Lent Has Arrived!

Lent Has Arrived

We’re now officially in Lent, a time of prayer, fasting, and alms giving. The Pastoral Council and our Liturgy Committee thought it would be great if we all did a lenten observance together as a parish. You can each do whatever you want, of course, but I’d love for you to consider doing something that focuses on the spiritual health of our families and those of the parishes around us, also called the “domestic church” in theology. What is it? I’m glad you asked.

Parish-wide Lenten Commitment

I’d love for all of our family members who live in the same house to commit to having a meal, ideally dinner, as a whole family once a week. Step it up even: Keep all electronics in another room, dim the lights, maybe add a single candle in the center of the table if it’s safe, and just sharing your meal and lives. In the past, this was the norm. You see, when families gather for a meal, they talk and listen. They share their stories. Families grow stronger and faith is inspired. We realize how much we need God and each other. Maybe consider a question to kick of the meal like, "Where did you see God act in your day?" Delegate someone to lead the prayer over the meal, and another to close with a short prayer at the end.

What is the hope?

The hope is that when families gather around a table to share a meal, they grow and become stronger. This is a crucial place where the love of God is taught and learned through word and example. In the last few weeks, a popular TV show called Blue Bloods ended its long run. What was the part of each show that everyone who watched loved so much? It was the dinner table where all the family gathered, shared food, joked around, supported each other, and most importantly, asked for God’s grace.

Additional Challenge: A Simple Vicariate Pilgrimage

If you’re single or part of a family looking for a Lenten challenge, here’s an idea to boost your faith and extend yourself beyond the parochial-confines of Holy Trinity Parish. Take some time to visit every parish in our local Vicariate. If they have an Adoration Chapel, make sure to stop by and pray. If not, no worries! Just park a few minutes in their parking lot and spend some time praying. What should you pray for in either situation? Pray for their parishioners, their staff, and their clergy. They are your neighbors, your friends, and your fellow Catholics. Remember, we’re all part of the same Church. So, while you're at it, pray for Pope Francis. He can surely use your prayers. You can do this in a few hours or over a few days, whatever works best for you. Here are the parishes in our Vicariate: Holy Trinity, St. Pius X, St. Cecilia, St. John Fisher, and St. Juan Diego. Consider it more than a field-trip, but a pilgrimage with a mission to pray for others, your neighboring Catholics.

God bless you all this Lent!

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Lent - Fasting and Feasting

Dear Parishioners,

Blessed Lenten season! This time of year offers us encouragement to engage in a deeper way the traditions of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. For some, it is a time to give up something. For others it is a time to add something. In countries outside of the U.S, the latter is more their custom than the former. In our culture, giving up something is synonymous with Lent. If you are not sure what you might do in this holy season, may I offer some suggestions.

Prayer

There is no lack of need of prayer for the situation in the Ukraine. I think all our hearts are broken as we stand in solidarity with the people of the Ukraine. Pope Francis encouraged the world to fast on Ash Wednesday, specifically for the tragedy unfolding and the people being impacted by the violence. If you fulfilled that papal request on Ash Wednesday, wonderful! Might I then invite you to extend your intentions of prayer and fasting throughout the six weeks of Lent of peace and conversion of hearts? In addition, please ask Mary, the Queen of Peace and Our Lady of Kyiv, to intercede as she asked us to pray for the conversion of Russia so many years ago. Another Saint you may want to seek out is St. Vladimir I of Kyiv, a convert from paganism who eventually removed all semblances of idolatry in his kingdom and promoted Christianity. The patron saint of the Ukraine is St. Olga of Kyiv. She is considered one of Eastern Orthodox’s greatest saints. Her story is quite dramatic, and I’ll leave it to you to search for her and her story. But, let’s just say that she was no pushover when it came to those who wished evil. You can read more by clicking her link, above.

Fasting

We typically confuse fasting with abstinence. Fasting is the reduction of something while abstinence is the total removal of something. But, sometimes, as I mentioned above, we might focus only on reducing or removing something and forget about adding something. So, consider fasting and feasting in ways that are complimentary. May I recommend fasting from speaking hurtful words or committing violent actions and then feasting on acts of charity especially towards those who have hurt or injured you? Commit to reducing the amount of talking you do and listen more. Stop swearing and offer compliments and blessings instead. When in tribulation, fast from evil thoughts and harsh attacks and instead assume the best of the other, for their behavior may very well have a source of deep suffering, and then offer them comfort and a gentle word of compassion.

Almsgiving

Almsgiving can be a sore point for some. Some cling to or are captured by their wealth or are greedy with their time and talent. Instead of simply offering lenten observances that only impact oneself, maybe consider donating each week or once a day some of money to charity. Maybe give of your time to someone who needs help, a neighbor or maybe a total stranger. Maybe offer transportation to someone or fix something that your neighbor cannot. Maybe you might consider making a donation to Catholic Relief Services for the people suffering in Ukraine.

Whatever you do for Lent, be sure it is done out of selfless love and not self-serving motivations. Remember, this whole season is intended to prepare and train us to celebrate the most important event of all history, Christ’s Resurrection. If you decide to go to daily Mass once a week dedicate it not just for yourself, but for the intention of others. By letting go and removing the obstacles to God while also giving of yourself for the good of others, this Lent may very well change everything.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Lent & Liturgy

Dear Parishioners,

What is Lent?

Lent is intended to strike out on a 40-day journey which is intended to bring us all closer to Christ. We are being called to participate in the three focused works of prayer, fasting, and alms giving. Liturgically, in order to help focus our attention, the Mass is pared down, the penitential color of purple is adorned, and the rest of the environment is sparse. All of this is intended to help us with these three foci in our preparation for the greatest even of all history: Christ’s Paschal Mystery, his suffering, death, and resurrection.

Lenten Practices

I hope you are also able to take part in “The Search,” the online seven-part video series via our FORMED account. I am looking forward to it. As you journey in Lent, we offer each Friday the Stations of the Cross. Different ministries will host it in the church with versions that either express their own ministerial focus or personal preference. So, each time you come, the way the stations are offered may differ. These all begin at 6 PM followed by a Spanish version at 7 PM. While the Church always encourages us to obtain from meat on Friday’s throughout the year, there is a special emphasis on this practice as a way to memorialize that Jesus gave up his flesh on a Friday. 

It is a tradition that Catholics give up something for Lent as way to gain mastery over ourselves, reduce those things that are not good for us, and potentially replace it with something that is good for the soul. Think of it as fasting and feasting. Give up something and add something. Due to the pandemic, maybe watch less news and write some encouraging letters to others you know. Maybe refrain from drinking that special latte and give that money to Operation Rice Bowl or any other non-profit in which you believe.

Translation Correction

If you did not noticed, beginning with Ash Wednesday, the opening prayer at Masses ended differently than we are used to. Instead of ending with “one God for ever and ever,” the priest now says “God for ever and ever.” One word has removed, and that word is “one.” This comes after guidance was offered from Cardinal Sarah from the Vatican’s Office for Divine Worship, agreed upon by the United States Council of Bishops, and ratified by the Carinal Prefect. While the 2011 ed. of the Roman Missal made a broad range of changes in order to be a more authentic translation form the Latin, this change was purposefully left out. The latin text is, “Deus, per omnia sæcula sæculorum.” In this text, there is no mention of the phrase “one God,” but simply, “God.” So, as of this past Ash Wednesday (the Church loves to make liturgical changes in a way pairs up with a change in liturgical seasons.), this change has become part of our Missal which we priests use to offer Mass.

The previous translation was also theologically problematic, according to the Welsh bishops who wrote, “The addition of 'one' before 'God' in the conclusion of the Collects could be construed as mistaken and problematic. 'Deus' here refers to the earlier mention of 'the Son' and is a Christological, anti-Arian affirmation, and not directly Trinitarian in this context.” Arianism is an early heresy which claimed the Jesus was not fully divine, but somehow less divine than the Father. A correction became the fruit of the Council of Nicaea where we get our Nicene Creed we proclaim every Sunday.  In other words, the use of “one God” in this context could lend people to understand that Christ is one God amongst many, and that the Trinity is actually three gods. That is not orthodox, so this change helps preserve any erroneous ideas going forward. It also preserves the focus on Jesus who is the second person of the Blessed Trinity and not an additional God.

So, as we priests get used to this change, please be patient if we mess up. I’ve heard “one God” all my life and have been using it for all 20 years of my priestly ministry. So, we are bound to forget, goof up, or what have you. However we offer the prayer, please be patient as we settle in with the corrected translation.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Lent's Almost Here. What's Your Plan?

Dear Parishioners,

Lent will be here this Wednesday with the celebration of Ash Wednesday. As we approach Lent, a common question is, “What are you giving up for Lent?” This is a good question and fits well in the spirituality of detachment from anything that distracts you from keeping God first in one’s life. We all have some hang ups or bad habits or a disordered desires, even more serious issues with sin. Ash Wednesday is a sober reminder of where we have come from and where we will return: ashes. Of course, this is the story of our earthy bodies. But in between the beginning and end of our lives, what we do makes all the difference for eternity. So what are you giving up? Think on this. Pray about this. Ask God what you need to remove so that he can become more central in your life. While you are at it, also ask God what you need to add. Sometimes removing dark parts of our lives invites and is re-filled with another darknesses. So, instead of just stop overeating, smoking, swearing, being rude, being divisive, being uncharitable, add something that is directly related in a positive sense. For example, consider exercising, offering life-giving words to others, committing to a prayertime, joining a Lenten faith sharing group, being neighborly to someone around you, trying to see the other side of an issue in order to understand the person holding that issue, working for the common good, attending daily Mass, and more. I hope you get the idea. It’s akin to what some theologians have called, fast and feast, during Lent. Hopefully, these new ways of being will become your new normal going forward, and by doing so, God will become, all the more, central in your life. Have a blessed Lent.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Lenten Reconciliation Services

Dear Parishioners,

Lent is the season to refocus our attention on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Last time I wrote, I described how we might consider the idea of fasting and feasting… fasting from those problematic issues we have in our lives while feasting on areas where we can to do more. Today, I would like to offer a more explicit fast from sin and a feast of forgiveness. We all have sinned. We all have areas where we are tempted and have given in to evil. Jesus came to heal us from this reality. One way to battle our sin is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Let us feast on God’s forgiveness through this Sacrament. In my homily of last weekend, I reflected on the uncertainty we all have about our last day on earth and how we all encounter tragedies. None of us know when it will be or what tragedy will befall us. Yet, we should all be ready for these events with hope. Hope comes from an encounter and knowledge of God’s amazing grace and mercy. Again, the Sacrament of Reconciliation offers us those gifts so that we can boldly live our lives bearing the Good News of Jesus’ mercy.

This coming Thursday at St. Anne, we will offer our lenten Communal Reconciliation Service with the help of nine priests from around our Vicariate. It will be held at 7 PM and lead by our very own, Fr. Arjie. Please mark your calendar and don’t let anything get in the way of this important Sacrament. For those of you in the area of Cave Junction we will be hosting our lenten Reconciliation Service on Monday at 7 PM. If evenings are an issue for you and you cannot drive to church in the dark or your schedule simply won’t allow that evening, we have a daytime opportunity where Fr. Arjie and myself will be available in the confessionals of the church at St. Anne on Tuesday from 3 PM to 5 PM. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a most powerful way to feast on God’s mercy and be given hope amidst the tragedies in our lives.

May God bless you all!

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Lenten Season Coming

Dear Parishioners,

Lent begins next week, Wednesday, March 6th. As usual, we have our three Masses we offer on that day. We have Mass at 8:30 AM with our school, a 12:05 PM Mass timed for our folks on a lunch breaks, and we have our 7 PM bilingual Mass for the whole church whether they speak English or Spanish.  And that is the start. There is much happening in which you can participate. Here are the basics:

• Friday Simple Suppers - these will begin at 5 PM and conclude at 6:30 PM

• Friday Stations of the Cross - These will begin at 6:30 PM in the church. See schedule in the bulletin

• Rite of Election- The Archbishop will be with us on the following Satuday, March 9th. This is not a Mass, but a Liturgy of the Word with a rite of special recognition for those who are journeying through the RCIA and desire to become fully initiation Catholics.

• Small Lenten Groups - see bulletin or office for detail

• FORMED Lenten Resources - Check out the Lenten online

• Kiosk - Special books and CD’s have been rotated in with enrichment for Lent

Fast and Feast - This idea for Lent speaks of a creative mix of fasting or abstaining from things that are not good for you or others. Another approach is to add something which will deepen and strengthen your faith.  Here’s some ideas from the author and minister, William Arthur.

Fast from judging others; Fast from hostility;
Feast on the Christ indwelling them. Feast on non-resistance.

Fast from emphasis on differences; Fast from bitterness;
Feast on the unity of all life. Feast on forgiveness.

Fast from apparent darkness; Fast from self-concern;
Feast on the reality of light. Feast on compassion for others.

Fast from thoughts of illness; Fast from discouragement;
Feast on the healing power of God. Feast on hope.

Fast from words that pollute; Fast from suspicion;
Feast on phrases that purify. Feast on truth

Fast from discontent; Fast from idle gossip;
Feast on gratitude. Feast on purposeful silence.

Fast from anger; Fast from unrelenting pressures;
Feast on patience. Feast on unceasing prayer

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

101 Spiritual Ideas for Lent

Originally created on March 1, 2009 (Updated Feb. 17, 2010 and again Feb. 18, 2018)

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. 

In addition, Lent provides us with a particularly focus time to explore ways that we can give God the glory, love others, and care/love ourselves. Instead of focusing on giving up things, there are many things we can do, things that could reawaken our sensibilities to the amazing things God has done in our midst.

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.

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 

11. Compete your tax return 

12. Smile at someone and wish them a good day 

13. Mop the kitchen floor 

14. Join a menʼs or womenʼs faith sharing group 

15. Clean out that junk drawer 

16. Walk around the block noticing things around you 

17. Give out socks to the homeless 

18. Clean up that mess on your computerʼs desktop 

19. Attend Mass during the week 

20. Donate unused clothes to a local charity 

21. Read the Acts of the Apostles 

22. Read a book about the faith 

23. Wash your clothes 

24. Clean the inside of the car 

25. Serve at a soup kitchen 

26. Make a random donation to your favorite charity 

27. Go to Confession 

28. Watch an uplifting TV program 

29. Eat some chocolate 

30. Wash the car of a family member without letting them know 

31. Serve once at Coffee and Donuts on Sunday 

32. Take up a new hobby such as photography or woodworking 

33. Start playing your favorite sport 

34. Mail $20 to someone anonymously 

35. Open the drapes/blinds in the house 

36. Go on a retreat 

37. Clean up your e-mail on your computer 

38. Visit some children 

39. Attend Evening Prayer at Mount Angel Abbey 

40. Go camping as a retreat… bring a bible and a journal 

41. Adopt a pet from a shelter

42. Exercise 

43. Watch an old favorite movie that you haven’t seen in a long time

44. Write a snail-mail letter/card to someone who may need it  

45. Start a Facebook account and connect with friends

46. Go on a homeless immersion retreat with JOIN  

47. Do something “green” (ie. use a recyclable bag when shopping, unscrew one light bulb in the house, turn off unused lights, avoid using plastic bags)

48. Go to the Zoo, OMSI, or Evergreen Air & Space Museum 

49. Make an effort to tell someone what yo appreciate about them 

50. Take a Sunday drive 

51. Visit St. Rita's Retreat or the Trappist Abbey or other retreat Center

52. Go on a wine-tasting tour with a friend

53. Go to/rent an uplifting or thought provoking movie 

54. East some popcorn with butter 

55. Mow the lawn 

56. Offer your time as a Eucharistic Minister or Lector at Mass 

57. Go to the coast or mountains for a day 

58. Paint something 

59. Go for a bike ride 

60. Drive the scenic route 

61. Share a funny story about yourself with someone and laugh at yourself 

62. Listen to your favorite (uplifting) song 

63. Curl up with your spouse 

64. Look at funny animal pictures on the Internet 

65. Go watch some live music 

66. Go fishing 

67. Go to see some amazing waterfalls (Multnomah, Silver Creek, etc.) 

68. Clean the siding of your house 

69. Do an online retreat: ie. Creighton University or Sacred Space or Loyal Press

70. Work in your garden 

71. Try a new food 

72. Go skiing, sledding, or tubing, thankful for God's gift of recreation

73. Take someone to a play performance 

74. Go to bed early and get up early 

75. Read about the Lives of the Saints 

76. Build a model 

77. Go garage-saling or window shopping instead of regular shopping

78. Enroll in a class that you've always wanted to take 

79. Send flowers anonymously (or not) to someone who may need them 

80. Pray the rosary

81. Clean the garage 

82. Learn to play the guitar (maybe lessons?) 

83. Take a class to use your computer better 

84. Spread good news about someone behind their back 

85. Lounge in a hammock in the backyard, weather permitting 

86. Go on a Marriage Encounter Weekend 

87. Read the Book of Lamentation 3:21-24 

88. Go Geocaching with a friend 

89. Turn off your cell phone for a day

90. Let someone cut in front of you in traffic

91. Instead of watching television, read a book about the Faith

92. Go for a walk picking up garbage as you go 

93. Pay for the car behind you in the drive thru 

94. Go tent camping in your backyard or living room 

95. Spend an hour in silent prayer listening (not talking) to God

96. Help a neighbor with a project 

97. Wear Shorts, flip-flops, and a Hawaiian Shirt all day 

98. Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

99. Walk around your town's center plaza (ie. Waterfront Park and Pioneer Square in Portland)

100. Take a day trip to Mt. Ashland, Mt. Hood, Mt Shasta, Mt. St. Helens, or a nearby mountain

101. Write your own list of 101 Spiritual Acts in a Culture of Scarcity

'cause I just couldn't stop, here's some more... 

102. Rent a canoe or kayak and take it to your favorite lake 

103. Make an inspiring music video or slide show 

104. Crank up an uplifting song in your house and dance 

105. Hug a friend 

106. Go for a helicopter ride 

107. Watch a silly movie with a friend 

108. Call a person on the phone with whom you haven't talked in a long time 

109. Donate money to a charity 

110. Babysit a relative's child so they can go on a date 

111. Drive someone to Mass 

112. Take a day off from work and spend it doing goo deeds for others

113. Thank someone for something they've done, and mean it.

114. Listen to someone and don't talk

115. Thank God for all you've been given

116. Volunteer to tutor someone

117. Create your own "Bucket List". Watch the movie of the same name 

118. Accept others where they are at and not where they should be

119. Make breakfast for dinner

120. Rearrange your furniture

121. Volunteer at your Church

122. Give a lottery ticket to someone

123. Post a positive comment on someone's blog/web page

124. Stay local during Spring Break and enjoy God's creation in your own zip code

125. Give a phone card to a homeless person

126. Write a thank you to someone who has made a difference in your life

127. Visit a animal shelter and pet the dogs and cats

128. Powerwash the driveway

129. Whistle a happy tune while walking around

130. Invite friends over for a car washing party

131. Go skydiving

132. Donate blood

133. Fast one meal and give a sack lunch to a homeless person

134. Tell your parents how grateful you are to them

135. Bring cookies or sweets to share with your coworkers

136. Submit an editorial in the newspaper about how great life is

137. Praise a fellow employee to their boss

138. Take flowers and a get well card to someone in the hospital who has none

139. Leave an anonymous note on the windshield of someone's car wishing them a great day

140. Share your concessions with those around you at a sporting event

141. Buy a gift certificate for a dinner for two and anonymously mail it to someone you know

142. Donate stuff or time to a fundraiser

143. Help someone with their homework

144. Donate food or money to the St. Vincent de Paul

145. Donate blankets, sheets, towels, socks, and toiletries to a homeless shelter

146. Volunteer at a Special Olympics Event

147. Volunteer to do simple work at your church's office

148. Clean out your refrigerator

149. Volunteer to pet-sit for a neighbor or friend

150. Create a web site for a non-profit group

151. Volunteer with your local Habitat for Humanity group

152. Sing along to the radio or a CD playing your favorite Christian song

153. Search the Internet for "stories of hope"

154.  Visit an art, history, or nature museum

155. Get a Twitter account and follow your favorite people

156. Paint your mailbox in a creative way.

157. Get a massage

158. Visit someone in a nursing home

159. Hike the nearest mountain

160. Go for a scooter ride.

161. Give yourself $1 to feed yourself all day

162. E-mail someone whom you haven't communicated with in a while

163. Go on a homeless immersion retreat with JOIN

164. Volunteer at your church

165. Go to a park and photograph wildlife

167. Sleep in your guest room or living room floor instead of your own bedroom

168. Volunteer to help clean someone's home who can't do it themselves

169. Volunteer to go shopping for someone who is homebound

170. Rent an inspirational movie

171. Drive slower and notice the things around you

172. Anonymously mail some money to someone who needs it

173. Take someone to lunch or dinner

174. Go for a walk around the neighborhood. Make sure to say hi to everyone you meet.

175. Write and mail a greeting card to someone who could use some support

176. Go to the library and seek out an inspirational book

177. Invite someone to go with you to the Sacrament of Reconciliation (a.k.a. confession)

178. Pray for someone you dislike

179. Pray Morning Prayer 

180. Drink a glass of water, thankful to have clean water

180. Join a prayer chain

182. Clean your bathroom

183. Choose to fast for a day

184. Go visit the local Pet Shelter/Humane Society

185. Read a book about a Saint

186. Lock up your credit card and pay down your debt

187. Read a Psalm of Praise such as Ps. 104 or 145 or 150... find your favorite

188. Clean out unused or old food in your kitchen

189. Go bird watching

190. Create a list of things for which you are thankful

191. Attend a youth sports game

192. Go to a lily farm

193. Ride the local bus system from one side of the metro area to the other. Notice things around you.

194. Give up music for a period of time

195. Fast from carbon by giving up your electronics

196. Go bowling or play putt-putt-golf with a friend

197. Go to your local Farmer's Market or Flee Market (ie. Saturday Market in Portland)

198. Tell others how thankful you are about the weather (a.k.a. don't complain about the weather)

199. Listen carefully to the person with you before talking about your own stuff

200. Pray that God will do what is best for the politician you dislike the most

201. Find out what a dollar will buy in a 3rd world country.

202. Make someone laugh

203. Call mom and/or dad every day and tell them that you love them

204. Site quietly for 5 minutes and listen to your breathing

205. Buy a couple of bags of groceries and give it to a needy family

206. Donate money to your local Catholic or faith-based School

207. Join a choir

208. Make your bed

209. Take a neighbor's dog for a walk

210. Unplug your TV and put it in the garage for a month or two

211. Do some spiritual reading online

212. Pray the Liturgy of the Hours

213. Use our FORMED subscription to do an online mini-retreat. 

Ideas from Busted Halo.com

214. Make a commitment to read the Sunday scriptures before you go to Mass.

215. Sign up or just go spend an hour of Eucharistic Adoration. 

216. Think about what you usually spend your money on. Do you buy too many clothes? Spend too much on dinner out? Pick one type of expenditure that you’ll “fast” from during Lent, and then give the money you would usually spend to a local charity.

217.  Commit to 40 days of letter writing, 40 acts of kindness, 40 phone calls to the important people in your life.

218. When you first sit down in front of your computer at work, or at the very end of your workday, try a 10-minute guided prayer from Sacred Space based on the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius.

219. If you don’t have a cross in your house, buy a simple one and put it in your bedroom.

220. Artist: Spend time each day drawing or taking a picture of something that reminds you of God’s love in creation. Maybe post it on your social media account to share with others.

221. Read the entire Gospel of Mark in one sitting.

222. Attend the Stations of the Cross. There are many online versions as well.

223. Get some friends together on Friday’s and have a simple meatless dinner

224. Unplug from your iPhone or turn off your car radio on your commute. The silence may be jarring at first, but you may find that you are able to concentrate better and will be more observant of your surroundings.

225. Buy a book of daily reflections and keep it by your bed.

226. Think about a habit that has kept you from being whom God is calling you to be. Consciously give up that habit for Lent.

227. Spend at least one weekend or evening volunteering during Lent. Cook a meal and give it to someone who is on the streets. Visit the elderly. 

228. Make a commitment to fast from insensitive, cruel comments about others. So, no gossiping or going down the Twitter rabbit hole.

229. Participate in a small faith sharing group.

230. As a part of your Lenten almsgiving, make a point to learn more about a particular social issue (immigration, human trafficking, racism, the environment, public education, child poverty). Give money to an organization related to your chosen issue that supports the dignity of the human person.

Lent and Forgiveness

Dear Parishioners,

Prayer.  Fasting.  Almsgiving.  These are called the three pillars of Lent. How are you doing with these observances?  We’re still in the middle of Lent and you can still take some time to concentrate on one of these.  In addition, this week is our chance to attend our Communal Reconciliation service.  At St. Anne's will offer it on Thursday, March 19th at 7 PM.  At St. Patrick of the Forest it will be Monday the 16th at 7 PM.  We will have many priests to assist us.  Lent is a wonderful way to set things straight, repent, and allow God’s forgiveness to penetrate our hearts.

This weekend, we hear from probably the most famous passage of Scripture denoted simply as John 3:16.  But, instead of its context being a football game, we hear it proclaimed in the midst of the assembly at Mass.  God loves all that he has created.  He loves us so much that he gave his only begotten son for our salvation.  We are challenged by the knowledge and testimony of the Scriptures that remind us that while we prefer the darkness of sin, Jesus, who is the light of the world, calls us to live in the light of his truth.  This week’s Communal Reconciliation service is a perfect way to live out this call.  Let the darkness of sin in your life be exposed to the light who is Jesus.  Then listen and experience the forgiveness that can be yours.

For God so loves you that he gave his only Son, so that you who believes in him might not perish, but have eternal life.  Now that is Good  News!

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger

Pastor

Blessed Easter!

Dear Parishioners,

Blessed Easter!  Christ is risen from the dead! Alleluia! Alleluia!

All during the season of Lent we’ve been preparing ourselves for this time.  Now it is upon us.  But what does that mean?  You might ask, what significance is that for me?  Well, simply put, it means that there is an opportunity for heaven for you and for me.  It means that we can be forgiven of our sins.  It means that Jesus broke the barrier of death so that we can live forever.  It is the fulfillment of the law and prophets. It means that death is not the end.  It means that the Eucharist is more than just receiving Jesus, it is a foretaste of heaven. 

Easter means that we have many new Catholics in our midst.  On Easter Vigil Saturday, we baptized 9 people, submersing them in the waters of forgiveness.  Sixteen were further confirmed and given their first Holy Communion.  It was a joyous time.  This year’s class of new Catholics were a real inspiration to me and our whole team.  From day one, our RCIA team knew that this would be a special year.  As we gathered for our first class, it became obvious that we could not fit in the room.  There were simply too many people.  What a delightful problem.  So, we simply moved to a larger room for the year.  What transpired was amazing, mysterious, and joy-filled.  I want to especially thank Jessica Bubien, our Pastoral Associate, as this was her first year directing our RCIA.  I want to thank the many persons on her team. Without them, we couldn’t have offered our RCIA well.  Thank you all!

So now that Easter has arrived, I pray that you and your family will have a time of peace and joy.  The days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer.  These are God’s ways of showing us how much he loves us.  But even then, they pale in comparison to Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross and Resurrection from the dead.  So, let them always remind you of this cost of true love.  

May you all have a blessed Easter!

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

A Week of Holiness

Dear Parishioners,

Now that we are well into Lent, internally for St. Anne’s, planning for Holy Week has already begun. Personally, I believe that Holy Week is that series of celebrations that every Catholic should experience each year. If you’ve never attended them, please consider making an effort this time around. Here’s a run down of all the activities.

Palm Sunday: Depending on the Mass, we will be start- ing in the Hall or outside and then process in with our palms to continue our celebration.

Chrism Mass (7 PM, March 29, Portland): This Mass is celebrated at the Cathedral with the Archbishop and almost all the priests serving in the Archdiocese. This is a wonderful time to experience the Church in a larger sense. The Holy Oils are blessed at the Mass and the priests renew their promises from their ordinations. The procession alone is something to behold.

THE TRIDUUM

Holy Thursday (7 PM): This commemorates the
Last Supper Christ had with his disciples. At this Mass we wash the feet of representative members of our parish and focus on the institution of the Eucharist. As such, I’ve ordered special hosts that have images embossed on them and I will be singing most of the Eucharistic Prayer. The oils from the Chrism Mass are pre- sented at the presentation of the gifts and placed in a suitable location. At the end of Mass, the community follows the priest in procession with the Eucharist to the Parish Center where a temporary Altar of Repose has been set up so that the faithful can pray before the Blessed Sacrament. People are welcome to leave when they want until adoration concludes at midnight.

Good Friday (7 PM): This celebration is very simple. It is not a Mass. It begins very solemnly. In addition,
the reading of the Passion narrative is proclaimed. Afterwards, the community comes forward to venerate the cross. Finally communion is distributed, and the service ends.

Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil—8:30 PM): This is the pinnacle of all our celebrations of the entire year. We begin outside with a blessing of a fire (we have a special fire for this year) and the blessing of the Paschal Candle. From there, the community processes in the dark- ened church with their own candles, lighting the church with their very presence. A solemn proclamation is sung called the Exultet. An extended series of readings are proclaimed describing salvation history. Then after a very short homily (and I mean short!), those who are to be baptized come forward. This year we will be offering the most dramatic form of baptism that we can: immersion. The Catechism of the Catholic Church(#1239) considers this to be the “most expressive way” to offer this Sacrament. If you’ve never seen this done, you don’t want to miss it! Next, those who have already been baptized in another faith tradition, pledge their faith in the Church. These people along with all those who have just been baptized receive the sacrament of Con- firmation. The Liturgy of the Eucharist follows with those who were just received into the Church going first. The whole night is full of wonder and joy.

I hope to see you at these celebrations. I am greatly looking forward to them. As with all our most important holy days, I will be doing my best to celebrate them bilingually as a sign and invitation to the major languages present in our community. I pray that your Lenten journey has been full of growth and conversion as well as peace and hope.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor