Growing In Our Faith

Dear Parishioners,

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


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


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


Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Some Liturgical Changes

Dear Parishioners,

In the past several weeks, Fr. Manuel, Jessica, and I have been pondering upon and experimenting with some ideas and ways to adjust our liturgy.  Beginning this weekend, we will be implementing two changes, one for Sunday celebrations and Holy Days of Obligation and one for daily Mass.

On Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, we decided to change the way the vessels will be purified after Communion.  Going forward, the cup ministers will return their chalices to the Credence Table while the host ministers will continue to return their bowls to the Altar.  The vessels will still be purified by the priest or deacon, but in two different locations, expediting the clearing of the Altar.  To do this, the servers are being retrained to make sure that the Credence Table is mostly free of other items used earlier in the Mass such as the lavabo (the bowl for the priest to wash his hands) and other items used in preparation for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  Also, the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are being trained to follow this new process.  This will also allow the sacristans to clean or prepare the vessels for the next Mass if they wish.  The clearing of the Altar is not a separate Rite in the Mass but a procedure in a transitional phase from the Communion Rite to the Concluding Rite.  However, due to the number of vessels, this procedure has been taking so much time so as to appear as a formal rite in and of itself.  This change will clarify and simplify this part of the Mass.  The General Instructions to the Roman Missal directs that the purification of the vessels can be done at their location. (GIRM 163).

On weekdays, we have decided to emphasize a greater unity with the Universal Church and increase awareness of the principle of Progressive Solemnity.  This term, Progressive Solemnity, is the principle where by the Mass ebbs and flows according to the state or “level” of celebration in the Mass.  When Mass is being offered on a day in Ordinary Time and there is no saint of whom we memorialize nor is there any feast or solemnity, the Mass should take on a very basic form.  This kind of day is called a “ferial celebration” or “ferial day”  The term comes from the Latin, feria, meaning “free day.”  On these weekday Masses, we will forego singing at the beginning and end of Mass and, instead, replace the entrance song with the universal antiphon which the Church is expressing all through the globe.  This is called the Entrance Antiphon.  The procession of the priest leaving the Sanctuary will be done in silence.  This small change will let us experience the change of a seasons via memorials, feasts, or solemnities in contrast to those days where none of these are prescribed.  So on ferial days, the Mass will be much simpler.  When a saint is to be memorialized, singing at the entrance and recessional of the Mass will return.  On feast days, as the Church prescribes, the Gloria will be said or sung.  On Solemnities, the Creed will be added.  So, depending on the kind of day the Mass lands, there will be more or less things happening.  We hope that this very small shift will allow our daily Mass goers to experience more the variations or the progressiveness of the sacrifice of the Mass while also bringing more harmony with the Masses offered throughout the world.

Are these important or critical changes, no.  But, I do believe that these small changes will aid us in more clarity and intelligibility of the actions, meanings, and sense of progression within the celebration of the Mass.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger

New Roman Missal

Dear Parishioners,

I hope that your summer plans and events have been life-giving a re-creating of your body and soul. While our local temperatures have been lower than normal, I cannot complain that we haven’t hit any triple digit temperatures.

In the past several weeks, we have been making plans to prepare for the new Roman Missal. The Roman Missal is the big red book that the priest uses to celebrate Mass. This is different than the Lectionary, another big red book which contains the Scripture readings for Mass. With the new Roman Missal coming, it is important to prepare for its implementation. So, I’ve met with our priests and discussed plans with our Liturgy Committee about how to go about teaching everyone what, why, and how we will bring these changes to our community.

In October, I will offer a workshop that will describe, in depth, the rationale for the new Missal as well as offer many examples of the changes so people can get a good sense of how it will differ from what we hear today at Mass. The changes are not just for our area nor just for the United States. The changes are for all English-speaking countries. Please keep your eye peeled to the bulletin as well as announcements at Mass for locations, dates, and times.

In addition to this workshop, all our churches during November will pause from the normal preaching of the homily in order to allow for catechesis to take place on the changes as well as overall education about the Mass. In order to maintain continuity, each of the priests will be scheduled at the same location during the first three weeks of November. Here’s the schedule:

1st weekend of November: Reasons and philosophy for a new translation of the English Roman Missal and teaching of a musical setting for the Mass Parts.

2nd weekend in November: Catechesis on the Opening Rites and the Liturgy of the Word

3rd weekend in November: Catechesis on the Liturgy of the Eucharist and the Concluding Rites.

4th weekend in November: Total implementation of the new Roman Missal as directed by the Church.

I realize that any change is difficult for so many. That is why I am writing today, over two months in advance of this process. In my own preparation for this change, I have found that the Mass is more alive and the texts are more articulate of the mysteries we celebrate. I believe it will be a renewal for me, personally, and I hope that the same will be true for you.

If you have any questions or comments for me, please don’t hesitate to approach me and ask.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger

Pastor

Two Things

Dear Parishioners,

Last week I offered two different presentation. The first was on the new Roman Missal. The second was on Pope John Paul’s Theology of the Body. I’d like to offer a couple thoughts about those topics.

First, the new Roman Missal. Maybe you are aware, but then maybe not. So, it is important to know that the prayers and texts we use during Mass (not including the scripture readings) are going to be changing a bit. In 2001, the Church published a document, Liturgiam Authenticam, which spelled out new guidelines for translating liturgical texts. One of those guidelines called for a more literal translation from the original Latin. As it turns out, our English translation of our Sacramentary is not a literal, but a more more loose translation, specifically called a “dynamic equivalence” translation, from the Latin original. Other major language groups are more literal, and therefore are in the great need, as we are, to have our liturgical books revised. Another issue is that many smaller language groups use our English translation to derive their own. So, by the time they have their books translated, there is a real potential of being quite removed from the original Latin. So, a new translation has been created after much discussion and debate, and we will begin using that new translation at the beginning of this coming Advent. You can learn what is changing by visiting the U.S. Bishop’s web site (www.usccb.org/romanmissal). In addition, I will hold a repeat reflection (date TBA) about the new missal. You can also visit one of my web sites (www.mysteriesofthemass.com) and listen to Fr. Jeremy Driscoll, OSB who was one of the translators. Finally, in the weeks just prior to the change, we will be taking out special time in our homilies to explain, review, practice, and learn the new parts that you will need to say.

Secondly, I want to thank all the adults, parishioners, and parents who supported our five week journey through the Theology of the Body series during our Youth Ministry nights. We spent five weeks in a row, yes even including Superbowl Sunday, learning and discussing the meaning of our bodies in light of Pope John Paul’s catechetical program of sex and marriage. A week prior to that, I offered an adult crash course so that parents, engaged couples, and anyone else could learn the basics for their own lives. I pray that the things we talked about will be seminal points of reference for all who attended these important workshops. Your support and prayers made the entire experience a huge success. If you want to learn more on your own, visit www.christopherwest.com and you can order a variety of media right from the web site.

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

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