New Beginnings

Dear Parishioners,

Our New Priest

This past week we said goodbye to Fr. Paschal. He was a real gift to our community and we wish him all the best in his new assignment at St. Philip Benizi Church. With the departure of Fr. Paschal, we were looking at a situation without a replacement. As providence would have it, a priest from Fr. Paschal’s diocese became free of his other duties while working in Salem and is joining us. So, we welcome Fr. Patrick Nwokeogu (pronounced Woe-kay-oh-goo) to our community of faith. I am sure you will give him our typical warm welcome and come to love him, as he is a very friendly man.

If you are a Techie-type, you can find him active on Facebook. Prior to coming to us, he completed a year of chaplaincy education (aka. Clinical Pastoral Education) in Salem. His love has been for hospital work which will be a great fit for us with all the sick visits that are needed. He’s been a priest for 14 years and a pastor several times. Being here in the United States only two years, however, is a serious cultural shift. So. we will be learning while on the job here. I am proud to say that we are a good place for a new or foreign priests to “learn the ropes.”

Parish Picnic

On a different note, I want to thank the Knights of Columbus for their work to do the heavy lifting...cooking for last week’s Parish Picnic. It is a good feeling to know that the men of our parish can come together to serve their parish community. Thank you also to those who helped out with games, set up, and take down. Thank God the weather was very cooperative. From what I understand this year’s picnic was a little scaled down from previous years. Personally, the games are good and other activities are fun, but I just thoroughly enjoyed just being with all of you. In my Listening Sessions when I arrived a year ago, I heard many times from parishioners that they would simply like to have more opportunities to get together for fun and fellowship. I think that was a mis- sion accomplished this last weekend. Thank you all!!!!

Beginning of School and Ministries

Our parish school began last week and others are about to begin. Our various ministries are also gearing up for the season. If you have grade school aged children, please make an effort to enroll them in our Children’s Faith Formation Program. For teens, our middle school, high school, and confirmation programs are getting ready to begin too. With our new liturgy schedule, we will be able to offer Adult Faith Formation classes as well. Beginning Sept. 12th, I will be starting a monthly presentation called, Catholicism 101. The first topic will be about Catholicism and Sci- ence. Keep your eyes peeled to the bulletin for information about all these potential faith formation opportunities coming your way.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger

Pastor

With Fr. Paschal's Leaving Comes Questions

Dear Parishioners,

Last week while on vacation I received news that our expected new parochial Vicar, Fr. Dominic, has yet to go his embassy to complete whatever is needed to travel to the U. S. At this point the Archdiocese feels that he won’t be here anytime soon. The Archbishop was willing to allow Fr. Paschal to stay with us for an extended period of time, but not more than two months. That time will run out at the end of this month. So, Fr. Paschal will move and go to Redland at the end of August. No priest will be coming to take his place. That means we will have me (full time) and Fr. Fister (half time) for our three parishes.

How does this effect our churches? Luckily, our new liturgy schedule will allow us two to cover all the Masses on the week- end. However, we will need to be prepared to have a communion service once in a while if no priest is available. Our weekday schedule, however will be having regular communion services, likely on Monday and Tuesday. Pastoral ministry such as communion visits or anointing will not be as readily available since I will be the only priest at the parish on a daily basis. We may have to seek out the Vicariate priests if the funeral schedule gets too busy to accommodate. Simply put, less priests means less availability compared to what the community has been accustomed.

It is unknown when Fr. Dominic will arrive. But, until he does, we must all work together to fill in gaps or help others know that there is a priest shortage and we can’t be everywhere all the time. We will simply have to think smarter not harder.

Fr. Paschal has been a wonderful blessing to us all. We have been very blessed to have had so many priests serve our community. It is truly a blessing that it has taken this long for us to also feel the impact.

What can you do? I believer that praying for more vocations is a real constructive thing to do. We need to promote the priesthood in our families. Being patient with me, Father, and the other priests you know who regularly cope with the demands that can’t always be met. And finally, be open to the Holy Spirit who may be calling you to help out in a ministry to which you’ve been reticent to involve yourself. We need to work together now more than ever... and that is a blessing for the life of any community.

God is good and his plans are for greatness. I look forward to this next chapter of our faith adventure. No fear. Just great expectations.

Thank you all for your stewardship and thank you for all your prayerful support for our priests.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger

Pastor

Goodbye & Best Wishes!

Dear Parishioners,

Next weekend, we say goodbye to several people on staff. Fr. Paschal will be officially assigned to St. Philip Benizi Church in Redland near Oregon City. Hans will be finishing his tenure and moving to Mount Angel Seminary to begin studies for the priesthood. Jeanette and Mark will be officially leaving as payed staff due to budget constraints. All four of these people are wonderful and faithful servants who have completed their tenures with a spirit of service and grace.

Next weekend, June 27th, after the 11 AM Mass, I invite you to join the me and the rest of the community in saying goodbye and best wishes on the next chapter of these amazing people’s lives. They will be greatly missed. I am very thankful for their service to St. Anne’s and pray for each of them in the respective new steps. Again, I invite you to come and share in thanking them for their faithful work to St. Anne’s. Well done, good and faithful servants!

Blessings,


Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor