Spring Brings News

Podcasting Issues

This past week I realized that my newest podcast, The Pilgrim Cast was incorrectly linking the episodes so that people who tried to go to iTunes to listen to any episodes would have been given errors. Yikes! This issue also plagued some of the Mysteries of the Mass Podcast. But, thankfully after some sleuthing around, I fixed the issue. I won't get into the details other than to say that it was all my fault. But, now, it is fixed.

This past week, we experienced a series of amazingly warm and beautiful days. It is just the beginning of a summer of sunshine. That also means that I will be more out and about and not spending so much time on my computer, my web pages, and my podcasts. But, have no fear. I will continue. Just know that there is a real possibility that they won't be coming out at the first half of the week every single time. This will be especially true when I am on vacation.

Staff News

I meant to blog this earlier (duh! like in the beginning of May) when I hired our new Administrative Assistant, but I have been slacking off in my blogging responsibilities. Nonetheless, I want to let everyone know that we have hired a new Administrative Assistant. Her name is Michelle Tunnell and she comes to us with an enormous amount of skills. First of all, she is trilingual. She speaks English, Spanish, and French. The first two languages are critical here at the parish. 1/3 of our community speaks Spanish. While there are no native French speakers in our community, one never knows if we might be surprised by an invasion from Quebec, Canada. She is high spirited and a faithful Christian. Michelle has fit right in and has been dealing well with the high learning curve of the parish office environment. She is a delight to work with and reports that she is enjoying her new position at St. Anthony's. If you ever call or come by the office, make sure to welcome her.

Congratulations are in store for David Palacios, our Coordinator of Music Ministry, as he graduated from Pacific University. He has also been accepted into Medical School for Naturopathic Medicine somewhere in Portland. David will continue in his current capacity until he begins classes again. After that, we will have to see how he can juggle his time.

School Building News

It has been a long and arduous road, but we have successfully rented out the south half of our school building to Vermont Hills Family Life Center who will be offering a pre-school and after-school care center. The school has been providing services to children since 1979 and has tied with many Catholic grade schools. Their philosophy is "to provide families with education, development and support, through childcare and other family services." I believe they will be a wonderful new presence on our campus. If things go well, they hope to expand into the remainder of the building. Time will tell. In the meantime, welcome VHFLC to St. Anthony's. Thank you all for your prayers and financial support during this year in order to keep the unexpected vacancy from tanking our working budget.

As things begin to wind down for the fiscal year, I must say that it has been a great year. God is so good! I look forward to this coming new fiscal year (begins July 1) with joy and hope. Again, thank you all!

Catholic New Media Celebration

As of this writing, the first ever Catholic New Media Celebration will take place in Atlanta Georgia (June 22). Held the day after the Archdiocese of Atlanta’s Eucharistic Congress (conducted June 20-21), the Catholic New Media Celebration is a day to learn, share, and explore how religious and laypersons can use New Media technology to help spread the Gospel and knowledge of the Catholic faith. From podcasting to blogging and old media to new media, experts in all fields of Catholic media will be on hand to present the latest technologies and grow communities devoted to reaching others in the New Evangelization. Admission is free and attendees are encouraged to register now and view a full speakers schedule and guest list at http://celebration.sqpn.com. Unfortunately, I won't be able to go due to prior commitments, however, if you are in any way interested in spreading the Gospel using new media forms, this is the event for you. Learn more by clicking on the link above or watching the You Tube video below. To register, click this link.

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

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