Viewing entries tagged
Christmas

Happy New Year 2024!

Happy New Year 2024!

Liturgy Geek Time: This weekend (Jan 6/7, 2024), we celebrate Epiphany which, by the way, is not the end of the Christmas season. The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord marks the last day of the Christmas season which is... wait for it... Monday.  So, Tuesday, we begin Ordinary time. Maybe you know this already, but the Sunday readings are broken into three years, A, B, and C. With the beginning of Advent, we entered into cycle B. Ordinary time gets its name by the fact that we count the weeks. So this coming week, beginning on Tuesday, is the First Week of Ordinary time and the following Sunday will start the second week in Ordinary Time. Ordinary time is not marked by any distinctive character as are Lent, Easter, Advent, and Christmas for example. Rather, note that in Ordinary Time, the Church sets before us the common life of Jesus (if one could actually say anything is common about Jesus' life). During his life, he taught, effected miracles, and lived among humanity in every way, but sin. The weekday readings are broken into a two-year cycle (Cycle I and Cycle II). Beginning on Tuesday we embark on Cycle II. If one were to go to every Mass every day for three years, a person would have heard 71% of the entire Bible proclaimed to them. So, I guess that means each of us nee to read the remaining 29% on our own. Hey! Maybe that could be your new year resolution. Actually, I would recommend simply tuning into Fr. Michael Schmitz's "Bible in a Year" podcast which will help you walk through the entirety of the Scripture much quickly and with excellent commentary. I cannot recommend it more highly. It's not too late to catch up if you want to start now. Check it out at media.ascensionpress.com/category/ascension-podcasts/bibleinayear/

On a Personal Note: Thank you to all who stepped up to give of yourselves this past Advent and Christmas season! So many people offered their gifts in quiet and unseen ways. You know who you are. Thank you! I want to also thank you for your kind Christmas cards. I typically wait until Christmas Day to open and read them. It has been a wonderful way to receive God's love through you. After all the Christmas Masses were completed on Dec. 24 & 25, I came down with a cold which laid me low for several days afterwards. I'm getting better, though I am surprised how long this cold has drawn out. I know that others have experienced a cold with similar results. This is not uncommon for ministers in this season. It was for this reason many of you may have noted that I did not post my regular Friday Reflection or my regular podcast following the Feast of the Holy Family Sunday. No worries. I they will be back soon.

Personal Social Media: If you are not familiar with my personal media ventures, does it surprise you that a geek like me wouldn't have one, but actually several? If you are curious, feel free to check out frbill.org. There you can listen to my various podcasts, Friday Videos, other YouTube videos, some photography (specifically astrophotography), facebook, X (Formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, Threads, and even a blog. Commonly, I release things from this website before they reach the bulletin (in the case of some of my bulletin articles). But, for most of these, you can simply subscribe to them or "follow" them and you will be alerted to anything new.

May this new year bring you a deeper faith, surprise you by joy, and heal whoever wounds plague you. I desire that for myself. So, let's all pray for each other and help reach out to those who need to hear the Gospel the most.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Holy Trinity Catholic Parish
Beaverton, Oregon

Reflecting Back On The Good News in 2021

Reflecting Back On The Good News in 2021

Dear Parishioners, 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Every year, we publish a multiple-week bulletin during the holidays. As such, I have encouraged our staff to write a reflection about the good news that happened to them and the ministries this year. One might assume that the pandemic obscured our vision and abilities to minister to the community, but I am proud to say that just the opposite was true. Of course, there were roadblocks and obstacles. But, that just meant we had to let go of old paradigms, our need to control, and just let Jesus take care of everything (cf. Surrender Novena). So, I hope that you will find this bulletin a source of encouragement and joy.

As for myself, I look back and have the fondest memories of spending Wednesday’s giving away boxes of food for whomever drove up into our parking lot. All said and done, we gave away 36,820 boxes of food and 2,400 gallons of milk to those in need. It was such a bright spot in a dark time of our year. When we finally ended, it had been over a year since we gave out our initial food boxes. I am so grateful for meeting new people, working together as a team, praying with people who either asked or seemed to need it, reassuring those who came to us in tears that God would provide, and the laughter and joy that came with just giving oneself away in service. The parish staff also stepped up to support this event with a clear sense of mission.

I am also grateful for the teachers and staff of our school. The hurdles that were set before us, unexpectedly, required us to pivot several times, and they did! Our school population is the largest since I arrived (see Colleen’s reflection therein). Through adversity, we have found a focus and dependence on Jesus. 

I am grateful for the presence of Anthony Hoangphan, our pastoral year seminarian. Having another person in the house can create issues. Yet, Anthony was flexible and charitable the whole time. I didn’t know if we would have enough things for him to do given the COVID shutdowns. But, alas, there was no shortage of things for him to do in ministry. In addition, we learned new skills in woodworking, and even build a children’s shelf/seat for the school auction.

Finally and possibly most potently, the Surrender Novena was a huge gift. My mother, Helene, passed in  September of 2020. A year or more prior to her passing, she began praying this relatively unknown novena over and over, possibly completing it over 30 times. My brother-in-law stumbled upon it in a Catholic bookstore in Denver. He showed it to my sister, Carolyn, and they then gave it to my mother. She shared it with the rest of my siblings, and I preached about it at her funeral. Archbishop Sample was present at her funeral and, long story short, he began to pray it. From there, it was reproduced and given to all the priests of the Archdiocese. Since then, it has gone out to countless people who have found profound solace and hope praying the novena. At last tally, we have ordered over 3,000 cards and I expect to run out of those in several months. I was recently told that the archdiocesan Office of Divine Worship had given out almost 20,000 of these novena cards! Praise God!  I have mourned my mother’s passing, but it is most certainly pierced by the light of this legacy of prayer which she championed in her last year of life, and I believe continues to do so from heaven.

So, as we say farewell to 2021, I want to leave you with the prayer refrain from the Surrender Novena. I believe it to be a key to our true joy in Christ now and into our future:

“Oh my Jesus, I surrender myself to you. Take care of everything!”

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Epiphany 2020

Epiphany 2020

Dear Parishioners,

Rise up in splendor, St. Anne!  Your light has come! (cf. Is. 60:1). Yes! At Christmastime we put up our lights about our house, inside and out. For most of our culture, they have either already been put away or will be this weekend.  But, wait! Christmas isn’t over. No! We have one more weekend where we will conclude with the Baptism of the Lord. Christmas isn’t just a day or even twelve days. It’s a season! 

The lights we hang around our homes is intended to remind us that Christ, the Light of the world, pierces the darkness of sin. Yes! We are being called to bring into the light that which is in darkness. Know and have confidence that our Lord wants to forgive our sins, but not just ours, but everyone’s sins.  Yet, we so often prefer to keep our sins hidden from God. Do not be afraid! Seek out the Lord like the Magi who knew that a newborn king had been given to our world. Remember that they had to traverse difficult and dangerous terrain to reach the Christ child. And so do we. Our terrain isn’t that of literal hills and valleys, but that of our fears, shame, and egos. Do not let anything keep you apart from Him who loves you so very much. Just as the Magi were overjoyed to see the guidance of a star, we, too, can know that the Church guides us to the Morning Star who is Christ our Lord.

Once you have encountered Him who came to us in a manger, make a gift of yourself to others. Give away your anxieties and share your love with those around you. Be joyful and radiant in the knowledge that you have personal knowledge of God. Share that blessing with others, for that is our calling as Christians. That is our vocation to the world. 

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Looking Back On 2019

Looking Back On 2019

Dear Parishioners,

Merry Christmas and blessed new year!  I hope this posting finds you well. It is at this time of the year that we look back on what God was doing in our midst.

As for me, this past year has been a continuous celebration of many glorious “firsts” in view of our new church building. We celebrated our first Christmas in the new church. I will never forget the beauty of the 35 ft. Christmas trees in the Sanctuary. They were breathtaking. We also celebrated our first Easter Vigil where we offered immersion baptisms in a fount worthy of the Sacrament. The Blessing of the Easter Fire went smoothly, for I no longer needed to use a megaphone, but rather just a wireless handheld microphone, and the outdoor speakers in the front of the church worked perfectly. In the Spring, we hosted Bishop Peter for the Vicariate Mass of Confirmation, and we were well suited to seat all who came. When Summer began to wind down, our “Trinity Windows” were raised up into their frames above our heads on the South side of our church. One word: Magnificent! All of these things have given us so many ways to give God the glory! I am still pinching myself. What do you remember? What about our church has spoken good news to you?

Finally, this year has also been one where we have said goodbye to some amazing people. We prayed them into eternity. While this may seem to be sad news, for me sadness is not the ultimate story. Indeed, these individuals, our beloved faithful, I have given me great hope in the Good News of life after death and the Resurrection of the body. Our faithful departed are people who have lived lives of Christian example which have inspired me and challenged me. Thank you, Lord, for their example of courage and faith! Who has died this year who has encouraged you and lifted you up? Maybe spend time praying for them and giving thanks for giving us their examples. We have been privileged to have lived in their lifetimes don’t you think? I certainly do. Praise God for them all!

Merry Christmas. And blessed New Year

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Advent & Gratitude

Advent & Gratitude

Dear Parishioners,

Thank You

Thank you to the many generous donors who gave of their time, talent, and treasure in order to make this past week’s Advent mission, “Surge of the Heart” with Jon Leonetti, possible. Terri Currie and her mission team especially deserve our thanks for listening to the Holy Spirit and discerning whether or not to even host a mission. I was very moved and inspired during the mission and so many who attended. I hope you were too. Building off this wonderful event, I ask you all to keep in prayer our work going forward to bring other national speakers to St. Anne in the future. Hosting Jon Leonetti was a fantastic way to prepare during Advent!

Reconciliation Schedule

Another way to prepare in Advent is to seek out the Sacraments, specifically the Sacrament of Reconciliation. As such, we have scheduled three times, in addition to our normal Saturday confessions, to celebrate this Sacrament. We expect ten to twelve priests for our main Advent Communal Reconciliation Service. That liturgical event will be on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 7:00 PM. For those who are unable to drive at night, we will be offering an additional time slot for Confession on Wednesday, Dec. 18 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. At St. Patrick of the Forest, we will be hosting a Communal Reconciliation Service on Monday, December 16 at 7:00 PM. Please note that these times are included in our official “Advent & Christmas Schedule 2019” which is inserted in this week’s bulletin. If none these times work for you, below is the area Vicariate schedule (All times are at 7:00 PM):

Vicariate Reconciliation Service Schedule

  • Tues., Dec. 10 - Sacred Heart, Medford

  • Wed., Dec. 11 - Our Lady of the Mountain, Ashland

  • Tues., Dec. 17 - Shepherd of the Valley, Central Point

  • Wed., Dec. 18 - St. Joseph, Roseburg

  • Thurs. Dec. 19 - St. Anne, Grants Pass

Being reconciled to our Lord is a critical part of living the life of a Christian, and having the privilege to celebrate this great mystery through a Sacrament is amazing and life-changing. Don’t miss this opportunity. Please put our official “Advent & Christmas Schedule 2019” insert on you refrigerator or somewhere where yu have easy access to it. I urge you to make the time to put right any wrongs, make straight a way for God, and exchange your sins for his amazing grace! Then you will be well disposed to receive Christ when he comes

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Good News in 2018

Good News in 2018

Dear Parishioners,


Each year, I encourage our staff to write a bulletin letter about what good news happened in this past year. Looking back and counting our blessings is a way to remind us that God is very much involved in our lives and our community.  So, please take some time to read the articles from our staff and pray for the ministries in which they have been participating.  Who knows, maybe God is calling you to join in the good news too.

The most significant moment in this year and possibly in the last several decades was the construction of our new church building. September 1st, Archbishop Sample, Bishop Peter, some 15 priests, 6 deacons, and some 820 laity gathered to bless our new church. It was one of the highlights of my priesthood thus far. How our community gathered together to help make it all happen is simply miraculous!  It serves as a testimony to God’s grace working in our midst. I can hardly wait to see how beautiful the church will be adorned on Christmas and how our first Catechumens will be baptized on Easter.

The new building is a perfect example of what the Church documents call, “Noble Simplicity.” It mixes the traditional with the modern. More good news is still coming in the form of new stained glass windows and Stations of the Cross. We are working hard to get our video system online so families can see what is going on from the Cry Room and Day Chapel. When baptisms occur, we will be able to watch it live on our new 16 ft. projection screen.

Our Lord inspired us to raise the needed funds and dedicate ourselves to the ongoing work of sharing what he has done in our midst. This new building, like an ark, I pray, will guide countless people toward their heavenly home where Christ dwells with his Father and the Holy Spirit. May God be praised and given the glory through our new church.

Have a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Reconciliation Services this Week

Reconciliation Services this Week

Dear Parishioners,

Advent is a time of preparing for the celebration of Christ’s First Coming (Christmas) and Christ’s Second Coming (The Final Day). What better way to prepare than to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation? This next week, locally, we will be offering two different days for our Communal Reconciliation Services:

St. Patrick of the Forest on Monday, the 17th.  
St. Anne on Thursday, the 20th. 

If those days/times do not work for you, please know that there are two other Communal Reconciliation Service in our Vicariate this week:

Shepherd of the Valley, Central Point on Tuesday, the 18th
Sacred Heart, Medford on Wednesday, the 19th

All of these services start at 7 PM and will have multiple priests available to hear your confessions. Please mark your calendar and make an effort to prepare yourself for this sacrament of being forgiven of your sins, as we draw closer towards Christmas and Christ’s Second Coming in glory.  May these mysteries bring us joy and move us ever closer to our Savior. 

Blessings,

Fr. Wiliam Holtzinger
Pastor

Blessed Advent!

Blessed Advent!

Dear Parishioners,

Blessing to you as we begin the Advent Season (from, "ad-venire" in Latin or "to come to"). This time of year is a preparation period for the solemnity of Christmas. Advent colors are traditionally violet, expressing the penitential sense of the season. Advent is also marked with a sense of joy and expectation. 

Along with these underlying currents, the prayers and readings speak about the Israelites hope and expectation for the coming of the Messiah (savior), the Christ (anointed one) who will lead them out of their misery and shepherd them as a great nation. For us Christians, we know that these prophesies revealed that the Father was soon going to give the world his only begotten son, Jesus Christ. This would be Christ’s First coming. So, we are preparing for the celebration of Christ’s First Coming (Christmas) in the Advent Season. But, we are also being prepared for his Second Coming at the end of time.

As a church community, we will be changing our liturgical environments via color and a wreath, omitting the Gloria, adapting our music, and hosting reconciliation services. In addition, please see the Advent/Christmas Calendar that is part of our bulletin this week as well. I pray that this Advent will be one of conversion and joy for us all.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Thank You!

Thank You!

Dear Parishioners,

Merry Christmas and happy new year!  As I look back on 2017, I have much to be thankful for.

This year is one that has been dominated by our church building project, a project that has continued to amaze and inspire me. With the guidance of our Design Committee and Finance Committee, what was going to be a simple building with mostly reused items has now become a design of true noble simplicity and beauty. The capacity to make this happen is due to the faith and amazing generosity of parishioners and friends of St. Anne’s.  We set many goals that most of us doubted could become reality.  Yet, we now stand with over $4 million in pledges and donations. Some of our basic or simple ideas have blossomed into things we didn’t think were possible.  I am talking about the addition of a daily Mass chapel, bathrooms which meet code and ADA standards, a new statue of Mary which matches the St. Joseph statue, a new image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, beautiful doors throughout, new padded pews, a new altar and ambo, carpet and tile throughout the major parts of the building, confessionals, a children’s cry room, and… wait for it… stained glass windows!

Besides the financial and physical aspects of the building project, it is fair to say that most everyone involved have gotten to know more people in our parish. Having Mass in the Sky Room has brought us closer together. We have been more focused on that which is most important. For me, Mass and preaching have been so much more rich. Being so close to everyone at Mass has brought an intimacy that is akin to our mission churches. Sharing the Eucharist in our smaller space has brought a focus about the most important things and a detachment about those things that are less so.

I am thankful for all that God has been doing in our midst. It is beyond my full comprehension, but I am so glad to be part of this community at this time in our history. I pray that you and yours have experienced joy amidst the changes ongoing in our parish this year. Thank you for all you have and continue to do to make St. Anne Church what she is!

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

If It’s All About Sunday, Then What About Christmas? Part II

If It’s All About Sunday, Then What About Christmas? Part II

Dear Parishioners,

Last week, I wrote about how, as Church and evangelization, it is all about Sunday Mass.  Sunday Mass brings in the most people at any discrete time which leverages the potency and ability to evangelize, not just ourselves, but those who are new, visiting, or passing through.  No ministry of our parish does this, nor can it. The Liturgy, the Mass, is the “Source and Summit” of our faith according to the Second Vatican Council. So if it is true that it is all about Sunday, what does this mean about Christmas? Well, let me ask a few simple questions. Isn’t Christmas the single most attended set of Masses in the year? Doesn’t it bring in more people than any other time, many of whom we don’t know? Doesn’t Christmas also bring people to us from other Christian traditions, others who are not Christian, others who are seekers, others who are broken-hearted, others who are mourning, others who are in need? Doesn’t this time draw our family members to Mass with us, and even some when they would not otherwise attend Mass? The answer to these questions is, “YES!”  And because this is so true, all the more we should be mindful of our calling, as Church, when they come on Christmas, to put forward our best efforts to be hospitable, kind, generous, open, and loving. Of course, we should be this way all the time, but at Christmas, this is the most potent time to share the Gospel. Remember, we are called to be an alter cristus, “another christ” to our neighbors.

So, if it is all about Sunday, then in terms of evangelization, it is all about Christmas! Christmastime needs to be our focus and we should be thinking, “All Hands Aboard!” This is why we have so many Masses. Sure, we could cut down on a Mass or two and everyone might still fit. It would be very efficient, reduce our workload, and get us home faster.  But, this is what is called, “church-think.” We employees or leaders of ministries are most prone to this way of thinking. Church-think puts the focus on ourselves, the minister, volunteer, or dedicated parishioner in the pews, and not on others who are new or in need. It pays no attention to what is best for others nor considered the situations in which they live. It is essentially selfish and antagonistic to what it is to be Church, that is evangelizers who desire to share and spread the Good News. We could have one single Christmas Eve or Day Mass by renting the largest space possible which would hold all who will come to that Mass, but that would be evangelical suicide. By having only one time, one door, so-to-speak, for people to come to our Christmas Eve Mass, we are very likely going to lose many people who couldn’t make that one small window of time. In our mission of St. Patrick of the Forest, the same applies. We could have one Mass and the community could likely all fit, but then they would miss out on this potent chance to share the Good News with those who couldn’t make that singular time. In fact, by having two Masses, they double the chances to proclaim the Good News to the newcomer. Another way of looking at this can be seen in the words St. John Paul II spoke when, at his first Mass as pope in 1978, he challenged the Church to, “open wide the doors to Christ.” He challenged us all to get out of our shells, our narcissism, our fears, our tribalisms, and any other things which keep us, and the Faith, to ourselves. He challenged us not to fear. He asked us to help him to serve so as to help humanity know what its true calling is. And what is it?  What is all our calling? To be saints! We are being called to put our Lord first and proclaim the Gospel.

So what are some ways we can put this into practice? Here are some thoughts and recommendations. Consider parking further away than normal so that newcomers will be able to park closer. Sit in the center of a row instead of at the edges so that new people will more easily find a place at Mass. Thank someone for letting you sit next to them. Be willing to move aside to help someone else sit down. Give up your seat if you see others standing, especially those with physical issues and sacrifice yourself by standing at Mass. If you are a liturgical minister, make sure you sign up for a slot, show up early, and even consider helping out at an additional Mass since we will all be stretched thin in this regard. Do not complain or gossip about others. Guests hear this and make judgements very quickly as to what kind of community we are or are not. Smile even if it kills you. Be the first to apologize if there is a misunderstanding. Introduce yourself by name to anyone you don’t know sitting near you. Be gracious while in the parking lot or walking to and from your car.  Wish others a blessed Christmas. Bring some, pre-signed, Christmas cards with you and give them to others, especially those whom you don’t know. Thank others for their presence at Mass, especially if don’t know them. Compliment someone for their good singing. Pray for the person who appears distressed, or otherwise struggling. Be nice to the priests, for they have fourteen Masses to cover from that Saturday night to Christmas Day. Share how happy you are to be part of this faith community. Don’t share your personal pet peeves… honestly, nobody wants to hear them. Wish those around you a blessed Christmas. And I’m sure there are many more ideas each one of us could come up with, right? Please let me know if you have some creative ideas in this regard.

So, remember, in terms of parish evangelization, it is all about Christmas.  Do not give into thinking about yourself, rather be other-centered. Love, laugh, smile, and encourage. Nobody can challenge honest joy. And may this Christmas be one that gives God the glory for his faithful will have lived out out their calling. I look very much forward to celebrating this time with you all!

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor