There’s a Time to Read - 1 Hesitations 3:16

Dear Parishioners,

Last week I was taking some time off for a vacation. While relaxing, I had the opportunity to do some reading. I read two good books that I recommend: “Sinner: The Catholic Guy’s Funny, Feeble Attempt to Be a Faithful Catholic” by Lino Rulli and “Catholics Next Door: Adventures in Imperfect Living” by Greg and Jennifer Willits. I found both fun, educational, and inspiring.

Lino has a way of being brutally honest about his imperfections and sinful nature, thus the title. This is not a book of piety, but of refreshingly honest personal introspection. It is another version of Augustine’s Confessions, but done in a much easier and conversational way of writing. Lino, however, is no St. Augustine. He readily admits that. He knows he is still work in progress. This book is intended for the young adult. It is relatively short; I read it in one evening.

Greg and Jennifer’s book is also very contemporary, funny, and also very revealing of their successes failings as parents. While they recommend it for all, I think it is best suited for parents or parents-to-be. It is not a how-to book, but an back and forth dialogue about a Catholic couple who struggle to live their lives as Catholic parents. Their book is full of anecdotes, confessions of failed attempts as a couple and parents, heart-warming testimonies of the faith, and creative ways to live out one’s Catholic faith in a culture set against being a Catholic family. At times they lifted up my hope and other times I found myself praying for Greg and Jennifer and their family. The truth is that being a Catholic family is hard. Greg and Jennifer are honest with the successes and failures. I know them a bit from our shared podcasting expereiences and can attest that they are not faking their way through this book.

If you are looking for additional Catholic reading that is funny yet strives for faithfulness, I recommend these books. Of course, I hope you are reading Matthew Kelly’s “Rediscovering Catholicism” which, through generous donations, have been made available for free the last two weeks after Mass.

By the way, if you were wondering why you couldn’t find the book of Hesitations referenced in the title of this article, it’s because you need to read another important book more... your Bible... there is no book of Hesitations! Enjoy!

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Christ is Risen!

Dear Friends,

Happy Easter! I hope you and your family are together enjoying a wonderful day celebrating our Lord’s resurrection. As Catholic Christians, Easter is actually a season. Even more so, Easter is our point of reference for our entire life, for we believe that since Jesus died and rose again, we too, can overcome our deaths in our life and ultimately rise with him. Christ’s resurrection has opened the gates of heaven for those who believe.

Easter is also a time when we recognize that we can be forgiven for our sins. It is a time when we also recognize that we have sinned against other people and need to seek out forgiveness. As a church, we wish to express our heartfelt sorrow for any wrongdoing we may have done. As the pastor, I too, wish to ask for forgiveness if I have hurt you in any way. The Catholic Church is your home. It is here that you should be able to find healing through Christ.

If you’ve been away for some time, please consider returning back home to your family of faith. Each year at this time, we begin a process called “Welcome Home Catholics.” It’s a process, whereby people who have been away for awhile are reintroduced to the church, her sacraments, and most especially, can have answered any questions they have without criticism or judgment. We simply want to welcome you home for Easter.

So, may the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ bring you deep and everlasting joy!

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Conscience Protection Still At Risk

Dear Parishioners,

Last week, a change was made by the Obama administration that would not require religious-based organizations to directly pay for sterilization and contraceptives, including abortion-inducing drugs, and instead push that responsibility to their insurance carriers. Please do not be confused by this obfuscation. This shift does not change the moral and legal issues for which the Church objects.

Many dioceses self-insure themselves, thereby still requiring them to offer these so-called services. Secondly, if a religious organization isn’t self-insured, but contracts out through insurance companies, like the Archdiocese of Portland, we will still be in violation of our conscience for contracting with a carrier who is being required to offer immoral procedures that the Church cannot have direct or indirect involvement. Furthermore, there is no protection for exceptions for religious and secular for-profit employers, secular non-profit employers, for religious insurers, and for individuals.

Do not let the argument of cost misdirect you either. More important than cost is that of morality, conscience, ethics, and a reinterpretation of the Constitution. This mandate and its supposed “compromise,” does not remove any of these objections. All people of faith should be challenging the attempt to impose a belief system of a secular power over the rights of religious freedom by groups who have moral objections to such requirements. Broader than the violation of an individual’s conscience is the seeming violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. If this mandate by the Federal Dept. of Health and Human Services is allowed to stand, then a serious crack will have occurred in the foundation of the Constitution, thereby opening the dam for other mandates that will be required of citizens whose religious beliefs and consciences will be violated.

Don’t get sidetracked. The current administration is trying to redefine who is entitled to a religious exception unprecedented in the history of our country. Prior to this issue, the Obama administration has been trying to speak of “freedom of worship” rather than “religious liberty.” This slight-of-hand wording speaks only of our freedom to gather in our Churches, but does not secure our freedom to practice it in our world. Indeed, this mandate by the HHS is a direct result of this thinking.

The current administration has little concept of how the Catholic Church works. It is an essential part of our faith to be feeding the poor, clothing the naked, and lifting up the needy. Yet, it seems that even the Catholics involved in legislating and supporting this mandate and it’s recent change are ignorant of our fundamental belief to live out these Gospel values. It has even effected our ability to form the consciences of our service men and women when the Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Military Archdiocese was not allowed to have his own letter, challenging this ruling, read at military pulpits without changing the wording for fear of civil disobedience. Again, where is the right to religious liberty for even such a high ranking Church member? An unjust law must not go unchallenged.

Now, you may be saying that the Church should stay out of politics. That’s great in one sense: You will have more pleasant conversations with your friends. However, it is our responsibility to proclaim the Gospel, which means that we are to not only have a personal relationship with Jesus, but also transform the world in light of the Good News. Remember that faith without works is dead (James 2:20, 26). The Good News is not always convenient or easy to proclaim. But we must do it. The early Church was persecuted and many times martyred for their commitment to the Faith. Remember also, Jesus stood against the corruption of the powers of his time. We too must do nothing less for the salvation and love of all people of conscience.

Finally, as your pastor, I ask that you to write your elected officials and share your concerns. A phone call or actual written letter mailed is the most effective. Here is a quick link to that information: usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml. Also, spend this coming Lent in special prayer and fasting so that wisdom and justice may prevail.

Sincerely,

Fr. William Holtzinger

Pastor

Numerous Blessings

This new year will be one to remember! This past week we had the honor of hosting John Michael Talbot in three days of mission to deepen our faith. Thank you to Dave and Terri Currie who spear-headed the project as well as the numerous volunteers who were recruited to make sure that it was successful. I know I will never forget those days. John Michael’s music has been an inspiration to me since I was a child. What a blessing!

But, that’s not the end of the amazing opportunities. If you missed seeing John Michael Talbot, he will be back in Southern Oregon at the end of the month, specifically Sunday the 19th for a ticketed concert and Monday the 20th for a free evening of inspirational music and motivational speaking at St. Joseph in Roseburg. Tickets for the concert can be purchased by going to http://tickets.umpqua.edu or call (541) 440-7700. They will be $8 pre-purchased or $10 at the door.

But, there’s more! Coming on April 28th, world renowned Catholic author, Matthew Kelly, will be coming to Medford for a day-long conference. Tickets are available for purchase at our main office. I’d like to thank the community of Our Lady of the Mountain for sponsoring this ministry so that we may all rediscover Catholicism in our own lives. More details of this event will be forthcoming.

Finally, in order to continue your opportunities for spiritual growth, the Southern Oregon Vicariate will continue to host more ACTS retreats for men and women in the coming months. Keep your eyes peeled to the bulletin for more.

This year has started off with amazing opportunities for us all. The Spirit is moving in our midst. Take advantage of all the opportunities you can to grow in your faith.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger

Pastor

Proclaim The Good News Of Life

This weekend, specifically this Sunday, we observe the 38th anniversary of a tragic Supreme Court decision in our country to legalize abortion. Since then, nothing has done more to polarize our country and be the cause of death for the most poor and vulnerable. Nothing has done more to dehumanize men and women and uproot the sacred trust that every child should have in their parent. More children have died in our country through abortion than the sum of all of our wars. This is an atrocity that must end.

Let us be clear, all human life is sacred. Even in the milieu in which we live, the alleged right to have an abortion is outweighed by the right for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for the unborn child. No argument of defect or quality of life for the child is effective. No argument regarding the potential tragic context of conception (ie.rape) outweighs this inalienable right for the newly created child. Our Scriptures and Sacred Tradition are clear and unambiguous. We express and promote a preferential option for the poor and strive to seek out the most vulnerable. Nobody is more poor or vulnerable than a newly conceived baby in the womb.

Until the day that this law is changed and even after that hopeful day, we as Catholics must do what we can to support women and men, who find themselves in situations wherein an abortion is something they seriously consider, to choose life for their child. We need to support all agencies and churches who seek out to help those whose lives have been damaged by abortion in one way or another. We need to teach and support our teens as well as engaged couples about the grace and joy of natural family planning as well as the heroic decisions surrounding adoption. It is not enough to simply say no to abortion. We need to be people who lift up and change our culture to create support structures that will imbue the value of every human life from natural conception to natural death.

Our world is graced with so many amazing people who have changed our world due to the choice of adoption rather than abortion. One popular example is that of the Denver Broncos quarterback, Tim Tebow. Within our own community are amazing people who are with us because of the choice for life. I can even testify that I have met people who are the result of miracles, for they survived either being aborted or the attempt to be aborted. Each one of these persons have gone to do great things for the Church and humanity as a whole. In their presence, I am speechless yet grateful to God for their presence in our midst. Who knows who has not been allowed to change our world because they never got the chance? But, even then, the argument of human accomplishment as the value of embryonic or adult human life is not as strong as the value that every human life is given no matter what their situation or condition because they are a creation of God.

This Sunday (Jan 22, 2012), we have the opportunity, as we do every year, to let our feet do our talking. Join our fellow Christians and people of good will who want to end abortion in our country. Join us at 1PM for the annual March for Life, which begins in front of the Court House here in Grants Pass. Pray for an end to abortion. Pray that our country will turn back to God and recognize the preciousness of life in every person. And until that day comes, let us continue in hope loving each other and proclaiming the Good News of Life.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger

Pastor

New Years & Christmas Time

Dear Parishioners,

The new year is us upon us, and it is still the Christmas season. We are still celebrating the amazing gift of Christ come in the flesh, the Incarnation. Often people take down their Christmas decorations soon after Christmas day, yet the Christmas season does not end until the celebration of the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord, January 9th, 2012. That means there are 16 days of Christmas. The traditional 12 days were intended to mark the period from Christmas to Epiphany (traditionally Jan. 5th), however Epiphany is a movable feast here in the U.S. and as such is placed on the Sunday following January 6th, thus making it 16 days this year. So, you will notice our Christmas decorations in the Church will continue, and I encourage you to do the same in your homes. Pragmatism, however, may dictate taking some decorations down such as the Christmas tree. I know that mine is already getting very dry and is ready to find a new place out of the house.

The date for today's solemnity, Mary, Mother of God, concludes the octave or eight days of Christmas. We have a long tradition of celebrating large feasts with special devotion for eight days. Today, we have simplified the number of these feasts and focus on the biggest ones: Christmas and Easter. Our Jewish heritage did this same thing by extending the celebrations of their liturgical year, the "Feast of Tabernacles" and "Dedication of the Temple" are two fine examples. Constantine followed this tradition by celebrating the consecration of basilicas for eight days. This approach of emphasizing eight days helps us to meditate more, amidst all our distractions, on the mysteries being celebrated.

Whatever your plans during this Christmas season, let us all remember with devotion the reality that God emptied himself in his Son to become one like us. This gift is wondrous indeed. May you spend time pondering on this great gift to us. May the mystery of God's love in this season be poured into your heart to begin a new year full of faith and hope.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger

Pastor

Merry Christmas!

Dear Parishioners,

Merry Christmas! It is my prayer that the amazing love of God who gave his only begotten Son to us will rest upon your hearts. By this, may your Christmas be full of the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Among the many things that have blessed us is the presence of our new Coordinator of Youth Ministry, the addition of many new Catholics during the Easter Vigil, a hugely successful Spring Clean-up Day, the creation of a new liturgical Environment Committee, the beginning of a new Grounds Maintenance Committee, and so many other moments where the community came together to help those in need. Again, looking back, I consider it a true privilege to be your pastor.

I now begin to look forward to the, yet to be seen, miraculous happenings of God in our midst as has been the case this past year. Thank you to all who have been part of the incredible things that have been part of the life of St. Anne.

If there is anything I can do, anything that I need to apologize for, anything where I have fallen short, or any way that I can help, please let me know. Let us then pray for each other now that Christmas is upon us. May the remembrance and celebration of the birth of our Savior bring you joy and peace.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger

Pastor

Much Ado About Something

Dear Parishioners

New Roman Missal

Well, we did it! We successfully transitioned to the new Roman Missal. Yes, there were goofs and gaffs, and they will continue. But, overall, I think everyone did pretty good with their parts. Please continue to offer up a pray for us priests for whom the bulk of changes effects. Also, please give us an indulgence of patience when we make mistakes too. It will take some time to imprint the new translation in our hearts and minds to the point that we don’t have to be glued to the book.

Immaculate Conception

This coming Thursday is the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Please make an effort to mark your calendars so that you may not miss this important celebration of the Church. I goofed up the time for the morning Mass on our published liturgy schedule. The times should read: 8:30 AM, 12:05 PM, and 7 PM. The morning Mass will include our school children while the evening Mass will be bilingual.

Adoration Chapel

As you should already know, we changed the entrance code to the Adoration Chapel due to some serious security breaches. I implore you not to give out the new code to anyone you do not know. If you are one the persons who enjoy dropping in at the chapel at your convenience and do not have a scheduled adoration time, you must first come to the office during office hours to get the new code. In addition, for those using the chapel after hours, if you have the habit of using the restroom just prior to your time in adoration, please let the current adorer know that you are there and will be right back. It should be considered suspicious activity if someone opens the outside door of the adoration chapel and does not come in to the chapel soon if not immediately. Thank you all for your understanding. Having a 24-7 Adoration Chapel is certainly a gift to us all. Let us all do our part to make sure we can maintain its existence by maintaining security protocols.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger

Pastor

New Roman Missal Preparation

Dear Parishioners,

This month we begin in earnest to learn and practice parts of the new Roman Missal so that by the first weekend of Advent (Nov. 26/27) we will officially implement the entire Roman Missal at all our Masses and Churches.

With the new translation coming to our communities, we priest feel that it is a fantastic opportunity to teach the faithful about the Mass. We will take the time normally reserved for the homily to teach about the theology and praxis (think liturgical gestures and behaviors), the new actual new responses and other changes due to the new Roman Missal, and allow the music groups to teach the musical arrangements using the new translation. The U.S. Bishops have allowed parishes to begin implementing the musical settings beginning in September which means if you travel around the country, various parishes will be at different stages of learning and implementation. No worries.

For our part, you should notice that the new music books are already in place (a month earlier than normal) and a laminated pew card with the common responses in the new translation will be in the pews as well to help you. When Advent comes, the missalettes will be changed out, and we should be ready to go.

I highly recommend that if you want to learn more about the new Roman Missal that you go to my web site, mysteriesofthemass.com, on your computer to listen to talks and discussions from Fr. Jeremy Driscoll, O.S.B., a monk and priest of Mount Angel Abbey and a member of the Vox Clara Committee who was instrumental in the actual job of translating the texts from the Latin.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger

Pastor

Challenges To Religious Freedom

Dear Parishioners,

Today, I want to make sure that you are aware of some of the current issues facing the Church which threaten, as never before, our liberty to practice our faith. I have had many vital conversations with parishioners on these topics, and I feel that it would be good to write to you about them in this forum. Furthermore, this month where we are being called to respect life it is a good time to raise your awareness of the encroaching challenges to our faith and belief in the respect and dignity of the human person from natural conception to natural death. The issues are many, but I would like to bring to your attention just a few of them. These unprecedented attacks on our ability to live out our mission of the corporal works of mercy and the sacredness of our Sacraments are ones that we must send to prayer and act on as God calls each one of us.

One issue surrounds medical ethics and government funding. Today, there are serious attempts at legislation to force Catholic health care systems and hospitals to offer services and procedures that we believe to be immoral and in direct violation of our faith including contraception and steriliization. The debate pits current government will against the religious liberty of Churches to practice their faith. Another unprecedented issue has come from the Department of Justice itself in its increasing attacks on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), calling it an act of bigotry instead of the protection of a unique, essential relationship and institution, one that has been given to us by God and which is unalterable by us. The Sacrament of Marriage predates all human laws and has always been defined as between one man and one woman. A third issue challenging the Church has gone to the Supreme Court. This issue is about the Church’s right to choose who can serve and/or work in their name without government interference. This one would seem like a no-brainer, but it is also being attacked by the Dept. of Justice. At risk here is our ability to hire people who share our faith in positions where living out that faith is a prerequisite. Finally, another issue concerns Catholic Relief Services, one of the largest and most effective relief agencies in the world. Herein, the Dept. of State is trying to require CRS and other agencies to provide reproductive services as part of their efforts in international relief and development programs, something that need not be part of relief efforts in order to be effective. I argue that CRS has done more to help people than any other institution and such a requirement is unnecessary for the efficacy of CRS’s efforts to help those in need.

It seems to me that we live in a time, today, when secularism is, ironically, the new religion to the exclusion to other religions. Is it too bold to say that the ideology of secularism is threatening the very substructure of our founding fathers and that there may be a movement towards the repression of other faiths in preference to that of the evermore secularized State? This reminds me of the old political ideology of Erastianism which asserts the supremacy of the State over the Church even in ecclesial matters.

As a nation, we are proud of our pluralism and freedom. Yet, might these issues demonstrate attempts to remove pluralism and subjugate as not only irrelevant, but erroneously label them as dangerous, the religious institutions that have been the backbone of our families, culture, and country? I wonder if our previously well understood sense of religious liberty may be changing into a “secular priority” over that of the 91% of our people who hold to a faith in God (cf. 2004 BBC Poll). I leave that for your own reflection.

Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recently wrote a letter to the bishops outlining these issues at hand. I highly recommend you read it. Read it by clicking here or go to our office for a hard copy.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger

Pastor