Dear Parishioners,

With the Governor’s “Stay Home - Save Lives” order, most all of us are hunkering down. As I write this letter, I begin the first day staying home. I must say that I really like the title of her official declaration. It tells us what we should do and why. It reminds me that our lives are not about ourselves, but God. And if we say that we love God, then we must love our neighbor. Therein, I really like that since we are hunkering down to save other people. So, as Christians, we are called to sacrifice ourselves for others.  What are we doing in this regard? How can we possibly help people while staying home? Well, amazing things have been done by people during the most trying of times.  

I was watching a video online from Christian musician, Michael W. Smith, who quoted a message from a friend of his, Pastor Darrin Tyler of Franklin, TN:

In WWII, everyone in Great Britain was hunkered down in fear of the bombing from Germany. During that time, C.S. Lewis began a radio broadcast, and that broadcast became the book, "Mere Christianity.” Isaac Newton was 20 years old when the bubonic plague forced people into their version of “social distancing.” During his year away from Cambridge, he created the theory of gravity. The Apostle Paul, under house arrest, wrote most of the New Testament. I’m not so sure that God causes these things, but I do know one thing, he won’t waste it. We’re all restricted: Plans on hold—Sitting still. What creative, life changing, world impacting ideas are sitting inside of you? Sure, we could spend this time binging on Netflix, or we could spend it changing the world.

I have heard so many amazing things people are doing at this time out of love of their neighbor. Maybe you can help someone by going shopping for them. Maybe you can pay the rent that is coming due for someone who just lost their job. Maybe you have extra food for someone who is about to go hungry. Maybe you can sew masks or protective gear for the heroes on the front line of the medical field. I don’t know what lies ahead exactly. But, I do know that despite all the suffering and heartache, greatness dwells in each one of us. Don’t waste this time. God may be calling you to greatness out of love for another person. By staying home, a simple task, we save lives. By spending that time in service of others, we save souls.

From the newly transplanted home-office, may God bless you all! 

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor (St. Anne, St. Patrick of the Forest, and Our Lady of the River)
Administrator (St. Joseph and St. Francis Xavier)