Dear Parishioners,

Last week, the priests of our Archdiocese were away for our annual retreat. Thank you to everyone who prayed for us while we were on retreat. These times are challenging for us all. As such, we priests are called to walk with you and lead you to our Lord who is our Shepherd. I deeply believe that an annual retreat should be part of all of our lives, for without it the constant challenges of life can become overwhelming.

We all need to keep our focus on Jesus and his Gospel. When is the last time you went on a retreat? Has it been years? Maybe never? As the Church opens up and we journey out of the pandemic, please keep your eyes on our bulletin. We frequently post retreats that are happening around us and beyond. While some may be virtual (which is good), the most effective are those which are in person. You might be surprised that you can call the various retreat houses in our state and they can set up a private retreat with periodic meetings with a priest or spiritual director. My favorite individual retreats have been silent retreats at Our Lady of Guadalupe Trappist Abbey in Carlton, OR. Mount Angel Abbey is another great option. And of course, as things open up, our own local St. Rita Retreat center in Gold Hill is a great option that does not require much travel. I am praying and discerning about how St. Anne can offer a retreat in the coming school year. What do you think? I know that it is hard to get away, yet we seem to be able to do it for vacations which may last a week or two. And these are good. Might we also consider carving out three or four days to renew our hearts and souls in God? If you have been struggling to ground yourself in your faith, a retreat is a fantastic and powerful way to be a good steward of your soul. Ponder and pray about this all!

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor