Confessions of a Macoholic

As many of you know, I am a Macoholic and I struggle to work the Twelve Steps. I'm not sure there is a problem and I haven't found a higher-powered computer platform for commercial use. So, each year feed my addiction/sickness by going on vacation. But, this is not any ordinary vacation. My vacation surrounds the annual Mac World Expo. Each year I pack up my car and take along my 80-ish yr. old mom and we travel down to the Bay Area to stay with one of my sisters. This year, my mom's new husband will be joining us. He has a Macintosh, but hasn't experienced this side of his new family!

This year, Apple will not be present. Therefore, the expo itself is smaller and geared more towards conferences and classes. But, we just love to walk around the expo floor gawking at all the vendors' new wares. During our travel, we listened to the previously recorded keynote address by Steve Jobs announcing the new iPad. This was followed by a heavy dose of commentary and podcasts of other people's commentaries. Oh, yes. We are a sick bunch.

This year we had it all planned out. We were geared for going to the expo on Tuesday only to find out that we failed to read our Macworld Expo registrations which explained that the expo doors don't open until Thursday. After we both laughed off our silly mistake, we have re-adjusted our schedule to make sure our pilgrimage would not be in vain. So in the extra day we had, I, Mom, and my step-dad (this is his first experience of our crazed behavior) took a trip to the Jerusalem of the computer world: 1 Infinite Loop, also known as Apple Inc. in Cupertino. Ah! The joy of visiting the mother ship. They don't offer tours and while there is a visitors entrance, it is intended for work-only visitors, not us Mac-fans. It makes sense. Being that Apple is so secretive about everything they do, I can only imagine the security issues that weirdoes like us could cause.

What goodies will we see? What amazing technology are being released and shown to the public for the first time? Who knows? In fact, because this year's expo will be smaller, fewer vendors will be present. Some have predicted that this would be the end of the expo. Without Apple and its famous announcements that have always hovered around Mac World Expo, this year could turn out to be a total dud. Will it be the last one? Again, who knows? Something in me says it won't be, as Apple-fans are not like your typical computer users. Dare I say that it is not a computer, but a cult. Only time will tell.

But as for me and my house, I will go to Macworld Expo 2010, Mom and step-dad in tow. I hope it isn't a totally disappointing expo. One thing is for sure, I am enjoying my time with family. If nothing else, they are great with whom to spend time.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Flu Emergency Over Liturgically

Dear Parishioners,


After consultation with the Pastoral Council, recognizing that Three Rivers Hospital has ended their flu alert, and that Josephine County has ended their state of emergency regarding the flu, I am ending our own alert for St. Anne's, St. Patrick of the Forest, and Our Lady of the River.


Starting this weekend, Jan. 23/24, 2010, we will return to our normal liturgical actions which includes the return of offering the Precious Blood at Mass, shaking hands at the Sign of Peace, and relaxing the request about the form of receiving communion.


If, as common sense would dictate, a person feels sick or exhibits symptoms of illness which could be deemed as contagious, they should consider not coming to Mass. If someone is no longer contagious, but has the remnant symptoms of illness, say a cough or serious runny nose, I ask that they consider the sensibility of the community and refrain from receiving the cup or shaking hands with others. Again, common sense is the norm.


Thank you all for your patience with these Emergency Flu regulations that have effected our Liturgy these past several months.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger

Pastor

Mission: Life

Dear Parishioners,

In last week’s homily I offered an invitation and challenge for each one of us. I asked each one of us to claim our baptism and live as a Disciple with a mission. For many, I imagine, this may seem foreign. What mission? Each one of us have been created for a purpose, and at our baptism and confirmation our Father gave us his Holy Spirit so we may have the grace to live that life for which we were called. I don’t know what you mission may be, but I can say that it is not simply to come to Mass for an hour, fulfill your obligation, and forget about your faith for the rest of the week. At the same time, most of us won’t be the next Sts. Therese or John of the Cross.

Seeking out one’s mission in life requires prayerful listening. Listening in order to hear God’s small still voice speak in our hearts and prayer that we may ask for the courage to do whatever we have been called to do. The discernment process then involves personally getting involved in things that strike an interest in us. In the course of time, we will be able to whittle down where our gift reside. Don’t let fear prevent you from trying out something new. You might be surprised that what you fear most is the place where you will find your mission and subsequent joy.

This Sunday, we have one of those opportunities to discern our mission. At 1:00 PM many will be gathering at the county courthouse for the annual March for Life. This event, whose cause is to end abortion through raising public awareness, is an excellent way to participate in one’s faith, make a difference in our culture, and reveal the evil that is perpetrated upon our most vulnerable, our unborn children. As Catholics, being pro-life is not an option. However, the way in which we participate in changing our Culture of Death into a Culture of Life is varied. Among all the various pro-life issues abortion is the most lethal of them all.

Another way to be active as Disciples in mission is by acting on the U.S. Bishop’s call to write our political leaders regarding the ongoing health care reform. The concern is again one of life. The bishops are guiding us to reject any legislation that would promote federally funded abortions while promoting affordable healthcare for all. I recently wrote to Sen. Jeff Merkley regarding this issue. He consequently sent me a form letter back disagreeing with me. So, I sent a response back which was recently published in our local paper. You can go to http://www.usccb.org/healthcare/ and learn more about ways you can help. Check out the flyer insert in this week’s bulletin as well. We will also put a link on our web site to help you easily send an e-mail to Congress.

Many of us are afraid to stand up for our faith. We are afraid of being called radicals or divisive. I agree that we can gather more bees with honey than with vinegar. But do not worry. Standing up for moral health care reform and the peaceful March for Life are loving ways to reveal the truth about our culture of death. These are ways to stir in your heart the Spirit who came upon you at baptism and called you to mission. Your participation in these events is also a way to do the same for others. Take a stand for the thousands of children who are killed every day through abortion. Help increase the opportunity for health care for all. Let God stir your heart. Consider the mission of the lives of the sick and innocent and act in solidarity with your fellow brothers and sisters for causes worthy of a few hours.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Earthquake in Haiti (Updated 1-18-10)

Dear Parishioners,

The world is still coming to realize the inexpressible loss of life and devastation that has resulted by Tuesday's 7.0 earthquake in Haiti. The quake may have comple

tely collapsed the entire infrastructure of the country. Many countries have mobilized aid and are trying to analyze the extent of the damage. Time will tell how bad it is.

Offering Help

How can you help? First pray. Pray for the dead and the survivors. God is at work through each of us and our prayers. We need to pray for calm and an increase of faith.

Another good way is by offering temporal help. Some people may be tempted to send things that they think may help the Haitian people such as shoes or food. But, what is needed right now is monetary assistance. Personally, I recommend Catholic Relief Services as an excellent organization that will use your donation well. You can donate by going to their donation site. Here's an excerpt from the CRS Blog:

CRS is moving in supplies as fast as possible. 1500 metric tons of vegetable oil and grains from USAID Food for Peace will arrive today at the northern Haiti Port of Cap Haitiene. Five trucks full of food, hygiene kits, and tarps are also on their way today from Santo Domingo to Port-au-Prince.

Access is very difficu

lt. Debris blocks many roads. But we have begun distributing food, hygiene kits, water, and medical supplies to households in informal camps around Port-au-Prince. We’re now working with our local and international Caritas partners to identify primary sites for next distributions.

We’re hearing reports of extensive damage in other towns west of Port-au-Prince. CRS and Caritas will assess some of these areas in the coming days. CRS is mobilizing aid and planning a $25 million response. To date, donors have contributed more than $11.9 million in cash and commitments; $7.3 million of this amount has been received via web donations.

Another way you can donate to CRS by texting on your cell phone RELIEF to 30644 and follow the instructions. According to the CRS Blog site, "After texting, you’ll get a text message reply asking you to call a number where you’ll will hear a brief message from Ken Hackett. Then you will be automatically connected to our call center where you can make a credit card donation."

In the weekend of January 23/24, all the parishes of the Archdiocese of Portland will be conducting a second collection at Mass. These funds will all go to CRS.

Avoid Scams

In a time like this, it is hard to believe, but some people will use this crisis as an opportunity to scam unwitting people who wish to do good. To learn more, click here to read cnet's article on this issue.

Sincerely,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Listening Sessions Overview

Dear Parishioners,

In the first several months of my arrival, you may remember that I hosted a series of what I called “Listening Sessions.” After nine sessions, three churches, and with over one hundred in participation, I presented a summary of these sessions to the Pastoral Council. My intent was to try to meet as many parishioners as possible, to get a sense of the community, and finally to understand the parishioner’s hopes and dreams. I heard many ideas. Some were repeatedly mentioned while others were only brought forward once or twice. In order to keep my summary succinct, I offer you an abridged summary of the most commonly mentioned topics.

General

St. Anne’s has gentrified over the years
Great desire to bring in more young people especially families into the parish.
Desire to have greater overall involvement in the parish.
Want more opportunities for Adult Education
Want to know more about those who are sick or have died in the community
Increase visibility through the newspaper

Ministries

Continue inviting back those who have left the church, ie. Welcome Back Catholics program
Desire to have more “small church communities” like Disciples in Mission program Renew
Parish Nursing ministry
Desire for youth to be more involve and visible
Renew, recruit, and reorganize communion ministry to the homebound
Renew Human Concerns Committee Reorganize R.C.I.A

Church Building

Renew efforts to complete deferred maintenance
Improve lighting in the church
Improve intelligibility of sound system
Renew/Revisit church renovation plan

Liturgy

More involvement desired, esp. young people involved
Want a youth/teen/family-oriented Mass
Renew music - desire for new/more lively music - include more instruments
Desire to be more welcoming at Mass
Increase reverence in church (concern about talking & dress code)
Desire to move announcements to the end of Mass
Consider moving location the choir due to distraction
Want more prayers for veterans and service personnel

School

Want more unity between parish and school
Desire better communication between school and parish
Desire that financial issues be reviewed and solved

Misc.

Increase participation in Perpetual Adoration, esp. youth
Increased coordination between ushers and nurses at Mass when emergencies arise
Desire for a regular 12:05 Mass at St. Anne
Desire for additional priest & Sunday Mass at Cave Junction
More Youth involvement at Cave Junction and Rogue River
Desire for Saturday Eve. Mass in Rogue River
Like to have bells at Mass
Desire to be thanked more
Would like to know which priest will be doing which Mass

Again, this list is not intended to reflect everything mentioned, but rather a highlight of the most commonly mentioned topics. All this information is important for our pastoral planning, a prayerful process which turns parish vision into reality. In the months and years ahead we will take measured steps, refine our mission, identify pastoral priorities, set goals and objectives, and revise our Pastoral Plan. Both Pastoral and Administrative councils are truly needed for this process, and I will continually look to them for this process. If you have any questions regarding this information, please don’t hesitate to talk with me or any member of the Pastoral Council.

Sincerely,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

A New Year Resolution

Dear Parishioners,

The new year, 2010, is a time of resolutions and new beginnings. Many consider starting a new diet. Others resolve to stop smoking. All of these are wonderful ideas. May I offer one that may not always be on our radar?

This year consider a new routine of prayer. Maybe you have a routine of morning and evening prayer. Maybe the rosary. Maybe adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. Again, those are wonderful things. But, maybe you have no routine at all. How about trying on for size spending ten to fifteen minutes a day of listening prayer. What is that? Listening prayer is a prayer which involves no memorized words or any words at all. It is a form of prayer that is likely the most difficult because it requires slowing down one’s mind, opening one’s spiritual ears, and just listening. So often our prayers are filled with our requests and words of angst. Once again, these are good. God wants to know what is on our hearts. However if we are always filling our prayer time with our words, how can God get in his?

The sign of any good relationship is a two-way communication. So, let your prayer also include some time for listening to what God has to say. If you really want to go for it, find an entire hour each day for this kind of prayer. Personally, I have found it to be the most important personal prayer I do. Try it. I guarantee that after a year of serious listening, you will not be the same. Now that would be a great resolution for 2010.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Dear Parishioners,

Merry Christmas! This is a season of celebration, parties, gift-giving, and family gatherings. It is also a time when we often look back on the year and measure what has happened. Here at St. Anne’s many things have happened. One event of real change was the transfer of Msgr. Moys and Fr. Ron to new assignments and the arrival of two new priests, me and Fr. Paschal. Here are some other things that have happened in the subsequent months.

Soon after our arrival in July, Fr. Paschal moved into an apartment and the parish house has under- gone extensive renovation. Sometime after Christmas, I will hold an open house at the parish house for parishioners to come and visit. Two months after our arrival, we finally finalized the budget which included some serious cuts in order to balance the budget. I held many listening sessions which allowed me to quickly get a sense of the parish’s warp and woof as well as desire for the future. In the weeks ahead, a summary of those sessions will be published in the bulletin. The Pastoral Council has been hard at work reflecting on the mission of the parish and advising me as to the pastoral needs of the community. The various committees of the Pastoral Council have yet to be revived, but in time they will be renewed. The Administrative Council has grown to nine members and now meets every month. I am still trying to get a sense of how things work. After all, a large parish, two missions, and a school involves a complexity that will take some time to understand.

In all, I am glad to be in Grants Pass and glad to be your pastor. You have been very supportive and loving. Thank you! In this week's bulletin, you will find reflections of the year from the various ministers on staff. Please take time to read their reflections and pray for them to continue the good news which continues in their respective ministries.

Remember that Christmas Joy is found in the celebration of Christ come as man for our salvation. That is truly good news. From the staff of St. Anne’s, please have a blessed and safe Christmas and New Year.

One more thing, someone sent me a delightful e-card which I found to warm my heart, especially since it involved a dog. Here is it for your viewing pleasure: Click Here

Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Examples of God's Love

Dear Parishioners,

We’ve entered the last week of the Advent season, and for many, the quest for the perfect gift, perfect house, perfect party, etc. may not have happened. Our expectations, while good, have let us down in some way. But, don’t let that bring down the fact that Christmas is about Jesus, the perfect Son of God who be- came one like us so that we could be like him. Through his incarnation, he showed us what love truly is. Whether or not our plans go as we expected, God’s unchanging love for us will always be perfect. Thank you Jesus! I’ve heard and witnessed many situations as of late that have reminded me of how powerful God’s love can be incarnated in each of us. Recently, our two mission churches have exemplified this giving love.


First, on December 6th, Our Lady of the River held a party for their 40th anniversary as a faith community. Their church community began in simple fashion and has grown to now reside in their own church building. I’m sure there are many wonderful experiences of God’s love that they have shared along the way. Their anniversary gathering was filled with food (pot-luck style), family, and friendship. It was a delight to see how they came together to make their celebration warm and friendly. Still being new and trying to get a sense of bearings, I was still welcomed as one of them. Thank you! They have much to be proud of, and their faith-filled gathering inspired me.


St. Patrick of the Forest recently experienced a different kind of communal coming together and incarnation of Christ in their
midst. This past week, as the cold weather began to ease, parishioners found themselves involved in the emergency work of mopping up the church after a water line broke. The vestibule, sacristy, confessional, and half of the church were covered in inches of water. It was reported to me that between 200 and 300 gallons of water were removed by the army of parishioners with the wet/dry vacuums. Mass was held that Saturday in their hall, a move that will likely continue depending on the restoration work. Parishioners were exhausted by the emergency, taking turns throughout the night to secure the church while the doors were left open to speed up drying. Yet, the sense of oneness and community quickly became apparent as they quickly mobilized together to solve the problem. A professional restoration com- pany has since taken over the arduous task of completing the work. The parishioners of St. Patrick of the Forest have much for which to be thankful, and much for which to be proud.


These are just two examples of how wonderful God works in our communities. I pray that as Christmas Day comes ever nearer, you will find time to count your blessings. God’s love is constant and perfect. Let him love you as you love him.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

The Joy of Reconciliation

Dear Parishioners,

Advent is well underway, and as you know the two themes of the season are that of preparation for the celebration of Christ’s first coming at Christmas and preparation for the second coming of Christ. As I mentioned in last week’s homily, this season is considered one of joyful preparation. However, for some, this season is one which reminds them of the sadness of the loss of someone special or the breakup of a relationship. Some feel overly burdened by the weight of expectation and materialism of the secular part of Christmas. For others the sadness and difficulties find themselves rooted in the pervasiveness of sin. For all these people, Advent can be especially challenging.

This is where the Church comes in. While we may not be able to solve the struggles of others, we can certainly play a role in reminding one another of God’s unwavering love for each of us. We can lend an ear to listen and offer a hand to help. We can make a simple phone call to let those we love know how much we care. We can offer gifts of money or food to our nearby agencies that help out the poor. We can invite them over to our house for a meal or anonymously give them something they need. This past week, my sister and her friend came to visit me and spent their entire time helping clean and unpack the majority of items that have been stored away until now. They even decorated the parish house for Christmas. I am so thankful. God is good. So, you see, there are many things we can do, big and small, that can let others know of God’s amazing love.

A really potent way to prepare during Advent is to make an effort to reconcile oneself with God. Imagine no longer being haunted by the guilt of the sin which has beset itself in your life. Imagine the freedom and joy that can be yours by simply letting God know your sins through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is amazing how much our sadness or anger can be relieved by the outpouring of God’s love and grace in Reconciliation. Almost without fail, people report that it is their least favorite Sacrament. This is understandable. However, don’t let that fear keep you away. Once you go and receive absolution from the priest in the name of Christ, remember the joy that you feel immediately afterwards. Isn’t that worth it? Now imagine that joy continuing through the days and weeks ahead. What a wonderful Christmas you could have. This coming Wednesday at 7:00 PM, we will be offering our annual Advent Communal Reconciliation Service. We will have seven to eight priests on hand. As a community, we will hear the scriptures which will help us realize the sins with which we struggle as well as the desire by God to wash them all away. We will offer a communal Act of Contrition, so no worries if you have forgotten it. Then finally, everyone will be given the opportunity to confess their sins and receive God’s life transforming forgiveness. Come and be reconciled. Come and be made whole for Christmas. What a gift that will be for you and your loved ones!

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Giving & Thanks

Dear Parishioners,

Blessed Thanksgiving
With the celebration of Thanksgiving Day, we set our minds each year to remember the things for which we are thankful. I have been here in Grants Pass now for five months and I am ever so thankful for the love and support which you have shown me. Moving is always difficult, and getting used to a new situation and system of management can be challenging on all. I am thankful for the patience so many have shown me. I am thankful for the staff who have welcomed me with charity and have been adapting to a new style of pastoring. They are a wonderful group of people. As we begin this time of holidays, let us all be reminded of those things for which we are thankful.

Offertory Program
The Offertory Program process is well underway. Thank you to all who participated by making a financial commitment to the parish. I think it was a great success. I believe in the Offertory Program, for it reminds us of the importance of our parish community amidst the variety of responsibilities we have in our lives. Furthermore, it brings to awareness our need to be Christ-like people who give of ourselves, that is from our whole selves and not just our left overs. I’ve truly appreciated the questions and charitable attitude most people have around this process. One common question has been, “How to get envelopes which I can use weekly at Mass?” Simply call the office and we will put you on our list to receive envelopes. It will take a while to get them the first time around, as the envelope company sends them out every other month. So, in the meantime, use the envelopes in the pews or come by the office and we can give you some starter envelopes.

Giving vs. Complaining
As Catholics, giving and thanks are essentials parts of who we are. In fact, the word Eucharist means thanksgiving. Giving is good. Haven’t you experienced that you get back more than you give? It’s a biblical principal (Luke 6:38). The happiest people are the greatest givers. The challenge is to not let the bad news in our lives extinguish the flame of love of good news in our lives. Remember that "God Loves a Cheerful Giver" (2 Cor. 9:7). Sometimes people complain due to an injustice. Others just complain because that is their overall attitude in life. I’m sure we all know someone who is a complainer. Those who love in miserly ways by complaining all the time miss out on the amazing love and graces that God has in store for them. Studies have shown that those who complain the most give the least.

Advent and the Challenges
As we begin this season of Advent, the commercialism of our society is turned up to full volume. Sometimes it can wear us down. But, don’t get trapped in the so-called obligations of the season nor recluse so that you don’t have to deal with the world. Instead, let Advent be a time of renewal and joy. Be someone of cheer for another. Do an act of random kindness. Seek out reconciliation with God and someone whom you’ve hurt. Spend time in prayer asking God to help keep the reason for the season in your heart. There is a simple principle that Jesus reminds us about: “Where your treasure is, there also will be your heart” (Matt. 6:21). What is your treasure? In this season of Advent, look where you want your heart to be and see if you have invested your treasure in that direction. Maybe some changes are needed. The mystery of the Incarnation for which we prepare challenges us to empty ourselves in imitation of Jesus. May this Advent bring renewal and joy to your life and that of your family.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

HEALTH and LITURGY NOTICE: H1N1 Influenza

Dear Parishioners,

As we all know, the flu season is upon us. In the past several days, I have received many inquiries from parishioners who have felt uncomfortable at Mass while the flu spreads in our communities. Clearly, common sense is the best advice anyone can give. Everyone should be conscientious about washing their hands and refraining from touching their eyes and nose. If anyone is not feeling well, they should not attend Mass.

However, because of the H1N1 virus, things are different. On Friday morning, Oct. 23, Josephine County declared a local state of emergency due to the outbreak of H1N1 influenza. Therefore, after consultation with the Archdiocese Office of Worship and others here in our own parish, I have decided to return to the regulations given to us last year by the Archbishop during our last flu outbreak.

This means that I am asking everyone to refrain from holding hands during the Our Father, replacing a shake of hands at the Sign of Peace with a friendly wave to each other, and Communion in the hand with the host only. This means we will suspend the offering of the Precious Blood at Mass. These regulations will be in effect until I determine that it is okay to return to our previous liturgical norms. As was the case last year, some will not agree or like these directives, but I ask your obedience and potential sacrifice of your personal piety for the greater good of the community. Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Another Remodel Update

There is some good news and bad news. The flooring in the dining room and kitchen are well under way, and the master bathroom is 90% done. That's the good news. The bad news is that the funds donated for the project are almost all spent. That means everything will come to a halt until more donations come in. If you would like to tour the parish house to see what is needed, just let me know. The parish, in general is struggling as are many parishes. So, I do not want anyone to move their general donations from the parish to this project. Intead, if you wish to help with the parish house renovation, please consider it over and above your commitment to the church.

"Remodel Update"

Dear Parishioners,

If you have driven, walked, jogged, or buzzed by the parish house, you will have noticed a whole lot of activity going on. Finally after two months of inactivity, the project has begun and much has been accomplished. All of this activity has been made possible through your generous donations.

Thus far the master shower, sink, and counter have been resurfaced and new hardware, plumbing, and electrical installed or upgraded. Most all of the carpet and other flooring has been removed. The washing machine and dryer are now in the appropriate location: the utility room instead of a closet in the center of the house. One fireplace has been removed (there were two). The electrical plugs throughout the house have been upgraded to three-prong outlets and GFCI’s (think safety plugs) installed in the bathrooms. Some lighting has been replaced or added. The cinder block walls have been sheet-rocked. Eventually these surfaces will need to be textured and painted.

The kitchen is next (seen at right). At this point, I am cooking out of my little trailer, because the entire kitchen has been pulled apart for the remodel. It’s like camping! Gracie, my dog, and I each have one chair upon which we can sit without getting carpenter’s dust all over us. Black is a precarious color to wear in this environment as you can imagine. At this time, the countertops are being raised to the standard height, reconfigured and resurfaced, the hood over the range will be vented correctly, the plumbing will be upgraded, and the cabinets will be reconditioned. Once this has been done, the duct work throughout the house will need to be cleaned and the floors resurfaced.

It has been wonderful to see the house brought up to new standards. Parishioners with particular business/construction expertise have been involved. Other things that need to be seriously looked at include the replacing, reconditioning, and or reconfiguring the furnace and upgrading the windows to increase energy efficiency (these will pay for themselves in short order).

As you know, this all takes money, and your wonderful donations have been very encouraging to me. Amidst all this, the parish has been struggling financially. So it is important that you know that this project has been paid for exclusively outside of our normal operating budget and is independent of your weekly donations for the ongoing ministries of the parish. As we start to look towards the end of this project, we estimate that we will run short of funds to complete it. It has been a “pay as you go” type of project. No funds have been or will be diverted from the normal operating expenses to complete it. Instead, I look to you to consider helping, once again, to bring closure to this remodel. Any donations you wish to make should be done independently of your normal stewardship to the parish. Please consider coming to the parish office to make a donation to the “rectory remodel.”

Again, thank you for all your support and prayers.

Sincerely,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

You Showed Us How Precious Life Is

Dear Parishioners,

School has come at last, and with it the hustling and bustling of school and the start up of all our other varied ministries here at St. Anne’s. In addition, this past Tuesday, we said goodbye to one of our precious alumni, Amanda Reyes, whose funeral we celebrated. She is a reminder to all of us of the incredible preciousness that God brings to us and how delicate life is. I was proud to be able to participate in the Mass and thankful that Msgr. Moys was able to preside. The celebration was an amazing outpouring of love by the whole community. These are the moments that remind me of what we are all about.

We all know how precious life is, yet we get so distracted by the details of our own lives. Amanda’s death, while very tragic, has once again reminded me to pay attention to the people we love in our lives. She has reminded me that our young people are capable of so many wonderful things. Even though she had long since moved on from our school, she would frequent our halls and offer her assistance to the children, many of whom she may not have even known.

Our teens are among the most vulnerable people in our community. Adolescence is a time of questioning, discovery, trial, success, and failure. With each challenge, our young people are being shaped. What kind of teens do you want to help shape? Amanda become the young lady that she was through her faith and the example of the special people in her lives. You can honor the legacy of Amanda by recognizing the young people in your midst, offering them help, and praising them whenever possible. Your faith-filled love for them is exactly what they need. Thank you, Amanda, for the gift of yourself and the example you set for us all. Short was your time here on Earth. But great was the love you showed us all. May the Saints and Angels come to meet you in heaven. May they take you to the throne of our Lord. May you see our God face to face and know the joy of the Kingdom forever. Goodbye Amanda. You are loved!

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

"Communicate. Communicate. Communicate."

Dear Parishioners,

For many, the summer has ended as school has begun. That means our ministries are also in the process of beginning as well. In the course of my Listening Sessions, people have made it clear that they wish for more communication in order to know what is going on in the various ministries and how to get involved. There are many ways we will be trying to meet that desire.

First way we will try to increase our communication is the weekly bulletin. Starting last week and going forward, it has doubled in size in order allow for more information about more ministries to be published. Secondly, our parish has a Facebook and Twitter page whereby people with computers can get the latest information and have conversations about their lives and faith. Also, I have been working up a draft for a new version of our web page where these tools and others can be easily reached. All staff now have a consistent e-mail address which should make it easier to contact any of us. Our e-mail addresses now begin with the first letter of our first name followed by their full last name and end with our church internet name. For example, my new e-mail is wholtzinger@stannechurch.com. The only exception to that rule is our office where the address is office@stannechurch.com. We will eventually put all this information on the cover of our bulletin.

In the coming weeks, I will offer a summary in the bulletin about the common themes I heard in the Listening Sessions. I will also be meeting with the Pastoral Council to reflect on these themes and how they resonate with our Parish Mission Statement and Pastoral Plan making changes if needed. Overall, the Listening Sessions were very positive and reflected an amazing amount of love, dedication, and participation on the part of parishioners in the varied ministries of the parish.

I look forward to the days ahead, and again ask your patience if somethings take a while to implement. Any changes can cause stress. I ask that you continually send to prayer the activities of our parish and especially the staff who are central to so many of these ministries. We may not always agree about how to accomplish something, but with greater communication, we will more likely be able to more fully understand our differences as well as commonalities. I pledge to do my best to communicate as much as possible with charity. I ask you to do the same.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

"The Heavens Proclaim the Greatness of the Lord"

Dear Parishioners,

As I've already made clear, I am a geek. But my geekyness isn't solely in the area of computers. It is also in the area of science, specifically astronomy.

It all began as a child. I remember the Apollo mission blasting off at night for a rendezvous with the moon. Any kind of space show or movie really caught my eye. When "Star Wars" came on the scene, well, let's just say I went into overdrive. Would you believe that I dressed up as Darth Vader one Halloween? Ask my sisters if you want to know more scoop on that. In Junior High I took every astronomy and aviation class that was offered. I loved it. But after that, other things caught my attention. It wasn't until almost 20 years later, as a seminarian intern, that I rekindled my passion in astronomy. As I read and learned more, I found out that the science of astronomy has a great debt to the Catholic Church. So, when I graduated from seminary and was ordained, I pooled all my monitary gifts into buying a telescope. I bought what is called a dobsonian mounted reflector, and I have it to this day.

Each summer since being ordained, I have made the trek to Central Oregon to a high plateau just East of Prineville with 600 to 700 other amature astronomers for the Oregon Star Party or OSP. In each of the four nights of this event, I stay up as late as possible gazing heavenward. Several times I had to stop viewing because the sun was coming up. Needless to say, I would most certainly sleep in as long as I wanted and take many naps during the day. In the first weekend of July, the Oregonian published an article about OSP. The article was good, but I quickly took note of the two photos included in the paper, and lo and behold, there was my trailer alongside Fr. Heiko's VW bus (see photo above).

Astronomy reminds me of how big is and how small I am, yet God loves me all the same. It makes me wonder about life on other worlds in the universe. I wonder about the size of things. I am reminded of Psalm 19:1 where we read "the heavens declare the glory of God." I stand in a much more humble place for gazing to the heavens. It is simply amazing how complex and violent it is. Its beauty is beyond my description. I could go on and on.

If you are interested in learning about astronomy but feel too inept or intimidated to take a class on it, try the book that restarted it for me, "Secrets of the Night Sky: The Most Amazing Things in the Universe You Can See with the Naked Eye by Bob Berman. Mr. Berman uses fun factiods and humor to write a wonderful book. If I can dig it our of the books in the garage, I think I may re-read his fantastic work. This week will be a wonderful time to do this as for this week is the OSP. Time to overdose on astronomy! So when you see me after OSP and I look a little tired, well just be nice and say, "Ah! The Oregon Star Party!"

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Priest and Geek

Dear Parishioners,

One month down and I am learning a lot in my new assignment. Being the pastor of three churches, one main parish and two missions, along with an associated school is an intimidating thing. However, the people are incredibly friendly and have been very helpful in the process of making me feel at home. I continue to meet with groups for what I am calling "Listening Sessions." In these meetings, I desire to understand the hopes and dreams of the faith community. One question that has come to me has been where people can have access to each week's homilies. Well, let me help you out.

As a geek, I don't simply publish the written text of my homilies. Instead, I publish the actual audio recording of the homily each weekend. This recording is called a podcast. It is kinda like a weekly radio show that one can listen to each week at their leisure. I've called the podcast, "The St. Anthony's Podcast." I've called it "St. Anthony," as he is my patron saint as well as confirmation name. It is something that one can "subscribe" to in order to receive it automatically. The main web site can be reached by clicking this link. If you prefer to subscribe to the podcast, you will need to have iTunes (download iTunes by clicking here). Once you have the application on your computer, then you can search the iTunes music store for my name (Holtzinger) or the "St. Anthony's Podcast." If you already have iTunes installed, then simply click the following link and you can subscribe to my podcast of homilies: St. Anthony's Podcast. This work is part ministry, part hobby.

I've also begun several other podcasts as well which include the "Mysteries of the Mass" podcast where I explain the various parts of the Mass and reflect on liturgical theology, the "Pilgrim Cast," where one can listen to the reflections done during my pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2007, "Fr. Geek's Video Podcast," which is a variety of informative and funny videos, and "Catholic Talk," where one can listen to reflections by various theologians about the fiath. These are just just some of the podcasts I have produced. By clicking the links above, you can listen to individual episodes as well as subscribe to them via iTunes.

In the podcasting and geek community, a common logo is shared which indicates that either an audio or video podcast can be found. It is illustrated on the right. By clicking on simple icons such as these, one can have access to all sorts of wonderful and rich media. I subscribe to many podcasts, and in fact, I have almost stopped listening to the radio in general. I most especially love to listen to podcasts while driving long distances as it keeps me alert and I learn something while I'm driving. The best part about podcasts is that they are generally free.

Since 2005, I have been producing the St. Anthony's Podcast. I hope that my continuing endeavor to provide this ministry will enhance your own faith journey. If you have any questions or would like to contact me, I also have a listener feedback line: 503-213-3115.

Finally, don't hesitate to check out my recommended podcast page for other wonderful productions by others whom I highly recommend.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

"New Living Space for Parochial Vicar"

Dear Parishioners,

God bless you all! Both I and Fr. Paschal, our new parochial vicar, continue to feel so welcomed due to your amazing hospitality. It has made both our transitions that much easier. For Fr. Paschal, I believe, the transition has been much more of a challenge. This is only his second year in the United States, and the cultural differences are broad and deep. Again, thank you for welcoming Fr. Paschal as you have.

Last week I spoke about a shift in living accommodations for Fr. Paschal at the Masses at which I presided, and it was announced by the lectors when I wasn’t there. In the spirit of transparency, please let me offer this to you again. I have decided, in mutual agreement with Fr. Paschal and the Administrative Council, that the parochial vicar, currently, Fr. Paschal, should be given his own living quarters. This means that last week, Fr. Paschal moved into a nearby apartment on his own.

In the past, the priest have lived together at the parish house. I am fully aware that our parish is used to this. I am also fully aware that Msgr. Moys and past parochial vicars have struggled with this arrangement which has sometimes added to the tensions between them. It is the Archdiocesan standard today that each priest must have his own private bedroom and private office apart from the offices of the parish. The parish house violates this standard when two priests occupy the house. When the vicar of clergy traveled to Grants Pass for his own listening session prior to July, he recommended this change. On the part of Fr. Paschal, he has been requesting this change since before he arrived at our parish. For any pastor, it is problematic to live with one of his employees. Such a distinction (ref. the term “employee”) may be lost on some, since many still believe that “we priests are supposed to live together.” This is only true for religious order priests who make vows to a communal way of life. Diocesan priests make no such promise. Another troubling issue is the reality that our priests cannot privately host their own families or anyone else without it becoming, at some level, intrusive to the guests and the other resident priest. These are the main reasons we have chosen to give Fr. Paschal his own living quarters apart from the parish house. This decision brings our parish back into compliance with the Archdiocesan standards and will be the policy going forward for the priests who will come to us in the future.

The financial impact of this change has been accounted for, and I pledge to you that I, along with the Administrative Council, will strive to be the best stewards of the funds of the parish. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to talk with me, Fr. Paschal, or any of the Administrative Council member. If you ask Fr. Paschal, you will quickly find that he is very happy and thankful that this accommodation was made possible.

Remember to pray for us, your priests, that we will always stay focused on Christ and find peace and joy so that we may be about the mission of our Church. I believe that this new policy will go a long way to create a more life-giving situation for all our priests in the future.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Parish House Renovation

Dear Parishioners,

Once again, thank you for you amazing support and love for me and Fr. Paschal. We have felt very welcomed here in the past three weeks. In the process of moving in, it became apparent that not only was there need for deep cleaning of the parish house, but even beyond that, it became clear that basic maintenance had been deferred for many years. So, after consultation with various parishioners, I decided that we need to begin the process of fixing these issues as well as updating others. To that end, maintenance and remodeling work has begun. Some items will be rather involved while others are very small and could be remedied by the rallying of parishioners with specific skill-sets. At this point, the parish has footed the initial costs including new beds for the priests. Much of the subsequent work has been funded by private donors which includes myself. I am very aware of the financial situation of the parish and will do whatever I can to mitigate costs.

The parish house should be a place of re-creation for the priests, not a lavish vacation spot, but somewhere that the priests can go to be at peace as well as welcome guests such as family. Each of us can understand the importance of having a place we call home. The goal of this project will be to make the parish house a more inviting space for the clergy of our parish. I must admit that this project is a difficult one to propose since it immediately effects myself. But, I also know that any work done in a home is intended to increase the livability for the future. I believe that some things are in great need to be attended to before there is a safety issue or the cost of repair becomes exorbitant.

This is where you come in. I want to invite you to consider making a donation to the parish house renovation. As I said earlier, several parishioners have already made monetary gifts that have begun the project. I consider it only responsible that I do the same. But these gifts, though very gracious, won’t be sufficient to complete the project. We will not be creating new envelopes nor making a second collection, but instead, if you want to help me in this venture, I ask that you simply come to the office and make your offering there. The donated funds will be restricted solely for the parish house project.

Thank you so much for your amazing generosity. Your reputation has been proven to be very true. I look forward to many years of ministry with you. May God bless your kindness and fill you with amazing grace.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

"The New Pastor Has Landed, Sort Of."

Dear Parishioners,

This week has been a whirlwind of activity. Thank you to all who have made me feel so welcome. I truly feel loved by your presence and hospitality. In the course of trying to get settled, many people have been so gracious and have helped me in the process of cleaning and problem-solving various issues at the parish house. I am blown away and deeply touched. Thank you seems hardly enough. Yet, that is all I’m left with. So, please receive my deepest thanks for the time and talent you’ve already shared with me and Fr. Paschal.


As I mentioned at the installation Mass, I will be seeking out many of you to consider your hopes and dreams. In that process, I hope that I will be able to more fully come to know the parish. Please be patient with me as I try to learn the systems of the various Churches. We have all entered a new chapter in the history of our parish. In faith and hope, I trust God has amazing plans, many of which I know not. But, through prayer and discernment with all of you, I know it will be wonderful.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger