For those who missed it…
He’s known as a geeky clergyman and that’s just fine with him.
Father Bill Holtzinger, 43, is pastor of St. Anne Parish in Grants Pass. It’s hard to map out a typical day for this lanky and energetic man, but he usually starts with Mass and prayer before heading to the office.
There, he meets with people who have asked for an appointment, giving advice and comfort. He may make a pastoral visit at the hospital, retirement home or a private house. He tries to meet individually for an hour once a week with each pastoral minister. Evenings consist of gatherings — RCIA, councils and committees. He prepares homilies and talks.
Father Holtzinger manages to eat now and then. But he spends more time — often in the wee hours — feeding others spiritually through digital media.
Type “Fr. Bill” into Google and he’s on top of the page. That’s because of his St. Paul-like prolificacy.
He tends a blog — http://www.frbill.org — subtitled “Ruminations of a Geek Priest,” offering links to spiritual sites and practical reflections.
“The sign of any good relationship is a two-way communication,” he writes in his most recent post to the world. “So, let your prayer also include some time for listening to what God has to say. If you really want to go for it, find an entire hour each day for this kind of prayer. Personally, I have found it to be the most important personal prayer I do. Try it. I guarantee that after a year of serious listening, you will not be the same.”
Father Holtzinger is on Twitter, with more than 400 followers so far who read his snappy observations on everything from watching football to anointing a dying parishioner.
His dog, Gracie, has her own Twitter account, on which the priest assists. “Fr. Bill gave me my third bath in three weeks. This is almost unbearable,” Gracie wrote before Christmas to her 80 readers.
Father Holtzinger records seven different podcasts — digital radio shows on demand. They include his homilies, reflections on the Mass and liturgy, and refutations of claims in the book and film The DaVinci Code. Some of his podcasts are devoted to answering inquiries from listeners. He even issues “Fr. Geek’s Video Podcast,” a collection of videos related to technology and faith. Go to iTunes and search for “Holtzinger” and six of his podcasts pop up.
He gets notes of thanks from readers and listeners all over the globe.
“It’s part hobby, part evangelization,” says the priest. “We need to use our modern media to reach out in positive ways to proclaim the Gospel.”
Born in Medford, he studied math and science at Oregon State. During his college years, he stayed in close contact with St. Mary Parish in Corvallis, which he says provided an illuminating contrast to the excesses of college life.
“I did have to wonder,” he told the Sentinel five years ago, “how can I be happy as a celibate when the world is telling me to get drunk and have sex all the time?”
Faced with the two paths, he chose the holier one.
At church, he served in youth ministry and prayed the liturgy of the hours. At school, he defended his Catholic faith in the face of Protestant friends and secularist zealots.
After graduation, he taught high school, including two years at Central Catholic in Portland. He was engaged to be married, but entered Mount Angel Seminary in 1993.
While considering going to seminary, he wondered if he’d have to give up his technological pursuits. But as his discernment continued, he saw that his geeky gifts could be put to the service of the gospel.
Father Holtzinger was pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Forest Grove before heading to southern Oregon last year. He is a frequent presenter to youth groups and young adults, speaking on everything from relationships to the relationship of faith and science.
Regularly, Father Holtzinger leaves his electronics behind and goes on silent retreats. “Balance in everything,” he explains.
That said, he’s surprised at how many clergy and lay people avoid blogging, podcasting or tweeting for fear of being misunderstood or misquoted. Others think the new inventions somehow interfere with being human.
“Sure, there are people who have become hermits to the world or have become addicted to Twitter, Facebook or their Smartphone,” he says. “But, these mediums of social communication have brought countless friends back into contact with one another, reunited or healed old friendships, expanded one’s experience of the world. I believe this is good.”
He reports that he has seen people return to the church or convert to Catholicism because of what they have found on his parish Web sites.
Even with his passion for electronic evangelization, Father Holtzinger says the best part of being a priest is celebrating the sacraments, especially Mass and reconciliation.
He sees his life as a journey with others. And while some priests dislike the administrative side of being a pastor, Father Holtzinger seems energized by solving problems and designing the parish so it can be more effective in its mission. The strategy includes digital media.
“I am excited about the future and how newer technologies can bring us together,” he says. “I am excited how the good news of Jesus Christ can be brought to more people because of new technologies and media.”
On his days off, Father Holtzinger sees friends and relaxes. But he also works on his podcasts and Web site and teaches himself something new in the world of electronic gizmos.
“Now that is a geek,” he says, “and that is me.”
SOURCE: Catholic Sentinel
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St. Patrick of the Forest Catholic Church 