Merry Christmas

Dear Parishioners,

At this time of the year, it is good to recognize the Good News in our community. It is a time to look back with gratitude for all that God has done in our midst. It is a time for thankfulness and hope for the future.

For me, I look back on 2013 and see how the Year of Faith has helped us shore up our faith in the moral issues of our time. I give thanks for all who spent extra time to offer a daily Rosary, Fast on Friday’s, and attend our monthly Solemn Vespers with Adoration. I am also thankful for the concrete steps we’ve taken to begin the process of renovating our Church. We have a long way to go in the process, but we have a solid core committee who continue to discuss and explore ideas. I am also thankful for the work of Alan Crews who will be officially retiring as of this month. His joyful presence and work ethic has been inspirational for me, the staff, and parishioners who have worked with him. I am thankful for the arrival of John Becerra, our seminarian intern, who has added a view of hope for vocations to the priesthood. These are just some of the local happenings within our parish. But, there were some much broader events that also has effected the larger Church.

This past year we witnessed two major leadership changes in the Church, one locally and the other globally. First was the significant appointment of Archbishop Alexander Sample as our new Archbishop coupled with the retirement of Archbishop Vlazny. Then shortly after that, Pope Benedict XVI stunned the world by his humble resignation, thereby setting into motion a conclave which elected Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope and the first pope to take a name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. Instead of the common news cycle of criticism of the Church, it was refreshing to hear and watch reports of these events set in a positive light. Since then, Pope Francis has continued to surprise and shock the world by his humble living and colloquial way of speaking. His actions of kindness and compassion have inspired many. I highly recommend reading the encyclical that he and Pope Benedict wrote, Lumen Fidei, as well as Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium. While some in the secular press have been negatively critical about the latter document, I recommend that you read it for yourself and do not depend on the secular media to digest it for you. It is an amazing exhortation to be more evangelical in living out and sharing our faith. It would make a wonderful new year’s resolution to get a copy and prayerfully read just a few pages each day. We will be reading it as part of our weekly staff meetings in the new year.

We live in amazing times. 2013 was full of wonderful outpourings of the Holy Spirit locally and globally. Please continue to ask God to pour out His Holy Spirit upon us. Pray that we will be, as a community, a beacon of faith, hope, and love to our civic community as well as to the larger global community.

Finally, I want to express my thanks to all of the parishioners of St. Anne’s, St. Patrick of the Forest, and Our Lady of the River for their faith-filled example to me. Serving you as your pastor has fed me deeply. Thank you, especially, for being patient with my mistakes and helping me get up when I have fallen. I give thanks for being here with you as we, together, journey on this path of faith.

Merry Christmas!

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Advent Distractions

Dear Parishioners,

Blessed Advent! I hope that this year, Advent will be a time of renewal in faith. Even as we have now closed the Year of Faith, I am impressed with the need to continue the call to deepen our own Catholic Faith within our own church communities and beyond. There are many things that can become obstacles to living our faith, some of which I would like to address here.

Commercialism
Advent and Christmastime have been overrun with a commercialism that can really distract us from what it is all about. On may way back from a visit to the hospital, I was delighted to see the Knights of Columbus billboard which read, “Keep Christ in Christmas.” Amen to that! It is not that we can’t enjoy some of the secular festivities that also surround us at this time, but the Incarnation of Christ is truly the reason for this season. During this time, the college football bowl season begins. There is nothing wrong with enjoying such entertainment. We simply need to make sure that it doesn’t become our focus or a distraction from our Christian preparation that is Advent. Personally, I enjoy watching football, but must be clear that it is just a game and not let the outcome of such events determine my mood. In fact, the best part of these games are when displays of faith are made and good sportsmanship is present. Yes, I hope for the Beavers, the Ducks, and other favorite teams, but let us set about being Christians first, especially when with our friends enjoying these forms of entertainment.

Skepticism
Often during this season as well as around Lent and Easter, various TV programs air which presuppose doubt about the things of the faith. Just this past week, Pope Francis called for the public display of the bones of St Peter to be made available for the first time ever. Initial digs below the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica in the 1930’s revealed various human and animal remains. There was some evidence of the presence of St. Peter’s bones, but it was not clear at that time. However, when further archeological research was done in the 1940’s and 50’s, it came to light that some skeletal remains were transferred in the initial dig and were then being re-examined. The studies that followed led Pope Paul VI to declare that they had truly found St. Peter’s earthly remains. This discovery was highlighted in the March 17th, 1950 edition of Life Magazine. This amazing discovery was held with high esteem among many scholars at the time and since then. However, with the recent event of Pope Francis’ exposition of these relics, the reports I saw and heard mostly revolved around their dubious identity. It is amazing how far we have come in our culture to become so skeptical. It just reminds me of how we need to be careful of how the mainstream media reports issues of our Catholic Faith. Personally, I have found their ability to accurately report on the things of the Church to be sketchy at best. So, be ever mindful of this assumption of skepticism that so often permeates our culture surrounding issues of faith, especially during this season.

Religious Misdirection
In the coming days, we have the distinct opportunity to give praise to God for the person of the Blessed Virgin Mary on four different occasions: the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 9th this year), Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec.12), the granddaddy of them all, Christmas itself, and finally, the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God (Jan. 1). A non-Catholic visitor may critique us for giving Mary so much attention and even distraction and misdirection in our faith. So, it is very important that we all understand that while these celebrations bring an opportunity to venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary for all the roles she has played in salvation history, she is, ultimately not our focus. Yes, Mary is the pre-eminent member of the Church and model for us all. Prayer to her and her mediating support has brought about miracles. However, she is not an end unto herself, nor is she competitive with Christ. Rather, all these festivals involving our Blessed Mother are meant to focus us on the things that are critical. Mary, herself, does not desire misdirected attention to be given to her, but rather through the celebration of these mysteries, we offer greater praise to God.

In a way of speaking, all Marian feasts are essentially christological feasts, meaning they are ultimately about Jesus Christ. And we all know that all christological reflections draw us to the Father and the mystery of the Trinity. We seek out Christ through the aid of our Blessed Mother Mary, the model of the Church. Sometimes, this is offered as, “To Jesus through Mary.” Mary is the most pure and blessed “pointer,” if you will, to her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. So, be fervent in your prayers. When offering a Rosary, we know that Mary desires that we imitate her example of focus on her Son. When participating in these liturgical feasts give praise to God, thank Mary for her “yes” to God’s plans, and give God all the glory. And when someone challenges you about all this focus on Mary, be prepared to give a clear christological reason for Mary’s presence in our prayers.

Reconciliation
Advent, as a preparation time for Christmas, is a perfect time to re- move the obstacles of sin in our lives. This month, we have many opportunities to receive this Sacrament. At St. Patrick of the Forest we will be offering a communal reconciliation service on Monday, the 16th, followed the next day at St. Anne’s on Tuesday, the 17th. Both are at 7 PM. We will continue to offer the Sacrament on Saturdays between 4 PM and 5 PM. We will also offer a special time for those who cannot get out when it is dark on the Wednesday, the 11th, from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Our sins are the biggest and most dangerous obstacles to faith. I urge you to make a concerted effort to come and celebrate God’s forgiveness in your life. With our hearts cleansed of sin, we will be more open to the awesome power of God in our lives. This can be the most dramatic form of preparation you can do next to Mass itself.

Finally, know that I hold you all in my prayers during this time of Advent. I pray that these feasts will help you to prepare your hearts for the Light of the World. Put up your lights, creche scenes, swags, stockings, Christmas tree, and the like. Make all these things remind you that the darkness has not overcome the light, that Jesus has con- quered sin and death, that Mary is a great advocate in our faith jour- ney, and that Advent is a wonderful time to, once again, make room for God to dwell in our hearts even more than before.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Thanksgiving & Advent

Thanksgiving
Give thanks! Being thankful is a key essence of what it means to be a Catholic Christian. This coming Thursday, our country will celebrate Thanksgiving Day. As such, we will have a special Mass of thanksgiving where I will be asking you to share what you are thankful for. Also at that Mass, I will invite everyone to come forward at the Preparation of the Gifts to donate nonperishable food items and money for our local St. Vincent de Paul. Such a gesture is a wonderful way to show God our thanks and express our desire to help those in need.


Advent
Now is also a time to discern what you will be doing for Advent. How will you prepare yourself for Christmas? Many of us put up lights on our homes. Some decorate the interior of our rooms. We put up manger scenes and even the Christmas tree. But, why do we do these things? We do them to show on the outside what we hope for on the inside. We hope that Christ will be born-again in our hearts. We hope that the darkness that can sometimes pervade our hearts and minds will be removed by the light of Christ. The Church has given us Advent in order to simply look at these things and prepare to celebrate the most amazing event in history, the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.


Reconciliation
Finally, a way to give thanks and prepare our hearts is via the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We will be hosting the communal reconciliation services at St. Patrick of the Forest on Monday, Dec. 16th at 7 PM and then again at St. Anne’s on Tuesday, Dec. 17th at 7 PM. I expect many priests to come to our Advent service, so there will be many options for all. Please mark your calendars now. Prepare for Christmas by preparing for Advent, the advent of Jesus Christ in your heart.


Blessings,


Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Thank You & Welcome!

Dear Parishioners,

Alan Crews

Since the announcement of Alan's retirement, I have been working with a small search committee to
find his successor. On Nov. 7th, we concluded that search and have decided to hire Stephen Voehl whom many of you may already know. He currently lives with his wife in Florida, and will need to begin the process of moving. He will begin in January. We are very very delighted to have found someone of his qualifications.

Alan has served St. Anne's with the highest standard of care, and he will be missed for sure. When Stephen comes on board, Alan won't be disappearing off the earth. Rather, Alan will be helping him get his feet on the ground. Again, this is testimony to the dedication and character Alan has always demonstrated through his entire tenure. I will miss his daily laughter which always made me smile.

We will be hosting a retirement party in the near future to let Alan know how much we appreciate all he has done.

Personally, I want thank you, Alan, for all you have done for me as the pastor, the staff, and the community of St. Anne's! May God be with you on this next part of your journey!



Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

A Big Heart Open To God

Dear Parishioners,

In the past several weeks, a recent interview with Pope Francis has drawn enormous attention with headlines and reporting that lead Catholics to believe that we are about to abandon our sacred dogmas and moral teachings.  This is sad, but no surprise.  The media is notoriously bad at reporting Church news as well as the subtleties of philosophies, teachings, and even the structures of the Catholic Church.  So, what did the pope say?  Here’s one of his controversial statements and my reflection which I hope fills out what he meant:

“The dogmatic and moral teachings of the church are not all equivalent. The church’s pastoral ministry cannot be obsessed with the transmission of a disjointed multitude of doctrines to be imposed insistently.”

Some have interpreted this as the beginning of a “break” or “change” in the Church’s dogmas and moral teachings.  This is not correct nor a response that is new.  It is, however, a very serious challenge.  He further said that our proclamation must be missionary in style where love and compassion come first.  If we forget this, we as a Church will no longer be the “moral edifice” to the world, but a falling “house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel.”  These are very dramatic images to be sure.  So what does all this mean? 

First, the pope was reminding us that some dogmas and moral teachings are more central than others.  For example, the belief in one triune God is more central than the reality that when either consecrated eucharistic species is divided, the whole Christ is present in each part of the species.  Both are dogmas, both are essential parts of our Faith, the former being at the center, the latter being definitively true yet not as central.  Committing murder and cheating on a test are both immoral. The former is more grave than the latter. 

Second, the pope wanted his audience to remember that we shouldn’t spread the Gospel by starting with dogmas and moral teachings.  Rather, the pope wants us to remember that the Gospel we are to proclaim starts with God’s love. 

We are to love God and our neighbor (cf. Matt 22:39).  That comes before all else.  It is a commandment.  We are to show to others that God is love.  Certainly, we hold true to moral living and need to teach it, but it is a consequence of the most fundamental and compelling part of the Good News.  Reading the Gospels makes it clear that Jesus did this very same thing.  Just imagine Jesus saying that the Good News was to not commit adultery?  How many followers would that inspire?  And while Jesus did teach against adultery, this was not the center of his mission.  And therein lies the pope’s point.  Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God and secondarily would also teach about the moral life. Recall the woman caught in the act of adultery whom the Pharisees wanted to stone (Jn. 8:1-11)?  How did Jesus react to the woman and in what order?  He listened, showed compassion, forgave her sins, and then told her to go and sin no more.  How did he react to those who were accusing?  He listened, stooped down to write, then challenged them to a self examination of conscience. Some who are rigidly focused on only the moral life, the Pope commented, have gotten the whole thing backwards.  I must admit that, at times, I have done this myself.  So, I take the pope’s words to heart.

When we meet someone who is living a life of serious sin, we must first proclaim that God loves them and desires to be in full communion with him.  We must begin with the person, not the sin.  We should let them know that we love them.  We should show authentic care and concern.  We should remind them that God’s love and forgiveness is available to them and that God’s love is bigger than our sins.  We should express the joy that comes from being close to God, his Church, and the Sacraments. We should, if the situation allows, invite them to walk with us or ask to accompany them in that journey of restoration.  Such a proclamation is more likely to draw someone to the heart of God.  Such a witness may woo one’s heart to burn for love of the truth.  With one’s heart now open to the wonders of God’s love, they may be more likely to reexamine their lifestyle, repent, and be further transformed into the person they were always called to be.  This is what the Pope was trying to say.  We need to evangelize and share the “saving love of God” and then we must catechize.  If we begin in the other direction, people are more likely to perceive us as simply a Church of rules and regulations and forget that the heart of the Bride, the Church, is focused on the heart of the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.

Every now and then, we get this right.  For example, this past week, a pair of young adults entered our church without permission and began to shoot a music video.  Several persons who happened to be in the church were shocked and didn’t know what to do.  Rightfully so.  None of these people came at these young men with vicious indignation or self-righteousness.  That was a win for charity right off the bat.  Instead, I was asked to come over to talk to the men, and so I did. The music was in a modern rap style and the main artist was using our church interior as backdrop for his music video.  Clearly, it was inappropriate to do any kind of filming in our church without permission.  Furthermore, the potential contents of the video might have been at issue.  So, instead of accusing the young men, I honestly expressed my interest in their art, got to know them and their background, and then gently reminded them to call ahead for permission if they wanted to shoot any videos in the future.  As it turned out, the main artist was crafting a video with music that described his love for his mother who died when he was young, how he missed her, and how much inspiration he has drawn from her as she looks down from heaven on her son.  The young man shared with me a very troubled past.  I tried to empathize and encourage him in his journey.  Finally as they were leaving, I invited the main artist to return so we could talk some more about his struggles if he desired.  We parted in friendship with a promise for the link to his video when it is available online.  What church did this young man encounter?  I hope a compassionate one.  I hope it was a church that took interest in him as a person first before the rules. I hope this was a moment of success, a moment of compassion and not just an eviction from the church building by some angry Catholics.  I hope this is true.  I think it was.  Have I resolved similar situation in the past with such peace?  No.  So, the challenge remains out there for me and I hope you too.

With recent unprecedented socio-political developments in our country, we have been challenged more directly on moral fronts and have felt the need to respond.  Cardinal Dolan of New York and president of the USCCB would likely be the first to agree with the pope.  You might recall that at the beginning of the heated debates about the HHS Mandate, Cardinal Dolan was quoted saying, "We didn't start this battle, and I'm kind of uncomfortable with it... We'd much rather be conciliatory."  The heart of Cardinal Dolan is one about the mercy of God and care for the poor.  It was the disregard to our religious liberty which mandated we pay for so-called medical procedures that would kill the poor which compelled our bishops to speak out.  It is only when specific issues arise that our bishops step up and respond.  Archbishop Sample is very much like this.  In my own dealings with our archbishop, I could sense that he has the heart of a shepherd.   He has said that he will speak on issues when needed.  You see, being shepherds as our pope and bishops are, they desire to proclaim the Gospel first, love much, and correct little.  None of this changes dogma or the fundamental teachings of our faith.  But, the pope’s words remind us all of the challenge of charity.  He reminds us of the hierarchy of truths. He reminds us of the importance of the human person and the need to reach out with compassion.

Finally, I apologize for the length of this letter, but the pope’s reflections are important.  The two sentences that I have focused upon make up only 0.3% of his entire text.  I highly encourage all of you to read the entire interview.  He had a lot to share.  I think readers will get a deeper insight into the heart and thought of our new pope.  A link to to the entire text is available on our web site, stannechurch.com. 

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

School Year Begins

Dear Parishioners,

School Begins
The school year officially begins after this Labor Day.  That means that we will once again see the beautiful faces of our little ones on our campus.  If you have not decided to enroll your child at our school yet, there is still time without any great struggle for makeup homework or figuring out proper placement in classes.  If you have a child that is age 4 yrs. old, we offer a fantastic full-day Pre-K.  If your child is 5 yr old, then why not enroll them in our very successful Kindergarden class?  Come by the school office and inquire.  You can get a tour and meet our wonderful teachers.  We strive to live out our mission statement: “St. Anne Catholic School is committed to faith formation, scholarship, leadership, and service according to our Catholic values.”  Come check us out and see if St. Anne’s Catholic School is right for you.  

Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Whether your children are enrolled in the public school system or in our Catholic School, we have other wonderful opportunities to help build your children’s faith whether they are in grade school, middle school, or high school.  Our Faith Formation program is receiving registrations already and you can find them online, in the vestibules of the Church, in the main parish office, or at the Faith Formation Office located in the Parish Center.  you can also call Jessica McCormick at 541-479-4848.  Our youth ministry program is also an excellent way for your middle school or high school teen to experience our living faith in a way that speaks their language.  If your teen is a Freshman or later and hasn’t been confirmed, again, we are gearing up for Confirmation classes.  Seek out Natalie Scott, our Coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for details 541-476-5802.

Golf Tournament
On a totally different note, our annual parish golf tournament is two Saturday’s from now, the 14th of September!  Have you signed up your team of four?  The tourny is open to men and women and teens alike.  Last year, one of our teens, Donnie Thomason really schooled many of our vetran players.   I hear that Fr. José was even thinking of swinging some clubs. Last year was a lot of fun, and I am looking forward to this year as well.  The funds raised go to the general fund of the parish which will help us in our ministries and much more.  Please come by the parish office ASAP and sign up your team.  Time is getting short!  Hope to see you out there!

Blessings,


Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

The Heavens Declare

Dear Parishioners,

Stephan's Qunitet (280-300 Million light years distant!)

A couple months ago, I wrote about the value of recreation and particularly vacations.  Well, a few weeks ago I went on a vacation which concluded with accompanying our youth in Spokane, WA for the Steubenville NW youth conference.  I camped at Le Page Park on the Columbia Gorge and John Day River, then Wallowa Lake, OR, then onto Chief Timothy Park, ID, followed by a short stay at Farragut State Park, ID.  On my way back, I had the opportunity to meet up with some family in the Salem area.  The weather and scenery was magnificent until I returned to the smokey Rogue Valley.  Yikes!  Apparently, the situation with the fires will take weeks if not months to extinguish, possibly until the first real seasonal rain in October.

This weekend, I am not at the parish, but took my annual journey to the Oregon Star Party in central Oregon (oregonstarparty.org).  700+ geeks and their telescopes set up shop each year on a high desert plateau SE of Prineville, OR and stay up all night over the course of a week to view the amazing stars, nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies that adorn our skies.  From the city, it is hard to see any of these things well, but from this dark spot in Oregon, the brightest thing impeding our view is the Milky Way itself.  As a priest, I have been asked why I spend time looking into the dark skies with my telescope.  The Scriptures explain it well: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Ps 19:1).  For me, it reminds me of how small I am and how awesome God is.  It also reminds me that despite our relative smallness in the universe, God still loves us with a perfect and sacrificial love.  It makes me wonder why God created it all.  It makes me wonder why there are so many things we can see, yet could never visit personally.  I’ve seen all the planets, many many galaxies and groups of galaxies so far away that the light I see was emitted long before humanity existed.  What an amazing God. Why did he do all this.  It simply keeps me in awe of his majesty.  God is the king of the universe for sure.  

Though you may not own a telescope yourself, you, too, can enjoy the beauty of the heavens.  Assuming that smoke or clouds aren’t a great issue, anyone can observe the coming Perseid Meteor Shower.  This has been typically the most active meteor shower each year with potential of very large fireballs streaking across the sky!  It will peak on Aug. 12th and 13th.  All you need to do is look up.  I recommend getting a lawn chair that reclines or a blanket and just hang out in your back yard and see if you can catch a glimpse of these momentary shots of dust from the heavens.  Avoid lights if you can. If the sky is dark and clear, it is possible to catch up to 100 meteors an hour.  Learn more by watching this youtube video: http://youtu.be/zO83KP54YXs

Vacation and recreation are important to us all.  No matter where you go, don’t forget that God desires to be with you the whole way.  Don’t forget that Mass is the pinnacle of our worship, so find a Catholic Church local to your vacation destination. Soon enough Fall and Winter will be here, so open your heart to God’s grace and let him recreate you in his image this Summer. 

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger

Pastor

Year of Faith Opportunities

Dear Parishioners,

The school year is coming to a close and many of our young people are graduating from  high school, college, and even kindergarten!  But, most of our young people will be simply moving to the next level in their educational journey.  As a parent, the first priority for you is the faith-life and education of your child or children with whom God has entrusted to you. You might remember that you made this promise when you participated in the baptism of each of your children.  So, in that context, I want to encourage you to give serious consideration to your child’s participation in and education in the Faith.  We have many ways that you can consider to further that mission with which you’ve been entrusted.

The first is our grade school which brags of a full-day Pre-K and Kindergarden.  St. Anne Catholic School has been accredited from our earliest grades all the way up to 8th grade.  Our school has awesome teachers who know that the mission of faith comes first and foremost.  Our school offers more hours of faith formation and education per week than any of our ministries.  Our teachers are great at lifting up their students to excel in reading, mathematics, science, and the arts.  The classrooms are welcoming and the student to teacher ratio allows for maximum potential for contact with each other.  Our graduates have a wonderful track record of becoming leaders in the faith and the community.  They are well prepared and often are well ahead of their fellow students when they reach high school.  If you have children who are of age to attend our school, I want you to give serious prayer and thought to bringing your child or children to St. Anne Catholic School.  Enrollment is now open, so don’t hesitate.  Contact the school office and learn more about how the school may be a wonderful opportunity for your family.

Another way to fulfill that commitment of raising your children in the faith is enrolling them in our Faith Formation Program which also begins with the school year.  We have dedicated catechists who spend hours preparing for lessons to reach the hearts of our young ones.  The classes are placed between our Sunday Masses which allow you as their parents to also grow in your faith.  As such, we will continue to offer an assortment of adult faith formation opportunities.  This past year, we watched Robert Barron’s Catholicism DVD series.  This coming year, we will continue to offer monthly opportunities for adult catechesis and Faith Formation.  So, please don’t just drop your children off and pick them up later.  Come and stay while they are going to Faith Formation classes.  Learn about the faith yourself.  Become a resource for your children when they ask those hard questions.  This Summer, we will host our annual Vacation Bible School which will help our children learn about our Lord through compelling stories, music, and activities.  Sign up now before it’s too late!

Lastly, if your child is in Middle School or High School, then be aware that we have a fantastic ministry to our teens.  Our youth ministry program is based on Life Teen which is an internationally recognized program of resources, training, and methods all geared toward creating opportunities for the teens to encounter Christ, most specifically in the Eucharist which is our source and summit.  We commit ourselves to tackling the hard topics that besiege our teens in our culture today.  This past year, we spent five weeks learning about Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, arguably the most compelling teaching on sex and marriage ever articulated.  This summer, our teens will participate in Joe’s Camp which will help them learn about the dignity of work and the needs of the less fortunate.  The High School teens will have the opportunity to attend Steubenville NW Youth Conference with thousands of other teens and nationally recognized speakers who will challenge them to live their lives as committed disciples of the Lord.

Pope Benedict XVI called for a year of faith.  That challenge is for all of us.  What are you doing to increase your love and knowledge of the Catholic Faith in your life and the lives of all your family members?  As your pastor, I want to encourage you to take the challenge seriously and consider all these options which I’ve describe here.  If you do not have children or they are already grown, consider how you can support these endeavors while at the same time growing in your own faith walk.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger

Pastor

Going On Vacation?

Once again summer is almost upon us and many are making their plans for vacation. Vacation, recreation, and rest are an important part of the spiritual life. We need to get away from our common work and environment periodically and allow God to refresh and renew us. I hope that your plans will do just that.

As part of any Catholic’s spiritual life, Mass is a critical aspect. Without Mass, we go without our Lord, in his sacramental presence, in our life. Traveling allows us all to visit other Catholic Churches and get a new view of the Mass as it is celebrated in other communities and cultures. Please make every effort to include Sunday Mass in your plans. The worst thing on vacation is to vacate God from our lives. This does just the opposite of what a vacation should do.

I’m always curious to see what other communities are doing. Each Catholic Church has a character of its own, yet maintains that which is most essential. Feel free to grab a bulletin from any churches you visit. I’d be curious to see what other parishes are doing as well. When you are done with the bulletin, feel free to drop it by the office so I can take a look. No need to leave your name. I’d just be encouraged to see what other parishes are doing. Maybe they can be a source of inspiration for us!

Finally, be safe on your vacation. Take God with you, and go to see God at Mass when you are there as well as en route. Plan for our Lord to journey along with you. Give God praise for all the amazing beauty you see and the people you meet. Finally, I pray that you will return safe and refreshed with a renewed sense of faith and life!

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger 
Pastor 

Being Sheep

Dear Parishioners,

Last weekend I offered a homily on what it means to be the sheep of God’s flock. It is likewise hard to be a local shepherd at times as well. The good news is that we are all in this together, and we are not alone, for we have our Archbishop to help and guide us on our journey as a parish the local church called the Archdiocese of Portland.

In my homily, I reflected on the process of remodeling our Church building. But, I didn’t mention why a remodel was even needed. The reasons are many, but here are just some of the main ones. First and foremost, the particular approach to semi-round seating in our situation is problematic for liturgical celebrations, especially when a vast majority of people are seated to one side and hardly anyone sits in front of the altar. Most of the pews are not facing the altar, the main focus of any Catholic Church. Our lighting system is very inadequate. The acoustics render the spoken word hard to understand. The ability to use any kind of visual multimedia is extremely difficult (think, Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal video). The ability to celebrate baptisms, weddings, and funerals are a struggle liturgically. I imagine that many of you have your own thoughts that you might add to this list. Regardless, we need to implement a remodel to address these and other issues.

There are many many ways a Church can be built and or remodeled. There is no perfect or right way. Through the course of history, the Catholic Church has built many styles of Churches to the glory of God. I mentioned that I was aware that we have basically two paradigms from which to begin: augmenting the current semi-round approach we currently have or turning the entire focus in one direction facing the East or West side of our Church. Knowing that Archbishop Sample would ultimately have to approve our final design, I desired to ask him about the basic paradigm. So, two weeks ago I had that opportunity. He was very gracious and inquisitive about our project as well as the basic shape of our building. We had only a few minutes to chat, but he clearly desired that we choose the second of the two paradigms described above. In addition, he was clear that he desired that the tabernacle be placed directly behind the altar. He mentioned that, in particular with regard to the tabernacle placement, this would simply solve a lot of issues, a thought with which I agree.

I readily admit that I like modern architectural designs of many Catholic Churches, and I like Church arrangements in the semi- round approach. However, I also see many benefits of other designs too, including ones with the paradigm for which we will be striving. It is important to remember that the architecture of a Church, while important, isn’t the wholeness of what it means to be Church. If you find yourself saddened by this potential change, I want to encourage you to know that new and great things can come from this other approach. If you have always hoped that a remodel would be done in the forthcoming style, I ask that you be compassionate to those who have to die a little to the vision of Church that they have come to love. Most important is our sense of unity and communion with each other, our Archbishop, and most of all our Lord Jesus. Do not let this process become a moment for despair or arrogance, but rather for joy... joy for the new things that God is planning in our midst.

It is hard to be a sheep, following as a flock, together with one’s shepherd. I promise to continue to shepherd us all with clarity and transparency. In the months and years ahead, as we continue in this plan, there will be a feasibility study, potential listening sessions, input from various groups, a committee to help in the renovation, a capital campaign, discussions with our contractor and architect, and consistent communication with those at the Archdiocese as needed. I have already received people’s thoughts and desires about what they hope will happen, for which I am open. But, remember that this process may not necessarily please everyone, nor necessarily fulfill one’s personal demands. In that situation, please guard your hearts from the temptation of pride and arrogance that can cause dissension in these kinds of works. I will not be receptive to those who are demanding, lack charity, or will give with “strings attached.” This process will involve people with stewards’ hearts, people who are willing to give with faith and generosity, people who are willing to serve with regard to the common good and not themselves. As far as exacting details, I do not have any more than I have offered here as I write this letter. In this process, it is my personal goal that it will bring us together as one community, striving to remodel our Church to give God the glory, not ourselves. I am excited about the possibilities, and I ask you to pray for me, your local shepherd, as we begin the initial phases of dreaming and planning. May we be a light to all those with whom we work with and talk to in regards to this project.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor 

Blessed Easter!

Dear Parishioners,

Blessed Easter!  Christ is risen from the dead! Alleluia! Alleluia!

All during the season of Lent we’ve been preparing ourselves for this time.  Now it is upon us.  But what does that mean?  You might ask, what significance is that for me?  Well, simply put, it means that there is an opportunity for heaven for you and for me.  It means that we can be forgiven of our sins.  It means that Jesus broke the barrier of death so that we can live forever.  It is the fulfillment of the law and prophets. It means that death is not the end.  It means that the Eucharist is more than just receiving Jesus, it is a foretaste of heaven. 

Easter means that we have many new Catholics in our midst.  On Easter Vigil Saturday, we baptized 9 people, submersing them in the waters of forgiveness.  Sixteen were further confirmed and given their first Holy Communion.  It was a joyous time.  This year’s class of new Catholics were a real inspiration to me and our whole team.  From day one, our RCIA team knew that this would be a special year.  As we gathered for our first class, it became obvious that we could not fit in the room.  There were simply too many people.  What a delightful problem.  So, we simply moved to a larger room for the year.  What transpired was amazing, mysterious, and joy-filled.  I want to especially thank Jessica Bubien, our Pastoral Associate, as this was her first year directing our RCIA.  I want to thank the many persons on her team. Without them, we couldn’t have offered our RCIA well.  Thank you all!

So now that Easter has arrived, I pray that you and your family will have a time of peace and joy.  The days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer.  These are God’s ways of showing us how much he loves us.  But even then, they pale in comparison to Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross and Resurrection from the dead.  So, let them always remind you of this cost of true love.  

May you all have a blessed Easter!

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Congratulations Pope Francis!

Dear Parishioners,

Last week, at the time of the writing of my column, we did not know who the Pope was.  But today, we know!  We know with great enthusiasm.  Pope Francis, in just a few short days, has come on the world stage and has made it known that he “would like a Church which is poor and for the poor.”  Such desire has been illustrated in his own actions amidst a whirl-wind of ceremonial grandiosity.  He has, on several occasions, refused the safety of the papal limousine in favor of a more modest means (sometimes just walking), taken detours without announcing it to his security, insisted in paying his hotel bill, and choosing to wear a simpler ensemble with the papal white cassock.  In time, I imagine that some of these things, most notably his random and unannounced behaviors may be modified for the sake of his own personal safety.  But, time will tell.  This Pope Francis is a man of simplicity.

Such signs of simplicity and humility speak very easily to the average person.  Such style is very good for an unbelieving world to see, a world which accuses the Church of opulence, narcissism, and deceit -- all the while being guilty of the vary same things in magnitudes beyond any wild imaginings alleged against the Church.  Yet, it is his simplicity and poverty (charisms of religious orders) that will be able to keep the “sharks” at bay.  In my homily of last week, I confessed that his simplicity re-inspired my own priestly ministry in these few short days.  How wonderful a gift as Lent draws to a close and Easter season approaches.

Being a Pope is an impossible job without the grace of prayer.  Pope Francis has asked us to pray for him (another astonishing moment during his first few minutes as Roman Pontiff).  He also asked for prayers for Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI.  Let us set our hearts on these two gentle shepherds who need every heavenly grace they can.

Finally, let us offer our praise to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who have worked through our Cardinals to bring us Pope Francis at this time in our history.  May we all find in Pope Francis a model and inspiration of Christian faith which brings us all closer to the sacred heart of Jesus!  May we be reinvigorated to proclaim the Gospel with simple evangelical zeal so that Jesus may reign in more hearts! 

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger

Pastor

Habemus Papam

Dear Parishioners,

Habemus Papam! We have a Pope and his name is Francis I. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was considered one of the front runners amidt the esteemed college of cardinals. In 2005, it was reported that he came in second in the voting when Cardinal Ratzinger was chosen. But today, he has been selected as the new Roman Pontiff of the Catholic Church. His election marks some firsts: He is the first Jesuit to be elected Pope. No other Pope has taken Francis as his new name. He is also the first Latin American Pope in history.

His smile was infectiious this evening as he stood on the loggia of St. Peter's Bascilica and his demeanor was clearly that of a humble servant of our Lord. His name honors one of the greatest saints of the Church, St. Francis of Assisi, a man who had no fear in following the Lord and did so with humily and in poverty.

Please pray for Pope Francis as he has asked us to do. Let us rejoice in this new chapter in the Catholic Church. It is a time of a new Shepherd who will guide us in the ancient faith. Viva Papa Francesco! All praise be to God in this amazing day for the Church and the world.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Much Ado About Popes & Bishops

Dear Parishioners,

We live in amazing times.  We live amidst a time when the Church undergoes many changes which show the power of the Holy Spirit.  With change comes stress.  But, with change comes a refreshing wind of renewal and power.  

Pope Benedict XVI
Last Monday, the world awoke to the surprising news of Pope Benedict XVI's resignation, his age and health being the reason for his stepping down.  Of course, this sets in motion an ancient ritual that is rarely seen, the election of a new Pope.  Even more rare is the election of a pope after the resignation of a pope.  This has happened only a handful number of times. The last time that happened was with Pope Celestine V in 1294 (719 years ago) who left after only five months in office, and then later amidst more controversy, Pope Gregory XII in 1415 (598 years ago) who resigned in order to end the Western Schism also known as the Avignon Papacy.  The secular world will churn over Benedict's reasons for leaving, but the Pope has spoken about resignation previously, so in another sense, we shouldn't be all too surprised. 

I appreciate Pope Benedict XVI's history of candor.  He has been a good communicator and open to new forms of technology in order to spread the New Evangelization.  He has been a fantastic Pope, especially under such difficult times in the Church and the world.  He has been the leader we needed.  His humility and wisdom in his decision to resign has further made me appreciate him as our wonderful "German shepherd."  His legacy will echo for years to come. Let us pray for his health.  Let us also pray for the coming conclave who will elect the next Roman Pontiff(Pontiff = "bridge-builder") who will help us bridge our lives with Jesus himself.  

Archbishop Vlazny
This past Saturday, Feb. 16th, Archbishop Vlazny came to preside over our Vicariate Rite of Election where our catechumens were officially recognized as “Elect” for baptism at the Easter Vigil.  In addition, our “Candidates” for full communion were recognized and encouraged in their journey towards the Catholic Church.  This celebration marks his last official visit to our parish as our Archbishop.  He will return for our Mass of Confirmation on May 11th at 1 PM, but he will then be officially retired and no longer our Ordinary whom we mention in the Eucharistic Prayers at Mass.  

With each visit of Archbishop Vlazny throughout his tenure, our community has been graced by a chief shepherd who has lifted up our spirits and encouraged our faith.  He has certainly lead us through some difficult times in our Archdiocese.  May God bless him in this next chapter of his life!

Archbishop-Designate Sample
As we prepare for Archbishop Vlazny’s leaving, we will need to begin preparing for welcoming Archbishop Designate Alexander Sample from the Diocese of Marquette.  I am sure his youth (52 yrs. old) and vitality will be a gift he will bring to our Archdiocese.  I am hope-filled that he will be a loving and strong leader for us all.  He certainly has credentials that make him a great bishop.  He’s also a geek too, of which I am proud!  

The Archdiocese is planning a series of Masses of Welcome for our new Archbishop, which will include one in our Vicariate.  All will be invited and we hope to have a public reception following.  The date or location has not yet been determined.  But, we will make sure to let everyone knows when we receive more information.  In the meantime, consider attending his official Installation Mass on April 2nd at the University of Portland’s Chiles Center located in Northwest Portland.  This Mass will be open to the public and all are invited to attend.  Seating will be first come-first served. There will be a public reception at the Chiles Center, immediately following the Mass.

Spring is coming and we are beginning a time of change, and while change may be hard, it is good for us all.  Please pray for our Holy Father Benedict XVI, all our bishops, the College of Cardinals who will elect the next Pontiff, and especially our local bishops' continuing leadership of our faithful here in our Archdiocese.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Growing In Our Faith

Dear Parishioners,

Catholicism 101
As part of the Year of Faith, we have been showing Robert Barron’s “Catholicism” DVD series at our monthly Catholicism 101 classes. It has been wonderful to watch. The quality of production and clarity of teaching as well as the inspirational style in which the faith is presented is fantastic. If you haven’t been to one, I want to encourage you to do so. This past Sunday we showed the seventh episode in the series entitled, “The Mystery of the Liturgy and the Eucharist.” Ah! The Eucharist. It is the source and summit of our faith! It is the center of our Catholic lives! Do I sound excited? I am! I was very impressed how well he explained the Mass, how the program illustrated the various cultural situations in which the Mass is offered, and the fundamental theologies of our mysterious liturgy. It reminded me of how much I love our liturgy and why I am a priest. If you have been wondering or feeling that your experience of your faith has been lacking or luke-warm, then make an effort to come to these presentations. There are only ten in the series, and we are almost done. But, we may very well show them again, but in a more intense weekly format for those who so desire. Keep your eyes peeled to the bulletin for that development.


Turn out for the presentations has been good, so come early if you want a front row seat. There’s plenty of room in the Parish Center Sky Room, so no worries. Mark your calendars for the next presentation on March 3rd on the Communion of Saints.


Theology of the Body for Teens
On another note, this Sunday evening I will begin a five week series at our High School Youth Nights on Blessed Pope John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body.” With all the things that our teens have to grapple with, the meaning of their bodies and sexuality, in particular, are often bewildering to them. Yet, the late Holy Father spent 129 Wednesday Audiences from 1979 to 1984 speaking about the meaning, the theology, of the body. In essence, his reflections, when written down, make up two-thirds of the Church’s teaching on sex and marriage! Please pray for me and the teens. Pray that I, along with the Core Team of adults, may be able to empower and lift up our teens to know the true meaning of their bodies, to recapture the meaning of marriage, and to empower them to live chaste lives of faith as sexual persons. Pray for the teens that they will be open to our presentations and the Holy Spirit in their lives prompting them to follow the way of Christ’s love and not the counterfeit of the world.


Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

New Archbishop of Portland in Oregon: Alexander Sample

Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, named today Bishop Alexander Sample as our new Archbishop. He departs Michigan as the bishop of the diocese of Marquette. He is 52 yrs old and has an undergraduate degree in engineering.

Congratulations, Bishop Sample! Welcome to Oregon and the Archdiocese of Portland!

Here's some web links to lean more about him.

Wikipedia

Archdiocese of Portland Web site

Vatican Radio

Facebook

Faith Opportunities at St. Anne's

Dear Parishioners,

There are many moments and programs full of opportunities to grow in your your faith once again.  Here’s just some of the wonderful highlights.

Movie Night
On Friday, Feb. 8th at 5 PM, we will be offering a very popular Disney-Pixar film which is for everyone, especially families.  It has been scheduled at this time so that families can come with their children, bringing their own dinner and a snack to share, and enjoy the company of other parishioners in a movie which portrays a fantastic Christian teaching.  Through two main characters, an old man and a young boy, the two have to face and fight through their fears and sorrows in order to find joy in their lives, in order to reach their dreams, in order to become who they are meant to be.  With the use of thousands of balloons, the old man decides to “float” his house up-up-and-away to a distant place in order to accomplish a life’s dream.  The boy, accidentally was on the porch the moment of the launching of the house, and from there begins the adventure.  Maybe this story is familiar to you, and maybe you know the title of the wonderful film.  Either way, this film captures the Catholic narrative of the Paschal mystery of suffering, death, and resurrection.  Didn’t see it that way the first time around watching it?  Well, come and see it again with new eyes and heart.  Maybe you will be looking “up” more often when difficulties strike.

Disciples on the Journey & Friday’s of Lent
A week from Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, Feb. 13th.  Can you believe that?  It has come so quickly!  That means Easter is also early, in fact Easter Sunday is March 31st this year. During Lent, as has been our custom, everyone is being encouraged to join or create their own Disciples on the Journey small faith sharing group.  These groups are fantastic ways to journey the 40 days of Lent so that, at the end, we will be ready to celebrate the great mystery of Christ’s resurrection.  In addition, we will begin again our simple dinners each Friday followed by Stations of the Cross done by various groups and ministries of the parish.

Vespers & Holy Hour
On Tuesday, February 12th, the day before Ash Wednesday, as part of Archbishop Vlazny’s call to greater attention in prayer to the issues of our day, we will be holding an evening prayer service (a.k.a. vespers) and solemn holy hour of exposition of the Blessed Sacrament here at St. Anne’s in the church.  It will be bilingual (English and Spanish), so all our parishioners can participate in their own language.

Vespers is the other great liturgy of the Church after the Mass.  It is part of what is called, The Liturgy of the Hours.  The purpose of the Liturgy of the Hours is to sanctify the hours the day by taking out special time to pray the psalms, listen to Scripture, and offer our prayers for the whole Church.  It is done by practically all religious and priests throughout the world everyday.

It is from the Liturgy of the Hours that the Rosary came to the fore.  The laity, in ancient time, desired to pray as the monks did, but were not literate or had prayer books.  So, the Rosary arose as a way to pray akin to the monks, but with no need for books.  The Rosary was a set of simple prayers the people could memorize, and grew and developed over time to what we see today.  The Psalms number 150 as do the original Hail Mary’s prayed in a rosary.

Come celebrate Mardi Gras in a different way by joining together in Evening Prayer with Solemn Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.  The focus will be the Eucharist, life issues, marriage, and religious liberty.  We will supply the booklets needed.  All you need to do is come and pray.  Again, hope to see you there.

Rite of Election
Every year people find themselves on a profound spiritual journey to the Catholic Church.  Our process for helping them is called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults or RCIA for short.  This year’s group is exceptionally large.  Praise God!  In two short weeks, Archbishop Vlazny will come to St. Anne’s to host an important step for those seeking baptism (Catechumens) and reception into full communion (Candidates).  The event is called the Rite of Election.  All the Vicariate parishes will be bringing their Catechumens and Candidates to St. Anne’s to be recognized by Archbishop Vlazny.  Everyone is invited.  This is not a Mass, but a formal ritual that is certainly full of good news.  The electricity of emotion is in the air whenever we celebrate a Rite of Election.  So, please consider yourself invited to this liturgy on Saturday, February 16th at 10:30 AM at St. Anne’s and witness the Church alive and growing!

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Mass in the Extraordinary Form

Dear Parishioners,


Several months ago I was asked if we could offer a special Mass in what is called the "Extraordinary Form," previously called, the Tridentine Mass or Latin Mass. After supportive consultation with various people and groups including our Archbishop, Chancellor, and the vicariate area priests, I decided to support and accommodate a quarterly Mass in the Extraordinary Form at Our Lady of the River. The first of these Masses will be on February 10th at 6 PM. Questions you might have likely deal with what, how, and why.

First, the Extraordinary Form is the Mass using the Roman Missal promulgated in 1962 by Pope John XXIII just prior to the Second Vatican Council and used during the council. The most notable aspects of this kind of Mass are the extensive use of Latin, the direction the priest faces when offering the Mass, the fewer amount of responses during the Mass, and the many rubrics which call for a complexity of ritual on the part of the priest and his altar servers(which requires special training). No priests in our Vicariate are sufficiently skilled to offer this form, so we have asked Fr. Adam Kotas, the pastor at St. Joseph's in Crescent City, to come to offer the Mass. While this Mass is officially within the parish boundaries of St. Anne's, I am very aware that this will draw people from around the Vicariate and beyond. This form of Mass looks and sounds different than the current Mass of the Second Vatican Council, which was promulgated by Pope Paul VI, called the "Novus Ordo" or New Order. The Novus Ordo is also called the "Ordinary Form" of Mass, which the Catholic Church offers most commonly in the vernacular language throughout the world. Both are of value to the Church, and both are valid Masses of the Roman Rite. Neither are superior or inferior to each other. Rather, the Novus Ordo is a continuation of development from previous expressions of the Mass, as is the Missal of 1962. Pope Benedict XVI, in his letter, Summorum Pontificum, dated July 2007, allowed the use of the Extraordinary Form in greater freedom in order to more broadly and generously offer the rituals which have nourished the faithful for centuries. He also did so in a reconciliatory way to bring back those who have felt disaffected by the Ordinary Form. My accommodation to allow this form of Mass is not intended to, nor in actuality should, detract from the authority of the Second Vatican Council.

Secondly, the question of how this will take place is important to its success. A small group of Catholics from our parish and the Vicariate have formed an organizational committee in order to make sure that each Mass in the Extraordinary Form is celebrated and organized well. Fr. Adam Kotas has agreed to offer these Masses, for which I am very grateful. The Masses are open to all interested. The scheduled dates are Feb. 10, April 28, Aug. 4, and Oct. 6, although they could change or be canceled based on Fr. Adam's availability. Any changes will be posted as soon as such knowledge becomes available. All of these Masses will be offered at 6 PM. Since these are Sunday celebrations, a collection will be taken up as usual. The funds will be the property of Our Lady of the River and used to pay for the expenses of having Fr. Adam offer the Mass as well as the operating budget of Our Lady of the River. Any normal Archdiocesan second collections will be offered as they normally would at any weekend Mass. After this first set of Masses, I will meet with the organizing committee to discuss how things went. These Masses validly fulfill the Sunday obligation for those attending. You can bring your own 1962 Missal if you like, though bilingual booklets will be offered for use at the Masses. These booklets are Fr. Adam's personal property, and therefore must be returned after the Mass.

Thirdly, why is this Mass being offered? Simply because a charitable request was made, and I believe that many of our faithful could benefit from it. It is my sincere hope that this quarterly Mass will help sow seeds of reconciliation while also broadening our sense of the variations of the Mass in our own Roman Rite of Catholicism. Any sentiments of antagonism about the Second Vatican Council or triumphalism about returning to the "true Mass" are unjustified and are counterproductive. I hope nobody will entertain such critiques. I share Pope Benedict's desire that the celebration of the Extraordinary Form be another way to express the broadness of liturgical expressions of our Church Universal. I believe that this quarterly Mass will complement and further help our faithful to more deeply appreciate the one Mass in both forms.

Finally, I trust that charity and humility will abound for all, for I know that we all appreciate different spiritualities which feed us. It is good to know that the Catholic Church is broad in her expressions of faith and liturgy. May this new-and-old encounter of our liturgical expression be the beginning of renewal and reconciliation from within our members and beyond the confines of St. Anne’s. May it lift up those who desire this form of Mass so as to vivify their faith and strengthen their resolve for harmony within our communities of the Southern Oregon Vicariate.


Blessings,

Fr.  William Holtzinger
Pastor

Year of Faith Challenge

Dear Parishioners,

Happy new year!  I pray that 2013 will bring with it an increase in faith and a renewed sense of mission in the Gospel for each one of you.  It is a time of resolutions and new beginnings.  In that line of thought, I would like to bring forward something special for your prayerful reflection for the new year.

In the forthcoming Catholic Sentinel, Archbishop Vlazny will be offering us a challenge in his personal column.  That challenge begins after the Christmas season and continues until the end of our observance of the Church’s Year of Faith.  Simply put, it is a call to prayer. 

In light of the times, that is the threats to human life, marriage, and religious liberty, the Archbishop desires that we all make personal commitments that will help us have the “spiritual stamina” to be “effective and joyful witnesses of faith, hope, and charity as agents of the new evangelization.”  His strategy has five parts:

1. Daily rosary
2. Monthly Eucharistic holy hours
3. Special Prayers of the Faithful at all Masses
4. Fasting and abstinence on Fridays
5. A second Fortnight for Freedom in the summer.

The reason for such a recipe of prayer is for us all to more deeply encounter our Lord so as to become better witnesses of God’s law of love of our society.  Fundamental Christian morality has been ignored or even outright violated which is serving to unravel some of our society’s most basic covenantal unions,  threaten more innocent life, and threatened our ability to freely practice our faith in its fullness.  The Archbishop will more fully explain these in his forthcoming article.  But, I felt it necessary to pre-empt his letter with this encouragement to learn more and read his article when it is published.

We, as a parish and two missions, will do our best to implement all of these directives and will publish the details of these plans once they are fleshed out amidst our current schedule of ministry activities.  In the meantime, I want you to bring to prayer your own personal preparation for this forthcoming program.  A docile spirit and openness to our Archbishop’s pastoral challenge is a good thing for us all.  May we allow ourselves to be “all-in” for this exercise of faith.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger

Pastor