New Parish Assignment Coming

March 16, 2009

Dear Parishioners,

On the weekend of March 14/15th, I announced at all the Masses that I had been given a new parish assignment that will be effective July 1. Since then, I have received a wonderful outpouring of love from all of you. Thank you so very much. The seven years I have been your shepherd have been truly wonderful! I love being a priest. I love being your pastor. I love the community of St. Anthony’s. Leaving will be one of the hardest things I have ever done. So, believe me when I say that I did not make this decision lightly.

Some questions have come forward about why I am leaving. Some have wondered if there were things going on in the parish that motivated my decision. The simple answer is no. The parish is alive and well. We have a great staff. The ministries have wonderful leaders. The sense of community is strong, and the involvement level is high. I have agreed to leave because I have been asked to go, the need is real, and ultimately I am not my own (cf. 1 Cor 6:19b). If I had a sense that we were in the midst of some turbulent problems, I would have made the case to the Archdiocese that a change should be postponed. But, we're not. I trust that St. Anthony’s will be given a pastor who will lead the community well. I have no personal desire to go, for I am very happy and comfortable here. I love you all. You have taught me so much about how to be a loving pastor. Yet, my heart tells me that it is the right thing to do.

I have been preaching since my first day here about the need for conversion of heart and conviction to follow Jesus wherever that may take us. This message is also for me. If I do not heed the words of my own preaching, what kind of priest would I be? I would certainly not be a man of integrity. I would be akin to a “noisy going or a clanging symbol” (1 Cor 13:1). My calling as a preacher would ultimately profit me nothing.

I do not know much about the path that lies before me, but maybe that’s part of the deal. If I have been called to imitate the one who leads us all, then I must follow in his footsteps no matter what. I desire holiness and joy, and I know that the only way to holiness and joy is through the cross. The wonderful thing is that I am not alone. I know that you join me in that journey.

I am not one to leave things unfinished. I am not one to run when things get tough. I pledge to continue shepherding with zeal until my last day. St. Anthony’s is a vibrant parish and is doing well. Remember that I am not St. Anthony’s. You, the community, are. In the 3.5 months that remain for me here, let us continue our journey together. May we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. He is the rock of our salvation. He is our comforter. He is our all in all! Come Lord Jesus! (cf. Heb. 12:1-2, Ps. 95:1, Zech. 1:17, 1 Cor. 15:28, Rev. 22:20) Let us continue to celebrate his presence in our midst. He does not leave us alone.

Finally, please pray for me. Please pray for our staff. Please pray for our new, yet-to-be-chosen pastor. Pray that we will all continue on the road of conversion and conviction. May all we do, proclaim Christ crucified and risen.

Blessings in Christ,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

“I will call this to mind, as my reason to have hope: The favors of the LORD are not exhausted, his mercies are not spent; They are renewed each morning, so great is his faithfulness. My portion is the LORD, says my soul; therefore will I hope in him. (Lamentations 3:22-24)

101 Spiritual Acts in a Culture of Scarcity

Catholic Hope

In this current climate of financial distress, many people find themselves worried to the point of despair, struggling to cope with the darkness that appears around them, unable to see beyond the ugliness of their situation, or simply worried to the point of preoccupation. There is no doubt that the economy is very bad. Yet, as Catholic Christians we are people of hope. That hope is not a saccharine-fake-feel-good thing. It is real. It is firm. Our ultimate hope is not found in the politicians whom we've elected nor in the comfort our bank accounts give us. Our true hope is found in Jesus and his abiding love, forgiveness, and salvation which he offers for us all. That’s our hope.

Moral Responsibility and the Loaves and Fishes

Recently, one of our wise and more senior members of our presbyterate wrote a reflection in in his parish's bulletin about how we could be individually responsible for the economic problem as well as the solution. Click this link to read the reflection of Monsignor Greg Moys on page two of his parish's bulletin. For those who have lost their jobs, we need to offer assistance. For those who have not been directly effected, the mentality of scarcity which results in hoarding is moral problem which may need re-evaluation.

The miracle of the loaves and fish may offer some help here. First of all, this event is recorded in all of the Gospel, something which most certainly speaks of its importance. But, some biblical scholars have offered an alternative interpretation of the event which shows another lens which begs a response. This alternative interpretation sees the initial problem of the shortage of food as due to selfish hoarding. The crowd had plenty amongst themselves, but the perception of scarcity made them hoard their food. Jesus' blessing over the known bread and fish broke the chains of sin in the hearts of the people. Their stony hearts were changed from selfish absorption to an openness to the concerns of others. Again, this is not a mainstream interpretation, but may offer some thoughts about what kind of sensibility we should have as Christians.

A scarcity mentality can darken our joy and blind us to the abundance that is before us. We need to break through the chains that captivate us in selfishness. Certainly, God is the first one whom we need to seek. In addition, we can do some spiritual and concrete things which will remind us of the joy which God wants us to have. Therefore, I would like to offer my list of 101 concrete ways to combat our culture of scarcity in which we now live. All these things, while seemingly small or even trivial, can be very spiritual and concrete actions that can help us from day to day. I am not endorsing any particular companies nor attempting to advertise any businesses, but simply referencing local ideas that may serve to help you discern how you may be able to accomplish some of these ideas. Maybe you can create your own 101 ideas and act on them.

101 Spiritual Acts in a Culture of Scarcity

1. Pray.
2. Pray.
3. Pray some more.
4. Read the Gospel of Mark
5. Vacuum the floor
6. Concentrate on paying off a debt (start with the smallest)
7. Clean the work bench in the garage
8. Take someone out for dinner
9. Get rid of clutter around a specific area
10. Turn off the evening news on television

Click here for the rest of the list

Blessings in Christ,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Manga! Wait! Lent!

Italian Dinner '09

I write this reflection the day after the Italian Dinner and look back with gratitude. The dinner is the most labor-intensive and personnel demanding event we do. It is complicated and takes many many months for which to prepare. All that said, I believe Ed VanDyke, the chair of the dinner, did a fantastic job. With a smile and a chuckle, he continually met each new glitch or wrinkle with style. Thank you Ed! Sharon, his wife, also deserves to be thanked for her tireless work. She served as the chairperson for the Bazaar, but she wasn’t boxed in just to that area. Indeed, she was certainly Ed’s right-hand helper and encourager. Thank you Sharon! If you ask any former chairpersons, I think they would all be in agreement and amazement as to how Ed did it. Why? Just think about the other responsibilities he and his wife have: Their children, ten in all! Even Zachary, their youngest, was helping out. In fact, their teenagers, Hannah and Cassie and their boyfriends, were among the last leave that night. Thank you teens!! I also want to thank all those who gave of their time and talent to prepare, clean, cook, serve, manage the ticket sales, bus tables, offer entertainment, manage the money, secure advertising, take-down, clean-up, lock-up, transport, and so many other duties. There are too many names to mention. However, without the help of folks like Becky Pettit, Lani Vandehey, and Linda Wardenburg (just a few of the folks with the knowledge and expertise about the details), I don’t know if Ed and Sharon would have been so calm. Thank you doesn’t seem to be sufficient, but am so thankful! I am so proud to be part of this community.

I don’t have solid numbers, but the initial figures show that we may be real close to meeting our goal for income. Of course, as more details roll in and other expenses are accounted for, that may be offset. Be sure that we will make that information known to you as soon as we have solid figures to report. More importantly, I believe it is very safe to say that the Italian Dinner was a great friend-raiser. From parousing the surveys people turned in, they loved the food and enjoyed the company. I know I really enjoyed saying hello to everyone, especially those who gave of their time to serve that day.

At the end of the night, though tired we all were, I believe everyone left with a smile on their face. Whether that was from the knowledge of giving to such a good cause, meeting new and old friends, eating the food, or serving in some capacity, I believe we can all see this event, still, as something that demonstrates the welcoming community that we truly are.

Thank you all for making the Italian Dinner such a wonderful event. Thank you Ed and Sharon for your tireless work. May God bless you all!

Lent

Depending on when you read this, it is either almost Lent or Lent proper. Maybe it's even Shrove Tuesday (a.k.a. Mardi Gras), the day before Ash Wednesday. Lent is a time for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It's a time for us to re-connect with that which is most important. By these three activities, I believe, we can simplify our lives and open a door for God's grace in our hearts.

We live in difficult times, a serious time of economic struggle. But, Lent offers us an opportunity to re-order our values and remember where our true hope and joy comes from. Jesus Christ is our hope. He is our joy. No matter what befalls us, he is the one who suffered, died, and rose so we may be healed of our sins and enter into eternal life. In the days to follow, I will be creating a list of potential Lenten and not-so-lenten activities that we can consider. We may not be able to solve the financial ruin that has victimized so many, but we can do something to remind ourselves that with God's grace that can make a difference for ourselves and those around us.

May we all remember where true hope and joy come from. May this Lent be a gift that helps us enter into those realities. May Christ's passion and resurrection live more vibrantly in our hearts in the days ahead.



Blessings in Christ,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

A New Look for the New Year

Front Page Overhaul

If you frequent my web site, you will notice right away that my front page is in the process of getting a face-lift. This is due partly to the need for additional functionality as well as my desire to simply do something new. I'm a very settled kinda person, someone who doesn't make that many changes. My friends would tell you that I am a creature of habit and I'll bet you that if asked, they could even describe in detail what I normally buy when shopping for groceries.

I desire to make my web site more dynamic without having to always add new content via brute force. As I mentioned in my previous blog, I have been active in Facebook and Twitter. These two avenues of social networking allow me to extend my ability to communicate with parishioners, friends, and anyone else who may be curious about the goings on of a priest. As such, you will notice that the left tool bar now shows my Twitter status, a quick link to my Facebook account, links to my older blog postings, and other interesting items. Let me know what you think. It's taken me a while to break the web page in two columns for sheer esthetic reasons. But, that seems to be more and more popular. In addition, some of the icons now have a rounded and glossy look to them. All these changes show a move to a more Web 2.0 look to my web page.

Days Are Getting Longer

Earlier than ever, I've noticed the days getting longer. Maybe it's because we've experienced some more clear days and the clouds aren't obscuring the light, or maybe it's because I'm so eager to welcome to spring.

This year, daylight savings time begins on March 8th. Liturgically, the Church celebrates Christmas at the darkest time in order to contrast the light of Christ against the insipid darkness of sin which is so present in our lives. With the advent of Christ's birth, the light has dawned and we can begin to see again, sin's reign will soon come to an end. Today, the light reminds me of how much God's grace overwhelmingly conquers our sins. His love and presence warms my life.

The financial struggles so many people are experiencing can be like that darkness which obscures our hope. But, let us remember that Christ is our light, and in him is our total trust and hope. If you find yourself tempted to despair, just remember that the dark days of winter will most certainly end just as will sin. Thank you God for loving us even when we struggle, even when we doubt. You are the Savior and in you we trust!



Blessings in Christ,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

A Christmas Story & Communication

Christmas Beauty

Happy new year! This past Christmas will mark for me one that I will never forget. We experienced a "white Christmas" to the tune of some 12 to 18 inches deep! So many things were canceled. All our well made plans were downsized or simply didn't happen. But, that turned out to be a good thing. I hope that Christmases in the future can resemble the simplicity that I experienced. The snow brought a quiet to our little town and slowed everything. In a way, I think it was a good thing that some of us couldn't make our typical family gatherings. We had rethink what we were going to do and, in many cases, just stay home and stay warm. Consequently, our Christmas Masses were sparsely attended. I will attest that it was very dangerous to drive anywhere. So, I honor those who chose to be safe and stay home. I hope each were able to participate in the holiness of Christmas via TV, radio, or podcast. I know that the Vatican as well as EWTN broadcast Christmas Mass. Maybe you caught my own recording of Christmas Mass which I posted on my podcast (click here to listen). Having a simpler and more quiet Christmas was a blessing in so many ways. The falling of the snow reminded me of how God snows his grace gently upon us. I thoroughly loved the adventure as well. My dog wasn't so sure, however.

Christmas Struggle

One of the consequences of the lack of attendance was not only a scaled down series of Masses, but also a reduction in financial giving. Normally this wouldn't be of grand concern, except for the case that the month of December accounts for 14% of our annual budget. After adjusting for corrections that occurred in the first week of January (additional donations came in the first week of Jan. '09), we fell about ~$16,000 short of our expected income. That is a serious concern for any pastor. I know that our parishioners are generous. I've already witnessed the greatness of several families who made special gifts to the parish once they were made aware of this financial situation. Thank you! To all who gave around Christmas, especially those who made up their annual gift when they couldn't make it due to snow, I also want to thank you. I want to ask those who didn't make it to Mass during our winter storm and haven't made a Christmas gift to the community of St. Anthony's to consider doing so. We are in this together. It was once said to me that whenever the parish has made a request due to a need, the parish has stepped up in spades. I agree. Thank you all for your generosity to your faith community!

Geek Communication on the Internet

Often people ask me what I do. Sometimes, people think that priests work only one day a week! However, the reality is that I often work six days-a-week and even seven. The days can last from 6 hrs to 15 hrs long. I do not apologize nor am I seeking sympathy. I own my schedule and love what I do. The work of God is important and I am honored to be part of it as his priest. But in response to those who are curious about what a priest does and desiring to increase my communication with our parish and the community at large, I became active in the social network called Facebook in 2007(click here to read). To further my desire to extend my ability to communicate with others, I've also decided to begin using another technology called "Twitter." Twitter is a service on the internet that allows people to send short messages/updates about what they are doing to others. People can choose to follow specific people via the web or even their mobile devices such as phones and PDA's. I am going to try to be more visible using these two mediums of communication. I don't know how it will all work out or if I will be able to be consistent in my use of Facebook and Twitter. But, if you wish to follow me in my daily journeys as a priest, you can do so by either checking my Twitter page or sign up with Facebook and request to be my friend (search on Facebook.com for William Holtzinger). Feel free to send me messages or comment on photos or whatever you like. For many, this use of technology is a serious invasion in their privacy, so they avoid it. I agree that it can be. But, each user is in control as to how much they share. I desire to maintain some privacy, but realize that transparency and openness are good ways to build community and evangelize. Think of it as a bunch of friends quickly sharing the latest news with each other. What's happening in your world? I'd love to know.

Blessings in Christ,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

One For The Records!

One for the Record Book

As I write this, there is over a foot of snow outside and we have experienced not only snow, but also freezing rain. That means that it will be quite a challenge to get around in the next couple days. Here in Northwest Oregon we typically experience some pretty moderate weather. But, this is one for the record books. It is now certain that we will have a white Christmas. I heard that this has been our worst winter storm in 40 years. We have canceled pretty much all our events but Mass and reconciliation. Thanks to Diana Wuertz, the web master of the parish web site, we have been truly up-to-date on other events, cancellations, and links for more information about related sites.

Instead of trying to describe the environment, I thought I'd just show you via some photos I took this past several days.

Click Here to Watch Video Clip.

News report on my dog, Gracie (Requires Quicklime Player)

Main Road through Forest Grove (Notice Our Banner!)	St. Anthony's after one of the big snows
Can you believe that I still have hummingbirds?	Here he is again patrolling the feeder
Now that's a lot of snow!	Winter beauty
The snow really made it tough for birds to get a drink	The little beaver ornament is totally buried

Blessings in Christ,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

"Tis' the Season"

Holiday Bazaar

A big thank you needs to be given to Angela Jones and Kristen McDowell who lead the way for this year's Holiday Bazaar. You ladies were a true joy and example of what I love so much about St. Anthony's. It was a wonderful time to see the different hand-made craft items that people from all over have created. A big thank you needs to be given to all the supporting staff of volunteers who did advertising, food, moving of furniture, and much more. A special thank you needs to be given to all the teens who showed up to help in the various ways that you did. You are an inspiration to us all!

Walking around the hall, I heard much laughing and joyful conversation. The vendors who came were clearly people who poured their hearts into their crafts. They are a sign to us of the beauty of God and his creative action amongst us. In speaking to the vendors, they were very pleased with the kindness and love St. Anthony's demonstrated to them. Good job everyone! Thank you!

Tis' the Season

Tis' the season to be jolly... not jolly in a saccharine-pollyannish kind of way. I mean true joy, good humor, and high spirit. The etymology of the word "jolly" can be also be connected with the Latin root, gaudere which means "to rejoice." If you are up on your liturgical facts, the third Sunday in Advent is Gaudete Sunday, a time to more fully express our joy for all that has been given to us by God. So for sure the time is upon us. It is a time for giving and thanksgiving. Yes, there are economic woes around us in our country, but what do you choose? I choose to let this season remind me of what is most important. I choose to see the big picture while helping those in need. Christ has conquered death and his gift of salvation is where I invest my hope and joy.

Thanksgiving

As of this writing, Thanksgiving is just a couple days away. So, if you are reading this prior to Thanksgiving, please receive my blessings and hopes for a time to recreate with God and family. If you are reading this after Thanksgiving, I hope you all had a restful day. I hope you didn't have to wake up too early for that bargain at the local store. I pray that you had ample time to catch up with your relatives and friends.

Advent

Now we are in the beginning of Advent, a time to prepare for Christmas, one of our greatest celebrations next to Easter. Advent is a time to prepare. We are being called by the Church to remember the miracle of Christ's first coming to us in a poverty only to conquer sin and death. It is also a time for us to prepare for the Second Coming which is a certainty, though the day is unknown. But the Church guides us so that we do not become lax in our waiting. Please make an effort to stay focused on the things that matter most. Be cautious of being caught up in the materialism of this time and the financial woes of the economy. Remember where our true hope is and who is our all in all (cf. 1 Cor. 15:28). Advent is a time of penance and joy. Penance, for we all need to constantly seek reconciliation lest we be found unprepared on the Day of the Lord (cf. 1 Thes. 5:2). Joy, for the incarnation is a reality that shows us the way (cf. Matt. 2:10). Please take time to prepare in a purposeful way. Mark your calendar to join in our parish's communal reconciliation service scheduled for Dec. 18th at 7pm. If that day and time does not work, keep your eyes peeled for the schedule for our area vicariate parish schedules. God bless you all and have a blessed Advent!

Offertory Program Update

Thank you for all who participated in the in-pew process of our Offertory Program. We will soon be sending out letters to those who did not participate for what ever reasons such as being home-bound or away with relatives. Again, the goal is to encourage as much participation as possible. Once we have entered all the data in our computer, we will be sending out a confirmation letter informing you of what we understand to be your financial commitment. It is an opportunity to double-check our data so as to maintain the most accurate information possible. If you signed up to begin giving electronically, we will also be sending you a form to fill out and return with a canceled check. As the time and talent data is also entered, you should expect a phone call from each of our ministers to thank you for your willingness to volunteer and to see how we can best help you discern your gifts for that given ministry.

2009 Offertory Program Calendar

November 22/23 Follow-up Weekend (In-pew process for those who were absent the previous week) Week of 24 and on Confirmation Letters Mailed (Parishioners will be mailed letters confirming our data is correct regarding their commitment, etc.). Parishioners who didn't respond will be sent invitation letters to make sure they have a chance to participate. Jan 1, 2009 Offertory Program Commitments Begins

Blessings in Christ,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Doing Our Part

Missionary in Ecuador

Many people, at sometime in their lives, dream of going to a far off land and being a missionary of some sort. Well, just over a month ago, a friend, Fr. Heiko (German for Hank or Henry) Junge, left the comforts of Oregon for the challenges of the Missionary Society of St. James who do work in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador. At first, I figured that I would not hear from him for a long time. Yet, soon after he arrived in Ecuador, I received a phone call from him with a report of what was going on as well as some computer assistance. I was happy to help out. I don't think I've ever debugged a computer from so far away! Fr. Heiko has been frequently updating his web page which he established prior to his leaving. I encourage you to check it out: www.heikomission.com.

Fr. Heiko has committed to working in South A

merica for a period of five years during which he will return to the states to seek out assistance through missionary appeals as well as take some time off. He may very well be the geekiest missionary in the society. As you can see from the photos here that he will be working amidst dirt-floor houses and offering the sacraments where possible. It has already been proving to be a real paradigm shift for Fr. Heiko compared to here in the states. Again, go to his web site to learn more about what he is doing and how he is reacting to the people and events that present themselves. You can also e-mail him with your well wishes. You can get his e-mail address from his web page.

Fundraising & Friend-raising

For many parishes, ours included, fundraising is a necessity. It is very difficult to create and implement a fundraiser. From finding volunteers to seeking out people to come the the event, fundraising can even burn people out very quickly. In fact, not all fundraisers hit their goal and raise money. Sometimes, when poorly managed, they can even spin out of control and end up costing more than they make. That's the worst case scenario. Fortunately, we can brag that we take to heart the purpose and plan of each fundraiser seriously. I am very proud of all those who have worked so hard in the recent months at our various fundraising events.

Our annual Rummage Sale was a big hit. People were very impressed at how nice everything looked. It was a labor of love by the volunteers, and I am so thankful for their care in making it a quality event. Just a few weeks ago, both our Anglo and Hispanic communities came together to offer our eigth annual Mexican Dinner. The food was excellent and it was even better organized than ever before. This, again, is due to the wonderful dedication and heart of all those who planned and worked so hard to make it a success. Even more recently, we held our annual auction which hit its goal financial target plus a little more. Again, that is due to the amazing dedication of parishioners as well as those who generously participated in the auction itself.

At each of of these events, parishioners banned together and worked for a common cause. I think they all had fun and grew closer as a community. These were not only good fundraisers, but also "friend-raisers." St. Anthony's is an amazing community dedicated to growing in faith together. This is one of the things that has impressed me the most since coming to St. Anthony's six years ago (Nov. 1 is the official 6th anniversary). Being part of a parish isn't just about coming to Mass or even volunteering to serve somewhere. Being part of a parish also means building relationships, bonds of love that help us, enliven us, and even challenge us to be more like Christ. It is a family of sorts. We are not meant to be alone. Our parish is one avenue that helps us to know that we are together in this thing called life. Let us lean on each other, confident that God is in control.

Offertory Program - Time, Talent, Treasure, & Tradition

In the coming weeks, we will be beginning the process of our annual Offertory Program which involves prayerful reflection on the part of all parishioners. The calendar of events is below. It is important that we all participate at whatever level we can. Participation is the most important aspect of the Offertory Program. It is even more important than how much a few give financially. In my homily of Oct. 18/19, 2008, we were all challenged to think about the gifts we have been given by God. The main question was, "What is not God's?" The answer is that everything we have is a gift from God. Not only our possessions and money, but our talents as well. Knowing that, we embark, once again, to reflect on how we can give back something to God in appreciation for all that he has done for us. So, begin now thinking and praying about how you can give back to God something of your time, talent, and treasure. In addition to that common reflection, this year I would like us all to ponder on how each of us can share our tradition as well. Our faith is not something that is to be kept to ourselves. It is something to be shared. Is there some way you can share your Catholic faith with others? I would like us each to think about that and make a plan to consider inviting people to Mass or some event that will happen this year at the parish. Maybe instead of bringing them to St. Anthony's, you might consider going to visit them where they are, bringing a heart of faith and love to their home. Maybe it is a commitment to be especially kind to the people at the grocery store or gas station. Maybe it would involve making a commitment to call someone each week to talk about the good things of the faith or encouraging someone who is down. Sharing our tradition can be done in so many ways.

Each year poses its new challenges, and each year we need to ponder on how to balance out those challenges so that we can maintain our commitments. The Offertory Program is intended to help you make that commitment based on your reflections. Each year we ask parishioners to consider the state of things in their lives in a one year snapshot. How has God blessed you? What has changed? Given that, each of are then being asked to decide how much we can commit financially to the parish. Should you increase your weekly giving? Should you decrease your weekly giving? Should you stay the same? This is a hard question for many to make given the economic situation we all live in. Our faith challenges us to give to God first and not just give our leftovers. One way of doing that is to consider your financial stewardship to the parish before bill paying. Another is to consider using our very successful ACH program where the amount you have committed to giving is automatically withdrawn from your bank account. I do this, and it helps me to know that I will meet my commitment because I have set up a system to do it. It is not something that I hope I'll get around to, nor is it something that becomes an heavy burden. Automatic withdrawal is the normative way I deal with all my bills. Using that system, I have less stress in my life as well as confidence that I am meeting my commitments.

So that you will know what is coming up, here is our Offertory Program calendar:

2009 Offertory Program Calendar

October 25/26 Census Update (In pew process) November 8/9 Announcement Weekend (Fr. Bill reflects about stewardship in homily) Week of 9-14 Parishioners receive Offertory Brochure to help explain process and aid in discernment November 15/16 Commitment Weekend (In pew process of making stewardship commitments) November 22/23 Follow-up Weekend (In-pew process for those who were absent the previous week) Week of 24 and on Confirmation Letters Mailed (Parishioners will be mailed letters confirming our data is correct regarding their commitment, etc.). Parishioners who didn't respond will be sent invitation letters to make sure they have a chance to participate. Jan 1, 2009 Offertory Program Commitments Begins

Please begin your prayerful discernment as to how you will participate in the life of St. Anthony's. If you have any questions, you can contact me or John Moore, this year's coordinator for the Offertory Program. Thank you for all you do. It is a privilege to be your pastor.

Blessings in Christ,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Fr. Astronomer

A Hobby for the Heavens

Often people ask me what I enjoy doing for a hobby. Well, first I'm a geek and I love to do podcasts, manage my web site, go camping, and much more. But one hobby has a lot of relevance to me as a priest. That hobby? Astronomy. I'm a member of the Rose City Astronomers and I love to peer into the heavens with my 14.5" dobsonian reflector (below). Each summer I love to travel out to the Ochoco National Forest to join some 700 other amateur astronomers and gaze heavenward to view things that simply take my breath away. So how does astronomy connect with being a priest? Well, astronomy offers me a way to directly connect with how big God's creation is and how small I am. Yet, in spite of the radically disproportionate sizes of these two creations, God still loves me with an infinite love.

But, what is the Catholic Church doing meddling in astronomy? Haven't we learned our lesson from the Galileo debacle? The answer to these questions are, simply, we are doing amazing work in astronomy and Galileo has helped us learn about the political pitfalls that can happen when religion and science mix. Today, we are more eager than ever to learn how both faith and science harmonize. It also is a dramatic way to literally view history unfold. For example, when I see a celestial object that is 25 light-years away, that means I am seeing that object as it was 25 years ago. Now imagine seeing an object that is 2000 light-years away! I would be seeing existence as it was when Jesus walked the earth.

Catholics in Astronomy

Many priests are professional astronomers. Indeed, it was a priest who was the first to posit what is now called the "big bang" (Can you say Fr. Georges-Henri Lemaitre?). In fact, the father of astrophysics is a Jesuit, Fr. Angelo Secchi. The Vatican even owns and operates two major observatories, one at Castle Gondolfo, Italy and the other in Tucson, Arizona. In a nearby parish in Porltand, St. Agatha, a group of Catholics meet monthly to discuss Astronomy. They also use the internet to speak to Fr. Chris Corbally, S.J. who is the director of the Vatican Observatory. When ever the topic of Galileo comes up, it is the Church who always gets the black eye, so-to-speak. The Vatican Observatory has spent no small amount of energy reflecting on the universe and the theories of Galileo. Check out the publications about it by clicking here. In 2000, Guy Consolmagno, S.J. published a popular book describing the adventures of being a Vatican scientist entitled, "Brother Astronomer." The science of astronomy helps us know more about the creation that God has made. It reminds us that God is more than big and more than powerful. Imagine if we found intelligent life beyond our solar system. What would that mean for us as faithful Christians?

Star Party Ho!

Earlier I mentioned that each summer I travel to the Ochoco National Forest east of Bend, OR to join hundreds of others stargazing. Each year, that event, the Oregon Star Party, offers me a chance to stay up all night and quietly observe objects that I simply cannot see from my home with all its light pollution. The location is actually called Indian Trail Spring, and it is in the middle of nowhere. But, it has some wonderfully dark skies through which I can gaze upon objects that are millions of light years away. At the OSP, people bring some of the largest personally owned telescopes in the world. The great part is that many of these folks just love to let others peer through their scope. Exclamations such as "Wow" or "You've gotta see this!" are not uncommon. So I look forward to this summer's big event on Aug. 27th through Aug. 31st. My goal is to catalog as many galaxies I can. Another is to drink as much hot chocolate that I can in order to keep warm during the cold nights and help me stay awake in order to maximize my viewing opportunities. This year will be my fourth OSP and my second with my Chalet Aspen trailer. Since the event is so remote, it is important to be prepared. Bringing the Chalet is a real comfort, especially on cold or rainy nights. OSP is just a week away as of this writing. I can't wait. Astronomy is a prayerful and awe-inspiring experience.

If you are a budding amateur astronomer or are just curious, I recommend two books: Secrets of the Night Sky by Bob Berman and Night Watch by Terence Dickinson. Be careful, as you may be tempted to go out a buy a telescope. So let me offer you a bit of advice. Before you go out and plot down some hard earned cash for a new scope, first try using binoculars. It's amazing the things one can see with a simple pair of 10X50 binoculars. There are tons of things one can see wihout the aid of a telescope let alone binoculars. Inded, there's lots to behold by just looking up. For example, the International Space Station is a wonderful object to find when it passes overhead. One can determine when its visible by going to the NASA web site for the ISS. It's Summer. Next dark night, go lay out on your lawn and just gaze heavenward. You might just discover something new! You might even perceive God's presence in his handiwork. Afterall, the Scriptures tell us that "the heavens proclaim the glory of God" (Psalm 19:2).

Blessings in Christ,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Happy Centennial!

Happy Centennial!

Happy 100th anniversary! On June 29 we mark a milestone in the life of our parish, and we celebrate in a special way with our festive gathering after our 9:30 am Mass. Thank you to Archbishop John Vlazny and Msgr. Dennis O’Donovan (pastor from 1982-’89) for joining us and celebrating Mass with us. Archbishop Vlazny has frequently commented that he has been rather busy celebrating centennials this year, demonstrating that our fourth Archbishop, Alexander Christie, must have been a very busy man 100 years ago. Along with St. Anthony’s, St. Francis in Roy will also celebrates this year as their centennial. We can thank Fr. F.J. Kettenhofen, the former pastor of Visitation Church in Verboort for purchasing the original land for our parish.

Thank You!

Our Centennial celebration doesn’t come without planning. As such, I want to thank Lani Vandehey, Virginia Ohler, Tweena Casey, Judith Knutson, Diego Patron, Joy Hills, Eileen Dolan, Diana Wuertz, Mark Vanderzanden, Ed & Floralee Stadelman, Mike Hinton, Anna Ronek, Linda Wardenburg, Mike Galati, Lisa Storms, Jesus Cornejo, Sr. Juana Gutierrez, and Tia Kouba for all the planning they have done. It is certainly a large-scale celebration. Thank you all! You are examples of what makes St. Anthony’s such a wonderful faith community.

St. Anthony's Today and in the Future

Thanks to the hard work of many volunteers, most particularly by Vera DeWolf (click here to download the pdf file of her original history from 1908-1990), our parish history has been preserved. In fact, most information is now online. For example, go to the St. Anthony's Historical Photos Page to see a collection of images we've gathered from parishioners and abroad.

Today, I hope that along with all the great food and entertainment, you also set aside a time to offer your own personal prayer for the ongoing needs that we, as a parish, have as well as the needs of the wider community that we are called to address. So many things have changed in 100 years. Gosh! So many things have changed in the past decade. It makes me wonder what St. Anthony’s will be like and what needs we will have 100 years from now. God willing, I pray that we will still be as vibrant then as we are now. I pray that our children’s children will find St. Anthony’s to be a welcoming place of worship, fellowship, and fun. When I arrived, Fr. Elwin Schwab (my predecessor) told me that there was a real possibility that we would outgrow our present church building during my tenure and that we would need to build a new church where the baseball field is located. While that hasn’t yet happened, 100 years from now that will be a certainty, short of our Lord’s Second Coming prior to that time. Until then, we pray and we listen to the Lord’s promptings to direct our mission in the years ahead. May we be empowered by the Spirit as stewards to serve the Lord and each other for another 100 years.

Blessings in Christ,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor