Christ Lives!

Dear Parishioners,

All praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ who is risen from the dead! Alleluia!  Alleluia!

This weekend we celebrate the greatest of our holy days in the Church, for we remember and rejoice in the greatest miracle of love: the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is through his rising from the dead that he conquered death, the ultimate barrier humanity had to eternity with God. This event we call Easter concludes what we call the "Paschal Mystery." This Paschal Mystery is Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection. In Spanish, Easter is referred to as, "Pascua."

We all yearn for heaven, though possibly unaware. We yearn for communion, love, and ecstasy.  Yet, we look for these in things, events, and people that cannot and do not fulfill these desires. Some theologians speak about it in terms of having a God-shaped hole in our hearts, and only God can fill that hole completely. In the meantime, we strive for joy and happiness only to be disappointed when our direction is toward anything other than God.  A simple example is when someone we deeply love dies or suffers; We lose and suffer with them. We seek out help which is important. But, when we leave God out of the equation, we never fully heal, but rather continue to suffer. Jesus knew this about us. Indeed, God made us for himself, and he loves us perfectly. Remember, God is love and the author of love. So, since love is what we yearn for, it can only be fully experienced with God deeply involved. As St. Augustine once wrote in his book, Confessions, "You arouse us so that praising you may bring us joy, because you have made us and drawn us to yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you."

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, indeed his entire Paschal Mystery is the model and paradigm for all of Christian life. Whether we realize it or not, it is for this that our soul longs.  So Easter is a celebration and a reminder that we were made for love and eternal life with God in heaven. Yet, we don't have to wait until we are in heaven to experience some foretaste of what is to come. But, in order to do that, we must follow Jesus in his Paschal Mystery. We must join our suffering to him, die to ourselves, and then be set free in a new joy/resurrection in our life here.  

When a tragedy befalls us, when we have been betrayed, when we have been hurt by others, we naturally suffer.  But, we are prone to avoid entering into it and avoid dying to ourselves. I include myself in this as well. When that happens, we never heal, never rise in joy. Easter reminds us that the path to joy is one preceded by suffering and death. So, where Jesus went, we are to follow. Think about a situation where there is some hardship or suffering.  Spend time in prayer reflecting with Jesus about that situation. Ask Jesus to enter into that suffering with you.  Listen to what he has to say. Put yourself aside. Put your own desires aside, and listen to the Lord. Seek out with Jesus and ask him where you need to let go, to die to yourself in regard to the suffering. Then, you will be open to what Jesus says and wants for you, not despite your suffering, but through your suffering. By doing this, you begin to die to yourself.  By trusting in our Lord, a new situation, a new day, a resurrection is possible. By letting go and dying to yourself, you let Jesus work miracles in you. Sorrow can turn to joy. Hatred can turn to love. Despair can turn to hope. This continual spiritual exercise will train you for life eternal.  It will turn you into a person whose joy is beyond the circumstances of this life. Your focus will no longer be the news or the latest gossip. You will not desperately seek out the approval of others. It will be solidly resting in the truth about God in your life, the truth that he loves you, the truth that sets you free!

This is what we celebrate in Easter. Jesus rose from the dead. He conquered death. He opened the gates of heaven. Resurrection is possible. Jesus rose from the dead and now sits at the right hand of the Father where he intercedes for us. He wants all of us to join him. But until that time, he wants us to live here on Earth in joy and to love his creation. May this Easter, this Pascua, remind you of these divine truths. May we all rejoice in God's love for us and his gift of the Paschal Mystery of his Son, Jesus Christ. May we all, too, live in imitation of our Lord, and so rise one day like him. May all we do give praise to Christ who showed us how to live, die, and rise to eternal life!

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Holy Week

Dear Parishioners,

We have begun Holy Week, the week that begins on Palm Sunday and concludes on Easter Vigil. It is the highlight of the entire Church year.  On Monday, all the priests serving in the Archdiocese of Portland gather at the Cathedral on Monday at 7 PM for the Chrism Mass.  At that Mass, we rededicate ourselves in ministry and the Holy Oils (Oil of the Sick, Oil of the Catechumens, and Oil of Chrism) are blessed and given to us to bring back to our parishes. We return to our parishes and then prepare for the Triduum, the holy three days from Thursday to Saturday. 

On Holy Thursday Mass (7 PM), we will celebrate the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood.  Historically, twelve people would come forward to have their feet washed as a commemoration of the events of the Last Supper.  Pope Francis officially changed that ritual which spoke of selecting "men who have been chosen” to “those chosen from the among the People of God.” This means the ritual includes men, women, children, and any of those representing the variety and unity of the People of God. Pope Francis chose to make these changes “so that it might express more fully the meaning of Jesus’ gesture in the Cenacle, His giving of Himself unto the end for the salvation of the world, His limitless charity”. At the Preparation of the Gifts, we formally receive the Holy Oils at our church.  Mass continues with solemnity. The conclusion of the Mass calls for a formal procession with the ciborium with all the consecrated hosts to a place of repose and adoration.  We will be processing to the Parish Center.

On Good Friday, there is no Mass, but services commemorating the Lord’s Blessed Passion.  At noon, all are invited to an ecumenical gathering of the faithful at Calvary Lutheran Church where various ministers from some of the Christian communities will lead us in worship and commemoration.  Later at 7 PM, we will offer our Good Friday Service where we listen to an extended proclamation of the Passion of our Lord, offer a solemn veneration of the Cross, and offer communion from the previous day’s Mass. At this service, the entrance and recessional are done in silence, for it is a sort of an "in-between” service bridging us from Thursday to Saturday.

On Holy Saturday, there are no other activities other than the Easter Vigil which will begin at 8:30 PM at St. Anne.  At the Mass, we begin with the blessing of the Easter Fire from which we light our new Paschal Candle.  After processing in the church with lighted candles, we listen to an extended portion of the Scriptures giving us an overview of salvation history.  Then we move to the rites of initiation where we will baptize (some by immersion) the Elect and receive into full communion those who have been journeying as Candidates.  Then all will be confirmed and receive their First Holy Communion.  The Mass ends with a reception in the Hall.

I want to strongly urge you all to make every effort to be present to the events of the Triduum.  It is by these Mysteries that the gates of Heaven were made open to us by the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ!

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Our School & Auction

Dear Parishioners, friends, and families of St. Anne Catholic School,

This weekend, we hosted our annual auction for our school.  I write this column prior to the event, but I am sure it will be a great time for all who attend. I want to offer a big thank you to all those who spent countless hours preparing for the auction as well as to the companies, individuals, artisans, and the like who donated the items for the event.  It all goes to further the four-point mission we have for our children: “faith formation, scholarship, leadership, and service according to our Catholic values” (St. Anne Catholic School Mission Statement).  Our children are our precious jewels.  While we endeavor to raise them, they, in turn, inspire and challenge us back. In a culture so divergent from our Christian values, St. Anne School stands out as a beacon of hope. Next time you bump into one of our teachers, staff members, or especially any of our school families, thank them for the sacrifices they are making to raise our children in the faith. Let them know of your prayerful support. you might even want to take on or sponsor a family through prayer or financial assistance.  

Our school is a vital and vibrant ministry of the parish. Next school year, while the construction of the new church is underway, things will get messy.  Our school will be adapting to the sounds, sights, and activities that will be taking place literally next door to their classrooms. This will add some excitement, curiosity, and even stress in the classroom environment.  Some of the school’s necessary fundraisers will have to be rethought out and possibly moved to other venues.  So, again, keep them in your prayers. 

In conclusion, be mindful how important it is that we have a parish school.  Be prayerful towards the students, staff, and teachers. It is a ministry with a complex infrastructure that has a serious task to educate and inspire a coming generation of leaders.  Finally, I want to express my gratitude to Colleen Kotrba, our Principal, and Shawna Prestianni, our Office Manager, for their spirit-filled love and labor in our school.  Together, they are the glue that keeps it all together.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Unity With The Catholic Church

Dear Parishioners,

Last week an issue came forward regarding an illicit (unsanctioned or illegal in view of Canon Law) Mass which was was being offered in Grants Pass by the Society of St. Pius X (aka SSPX) who is locally found in Veneta, OR. Consequently, I have had many questions come my way as to why I told our faithful not to attend.  Here is a more thorough response.

It is important to know that we, as Catholics must always be in union with our Pope and our Archbishop, and do nothing that will harm our unity.  Archbishop Alexander Sample is our local apostle whose role it is to teach, guide, and sanctify the faithful of his diocese, sharing that role with his priests and deacons who serve under him. As a priest and pastor of our archdiocese, I made a solemn promise at my ordination and again when installed as your pastor to be obedient and work in harmony with my bishop and his successors. This is a serious role for all clergy.  As citizens of this country, we lift up our rights and independence.  Yet while those are goods in so far as they respect the truth, they are not ultimate goods, for our rights can be subjugated by greater rights or responsibilities (ie. the right to life of an unborn child creates a responsibility on the part of the parents preserve that life), and our freedom can only be free when we freely choose the good (ie. we can just do whatever we want, for when we choose to sin, we bind ourselves and lose our freedom). 

Remember the four pillars of Catholicism?  We proclaim every weekend that we are one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. By being one, we are proclaiming that we are in union with the Holy See as well as our local Ordinary (think bishop).  The SSPX have been suspended and do not enjoy full faculties to offer the Sacraments. As such, we all need to know that due to the knowledge of a planned Mass by the SSPX, Archbishop Sample, sadly, had to write the SSPX, denying them permission to offer the Sacraments in the Archdiocese of Portland.  Who are the SSPX?  Why were they denied permission to offer the Sacraments? Please indulge me as I offer the following excerpt from an EWTN article which was written revised in 2015 by Colin B. Donovan, STL:.  You can find the source article here: https://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/sspx_fssp.htm. In addition, the group also mentioned in the article, the Fraternal Society of St. Peter, can be found on the web here: http://www.fssp.org.  Here’s the article in its entirety:

The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX)

The Society was founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, a retired missionary bishop who had served in Africa, in order to perpetuate the traditional liturgical rites of the Church. The previous year Blessed Paul VI had introduced a new missal in response to the liturgical reform called for by the Second Vatican Council. Reformed rites of the other sacraments would follow in the years following.

While Archbishop Lefebvre did not reject the possibility of reforming the sacramental rites (he had voted for the Council document that called for it), he did reject the specific reforms of the Mass promulgated in 1969 in the Missal of Paul VI. For this reason, the Society he founded uses the 1962 Missal and the other sacramental ritual books of that era.

In 1971 Archbishop Lefebvre started a seminary in Ecône, Switzerland, to train priests for the Society. Despite being specifically warned by the Pope not to ordain them, the Archbishop ordained the first ones to the priesthood in 1976. Those ordinations were valid, but illicit. Pope Paul VI immediately suspended the Archbishop's priestly faculties, and those of the men he had ordained. Those suspensions remain effective, and apply to all new ordinands of the Society, until such time as the Holy See regularizes the status of the SSPX and its clergy.

In 1988, Archbishop Lefebvre, now fearing that he would die and leave no one to ordain priests for the SSPX, sought an agreement with the Holy See for the lawful continuation of the Society. After reaching an agreement with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, acting for Pope St. John Paul II, Archbishop Lefebvre broke the agreement and, in an act which was ipso facto schismatic, ordained 4 bishops without a papal mandate. This action incurred an automatic excommunication under canon 1387, confirmed a few days later by Decree of the Holy See (https://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CBISLEFB.HTM). Twenty years later (January 2009), as part of another effort at reconciliation on the part of Rome, Pope Benedict XVI lifted these excommunications. Despite this, to date reconciliation has not been achieved.

Therefore, until the status of the SSPX is regularized by the Holy See, the bishops and priests of the Society remain suspended from the exercise of Holy Orders. Their celebration of the sacraments are valid but illicit, except for those sacraments requiring jurisdiction (Penance, Marriage), which are both invalid and illicit. This means that sacramental absolution by a Society priest is invalid for lack of jurisdiction, a requirement in all circumstances but the danger of death (canon 976). Similarly, lacking jurisdiction, marriages witnessed by SSPX clergy would also be invalid, for defect of the "Catholic form", which requires witnessing by one's bishop or proper pastor or a dispensations for other circumstances (canon 1108).

For both Penance and Matrimony, while it is theoretically possible that a particular absolution or marriage might be valid due to "common error," in which the penitent or couple are ignorant of the priest's lack of jurisdiction (which the Church then supplies by law, canon 144), given the notoriety of the canonical status of the SSPX it seems highly implausible in fact that such cases exist, since willful ignorance provides no such excuse.

Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP)

In the circumstances of the 1989 episcopal ordinations, some SSPX clergy and seminarians, not wanting to go into schism, sought an agreement with the Holy See. This request resulted in the founding of the Sacerdotal (Priestly) Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP).

This immediate erection of the Fraternity by the Holy See, without all the preliminaries of time and formality usually required, was a tremendous charity by the Pope toward the former members of the SSPX, who have since returned it with loyalty and faithfulness, together with their tremendous devotion to the Traditional rites, which is their proper charism.

The Fraternity, therefore, celebrates the Mass and other Sacraments according to the Missal and ritual books of 1962, validly and licitly, in complete communion with the local Ordinary and with the Roman Pontiff.

Since the writing of this article, Pope Francis allowed priests of the SSPX to validly and licitly hear confessions during our Jubilee Year of Mercy which he later extended until other provisions are made. So, clearly our Holy Father desires full unity and reconciliation, and is striving to shepherd the flock.  

This situation is complicated, but as you have read, the Church continues to dialogue with the SSPX to find resolution. I know, personally, that Archbishop Sample desires such dialogue and reconciliation.  Let us all pray for that unity.  In the meantime, for those who seek out a licit Mass in Latin under the 1962 Missal, what is now called the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, we hold such a Mass every other month at Our Lady of the River in Rogue River.  Those dates are March 12, May 21, July 2, September TBD, and Nov. 5 (Archbishop Vlazny will be offering that last Mass).  

I hope this rather lengthy reflection helps fill in the blanks where there are questions. Let us all continue to pray for unity and harmony wherever it does not now exist. 

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Description of the logo for FSSP (from the SSP website: http://www.fssp.org/en/telecharger.htm):
The two crossed keys principally evoke Saint Peter, Patron of our Fraternity. They also refer to the Holy See, to which we have been united with indefectible fidelity since our foundation. The absence of a tiara and the color of the background, however, clearly distinguish our arms from those of the Apostolic See. The blue background, a Marian color, reminds us that the FSSP is under the protection of the Mother of God (Constitutions #4). Lastly, the tears commemorate the difficult historical circumstances of our inception: “Qui seminant in lacrimis, in exsultatione metent” (Ps 125, 5), as well as Saint Peter’s triple assertion of love for the Lord (Jn 21, 15-17). This number may also evoke the three central aspects of our charism – hierarchical fidelity, doctrinal rectitude and the Gregorian liturgy.

Sport: A Classroom of the Christian Virtues

Dear Parishioners,

Last week at the end of the announcements at the 11 AM Mass, I made known my hope regarding this year’s Super Bowl. I exclaimed, “Go Falcons!”  Instantaneously, I received back some cheers and laughter.  After exiting the Church and then encountering the community as they were leaving, I was greeted with a multiplicity of cheers and laughter as well as some who exclaimed, “Go Pats!”  It was all in fun and while differing in views with regard to the team for which would be rooting, it was a win all around. In those moments last Sunday, we exemplified what Pope Francis had encouraged us to be and do. That’s right. The Pope recorded a short video message for people who were going to experience the Super Bowl.  Here’s what he said:

Great sporting events like today’s Super Bowl are highly symbolic, showing that it is possible to build a culture of encounter and a world of peace. By participating in sport, we are able to go beyond our own self-interest - and in a healthy way - we learn to sacrifice, to grow in fidelity and respect the rules. May this year’s Super Bowl be a sign of peace, friendship and solidarity for the world. - Pope Francis, February 5, 2017

Overall, the game turned out to demonstrate all of these signs. Moreover, it was filled with displays of the classical Seven Christian Virtues: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance (see Catechism of the Catholic Church #1805), Faith, Hope, and Charity (ibid. #1813). Mastering them makes one an excellent athlete, and more so, an excellent example of a Christian. In fact, it would be a very productive conversation to discuss each of these virtues in light of the game and to hone one’s vision about these virtues, not only in watching or participating in sport, but striving to live them out in our own lives.

Sport has been a very effective vehicle to battle injustice. A powerful example of this was dramatized in the Clint Eastwood directed movie, “Invictus,” starring Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman. It depicts how the newly elected Nelson Mandela forgave his oppressors who jailed him due to his opposition to Apartheid and used rugby as a vehicle to unify South Africa. I highly recommend this movie.  It is rated PG-13, so parents should use their discretion with their children in viewing the movie. Other sport-related movies I have found which exemplify these virtues are“Rudy,” “The Blindside,” “Radio,” “We Are Marshall,” and “Remember the Titans.”  Okay… yes, these are all about football. Did I mention that I liked football?

In sport as in life, the desire is for excellence. And while there were also counter examples of each of these virtues (traditionally call the Cardinal Sins and which we should rightfully reject) in the Super Bowl, St. Paul to the Philippians gives us good advice: 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you. - Phil. 4:8-9

St. Paul was not ignorant of the lessons and examples that sport can offer Christians. He even wrote about life as “running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith” (Heb. 12:1-2). He wrote of enduring our trials as “discipline” (Heb. 12:7). Again, the connection of sport with the Christian life is clear.

Personally, I detest poor sportsmanship probably because of my own experience with injustice, greed, and the other Cardinal Sins.  So, when I watch sporting events, I look purposefully for all the Christian Virtues, for I recognize my need to have examples of real people, more than superhero-fiction, who can encourage me and challenge me to greatness, not just for my own sake, but for the sake of being who God call me to be. When we live out who we are called to be, when we live as the saints God desires us to be, we ultimately give glory to God, a purpose greater than sport, indeed, a purpose greater than all other purposes.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

p.s. Congratulations to the New England Patriots!

Be Salt & Light

Dear Parishioners,

This weekend we heard from Jesus that we are “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (cf. Matt. 5:13-16) Salt was a preservative and is still used as an additive to our food, making it more tasty.  Salt was an important chemical compound which was valuable to the people then and now. Chemically, salt, the ionic compound Sodium Chloride (NaCl), cannot be turned into another compound by any known natural process. That means the quality of saltiness cannot be removed from the compound.  What he just ignorant of chemistry? No. Here’s some thoughts… 

In antiquity, sources for salt were highly impure and therefore, exposure to water over time could remove the salt leaving only the impurities which would not have the salty taste.  So in this manner, it is possible for someone to come to the conclusion that salt could loose its taste. Since we are talking about Jesus here, this sense of understanding is not likely the way in which Jesus intended to speak.  More likely he was speaking rhetorically: what good is salt if it is not salty? Knowing some basic chemistry heightens the sense of contradiction to the point of hyperbole (exaggerating to make a point).

Jesus may have wanted to express how important we are to his plan and that by dismissing or diminishing our calling, we become useless.  Are you aware that you are called by our Lord for some task, a vocation, in this life? It is ridiculous for any of us to make a claim that we are without value when he himself made us in his own image. You see, we cannot lose our value (aka our saltiness). So, know that you and I are all salt, important parts of life and of God’s plan, valuable beyond imagination, wanted and loved beyond comprehension. Faith can be another way to understand the image of salt used in Jesus’ teaching.  What good is faith if it is not faithful to God’s command to be shared? This connects to the next image Jesus spoke about.

He called us “the light for the world.”  He wanted us to know that we have received the light of truth and salvation which is intended to be shared with the world.  Too often some might say, “My faith is a private thing,” and excuse themselves from expressing or sharing it.  While it is certainly an intimate thing which dwells deep within one’s heart, Jesus is clear that we are not to hide ourselves or keep our faith, to ourselves. So, pray this week about how you might be able to recognize your saltiness and be a beacon of light to others.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Living the Beatitudes

Dear Parishioners,

When asked what is it one desires in life? Most people will likely say, happiness.  Regardless of their being a Christian or not, a believer in God or not, this is part of what is most deeply seated in our heart.  We desire to be happy.  In the Gospel, the word has been translated, “blessed.”  The Greek word is Macarios. It literally translates as “happy.” But, in our modern English, being happy is something that is transitory, something that is based on current events.  Something that changes with circumstances. “I am happy when I eat my favorite food or spend time with my close friend,” orI am happy when I watch a great movie.”  But, blessedness carries that sense of being full and content with God which is beyond transitoriness. It carries with it the the meaning which our word, “happiness” seems to have lost.  It is more like the kind of happiness or joy that is so deep seated that it cannot be displaced by the tragedies of life. It is not founded in one’s own self esteem or accomplishments. Rather, it is founded in God, in his presence in our lives, in our openness to his prompting and acting in our lives. For whenever we encounter our Lord and are open to him, we are transformed.  Our deepest desires are filled and our sense of worth and belovedness is deepened.

What makes us blessed or happy is holiness.  Yet, rare it is that we talk about how we can be holy.  In fact, such a conversation is sadly one of the most rare, don’t you think?  We must be in a faith sharing group or Bible study for that conversation to occur.  We prefer to talk about politics, the latest events, our neighbors, or family members. But, when we get down to the most fundamental part of who we are, we must admit that we are restless and that we too often try to fill that restlessness with all sorts of things that do not satisfy, do not make us happy, do not make us blessed. For many, there is a deep dissatisfaction in their lives.  They are lost.  Some have no joy whatsoever. Today, Jesus, who is the author of love who is the Word incarnate, who knows what it takes to have a joyfull and blessed life, tells us what it looks like to be happy. 

Today, the Church sets before us in the Liturgy, Jesus who tells us how we can be happy, how we can be blessed: He tells us that they are people who focus on

• being poor in spirit and not their own aggrandizement, , 
• mourning for those who have lost instead of mocking or making fun of them, or simply being glad that they are not the one who has lost
• being meek and humble and not self-confident without God or arrogant thinking you are “all that”
• hungering and thirsting for righteousness instead of reveling in sin or the destruction of others
• being merciful and showing tender loving kindness instead of punishing for revenge
• being clean of heart instead of filling one’s life with images and thoughts of sinful acts
• being a peacemaker instead of planting/inciting division, spreading rumors, or being disorderly or disobedient

Archbishop Sample wants to equip us with the the spiritual and intellectual formation to help our parishes learn and grow along these paths and to incorporate the Beatitudes in our everyday life and be able to share it with others. Through the Ministry Formation Program, we have been blessed to have a myriad of classes which have helped us live out these Beatitudes.  Through the Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal (aka “ACA") (now of which is the announcement weekend, and next week is the commitment weekend) local instructors have been found and scheduled to offer important classes to lift up our Catholic parishes.  I myself have been an instructor for 16 yrs, teaching classes on Liturgy & Sacraments, Vatican II, Ecclesiology, Christology, and Pastoral Administration.  Other classes have been offered in our vicariate such as Church History, Moral Theology, and Scripture classes. The Ministry Formation Office has made available training classes for catechists, youth ministers, and Pastoral Musicians. Again, these have been made possible by the generosity of the people in the parishes throughout the Archdiocese who have given to the ACA. And while this year, the focus of the ACA Appeal is on Faith Formation, the ACA continues to fund Hispanic Ministry grants, retried priest, office of marriage and family life, youth ministry, and much more.

Finally, in our current time, we need to be all the more equipped to know and live the Gospel of Christ, to love him and serve our neighbors.  But, in order to live out the Beatitudes which are profound examples of this life, we need formation and education. Being a Catholic Christian isn’t easy today.  In fact, Jesus tells us that when we live out these Beatitudes, we will be persecuted.  Yet, if we do these things because of our faith in Jesus, we will be blessed.  If we truly listen and obey his teachings, we will find the source of all satisfaction and love.  I our hearts, we will have the kingdom of heaven.  We will be comforted. We will be shown mercy.  We will see God.  We will be called Children of God. Blessed will we be for our reward be great in heaven.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Encountering God's Grace In A New Year

Dear Parishioners,

Happy New Year!  With the beginning of a new year, we recognize that all time is only possible by the grace of God.  Thus we call 2017, and indeed each year, a Year Of Grace. So, welcome to the Year of Grace 2017! Grace can be likened to the power of God given freely to us.  One writer from Catholic Answers (http://www.catholic.com/tracts/grace-what-it-is-and-what-it-does) called it a “supernatural kick in the pants.”  With such grace available to us, consider making that part of your plan, your new year’s resolution, to encounter God’s grace with ever day that is given, for we certainly need it.  

As we begin this year, we have hope that it will be a good year.  We must also be aware that it will also bring great challenges.  So, borrowing from a Facebook post (https://www.facebook.com/kyleld) by Fr. Kyle Doustou of the Diocese of Portland, Maine, here’s some suggestions for the new year:

• If you don’t pray, start. If you do pray, pray more. Beef up your devotional life.
• If you don’t fast, start. If you do fast, fast more. Strengthen your will. Get better at saying “no” to your appetites and passions.
• If you’re lax about Mass attendance, get your priorities straight. Go every Sunday and Holy Day – nothing is more important. Nothing.
• If you don’t go to confession, go. Regularly. Stop waiting. Stop making excuses.
• Get more intentional about knowing your faith. Study it. Learn it. Share it. Defend it.
• Spend more time at home with your family. Eat together. Work together. Play together. Pray together.
• Cut out the non-essentials. Simplify your homes and your lives.
• Give more of yourself (your prayers and your time, but also your money and your skills) to those who need help. If you don’t know who needs help, trot down to your local parish office – your priest can give you a list, I’m sure.

A relationship with Christ is not ethereal and it’s not simply an “internal” reality. It is something that is lived out, day by day, in mind, body, and soul. It is not a given and it can never be taken for granted. Now is the time.

So, may the Year of Grace 2017 be a time of encounter and growth in the Lord.  May he enrich your life and vivify you so that the grace given you will shine like a light which draws all to Him!

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

“From Cave Junction to Grants Pass” Honoring Our Past, Pt. 6

Dear Parishioners,

As we come to the end of the year, this will be the last installment of Honoring Our Past reflections for 2016.  Last weekend, I went to each of our missions, St. Patrick of the Forest in Cave Junction and Our Lady of the River in Rogue River, to invite them to participate in our campaign.  Our Lady of the River has been with us for over 40 years as a mission from her inception.  St. Patrick of the Forest, on the other hand, pre-dates St. Anne by some 40 years.  The following information can be found on our webpage, stannegp.com.

In December of 1857, Archbishop Francis N. Blanchet visited the native tribes in the area and held services for them in what is now Grants Pass. The Oregon City archbishop was returning from South America by way of Jacksonville seeking funds to alleviate church debt.

The first church of St. Patrick of the Forest and its adjoining cemetery were built and then blessed by Father Francis X. Blanchet at Allen Gulch near Waldo on March 17, 1864. Archbishop Francis N. Blanchet later blessed the Saint Patrick church cross and cemetery on October 8, 1867. 

In the 1880’s, Father Francis X. Blanchet, nephew of Archbishop Blanchet and pastor of St. Joseph parish, Jacksonville, purchased property in Grants Pass hoping to build a church there “by early 1886.”  

Grants Pass began to grow with the arrival of the Oregon and California Railroad from Portland in December, 1883. It became part of Josephine County in 1885 and the county seat on January 1, 1886. Grants Pass was incorporated as a city in 1887. 

Father Louis P. Desmarais, pastor of Jacksonville, began raising funds for a church in Grants Pass, in 1895. He blessed the new church building on October 11, 1896. The church sat 100 persons and measured 40 X 24 square feet with an additional 16 X 14 square foot sacristy. Non-Catholics raised the majority ($500) of the total $800 cost of the church. Archbishop William Gross dedicated the church, “Saint Anne,” after the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and with homage to the Shrine of St. Anne de Beaupre in Quebec, Canada from where the first priests to Oregon came.

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1896 Church with added bell tower. Convent on the left.

In September of 1899, Father Michael J. Hickey became the first resident pastor of Saint Anne. In September of 1948, Fr. Augustine Meyer began construction of a gymnasium opposite the church. The building which served as a parish recreation and social hall, accommodated 300 persons and was located on what is now 8th and N.E. ‘C’ Streets. Archbishop Edward Howard dedicated the hall on September 18, 1949. Father Dan Kelly was pastor at its dedication.  In 1954, Fr. Kelly purchased the 6 acre lot where our parish campus now resides and later in 1956 had the first building erected: the rectory.  Later in 1959, he began the process of constructing the church we are in today.

More about this in our next edition of “Honoring Our Past.”

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

The Big Push:"Commitment Weekend"

Dear Parishioners,

Did you know that our Honoring our Past - Building Our Future capital campaign has three goals? 

1. Raise a minimum of $2.5 mil.,
2. To reach a challenge goal of $3 mil., and finally
3. To give everyone an opportunity to participate in any way they can to this important campaign.

If you check out our thermometers in our narthexes, you will see that we have met goal #1.  Yea!  Thank you to all who have made it possible. This coming weekend, we can make a strong push for goals #2 and #3.

This weekend is called “Commitment Weekend.”  It is one of our biggest moments where I am asking that everyone that has not already made a financial commitment to our capital campaign, to do so.  By heading over to the Parish Center after Mass, you will be able to speak with a campaign volunteer who will guide you in making your pledge. It is not a negotiation, but a time to graciously and gratefully receive whatever gift you decide upon to give.  Even if you have not yet decided on how you will give, please still speak to a campaign volunteer in order to let us know.  Why you might ask?  Well, after all the Masses in the afternoon, we will then make an effort to go visit the homes of those whom we have not yet heard from in regards to the campaign.  So, if you prefer that nobody come to your home, please stop by the Parish Center after Mass and let us know.  Again, our goal is to try to have personal contact with every parishioner we can so as to make sure that everyone has a chance to get involved in this amazing project.

If you have any questions, again, going to the Parish Center will connect you with a campaign volunteer who will help answer your questions.  

Thank you all for your amazing generosity!  The community of St. Anne has done it again!

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor