Welcome Pope Benedict XVI!

Papal Visit

Welcome Pope Benedict XVI! My prayers are with you on your journey to the U.S. Although your time with us will be short, I pray that your presence will bear much fruit here in our country.

What's the big fuss? Well, it is not common for the pope to come to the United States. Since the first papal visit of Paul VI in 1965, there have been only seven other visits, all by Pope John Paul II. This will mark the ninth time in the history of the Church that a pope steps on our soil. So, yes it is a big fuss!

Pope Benedict's visit has pundits and critics whirling about. Many are critiquing what he should or should not say. Many of these ideas are not part of his agenda. But, one can hardly blame them for raising their hopes. How often has the pope come to the United States? Indeed, there is only one reason for his coming:to sow the seed of faith and hope. His theme is "Christ our Hope." During his noon blessing on April 13th, he summarized his visit by saying " With the various groups I shall meet, my intention is to share Our Lord's word of life. In Christ is our hope." He further commented, "With the various groups I shall meet, my intention is to share Our Lord's word of life. In Christ is our hope... Christ is the foundation of our hope for peace, for justice and for the freedom that flows from God's law fulfilled in his commandment to love one another." He then asked all to pray for the success of his visit that it will be a time of spiritual renewal for all Americans. Since the crisis of the clergy sex scandals, our church here in the U.S. has been deeply injured and we need the care of our shepherd who comes to us in a special way through Pope Benedict XVI.

Media Savvy Church

Prior to his coming, the USCCB, through the funding of the Catholic Communications Campaign, created a special web site for the papal visit: www.papalvisit.org. At this web site one can find the itinerary of events , information about the pope, information about the Catholic Church in the USA, teaching resources, and more. There is even a blog where you can get the latest information and leave your comments. I was delighted to see this site, as it is a sign of how the Church is trying to use new media to communicate with the world. Of particular note, the pope himself recorded a video which has been put on the bishop's web site and has been widely circulated on YouTube. Click here to check it out. I was delightfully surprised to find all kinds of information surrounding the visit and the Church in general. For example, one can find out about the "Popemobile," various liturgical norms for Papal Masses, various facts and figures about the U.S. Church, worldwide and U.S. Catholic populations, and more. There was even a Papal Visit Video contest. Click here to watch the finalist. In order to stay current as things happen, you can subscribe to the RSS feed by clicking on the following link: Subscribe to RSS Feed. To put this feed into your RSS reader, click on the previous link. Then select your reader. To add this feed to your browser, click on "Subscribe" and click on "View Feed XML" then click on "Subscribe to this feed".

Again, I hope that this visit will energize as well as plant the seed of hope for us all. Keep your computer close to the sites above as well as to the news in the coming days to watch the events as they unfold. Welcome Pope Benedict XVI!

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Don't Be An April Fool

April Fool?

Don't be an April Fool. Instead, be a fool for Christ. Easter gives us a reason to rejoice and be glad in spite of all the destruction and disillusionment that may be around us. Do you have a deep abiding joy that comes from the knowledge of your relationship with Jesus Christ? Does the reality... that's right, reality of Jesus' resurrection from the dead speak to your heart as nothing else does? If so, then that is what it means to be an Easter person. We are no April fools. We are fools 24-7 and especially on Sundays. But, if Sunday is the only time which you remember your relationship with Jesus, then now is the time to recommit yourself and spend some extra time in prayer, soaking in God's love. Our lives here on Earth are not the beginning and end of our existence. We know that there is much much more. We are all being called to a profound relationship with Jesus. By nurturing this relationship, we prepare ourselves for heaven.

The image at the left has always moved me. It reminds me of how much Jesus cares and desires to comfort us all, personally and intimately. He knows the depth of each of our suffering. He knows the highs and lows of all our lives. Yet, no matter what we've done, he still loves us. He loves us perfectly. He knows you and has plans for greatness for each of us. That doesn't mean that we will all be the next American Idol or Einstein. In fact, we may have pretty simple and seemingly unimportant lives. But, that is far from the truth. With Jesus at your side, every encounter with another person, every situation with a fellow human being is packed with potential to express the divine mystery that lies in each of us. When we love our neighbor, we are doing the work of God. That was a commandments of Jesus (Matt. 12:31). When we love each other God's essence is present. What could be greater than that? Yet, we struggle to see this mystery in our daily lives. It happens in the ordinary things of our day, not just in the amazing moments that we all strive to have. God is here, now. Simple. He is risen and lives with us. If that is foolish to the world, then so be it. Don't just be an April fool.

Are You Preparing Your Family for Heaven?

Isn't that the question of a lifetime! Often we go about our day consumed by the details of things so mundane that they hardly matter in the big picture. The endless shuttling our children from one event to another can certainly be tiring. Sometime parents can forget about the most essential things. It is so easy. We are all guilty of it in our own ways. Sometimes we just need a wake up call or a loving reminder of the importance of our calling. To this end, we are privileged to receive Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers to St. Anthony's on Tuesday, April 8th from 7 pm to 9pm who will speak to us about what it means to be a Christian parent. Topics such as motherhood, fatherhood, formation and education of our children, family life as a divine calling from God, the threats of a culture of death, the role of a parish and Catholic school in family life, and how the Sacraments not only deepen, but strengthen us through God's grace to prepare our family for heaven.

Again, mark the date: April 8th at 7 pm. Harold is a permanent deacon here in the Archdiocese of Portland. He has a vigorous speaking schedule that keeps him busy all year long. He has authored man books and other articles ranging from the Domestic Church, male spirituality, family and society, sacraments, lay vocations, and many others. He is frequently on EWTN and speaks to thousands of people every year.

Deacon Harold is well associated with a variety of organizations . He holds a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and an M.T.S. from the University of Dallas. He was ordained in 2002 and is deeply committed to the mission of the Church. Come listen to this motivational speaker who we are honored to host for an evening. Hope to see you there!

Annual Appreciation Banquet

April brings with it the promise of Spring and for many people, the joy which seemed lost in the Winter cold is restored. This helps all the more to celebrate the Easter season where we are reminded that our deepest joy is in the fact that Jesus has saved us from our sins through his suffering, death, and resurrection. As a way of thanking all of those who volunteer in any way at St. Anthony's, I would like to invite you to our annual Volunteer Appreciation Banquet. Mark your calendars for April 19th at 7 pm. At that time we will father for food and fellowship. There will be fun and food to warm our spirits. The main dish hasn't yet been determined, but as we did last year, all are encouraged to bring a dish of their delight to share with the community. As more details are determined, I will share them with you. In the meantime, thank you for all you do for the parish. It is working amidst all the selfless people of St. Anthony's that I see the face of Christ.

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

It's Great to be Back!

March Madness

If you have a keen eye, you may notice some cosmetic changes around and about my web site. Additionally, there are some things under the hood that are pretty geeky, so I won't bother you with the details other than to say that I've tried simplifying the menu system on the top of the screen. Since I now have some seven podcasts, I realized that it was becoming too clumsy to have a button for each one. So, now there is just one with a pop-down menu listing all the projects. I've done a similar thing with the other buttons. So, please be patient if things seem a bit messy in the next several weeks. Think of it as March Madness here at Fr. Bill's Personal Pages.

Italian Joy!

Our annual Italian Dinner is now in the history books. I always love this event because so many people gather to serve and have a great time. This year is especially poignant as it is part of a trio of milestones: the 50th anniversary of the construction of the church, the 100th anniversary of the founding of our parish community, and the twenty-fifth anniversary of our Italian Dinner. This year’s chairperson for the dinner, curiously enough, was the one who lead the charge twenty-five years ago at our very first dinner and whose mother’s recipe was used for the meatballs: Ray Giansante. Thank you Ray! You did a marvelous job. Your cheer and laugh were infectious!

Ray, however, was not alone. He was supported by an army of volunteers. Many have been helping since the beginning. Some came out to help for the first time. Some have been helping out each year quietly without any need of thanks or recognition. To all who volunteered from preparation, to cooking, to serving, to clean-up, to money handling... thank you very much!

At risk of missing someone, I would like to offer special thanks to Ray’s team of leaders who selflessly gave of their time and talent:

Co-Chair – Camille Miller, Publicity & Promotion – Becky Pettit, Volunteer Coordination – Claudia Yakos, Ticket Coordinator– Debbie Kincaid, Wine Procurement & Sales – Laurie Kemper and Becky Pettit, Desert Production – Linda Wardenburg, Kitchen – Judy Hendricks & Diane Kemper, Meatball makers – Jerry & Lois Boogaard, Meatball Cookers – Steve Lepschat, Linguine Cookers – Ray Chapman, Take out – Patty Schmitz, Trevor Thursome, & the Camille Miller Family, Bazaar – Theresa Carter, Dinning Room Set Up and Coordination – Donita Miller, Mike VanDyke, Clean up – Alan VanDyke & a multitude of parishioners specifically from our Hispanic Prayer Group, Dishwashing – Todd Schmidt, his family and friends, Transportation of Food – Jeff Pettit & Brian Rouse, Money Handlers/Counters – Ann Olinger, Outside Cookers of Sauce and Linguine – Matt O’Dell & Pete VanDyke, Donation of Freezers and Refrigerators – Pete VanDyke. Thank you all! Thank you for your joy-filled service!

There is also someone special who I want to recognize who has been involved for many years, a person who worked the entire day, a person who worked with a particular smile and kind word for anyone passing his way, a person who isn’t a leader of any of these groupings, yet demonstrated the heart and soul of our parish during the dinner. That person is Dwight Herb. Dwight scraped and cleaned dishes all day long. His extraordinary yet humble work was done without complaint and was a model for us all. Thanks Dwight! Job well done!

Finally, thank you all who came to eat! The food was wonderful and so was the company. I think all who dawned our doors were met with a warm smile and a plate of hot food. Thank you all! It was a wonderful event!

The Pilgrim Cast

Since our return from our pilgrimage to the Holy Land, many of us can finally say that we have recovered from jet lag and have begun to remember all the things we experienced. While I was in Israel, I took my digital recorder and captured over 150 clips to be edited together at a later time. Well, the first official episode had been comleted and I am proud to say that the Pilgrim Cast is under way. If you were not able to to gog for what ever reason or you were one of those pilgrims who forgot most of what was said (which includes me), then check out www.pilgrimcast.com and listen to some of our adventures. Most of the recordings are of our guide, Khader Msacobi, a.k.a. George, as he takes us to all the holy sites. Also are some sound-seeing tours by me and interviews as we traveled. I've submitted the podcast to Apple which will be making it available for free via iTunes. In the meantime, you can also go to to the Pilgrim Cast web site or subscribe directly to the feed. I hope that you will find the podcast informative as well as inspirational.

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Pilgrim's Progress

Holy Land Pilgrimage

Well, it's here! We're off to Israel for our centennial year pilgrimage. The notion of a pilgrimage is not new. One can go to Judges 20:18 where the people went to Bethel to consult God. Again in Gen. 47:9, a pilgrimage was a way of viewing one's life. Jesus himself traveled in pilgrimage several times, often by foot, to Jerusalem (ie. Luke 2:41, Luke 9:51, John 2:13)

The Church owes a great debt of gratitude to the pilgrims of the first few centuries after Christ's death and resurrection. Egeria, one of particular importance, traveled in the fourth century and wrote extensively to her women friends back in Europe. Her text, "Pilgrimages to the Holy Lands," has served archeologists and theologians discern the locations of many important sites.

Sunday, February 10th, we gather ourselves together to begin our trip. It is not just a tourist thing or vacation. It is a spiritual journey. Every step, every place we go, we are being called to remember the past, the present, and the future. The past, for the places we visit are permeated with the footprints of other pilgrims before us who sought out to remember the past, a past when Jesus himself walked the steps we walk. The present, for only in the now do we experience our lives. In the now we are being asked to be aware of the Spirit residing in us, enlivening us, letting us know of the wonders that have taken place in the holy spaces we visit. The future, for we are reminded that all these places and associated events point us to the eternal Jerusalem where lies our ultimate destiny.

Each day we will celebrate Mass. Imagine listening to the Scriptures about the very happenings where one is standing. If you wish to follow along, you can check out our itinerary, read my blog, read the blog of our pilgrims, and check out the photos we post. On our Pilgrimage Page of our parish web site, you can see these links as well as links for more information about the sites. Also, check out the clock which shows the time difference so you can get a sense of when we are awake and when we are asleep. Israel is 10 hrs. ahead of us here on the West Coast.

I am most especially looking forward to celebrating Mass at the Churches of the Holy Sepulchre, Dominus Flavit (image above-left), and the Annunciation. How incredible it will be to celebrate the risen Lord in the place where it actually happened (Holy Sepulchre). While small, Dominus Flavit, the church commemorating John 11:25 ("Jesus wept"), overlooks Jerusalem and reminds me of how much God cares for us. While in Nazareth, we will be able to celebrate at the traditional site where the Angel Gabriel told Mary of the child she was to conceive. In this area, it is certain, lies the remains of the home of Joseph and Mary. What humble beginnings for such an important person. In my previous pilgrimage here, I had many quiet early mornings alone in prayer just as they opened at 5 am.

Here is our Mass schedule (All times Israel).

Tuesday 2/12: 3:00PM – St. Joseph in Bethlehem
Wednesday 2/13: 10:00AM - Dominus Flevit
Thursday 2/14: 6:00AM – Holy Tomb in the Holy Sepulcher
Friday 2/15: 8:00AM - Gethsemane Basilica of the Agony
Saturday 2/16: 8:00AM – St. Peter in Gallicantu
Sunday 2/17: 3:30PM – Mt. of the Beatitudes
Monday 2/18: 9:00AM - Annunciation
Tuesday 2/19: 10:00AM - Tabgha



Keep watching this site or our parish pilgrimage site for events as they happen each day.

Please keep us all in your prayers as we will you.


Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

A New Year! A Centennial Year!

A New Year! A Centennial Year 
Happy new year! I am very excited for what 2008 will offer us here at St. Anthony's. A few weeks ago, I met with our Vicar of Clergy, Fr. Patrick Brennan, who, after my first term review, agreed that I should stay for a second term. Now all that will be needed is the confirmation from the Personnel Board and the Archbishop. I don't expect that there will be any changes from Fr. Brennan's opinion. One term is equivelant to six years. That is a great gift to me. I love St. Anthony's and the people here. I am looking forward to all the events of our centennial year. I pray for health and an increase in faith for us all. Thank you all for your love and support. I hope as I continue to learn how to be a good pastor that I will be able to bring Jesus to you in a more compelling way. You certainly inspire me to be the best priest I can be. I love what I do. I love being a priest. Thank you!

As 2007 came to an end, several families and individuals made significant donations that will make a real difference towards upgrading our kitchen, repairing large parts of our parking lot, and erasing our deficit created by the Oak Tree School's departure. Thank you so much! I cannot tell you how much stress has been lifted from my heart.

Holy Land Pilgrimage 
On February 10th, thirty-five very excited people from our parish and elsewhere will be joining me on a pilgrimage to Israel. We will spend ten days going to all the major holy sites where Jesus walked. This will be my second time going, a dream that I never thought would happen. Some people have expressed worry considering the climate of tension in the Middle East. However, the danger is not high, as we will be going to areas where security is well maintained. Tourism is the life-blood of the country, and so it is in their best interest to give pilgrims the most positive experience as possible.

In order to involve as many people as possible, I will be blogging our adventures as well as recording a series of episodes for my podcast. I hope to be able to create recordings that will be of help for those who may go to the Holy Land in the future. That may mean that another podcast may be created so that people can subscribe solely to that production and take it with them on their iPod or other mp3 player so that they can listen to the podcast based on where they are visiting. Thin of it as a virtual tour/spiritual guide. There are other tourist-like podcasts, but I hope to offer this as a free Catholic-based podcast that reflects on the Scriptures and history of the places in the Holy Land. Check out my blog come February 10th through 20th. Please keep me and the thirty-four other pilgrims that will be joining me. If you would like to know more, you can also go to our parish web site's Pilgrimage Page for more details about the pilgrimage and holy sites we'll be visiting.

 

Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Kickin' Our School Deficit

Update on School Building 
Since the Oak Tree School closed just as the academic year was just about to begin, we have been earnestly seeking out new tenants as well as exploring new possibilities for the use of the building. Immediately upon their departure, our parish took a hit of nearly $42,000. That's a real issue. As of November 25th, we have had two listening sessions where parishioners have had an opportunity to bring forward their brainstorms and discuss ideas. Some of those ideas have included a Day Care/Pre-school, a new Catholic high school, an Adult Day Care, an assisted living facility, an after-school center, a doggie day care, extra classroom space for Pacific University, a homeless shelter, and many more. All of these ideas are being mulled over. No idea is being overlooked, short of selling the property (definitely not an option). In the meantime, we continue to seek out lessors who might be a good fit for the space. We've published ads in the local papers as well as craigslist.org. We've followed up on each potential lead and have had a variety of interest from people. We will be improving our signage, inquiring with the local chambers of commerce, broadening our advertising, and begin to reassess the use of all our facilities. Both the Administrative and Pastoral Councils are concerned and working to solve this financial deficit as well as plan for the future. If you have any ideas or concerns, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Expecting a Kicker Windfall? 
What would you do if you won the lottery? How would you spend it? How would you save it? Would you spend time in prayer upon having such a windfall come your way? Well, this year, each of us in Oregon will be receiving a tax refund. No, this is not the lottery. I don't think any of us will be able to retire on this refund. However, this is a windfall, an unexpected gift from our government. I've been told the median amount will be ~$285. That means at most half of Oregonians who have paid their taxes will receive more than this amount. The other half will receive less than this amount. Pretty basic. This refund is being called a "kicker."

Between now and when you receive your kicker (sometime after Dec. 15th), I ask that you would bring to prayer the needs of St. Anthony's parish and consider making a special one-time gift to help us meet our shortfall. It is entirely possible that if enough parishioners donated their kicker check, we would kick this deficit.

“As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” 1 Peter 4:10

 

Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Geek Gone Green

My www.frbill.org web Presence is Back! 
After being down for over four weeks, I finally decided that I had it with the "Personal Web Pages" that Comcast advertised were being upgraded. My turned into a totally downgrade to the point where I had no site at all. So, I decided to change web hosts. After much looking around, I think I found my new home with HostPapa.ca. In many ways, they are just like all the other web host services, but without the gimmicks of a variety of plans with a sneaky discount to lure one in. Instead, they have a flat rate and one basic service. The best thing is that they were one of the few companies that prided themselves in being "green" when it comes to the environment. As a Catholic priest, you can imagine that I was immediately drawn to this option. After all, we must be good stewards of our planet.

How does this work you might ask? Here is their own explanation:

After an energy audit by an outside provider to calculate our total electrical energy consumption from traditional sources, Hostpapa purchased "green energy tags", or certificates from a certified green energy supplier. That supplier calculates the totalenergy consumption of our operation and uses their suppliers of Green energy to pumps in 100% equivalent energy back into the power grid. This effectively cuts down on the Carbon Dioxide (CO2) producing energy that we normally would have required from non-green energy sources. We actually have calculated that within the scope of one year with our initial purchase of green energy that we have removed roughly 4,000 kg of CO2 emissions and other greenhouse gases affecting our environment. That's close to being almost two cars removed from the highway for a 12-month period! By purchasing the green energy certificates, we have completely offset the amount of greenhouse gas production by our current electricity providers with certified wind and solar power providers in the United States and Canada. -excerpt from http://www.hostpapa.ca/green/go-green.shtml

So, I can now say that my web site has gone green! What a convenient truth to be able to have a new hosting company and support a company that cares about our envirnoment. Yee Hah! Maybe I'll change all the colors green. Maybe add some foliage. Hmmm. Dunno. But, hey! I'm back! With this new server, I may even be able to stretch my wings like never before. Time will tell. Until, I would like to say for the record that it's actually quite easy being a geek gone green.

 

Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

 

Geek News

Facebook
The world of the Internet is amazing. It allows us to connect like never before! As things have been developing, a new way of using the Internet has evolved. Think of the old way as Web 1.0. This new way is called Web 2.0. In Web 2.0, the web is being used for social-networking, group-adjustable web sites called wikis, subscribable news and media feeds called RSS, as well as web sites that blur the distinction between using a browser and running an application like a word processor. Well, one of the social networking juggernauts is called Facebook. This site was originally designed for college students who network together by inviting each other to be "friends." Since then, it has grown well beyond this simple social-network. In the light of the bad press surrounding another social-networking site called MySpace, I've avoided this whole endeavor altogether. Until now. I now have a FaceBook account and daily check it to see what might be going on there. It is very popular with the college students and now has been opened up to everyone else. My hope is that I will be able to better connect with our young adult population who may or may not come to Church.

Podcast Expo 
In the final weeks of September, I jumped on a plane and headed to Ontario, CA to go to the Podcast and New Media Expo. Before you read any further... Yes, I am a geek. That is proof enough. Anyhow, I decided to go to the Podcast Expo so that I could support my friends who are part of the SQPN (Star Quest Production Network), a group of Catholic podcasters who have been gathered together under the leadership of Fr. Roderick Vonhögen. Last year I just went for the day to offer support. This year I scratched out three days. Last year the network won three podcast awards. This year, again, they won three podcast awards. This is certainly due to the kind of content they are creating as well as to the community support they have gathered around themselves.

While I was a the Podcast Expo, I got to spend some time with my sister, Marianne, who lives a short hop from Ontario in Corona. We watched some movies at her place as well as went to see one in the theater. Golly! It's been a long time since I've stepped foot in a theater. There's just not enough time. Anyhow, I really enjoyed my time with Marianne. It was also great networking and meeting new friends while at the Expo. They're all a wonderful bunch.

Fr. Geek on SQPN 
Since January, I have been producing a video series on things in technology and the Church. After each episode is completed, I would post it on the Internet. I would put it on my own web site as well as YouTube.com. It all began with a trip to San Francisco and the MacWorld Expo where I created the first few episodes for Fr. Roderick's Catholic Minute Podcast. Since then, I began a extended conversation over some months about whether or not that would be something Fr. Roderick, the CEO of SQPN, and Greg Willits, the COO of SQPN, would find beneficial. After talking to Fr. Roderick and Greg Willits, we discerned that I could offer these videos as one of their many programs. And thus was born "Fr. Geek Video Podcast." At this writing, this new video podcast was officially added to the front page of the SQPN.com. This is quite an honor. Each episode takes quite a bit of energy and time, so they won't be coming out weekly or even monthly. Think of it as a periodic release of episodes. I am now pondering on doing one on putting up media screens in Churches weighing the pro's and the con's of such an idea, and explaining how to do it with taste. At this point, I have some raw video footage. I don't know when I'll get it all together. But that's the cool thing about podcasts. All you have to do is subscribe to one, and when it's ready, it will automatically download to your computer when you run your podcast software. Prior to this podcast, I was invited by Fr. Roderick to include my Da Vinci Code series as part of the SQPN. It's a lot of fun to make podcasts. It engages my creative side while also letting me geek-out! All you have to do is have a passion that you would like to talk about, a computer with a microphone, recording software, and an internet connection. In all, I actually have six different podcasts which I have produced or of which I am part. Here's the list:

St. Anthony's Podcast	My main podcast of homilies, various interviews, and some small videos
Fr. Geek's Video Podcast	My Church-Geek video podcast
The Da Vinci Cast	A seven-part series on the errors of the book
Children's G.I.F.T. Podcast	An ongoing series of interviews with children in our parish. They are too cute!
Camp on Dude Podcast	A series of conversations via Skype with my family as we prepare to go camping.
TWiCC (This Week in the Catholic Church)	My brainchild for the SQPN where a group of us gather via Skype to talk about current events in the Catholic Church. This may not have any more episodes.

Geek is Good 
My poor baby! My orphaned web site, GeekIsGood.org, has been given practically no attention lately. I haven't totally abandoned it, but simply have been directing my attention to podcasting. I will continue to ponder on how I might best make use of that site. In the meantime, please be patient. Whether I continue or not, being geek will always be good!

Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Summer, Staff, School and Scope

Summer & Staff
It's been a full summer here at the parish. We had a blast during our Summer Vacation Bible School, a.k.a. Summer G.I.F.T. We've just concluded our annual Rummage Sale which was a huge success. We also concluded the search for a new Coordinator of Youth Ministry (CYM) and a Coordinator of Faith Formation (CFF). Deborah Francisco, our new CYM, and Jen Forsman, our new CFF, both are recent Gonzaga University graduates. Their vitality and eagerness has been infectious. Also new to our office is our seminarian intern, Robert Wolf. While not a staff member, he will be involved in a broad range of ministries while he continues to learn and discern his calling to the priesthood. That makes three new folks on our team at St. Anthony's! It has been said that whenever a new member comes to a staff, you have a new staff. Well, three people makes it even more exciting. Please take a moment to welcome these three new ministers to St. Anthony's.

With the end of Summer Vacation comes the wind up of our annual ministries. In order for our ministries to flourish, we need the volunteers to harvest the field. That means you! Please send to prayer how God is calling you to be involved in the parish and how your talents can be used for God's glory. Contact any one of our staff members who can help you find where you might fit. Remember it takes a Church to raise a child. But don't forget that it also takes a Church to encourage and build up the the faith of us all. Let this year be the year you get involved.


School Closure Update
As you may already know, the Oak Tree School, tenants in our school building for some twenty years, abruptly closed their doors this past month. We are sad to see them go. Unfortunately, their unexpected closure also puts us in a financial bind to a tune of some $30,000. That is nothing to sneeze at for sure. You can read my letter in our Aug. 19th bulletin whereby I outlined three steps we are currently undertaking in response to this new situation. In that letter, I encouraged you to consider making a special gift to bridge this gap of funding. Again, I ask you to make a one time donation to help us withstand this financial issue. Please let us know if you know of any organizations that may be suitable tenants. In the absence of any potential renters, we have also been pondering on taking over full use for ourselves for the potential of new ministries that may additionally generate funds for our operating budget. It is too early to say exactly how this will all pan out. So, I urge you to pray for me, the Administrative and Pastoral Councils, and our staff. Pray that we will have the wisdom to hear God's plan amidst this situation. I believe that it is the beginning of something new, but such dreams can only happen if we as a parish ban together in prayer. Please take some time each day this month and ask God to resolve this situation. As I stated inmy letter previously mentioned, this is not a "glass half-empty" situation, but one which is "half-full." What new opportunities are being made possible by this new situation? How is God calling us to flourish? How is St. Anthony's parish family going to grow because of this? I don't know the answer to these questions at this time, but by praying together, we will find out. In the meantime, let us all do what we can. Thank you all for your generosity and prayers.

Alvan Clark Telescope on eBay
On a totally different subject, let me tell you about a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity I have been given. For those of you who are not astronomy fans, this may not be all that interesting. However, for those who are at least curious about antiques and their history, this may interest you.

For well over a year now I have been given charge by Mount Angel Abbey to sell three of their four telescopes. I rebuilt one of them when I was a seminarian and so asked to have it. They agreed. So far, with the help of Ed Vandyke, we have been able to sell two of the telescopes to enthusiasts via eBay. The last scope is very rare and build by the preimanant American telescope maker in the 19th century, Alvan Clark & Sons. They are known for making the big scopes foind in older observatories. This one is more portable than that.

The scope was built somewhere in the 1930's and was eventually given to Fr. Mathias, O.S.B. of Mount Angel Abbey. It is unknown how often he used it. In my entire time at the seminary studying, I was never able to even peek at it let alone use it. After Fr. Matthias Burger's death in 2001, the entire set of scopes was stored in an attic in one of the Abbey's warehouses. Fr. Alex Plasker, O.S.B. asked me if I could sell them. I agreed. Thus I have come to this place where we have decided to sell this very rare Clark scope. With Ed's help, we have posted the scope on his eBay account. If you would like to follow its progress, then click on the link below. All the proceeds will go to the Abbey.

Unfortunately, Clark scopes have become targets for scammers who take the photos from other people's sales and republish them for a fake sale of their own. In order to thwart this, I am putting watermarks on all the photos so that they cannot be used after the sale. You can see an example above. Sometimes, my geekiness comes in handy. Yes! Fr. Bill, the Geek Priest!

If you wish to follow this exciting auction online, you can go to to eBay's item entitled 5" Alvan Clark Refreactor & Accessories.

I hope it goes to a worthy person who will truly appreciate it's value. That's the least I can do for The Abbey and Fr. Matthias.




Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

The Pope Said What?

The Pope and Other Churches
Recently, the Pope, under the guidance of Cardinal Levada (our former archbishop) published a reflection regarding other "ecclesial communities," a.k.a. the Protestant Churches. It caused quite a ruckus. I think it was sorely misunderstood. A friend of mine, Fr. Mike Walker of Shepherd of the Valley Catholic Church explained the situation quite well. So, let me just give you the statement he put on his web site in order to explain the whole thing:

What Did the Pope Say???

Some wonder what's going on with the Pope's latest letter about the Church and salvation. Well, the Pope did not say that only Catholics are going to Heaven or anything like that. I'll post an article below that will help, but the bottom line is that the Church's position on Salvation is the same as it has been since it was defined in Vatican II: Catholics have the fullness of truth, but other Christian churhes and other religions also have a share in many of the elements that make up that same (one) truth and (one) Church that Jesus founded.

The saying that fullness of truth "subsists" in the Catholic Church expresses the idea that although we feel we have the fullest expression (have all the elements) of the Church as Jesus started it, it is not mutually exclusive. Others share in this to the degree that they also possess the same elements. It is unfortunate that the English word "defects" was chose in reference to the Protestant Churches, but in this context it means that they are lacking some elements that Jesus instituded when he founded the Church. The main elements named were the sacraments (especially the Eucharist) and a historical presence going back to the beginning (Apostolic Succession).

The Pope is not saying that only Catholics have truth and salvation and if you are not Catholic you are out of luck. Only God knows who is saved or not, but all salvation does come through Jesus. People are responsible for what they know and are judged according to how well they have followed the truth that God has planted in their hearts. It is even possible for people who do not explicitly know Jesus to be saved if they are following the truth they know to the best of their ability. Common sense goes a long way here. If you read the original document, please understand that it is written in theological jargon. At least this overview might help you to sift through it. Anyway, if you still are wondering what the Pope said, here's the link:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,288976,00.html

If you want a more detailed theological explanation, this might be of help:
http://www.commonwealmagazine.org/blog/post/index/1121/The-subsisting-Church



The Pope and The Pius X Communities
The Pope also made important gestures to re-include the communities who found themselves in schism after Archbishop Lafavre ordained other bishops without the permission of Pope John Paul II. In order to help this along, Pope Benedict XVI made clear that some parishes will be allowed to use the 1962 Missal that we have come to know as the Tridentine Mass which follows the norms set out by the Council of Trent. This form of Mass is to be considered extraordinary and not replacing the current Novus Ordo or "New Order." Some folks have shared their fear that we are going backwards and away from the norms set out at Vatican II. I assure you that such is not the case. It is and will not become the norm. The good that will come from allowing this form is very important to the unifying of the Pius X group. We should all strive to be one under Christ, and as long as there are division amongst us, we have work to do.

Let;s make this also clear for those who prefer Latin at Mass. It is not Latin that give reverence to the Mass, rather it is the Mass that gives reverence to the Latin (or any language that is spoken for that matter.). In the early days, Latin was not the language spoken at the Sacred Liturgy. In fact, it was spoken in many different languages depending on the country and culture. Latin certainly created a uniformity when it was the only language allowed. However, few people understood Latin and so in the spirit of Vatican II's call for full, active, conscious participation, the vernacular language is to be allowed.

Bottom line, Pope Benedict is doing a lot to clarify and seek out true unity where it can be found. Let us pray for a continuing effort to unify all the ecclesial communities.



Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Summer & Recreation

Summer and Recreation
I am a firm believer in the power of prayer and the grace of God in our lives. I am also a firm believer restful recreation. When these can happen together, wow, what a wonderful combination. It is truly one of the best ways to be refreshed. With God's hand comforting us and our vacations creating a restful openness, we can be reformed and enlivened in ways that can surprise even the one on vacation.

This month, Pope Benedict XVI spoke about a vacation being a "gift from God." For some, this means going to the coast while others it means going into the woods. The pope has a bias. For him, going into the mountainous forest is what gives him joy. In fact, the Holy Father praised the mountains, which "in particular, evoke the upward ascent of the spirit, the elevation toward the 'high measure' of our humanity, which daily life unfortunately tends to abase." Personally, I have always preferred the woods and mountains to the ocean. There's just something about the fresh mountain air and the fun that can be had at a lake that brings back the little kid in me. I love to water ski, play around on personal watercraft, do some fishing, catch up on my past issues of Astronomy and MacWorld magazines, and just generally lounge around. Having elongated conversations with God in this different environment helps me have a new perspective upon things.

Vacations can recreate oneself. In that mode, my creativity comes back as well as my positive attitude. I hope that you will find the time to get away and rest. Take God with you as you go. Make sure to find a place to go to Mass. Often we forget about taking God along. But, by making the effort to work it into your plans, not only are you fulfilling your Sunday Obligation, but you are also getting a different look at the way other faith communities express their faith. I hope you will see that the Catholic Church, while offering some variations, is quite consistent no matter where you go. Take a bulletin and bring it back. I'd love to see what others are doing.

My Fore into Art and Apparel
Yes, I am a priest and a geek, but did you know that I actually have something of an artistic side? Yup. Sort of anyway. Over a year ago I created some designs for apparel and have been continually pondering on new designs that folks might want to wear. Some are geared solely for our parish and our centennial. Others are more generic. Just a couple weeks ago I created a new one which I'm calling, "iCatholic." It's subtitle says, "Being faithful isn't just a matter of style." I like the message which came to me quickly when thinking about the shirt's creation. The meaning can be taken in many ways as resonates with the person who wears or sees it. The shirt examples below are just some of the many different apparel items that each logo can be printed upon. If you want to check them out for yourself, you can go to CafePress.com.

Confessions of a Scooter Priest

Updated June 23, 2007

Rev. 'n Scoot: Confessions of a Scooter-priest
A year ago when the price of gas went up (late summer '06), I took great notice that our Admin. Council Chairperson arrived to one of our meetings in a Honda Spree scooter. What a sight! I laughed my head off and then something in my brain when "click!" Or maybe it was more of a "vroom." I asked him about the cost and mileage and that was it; I had to find out about this. I proceeded to go to the local scooter store, Scooter Street (who have since moved into Portland), and talked to the friendly folks there (Kevin and Paula) who introduced me to the basic do's 'n don'ts of scooter riding and buying. Rule number one about buying: Don't buy a low-end, unbranded, shipped-to-your door, new scooter on the Internet. Rule number two: see rule number one. I took their advice and have never regretted it. The help of a "brick and mortar" store who can service the bike has been invaluable. And at risk of sounding preachy (Imagine that?), memorize those two rules.

So, I bought my first scooter and began to practice for my motorcycle endorsement (required for any scooter/motorcycle over 50 cc's). I began to ride with a parishioner, Dave Randle, who was a real biker and who loved the sport so much that he even allowed himself to be seen with a scooterist (these two groups don't hang with each other I've learned. come to think of it, a priest doesn't really blend that well within the scooter-culture either). After passing the driver's test and getting my motorcycle endorsement, I've enjoyed getting back and forth from the house to the church (~2 miles) ever since. Kevin and Paula at Scooterstreet as well as Andy at Columbia Scooters have demonstrated the kind fraternity of those who love scootering.

Since that initial time, I've had two scooters. The first scooter (TNG Verona 150cc.) got anywhere from 70-99 mpg. Really! I've since moved into a larger scoot from Columbia Scooters and have made it one of my main modes of transportation weather (think rain of any kind) permitting. While the new scooter (Kymco People S 250) has more power, that power doesn't get me 99 mpg, but rather 65-70 mpg. Heck! That's still more than my SUV (Suzuki Grand Vitara) at 23 mpg.

All this is my pretext for the following confession: I now scoot past the gas station with an aire of snobbery and evil pride thanking God that I am not gusslin' all that gas. Forgive me father for I have sinned! Okay, okay, enough moralizing. It is very compelling to fill up the scoot at a cost of $7 instead of the SUV at ~$50. Oh yeah, did I say that it is fun to ride the scooter? Yup! It has done wonders for my attitude. Talk about a way of de-stressing.

Please know that before you decide to go down the path I did, a scooter or motorcycle of any kind is dangerous and can often be overlooked by othe drivers. I know this. I chose this course with some amout of fear and trepidation. I cannot recommend more highly that you visit a scooter store and talk to the friendly people there as well as sign up for a motorcycle safety course. Locally, it is called Team Oregon and can be taken at various locations. If my decision causes you some fear, I simply ask that you pray that God will protect me with his angels and inspire me to drive safely at all times.



Holy Land Pilgrimage 2008 (Updated June 23)
As part of our centennial celebration, we are going on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It is an eleven day trip, set for Feb. 10-20, 2008. We will be praying at all the major sites in Israel. This may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you won't want to miss.

Diana Wuertz, my pilgrimage partner and administrative assistant for the pilgrimage has ut up a page on the parish web site that will give you some more information. The base cast is $2,499 +taxes and other costs. A $500 deposit is necessary in order to secure your initial commitment. A downloadable pamphlet has been created which details more of this trip. If you don't have a current Passport, you must begin now.

If you feel that you would like to make such a pilgrimage, to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, then contact us via our web site or phone (503-357-2989). Space is likely to be limited to 45 people and we already have 40 interested! This pilgrimage will surely fill up soon, so make sure to contact us about you interest. First come first served.

The pilgrimage will be professionally guided by people who know the country well. I plan on offering Mass where ever we can and offer spiritual as well as theological reflections throughout. If you do not have a passport, do not wait any more. Get it now. The Holy Land is the destination that will bring to life the Scriptures like never before. I'll be posting more as information is available.



Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

"Fr. Geek"
April 11, 2007

New Video Podcast
This week I have been on vacation, and althought the weather has been rather poor... rained each day, it has gaven me the chance to take some time to get a way from the hurried pace of parish-work and ponder on feeding the geek-side of my life. As things would have it, I've been discussing the possibility of creating a new podcast for the SQPN or Starquest Production Network. Fr. Roderick, the founder, recommended I call it Fr. Geek. Several recent podcasts I have created have been ones that included video. So, I took some time to discern what direction I should go. Thus was born, Fr. Geek's Video Podcast. It will be video content directed for users of the AppleTV, but will still be viewable straight from one's web browser. I will be exploring technology, it's use in Church work, how it can effect liturgy, and the like. You can already subscribe via iTunes or subscribe directly to the feed using another as you read this.

New Coordinator of Youth Ministry
Just this past week, our parish received word of an upcoming gift in the person of Deborah Francisco, our soon-to-be-new Coordinator of Youth Ministry. Our search committee has been working since November to find just the right person with the right set of background and gifts to help us lead our teens to Christ. She will soon be graduating from Gonzaga University with studies in theology and music. I believe that she's going to be a great addition to our pastoral staff. Her first official day will be sometime in June as she will be going to Mesa, AZ for specialized training.

Easter Time
Finally, Easter offers a wonderful time to just be thankful for all the blessings God has given us. May you take advantage of the blessings around you and thank God at least once today.

Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

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Geek is Good

Hello All ,

Geek is Good!
As many of you know, I am a real geek. I love technology and how it makes our lives more enjoyable. Recently, I purchased a product called the AppleTV. It's pretty cool. My hope is that it will bring Catholic media into the living room. What do I mean? Well, there are many different programs on Apple's iTunes which can be downloaded for viewing. With the AppleTV, audio and video content produced by Catholics can be distributed for dowload and sent to this device which, in turn, will put it on your TV. It's pretty cool... Did I already say that? If you're not sure what I mean, then check out the YouTube video link below to see my little 'ol video podcast on this very subject. I made it in cooeration with a non-profit Catholic internet production group called the SQPN or Starquest Production Network. One of our goals is to offer Catholic content that speaks to the generation of people that are most found on the Internet. If the YouTube version of my video is unsatisfactory, you can try these links instead:



AppleTV Format (Large -158 MB)
iPod Format (small - 48 MB)



I'm hoping to do some more video podcasts about my life as a priest. They take quite a bit of work to produce, but as time permits and inspiration offers, I hope to give some more videos on top of my already, almost 100-long episode podcast, The St. Anthony's Podcast. I hope you enjoy this little detour from ministry and learn something about technology along the way.

Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Pass The Pasta

Dear Parishioners,

Italian Dinner Fun
The Italian Dinner has come and gone. What a great time! Thank you to all who gave of their time and talent to cook, serve, clean, offer hospitality, serve as chairpersons for specific areas, solicit sponsors, focus on P.R., work with the money, offer entertainment, and make, bake, and sell items for the bazaar. A big thank you to Becky Pettit, the main chairperson, and Debbie Kincaid her vice-chair. This year’s event was extra special with some additional treats such as the silent auction, the raffle, and a larger presence of music and entertainment. I think everyone loved the chicken dance. This year there were several new sponsors who contributed to the event.


Each year, it is such a delight to see the people who come forward to work on the event. It is one of the opportunities that we have to share with the community the joyous spirit of our Church. We strive, as our mission tells us, to be a welcoming community, and the Italian Dinner has done this now for 25 years. Thank you to everyone who was in anyway part of its success.

Volunteer Appreciation Dinner & Dance Update
By way of reminder, St. Patty's day is just around the corner and I would love to invite all our volunteers who make St. Anthony's such a lively place to our annual Volunteer Appreciation Event. This year it will happen right after the 5:30 pm Mass on Saturday, March 17th. There will be a dance with DJ's who will involve your whole family as well as traditional St. Patrick corned beef and cabbage. Please bring a food dish to share as a way to augment our culinary plans. So, this is both a potluck dinner and dance for the family. Oh yes, wear you best green shirts, socks, and dancin' shoes.

New Comments Feature
In the continuing quest to improve my site and podcast, I just recently added a new feature where you can leave me comments via an online voicemail system. If you are a listener to the podcast, this is the perfect way for me to add your thoughts to the show. As technology grows, it is simply amazing the things one can do. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Service from the Heart

Dear Parishioners,

New Interim Coordinator of Youth Ministry
As you know, we have been in the process of searching for a new Coordinator of Youth Ministry for some time. We've interviewed many potential candidates and have learned a lot along the way. As of Feb. 1st, we hired Diana Wuertz as our Interim Coordinator of Youth Ministry. She has been one our most precious volunteers in so many ways, and I want to thank her for stepping forward to keep the momentum going. She is a very warm and welcoming person. She has a heart for service and a love for our teens. She has been with our youth program for four years, and so she already knows much about the vision of comprehenisve youth ministry from the perspective of the US Bishops, the archdiocese, and our parish in particular. Diana is also very aquainted with the details that are needed in order keep our youth events well organized. She will admit to being a quiet person, but I think all would agree that her service in our St. Vincent de Paul, volunteering as substitute help in the office, being our parish web master, serving as an Eucharistic Minister, and managing the AV equipment at the Life Teen Mass make for a potent statement. She loves Jesus and wants the teens to do the same. Please continue to pray for discernment and inspriation as we continue to search for a more permanent CYM for our parish. In the meantime, please let Diana know of your appreciation. I am thrilled that she has been so open God's promptings. She is truly an inspiration to us all. You go, Diana!

Italian Dinner
Things are gearing up as we are once again getting ready to offer our 25th Italian Dinner. Some things will be same while others will be new. I am very excited about the presence of a coffee cart. Each year, I am simply amazed at the generosity drawn out from our community and beyond to make this even happen. Becky Pettit, the chairperson, has been able to really streamline things and help make the whole event a lot of fun. Of course, she couldn't do it without the help of her army of coordinators and volunteers. There are so many that naming them would be impossible. I look forward to this year's event. If you haven't thought about coming, please consider taking out some time and enjoying the fun and food. This is St. Anthony's at its best.

Volunteer Appreciation Dinner & Dance
Speaking of volunteering... Mark your calendars for March 17th. If you have been involved in any way volunteering for the parish, please know that you are invited to come for an evening of a little St. Patrick food and dance. That's right. After the Saturday evening Mass, the staff and my self would like to host you and your family in the Parish Hall. Each year it is an honor to celebrate what is the heart and soul of our parish: our volunteers! In the past years, we've sent out invitations, but inevitably forgot some folks. So, this year, we figure that our volunteers know who they are and we welcome you all. So, just come. We will have a dance with DJ's who will involve your whole family as well as traditional St. Patrick corned beef and cabbage. We ask that you also bring a food dish to share as a way to augment our culinary plans. This is both a potluck dinner and dance for the family. Wear you best green shirts, socks, and dancin' shoes. Maybe you might even kiss the blarney stone! See you there.

Liturgy Changes
Recently, the Vatican has sent word to the world's conferences of bishops that some new norms were to be observed durng the Mass. Most of the adaptations or changes have already been in place. However, a special permission (indult) was granted to the U.S. Churches to continue the practice of purifying the sacred vessels by lay Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist. That particular indult has ended and we now have been instructed by Archbishop Vlazny to make sure all the norms are followed beginning April 1st. Our Liturgy Committee has met and discussed this and have decided to begin these changes on Ash Wednesday. I will, therefore be purfying all the cups at the credence table after communion. Another liturgical item worthy of reflection is when our Eucharistic Ministers are to approach and receive the Eucharist before distribution. The previous edition of this norm did not speak of approaching the "sanctuary" as the Archbishop's letter states, but rather the "altar" prior to the Fraction Rite. This confusion in language and a prior correction by the Vicar General prompted me to make an inquiry at the Office of Liturgy as to what was intended. Is this something new or just a casul re-wording? According to Office of Liturgy, our current practice is in line with the intent of the new General Instructions to the Roman Missal (GIRM) and no change is further required in this regard. The norm is intended to distinguish and clarify the role of lay ministers and not confuse them with concelebrant priests.

For more information, see the exerpt from the letter from Archbishop Vlazny below. Click here for a complete description of liturgical norms and the adaptations made within our archdiocese.

Some Clarifications about Norms for the Distribution of Holy Communion

At this time I find it necessary to clarify some matters concerning the norms established by the General Instruction on the Roman Missal for the distribution of Holy Communion, particularly under both kinds, here in the Archdiocese of Portland. I ask that pastors see that the norms are implemented before Holy Week this year, which begins on Sunday, April 1. 1) When Communion is distributed under both kinds, the chalice is usually administered by a deacon. When there is no deacon present another priest, a duly instituted acolyte or an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, or even a member of the faithful, who in case of necessity has been entrusted with this duty for a single occasion, may administer the cup 2) Extraordinary ministers who are participating in the Eucharist with the assembly should not approach the sanctuary until after the priest- celebrant has received Communion. They should receive from the hands of the priest celebrant or deacon the vessel containing either species of the Holy Eucharist for distribution to the people, after having received the Eucharist themselves. 3) After the distribution of Holy Communion, the blood of Christ is to be consumed immediately and completely by the priest or the one who ministers the chalice. The precious blood is not to be reserved in the tabernacle. 4) The sacred vessels are to be purified by a priest, a deacon or an instituted acolyte after Communion or after Mass, if possible, at the credence table. The chalice may be purified with water alone or with wine and water. This is to be consumed by the one who does the purification. The paten is also to be wiped clean with the purificator. 5) With respect to the rite of purification, a temporary indult was granted in 2002 which allowed Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to assist in the purification of the sacred vessels. As we now know, the Holy See has chosen not to extend that indult. Therefore the norms of the GIRM which restrict the rite of purification to priests, deacons and instituted acolytes is to be observed. But please note that the indult is not concerned about the cleansing of vessels with soap and water after Mass in the sacristy. This further cleaning of the vessels is still a very important service provided by sacristans and extraordinary ministers. The Holy See obviously concurs that the use of extraordinary ministers is very appropriate for the distribution of Holy Communion so that the rite will not be unnecessarily prolonged and that reception of the Eucharist under both forms can be encouraged. The 2002 indult which permitted extraordinary ministers to purify vessels inaugurated a practice which became rather widespread in many dioceses. With the promulgation of the new General Instruction of the Roman Missal, the Holy See has now chosen to eliminate this practice which was always regarded as exceptional, but it became common in practice. It will require more attention to a somewhat tedious task on the part of the clergy, but the assistance of our people in that all important moment of sharing the Eucharist remains welcome and appropriate. Please know that I am grateful to all of you who lead our people in worship with reverence and deep respect for this precious liturgical treasure of our church. Our sacraments are gifts from God, entrusted to the church, to be shared with the people according to the established norms. As chief liturgist of this local church I ask you to comply with these norms and provide our people with worthy celebrations of the Eucharist. God bless. Archbishop John G. Vlazny

Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Geekin' Out on Vacation

Hello All,

Vacation at Macworld Expo 2007
I've just returned from Macworld Expo in San Francisco and had a blast! I must say that it was a continuous series of surprises. I'm not talking about the technology that I saw, but the people that I met or saw. The first experience was a brush with Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple Inc. and the largest shareholder of The Walt Disney Company. I was on my way to watch a presentation at a particular booth when I happened to walk right through a group of people in black clothes and looking at me suspiciously. When I finally stopped to look at what was going on, I quickly saw why. Steve Jobs was walking the floor and his entourage was making sure he had a halo of protection surrounding him. I had just become a potential threat without knowing it. Realizing what I had just done, I pulled out my video camera and shot some video. I officially became one of the paparazzi. Later I also walked right past Robin Williams and shot some video of Bob Weir, the founder of the Grateful Dead (Now that guy's got some stories!).

One of my big highlights was meeting Leo Laporte at a gathering of podcasters at the Apple Store in downtown. We chatted briefly, and he was as gracious as he appears on his numerous programs. He was one of my inspirations to eventually begin podcasting. He convinced me of the importance and power possible in this technology. If you look at my "Whos Been Visitng Recently" section below, you will be amazed at the breadth of reach just my simple podcast has. Thanks Leo!

This was not a vacation of rest. No! I was busy the whole time feeding my geek-addiction. Help me Obi Wan Kenobi... er, uhm... Obi Steve Jobobi, you're my only hope. I'm a Macaholic and I'm working throug the "twelve steps." Additionally to walking all day long, I spent my evenings with my mom, her new husband, and creating a three-part video of my experiences. I called myself the "SQPN Roaming Catholic Reporter." You can go to the St. Anthony's Podcast page and check them out or if you don't have Quicktime, Fr. Roderick (Godfather of the SQPN) has posted them on YouTube (Check out Video 1, Video 2, or Video 3)

As far as technology is concerned, I was very impressed at the ease of use and power that Apple has designed into their new cell phone, currently called the iPhone. I say currently as there is a new lawsuit being leveraged against them for the use of the name. Time will tell what will happen. I am not likely to get one until they create a device for Verizon's network. The other cool device is the AppleTV. It will allow folks to stream and download movies, music, TV shows, and other content to your TV wirelessly from your computer's internet connection. How cool is that?

AppleTV and the Faith
With the advent of the AppleTV (works on both Mac and PC's), video content from podcasts will finally be able to enter into the living room and TV's of people's homes. The Starquest Production Network (SQPN), a Catholic network of podcasters and videopodcasters, of which I am one of their many content contributors, hopes to be a major presence in this area of video content so that more people will be able to grow in their faith through such technology. Both the Rosary Army, the Catholic Minute, and Catholic Insider have videos already made for this emerging . Part of the vision is to produce a variety of content. Not just religious, but also about topics surrounding entertainment, technology, and special interests. That way, the content will be more varied and attract folks who would not otherwise approach the faith. Please keep us all in your prayers, and keep you eyes and ears ready for news things to come!

St. Anthony's Podcast and RSS Feed
Each time I add a reflection to this web page, there is no way for folks to know if there is a new one or not. they simply have to keep coming back to see if there is something new. I am currently working on a solution to that. If you have the latest version of your web browser, chances are it can handle the subscription potential present in what is called RSS or Really Simple Sindication. Basically, an RSS feed or web page with an RSS feed allows the user to "subscribe" to that web page and be notified when something new comes up. The web pages in RSS are generally very simple without much graphics, thus the "really simple" part. If you would like to subscribe to this blog, you can now go to http://frbillblog.blogspot.com/ and you can both read and subscribe to this blog.

Blessings in Christ,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Make a New Year's Resolution

Dear Parishioners,

Happy New Year! I hope that your time off, your vacation, your time to reflect on these past holy days has been one that has enlivened your heart.

New Year's Resolution
Many people start of each year with some kind of resolution. I've recommended to everyone to consider putting gratefulness at the top of that list of candidates for a resolution. As adults, we can become so bitter and gruff that we begin to lose our sense of awe, wonder, and basic innocence. We can become critical and start to notice the ugly and sinful things in each other instead of looking for the bright and good things. By being so negative, we can darken our intellect as well as spirit. As Christians, we need to choose thankfulness, choose gratefulness. Spend some time today and ponder on these things. Make a resolution to be a more loving and grateful person to those around you. You might just be surprised to see others changing because of it.

MacWorld Expo and the Starquest Production Network
This week, Apple will be revealing their new hardware and software. It is sure to be a hit. It is expected that Apple will finally begin shipping a new product that was initially called iTV which will serve up one's media in iTunes wirelessly to the theater system in another room. The SQPN has been preparing for this and hopes to be one of the first Catholic networks to begin serving up quality media for the faithful. As you can see below, the SQPN met their goal. So, keep your ears and eyes peeled for new things about to happen. I will update this blog as I begin to learn about these things. Additionally, I will endeavor to update my geekisgood.org site with reports from MacWorld Expo.



Blessings in Christ,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor