Dear parishioners,
This past weekend, I was able to host a Zoom meeting (think teleconferencing via the internet) with almost half of our 30+ member Phone Call Ministry Team. Yes. That is right! Secretly, we created a stealth group of staff and parishioners who have been, not-so-systematically, contacting fellow parishioners who are registered in our parish and many who are not and just asking them how they are doing, praying with them, and simply letting them know we care. Now, isn’t that novel idea? In this Zoom meeting, we shared many stories of how grateful people were. In several cases, some needed extra help or were running low on food. A few couldn’t get out to go shopping. With God’s grace and a little creativity, we found a way to make it happen for them. To every cloud, there is a silver lining. And that, my friends, is the love of Christ which has been poured into our hearts and desires to reach out to you.
With regard to our parish family who are homebound not due to COVID-19, we learned that we have some 70 parishioners spread out in about 12 care facilities and 19 private residences. For these folks, we sent out some 215 cards so that they would know that they are not unloved or uncared for.
Now, our job is not yet done. We may be nearing 50% of our parishioners. But, here’s the deal. This group of ninja phone-callers need to be the only ones.Oh! No! How about you? What don’t you pick up that phone, write a card, text or video chat with a friend or neighbor? Yes. Just do it. You don’t need our permission. You just need the desire to share you love and kindness to whomever you know.
Christ prayed that we would al be one, and we have found ingenious ways to reach out and let others know of our love and the love of God.This is the heart of the Gospel. This is the heart of evangelization. This is what Church is. No need to have a reason to call other than to reach out and love them with no agenda or strings attached. When was the last time you received such call? Likely, never! So, let’s do it. Let’s get busy. Go make a list of people you know and care about. Then go reach out them by whatever means is allowed in this time of quarantine. Don’t let technology get in your way. Get a piece of paper. Write a letter. Fold it up and tape it closed. Put an address on the outside along with a stamp, and mail it!! Boom! Done. If that is too much, pick up your phone and just dial them. Leave a loving message if they don’t answer. So, you need not join an official team, no! Just do yourself. Reach out and let others know you care.
Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Join us for Mass.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Join us for our Easter Vigil in the Holy Night!
Dear Parishioners,
With the Governor’s “Stay Home - Save Lives” order, most all of us are hunkering down. As I write this letter, I begin the first day staying home. I must say that I really like the title of her official declaration. It tells us what we should do and why. It reminds me that our lives are not about ourselves, but God. And if we say that we love God, then we must love our neighbor. Therein, I really like that since we are hunkering down to save other people. So, as Christians, we are called to sacrifice ourselves for others. What are we doing in this regard? How can we possibly help people while staying home? Well, amazing things have been done by people during the most trying of times.
In WWII, everyone in Great Britain was hunkered down in fear of the bombing from Germany. During that time, C.S. Lewis began a radio broadcast, and that broadcast became the book, "Mere Christianity.” Isaac Newton was 20 years old when the bubonic plague forced people into their version of “social distancing.” During his year away from Cambridge, he created the theory of gravity. The Apostle Paul, under house arrest, wrote most of the New Testament. I’m not so sure that God causes these things, but I do know one thing, he won’t waste it. We’re all restricted: Plans on hold—Sitting still. What creative, life changing, world impacting ideas are sitting inside of you? Sure, we could spend this time binging on Netflix, or we could spend it changing the world.
I have heard so many amazing things people are doing at this time out of love of their neighbor. Maybe you can help someone by going shopping for them. Maybe you can pay the rent that is coming due for someone who just lost their job. Maybe you have extra food for someone who is about to go hungry. Maybe you can sew masks or protective gear for the heroes on the front line of the medical field. I don’t know what lies ahead exactly. But, I do know that despite all the suffering and heartache, greatness dwells in each one of us. Don’t waste this time. God may be calling you to greatness out of love for another person. By staying home, a simple task, we save lives. By spending that time in service of others, we save souls.
From the newly transplanted home-office, may God bless you all!
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor (St. Anne, St. Patrick of the Forest, and Our Lady of the River)
Administrator (St. Joseph and St. Francis Xavier)
Dear Parishioners,
May the grace of Christ be with all of you in this difficult time. As you already know, Archbishop Sample had to cancel all public Masses. That means, of course, our daily and Sunday Mass will not be open to the public. That being said, both Fr. Arjie and I are offering Mass daily for the intentions for which people requested and for all of the community. Our Masses are considered “private,” which means, strictly speaking, that only the priest and an altar server and/or sacristan would be present. We will be putting the Sunday Mass online for the faithful and our hope is that will accentuate the Spiritual Communion all our parishioners are being asked to make. Other means of transmitting the Mass will be looked into, and about which I am open to hearing your ideas and suggestions.
During this time, I want to impress upon us all the need to keep our communion strong. A simple way to do that would be to not only participate in watching the Mass each Sunday, but also reaching out via phone or text, mailing a greeting card, or any other way that you can to make sure our friends and neighbors are doing okay. Our staff will be doing the same. So, don’t be surprised if you get a call from our parish or mission just to check in with you. The Church’s mission is not stopped by the COVID-19 virus. In fact, she is all the more needed and active in the outreach of evangelization and care for which the Church exists.
In my own meditation on the Scriptures, I offer some verses which might help and encourage us all:
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” —Psalm 27:1
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” —Psalm 46:1
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him. —Psalm 28:7
“But this I will call to mind; therefore I will hope: The Lord’s acts of mercy are not exhausted, his compassion is not spent; They are renewed each morning—so great is your faithfulness! —Lamentations 3:21-23
“What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? As it is written: “For your sake we are being slain all the day; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” —Romans 8:35-39
Since we all need to hunker down for a bit, please know that we are available by phone or by email.
Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor, St. Anne, St. Patrick of the Forest, Our Lady of the River
Administrator, St. Joseph and St. Francis Xavier
Dear Parishioners,
This weekend’s Gospel we hear about how salvation came to the woman at the well. She was living in sin and she was likely considered an outcast since she was coming to the well in the middle of the day. As we heard, Jesus knew about her situation in life. Yet, he did not waiver in his approach to her, and she appeared to be open to his presence. These two points are helpful to us who are also sinners.
In Lent, we are being called to look at where we need to be reconciled to God and each other. Yet, fear often becomes one our biggest obstacles. We harden our hearts and sometimes choose to stay away from God and his bride, the Church. We sometimes think, “There’s no way God could forgive me of my sin. It is too great.” Our sin can also cause more sin, and we begin to grumble like the Israelites. Do not be afraid!
Listen carefully to God speaking to you. Spend time in prayer listening to his loving voice. Remember, what God has to say is much more valuable than what we have to say. Listen to his voice, and harden not your heart. He wants to forgive you. He does not want to berate you or mock you. Then receive him in the Eucharist and let him lead you.
We will have a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Christ’s forgiveness in our annual Lenten Reconciliation Service next week on Tues., March 24th at 7 PM. We will have many priests who will kindly listen to your confession and offer you the gift of Christ’s absolution. Come and encounter the healing salvation of Christ in the forgiveness of your sins.
Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor