Father Marty Goetz admires a chalk art message written by parishioners last fall at Sacred Heart Parish in Newton, where he serves as pastor.
By Lindsay Steele
The Catholic Messenger
Father Marty Goetz walked through the Massabielle Grotto during a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France last October, praying for healing amidst a multi-year battle with stage 4 cancer. He hoped to be among the thousands of pilgrims who have reported physical healings in the place where St. Bernadette is believed to have seen the Virgin Mary. “I also prayed for perseverance,” he said.
The pastor of Sacred Heart Parish-Newton and Immaculate Conception Parish-Colfax underwent a routine cancer scan shortly after returning home. The news was not what he hoped for. The priest’s treatable-but-incurable cancer, which stabilized after chemotherapy and surgery three years ago, was waking up.
Father Goetz knew the recommended 12 weeks of treatment would be grueling. His thoughts immediately turned to his parish communities and pastoral duties. “Father Marty was worried, and maybe just a little scared at the same time,” recalled Michelle Miller, the parish’s stewardship coordinator. “I told him that Sacred Heart is here for him and will do whatever it takes to help.”
Parish staff, the Bishop’s Office, friends and family, former Sacred Heart pastors and Deacon Joe Dvorak, who serves the Colfax parish, helped Father Goetz formulate a plan to meet the parishes’ needs while he focused on his health. Nearly a dozen priests, retired and active, signed up to celebrate Masses in Newton and Colfax. “Sacred Heart put them up in a motel and furnished meals for them when they were here,” Miller said. Parishioners offered to drive Father Goetz to and from his chemotherapy appointments in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Parishioners also made meals for Father Goetz. “There was such a rush to help that effort, that the process quickly had to be monitored, and a software program used to spread out the generosity of people who wanted to help,” said Father William Reynolds, a retired diocesan priest and former pastor of the Newton parish. “Father Marty is a fine pastor and is held in high esteem by his parishioners. He is genuinely concerned about them and their spiritual welfare.”
Miller and Sacred Heart parishioner Deb Nilles organized the food schedule and delivered the meals to Father Goetz at the Newton rectory as needed. About halfway through treatment, Father Goetz felt well enough to welcome families into his home. “We now have a meal train set up and people sign up to either take him a meal or take him out,” Miller said.
Parishioners of all ages helped Father Goetz celebrate his favorite holidays. Youths passed out candy outside the rectory on Halloween. “He could sit up in his garage and see the little kids dressed up,” Miller said. At Christmastime, parishioners donated lawn decorations, sang carols, strung lights and decorated the rectory interior and exterior. Throughout Father Goetz’s treatment, parishioners sent cards and other mail via a prayer box that Sacred Heart parishioner Kay Riney designed.
The support of others boosts Father Goetz’s morale. “It doesn’t mean I don’t have moments or down times, but if I can keep the attitude joyful and positive, things go a lot better.” He sees parallels of his life with stations 4-6 of the Stations of the Cross, in which Jesus’ mother Mary, Veronica and Simon offer comfort and support. “My family is there for me (and) I’ve got all these parishioners near and far who are Veronicas and Simons.”
Father Goetz admits he feels more comfortable giving than receiving. “I have to remind myself that I have to let people give to me, and sometimes that’s hard. But I think that’s something God really wants me to do.” He still finds ways to serve, whether praying with people in the cancer clinic’s waiting room or offering Mass intentions from his home altar on Sunday mornings. “The hardest part is that I can’t physically be with my people but I believe I’m spiritually with them.” Praying the Mass at home for them “brings me a lot of comfort and strength.”
Father Tony Herold, a friend who served the Newton parish prior to retirement, has returned a few times to celebrate Mass. He said he is in awe of Father Goetz’s unwavering faith and optimism. “He knows how serious his cancer is… If he would become angry and bitter and sullen, you’d understand that, but he continues to be a man of joy.”
After Father Goetz finished his treatments in mid-January, the parish threw him a party with his family in attendance. Post-treatment scans showed the cancer treatments were effective and that he could continue with less aggressive treatment. Father Reynolds is celebrating Masses at the two parishes while Father Goetz’s energy levels and immune system recover.
Father Goetz endured a setback in early February when he contracted influenza and spent several days in the hospital. He is now resting at home and hopes to feel well enough to preside at Mass by Easter. “Father Marty misses being on the altar and prays every day for strength and healing,” Miller said.
Through it all, Father Goetz knows that God is with him, as are his companions on Earth. “One of my (cancer journey) themes is ‘Only I can do it, but not alone.’ There are folks out there who have just stepped up, and I’ll always be grateful for that.”
