy continuing through the days and weeks ahead. What a wonderful Christmas you could have. This coming Wednesday at 7:00 PM, we will be offering our annual Advent Communal Reconciliation Service. We will have seven to eight priests on hand. As a community, we will hear the scriptures which will help us realize the sins with which we struggle as well as the desire by God to wash them all away. We will offer a communal Act of Contrition, so no worries if you have forgotten it. Then finally, everyone will be given the opportunity to confess their sins and receive God’s life transforming forgiveness. Come and be reconciled. Come and be made whole for Christmas. What a gift that will be for you and your loved ones!
Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Advent is well underway, and as you know the two themes of the season are that of preparation for the celebration of Christ’s first coming at Christmas and preparation for the second coming of Christ. As I mentioned in last week’s homily, this season is considered one of joyful preparation. However, for some, this season is one which reminds them of the sadness of the loss of someone special or the breakup of a relationship. Some feel overly burdened by the weight of expectation and materialism of the secular part of Christmas. For others the sadness and difficulties find themselves rooted in the pervasiveness of sin. For all these people, Advent can be especially challenging.
This is where the Church comes in. While we may not be able to solve the struggles of others, we can certainly play a role in reminding one another of God’s unwavering love for each of us. We can lend an ear to listen and offer a hand to help. We can make a simple phone call to let those we love know how much we care. We can offer gifts of money or food to our nearby agencies that help out the poor. We can invite them over to our house for a meal or anonymously give them something they need. This past week, my sister and her friend came to visit me and spent their entire time helping clean and unpack the majority of items that have been stored away until now. They even decorated the parish house for Christmas. I am so thankful. God is good. So, you see, there are many things we can do, big and small, that can let others know of God’s amazing love.
A really potent way to prepare during Advent is to make an effort to reconcile oneself with God. Imagine no longer being haunted by the guilt of the sin which has beset itself in your life. Imagine the freedom and joy that can be yours by simply letting God know your sins through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is amazing how much our sadness or anger can be relieved by the outpouring of God’s love and grace in Reconciliation. Almost without fail, people report that it is their least favorite Sacrament. This is understandable. However, don’t let that fear keep you away. Once you go and receive absolution from the priest in the name of Christ, remember the joy that you feel immediately afterwards. Isn’t that worth it? Now imagine that joy continuing through the days and weeks ahead. What a wonderful Christmas you could have. This coming Wednesday at 7:00 PM, we will be offering our annual Advent Communal Reconciliation Service. We will have seven to eight priests on hand. As a community, we will hear the scriptures which will help us realize the sins with which we struggle as well as the desire by God to wash them all away. We will offer a communal Act of Contrition, so no worries if you have forgotten it. Then finally, everyone will be given the opportunity to confess their sins and receive God’s life transforming forgiveness. Come and be reconciled. Come and be made whole for Christmas. What a gift that will be for you and your loved ones!
Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
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