This pamphlet was conceived in enthusiasm by men and women who are bristling with PEP to build a Beautiful Church in St. James Parish. They are impatiently waiting: they are clamoring for action. They want YOU to know what they propose doing. They hope you will be with them. Don't look for a seat in the Grand Stand-People who do things move-the disinterested sit and watch -- Our Parish Big Drum is beating a marching tune – “LET'S GO."
My dear Parishioner;
The announcement of a collection for the preparatory Seminary, coming at a time when we have been intensely concerned with the building of a new church, did not find us in a receptive mood, we felt that the task undertaken by the parish required all our energy and effort, but the cause and the Archbishop’s appeal inclined us to dispose ourselves to make unusual sacrifices, and we realized that a big diocesan undertaking could not wait the opportune time for every parish so we determined to do our best to raise our fair share of the $2,000,000 fund.
My determination and courage were considerably impaired on receiving a notice from the chancery office that the parish assessment was $18,000. It appears each parish was assessed on the basis of last year’s gross income -- the total of the year was divided by two, regardless of the parish obligations, and those parishes whose priests and people worked hardest in the year 1926 were asked for sums in many instances, out of proportion with the assessment made against parishes numerically greater and financially stronger, with the understanding however that every parish was to endeavor to raise all it possibly could and tax each wage earner 10% of his gross income for 1926.
I did not inform you of the Parish assessment; I feared it would discourage you. Father PohI and myself began at once forming an organization, we were given the usual co-operation; thirty teams were organized, four divisions were formed, wage earners were listed, districts were defined, and the ladies of the parish prepared a chicken supper for the workers on the night when they were given final instructions; enthusiasm was inspired by Colonel Ray Dolan and Major John G. Houlihan. At the close of the meeting the four Captains. Arthur Pahl, Clyde Stiff, John Kelly, Joseph Pieschel were holding their teams in a leash till Sunday, October 17th, when they let go through the parish.
They undertook their work with splendid earnestness and zeal. A very reasonable demand was made of each wage earner regardless of the assessment. The response was magnificent, the parishioners responded with a splendid duty and generosity: the majority of them subscribed more than the sum suggested by Father PohI and myself as a fair share, with the result that the total subscription went well over $18,000.
The parish has reason to be proud of its accomplishment. No one was hurt by the assessment, each subscription was given voluntarily and cheerfully, the spirit in which it was given is the Spirit of St. Louis, the spirit of generosity and self-respect; it is a tribute to the faith of our Catholic people, to their appreciation of the priesthood and to their love for our Archbishop.
Yours in Christ,
PATRICK J. O’CONNOR, Adm.
Work on the new Church was somewhat impeded by a delay in the deliver of the steel. Last week the order was filed and the work of construction is being hurried to assure the completion of the outer shell before winter sets in.
[Bob Corbett notes: in the original there is a photo of the church in the state of being built. I am working with a xerox copy and the photo won’t scan clear enough to be use and I have no copy of the photo.]
The walls are now over 20 feet high, the cut-stone facings in the windows look magnificent, the steel work with the spire is erected and can be seen from almost any place in the city. The parishioners are jubilant because the building is surpassing their highest expectations, and feel confident that when the edifice is complete it will be a genuine work of art.
Preliminary work on the Arch Diocesan campaign fund required stenographing and arrangements that went over forty (40) hours. This was done by Miss Mary Wilson, Margaret McGuire, Mary O’Hara Boerckel and Mrs. Boman.
The parish was divided into four (4) sections, each of which was put under the direction of a Captain.
To Captain Arthur PahI, Sr., was assigned the territory east of Hampton, South of Manchester to Scullin’s Western plant and the strip on the West Side of Tamm Avenue, North to Wade, West to Louisville in a line South to Manchester.
The Captain reported a collection in his District totaling $4,476.50 and was obtained by the following solicitors
O’Keefe & Lavin $352.00
Scherzinger & Sheehan $272.00
Connors & Baer $399.00
Columbo & Dolan $360.00
Foley & Corcoran $505.00
Cody & Beineke $430.00
Coad & Murphy $335.50
Newport & Brady $790.00
Crotty & McLaughlin $1033.00
The Captain John J. Kelly was assigned the territory within and including Oakland Avenue and Manchester Avenue between Hampton and Tamm Avenue.
The Captain reported a collection in his District totaling $5,517.00 and was obtained by the following solicitors
Meehan & McAnnar $807.00
Brady & Collins $670.00
Wilber & Gittens $750.00
Murphy & Placke $675.00
Conklin & Hugeback $225.00
Brady & Bisso $379.00
Moellenbeck & Winters $565.00
Harris & Corbett $524.00
Bujewski & Kelly $922.00
TOTAL $5517 00
To Captain Clyde K. Stiff Territory West of Tamm including West Side of Tamm to Nashville, West to Forest Avenue and North to Forest Park.
The Captain reported a collection in his District totaling $7,2l00 and was obtained by the following Solicitors
Henkel & Hellenbrandt $l540.00
Ward & Orner $380.00
Melican & Ruby $1170.00
Hense & Chevalier $561.00
Wiss & Gesell $479.00
Regan & Toomey $515.00
Nuelle & Coad $637.00
Rose & Stanley $450.00
Stiff & Kletzer $1140.00
Kern & Doherty $338.00
TOTAL: $7210 00
To Captain Joseph A. Pieschel the territory known as Benton District which includes all West of Scullin’s along Schaeffer Place North to Dale Avenue and West and South to the Parish boundaries.
The Captain reported a collection in his District totaling $2,268.00 and was obtained by following solicitors
Maloney & McHugh $501.00
Bisso & Koncen $530.00
Burke & Pieschel $395.00
Flynn & Loyett $482.00
Lutz & Lederle $360.00
TOTAL: $226800
Grand Total $19,471 50
The territorial division though geographically equal differed very much from one another both as to numerical and financial strength. Captain Stiff’s territory the greater part of which adjoins the southwestern boundary of Forest Park has the best homes and the more substantial parishioners and they proved by their generosity their faith is in keeping with their social standing. Solicitors Messrs Henkel – Hellenbrandt are very eloquent in their appreciation of the fifteen Catholic families assigned to them in Louisville, Fairmount and Berthold North of Clayton Road who subscribed $1,540.00. Messrs Crotty & McLaughlin are equally eloquent in praise of the families on Wade Avenue and the few across from the rectory on Tamm Avenue who subscribed over $1,000.00, but the hardest work and the greatest sacrifices were probably made by the solicitors and subscribers who reside in the Cheltenham District and the territory across the tracks known as Frisco Park. The workers concede Ollie Dolan and Tony Columbo were admirably energetic and persevering and they were encouraged in their work by the enthusiasm of their Captain Mr. Pahl.
The assessment of the Parish was over subscribed by nearly $1,500.00 and is the best tribute that can be given to the parishioners and solicitors. We congratulate them on their faith and generosity and thank them sincerely in the name of his grace the Archbishop of St. Louis.
The collectors complained very bitterly about the poor response they got front the Croatian families who live in the parish. There are about ten stonemasons among them who get a great deal of employment building Catholic Institutions and their combined subscriptions amounted to only $30.00.
The rights of man and governments, are not absolute, unconditional and individualistic; they are concessions made by a benign Creator to his creatures, and harmonize with man’s needs and nature, and tend towards his permanent happiness and last end.
The source of all authority is in God and those who rule exercise authority in His Name, hence St. Paul insists that Christians submit to their lawful rulers and that servants be subject to their masters, wives to their husbands and children to their parents.
To Christ, the Son of man, was conceded by His Eternal Father the fullness of this authority. He is the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings, all rulers be they, emperors, presidents, czars or kings exercise lawful authority under His superior jurisdiction and are responsible to God for their rule.
That men have a right to elect rulers and governments must not be confused with authority, men elect to office but God endows the office with authority, the personality of the ruler may enhance the dignity of the ruler, but cannot increase or diminish the dignity of the rule. Its majesty is the majesty of God approving of good order and necessary government, its instrument is the one legitimately elected to rule. God does not give authority to any man or government to be unjust, unreasonable or to legislate contrary to His will. When men or governments do so they are usurping authority and in so far as they do so their acts are the acts of an usurper and have not God’s approval, and their legislation and covenants in these instances are injurious to society and to the best interests of the human family. The application of this principle applies also to Bishops, priests, husbands, parents and others who hold office and have subjects.
The best interest of the church, the home and the child can only be served by a rigid adherence to justice, reason and divine will.
Privileges: All who are so registered are living members and should a member die within the year will be given a daily memento in the spiritual director’s Mass, 3 Masses will be offered for his repose before a year has expired, the other living members will offer 3 communions for him.
Obligations: Practically none except to assist whenever it is convenient at the Purgatorian Society Masses and remember deceased members in one’s prayers. The duty of offering three communions for a member who dies can be discharged on Sundays.
It is customary for living members to list names of deceased relatives and friends on the Purgatorian Society sheet so that they too might share in the prayers and Masses.
On the Feast of All Souls this register is placed on the altar also each month during the Holy Hour and on the Morning of the First Friday.
Three Masses are offered by each priest on the Feast of All Souls, one of. which is for all the faithful departed, the second for the Holy Father’s intention and the third will be offered in St. James Church for living and deceased members of the Purgatorian Society.
The doctrine of reward and punishment is reasonable: the soul of a wicked man killed in the very act of crime with a smoking gun in his hand undoubtedly does not pass into heaven. There is an immense difference between the greatest Saint and the greatest sinner, each is an extreme, one always faithful and true to God and man, the other even in death an enemy to both. The church teaches that heaven is the reward for one and hell the punishment for the other neither can be benefitted by prayers, each received his desserts from a just God at the hour of death, and the judgment is final.
The majority of men are neither great saints nor great sinners, too often do all of us transgress and if through Gods mercy we repent, rarely are we so perfect as to be stainless and fit to be ushered into God’s presence. Nothing defiled can enter Heaven; few, we fear, of those who die are perfect, the grime of the journey, the passions of nature, the selfishness of man, the innumerable petty unrepented sins still adhere to their souls, and the more serious offenses against God or one’s neighbor though forgiven by a merciful God, in justice call for a stern reprimand in this life or the next. This is the doctrine, it presupposes a time and a place of atonement. Voluntarily one can impose upon himself fasts, Penances, and self inflicted severities that are sincere professions of sorrow for sins; one may submit to injuries without complaint, bear sickness and sorrow with patience, reconcile himself to labor or poverty in humble acknowledgment of his undeservingness of favor from God, but if he omits to do these things, God’s Justice demands that after death, be must submit to rigid pain and suffering and be purged of his imperfect disposition in a place or state called Purgatory -- an annex between Hell and Heaven where the flames of hell are experienced whilst the vision of heaven is watched for in the dawning of the eternal day.
God permits a union to exist between the faithful on earth, the Saints in Heaven and Souls in Purgatory; love seeks union and God is Love.
God encourages us to help one another. He encourages us to continue our affection for our loved ones departed and assures us that through our prayers and penances their sufferings in Purgatory will he mitigated. “It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may he released from their sins.’’
The revelation concerning the dead is for their benefit and our consolation. It imposes on us a sacred duty to remember them in our prayers; passionate tears at the grave, flowers and friends and tombstones are tributes that appeal to the eye of the living, but prayer and good works alone are made manifest to the dead. Your visit to the Cemetery where your loved one is interred gives you a human solace but your visit is unobserved and your affection not practical unless it is recorded before God by your prayers.
The Church makes the cry of departed ones ring in our ears during the Month of November, the month dedicated to Holy Souls. “Have pity on me at least you 0 my friends.’’ This is a pathetic appeal made to you perhaps by a deceased father, mother, sister, brother, relative through the prison gates of purgatory. Your loved one is calling, calling so longingly, calling repeatedly through the long night of anguish, and wondering why you do not answer. If your faith is dead you cannot hear, if your eyes are not illumed by grace you cannot see, if your heart is captivated by the pleasures of life you cannot feel, and your loved one suffers all the more keenly because he may have reason for blaming himself for your indifference to things Spiritual.
Awake and listen, and make reply as you would to a friend entrapped in a mine and crying to you through an aperture, say you are working day and night for his release, call your friends and relatives to assist you. Bring good works, prayers and penances to the Angel who carries messages between the living and the dead. Send cheering messages to your loved one, prove to him or her that your friendship did not cease with death and that ingratitude is not your return for unselfish love. This response will be approved by God and those you have helped will tenderly recall your kindness and fidelity, it will bind you in life and death by a golden chain of memories, and God shall make your love eternal.
Six who were listed as living members of the Purgatorian Society in the list issued last November, died during the past year and they have been given a daily memento in the Mass, three communions have been offered for their repose by the living members, they have shared in the Mass that has been offered on the first Friday of each month and three masses were said for each of them. Those who have departed are : Mrs. Mary A. Finn, Mrs. Clyde Stiff, Mr. Peter Manion, Mr. Frank Morrissey. Mrs. A. J. Dwyer, Mrs. John A. Steffan. These will continue to share in the privileges of deceased members as long as the society functions.
A Purgatorian Society Mass will be offered for Mrs. Clyde Stiff, Monday at 6:30 a. m., and Thursday for Mrs. Dwyer and Saturday for Mr. Frank Morrissey.
There are several articles in the Rectory that have been found in the parish buildings and for which no one has called, these include umbrellas, pocket-books, rosary beads, compacts, rings, glasses and in the back of the church there are many prayer books. A ladies coat was lost in the parish and the owner offers a liberal reward to the one who will turn it in at the Rectory.
The collectors for the Seminary fund were treated to a supper by Father O’Connor on the evening of October 20th when instructions were given to them concerning the campaign. Sixty men sat at the table and large dishes of chicken and other delectable viands were set before them. Judging from their expressions of satisfaction and genial pleasure it was evident that they intended going over the top.
Mrs. LaGarce, Mrs. Wiber, Mrs. McDonnell, Mrs. Irvin, Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. Engelhardt, Mrs. Plengemeier who prepared the supper were given a hearty vote of thanks by Father O’Connor which was seconded by lusty applause of the guests. He said he ordered a crate of chickens on the day previous and informed Mrs. LaGarce and Mrs. Wiber that he wanted to have them cooked ala mode and this was the result. “There was no fuss, no anxiety. The ladies of the parish have only to be given a wink and a few hours notice and a better supper than can be procured at the most fashionable hotel will be ready for any number from one to 200”.
Mrs. M. Tournour, 6431 Nashville Avenue has returned from Barnes Hospital where she was a patient 3 weeks.
Report of Streets and Sewers Committee Forest Park Improvement Association
The following improvements, nearly all initiated and urged by this association, will soon pass from dream stage to reality:
Openings:
Adeline, from Knox Eastward.
Lloyd, from Hampton westward to present
Eastern terminus of Lloyd.
Roberts, from Hampton westward to Ripple.
Alley, from Hampton westward to Ripple,
South of West Park.
Sewers:
Highland Joint Dist. Sewer, contract awarded.
Cheltenham Sewer Dist. No. 1, contract awarded.
River Des Peres Sewer thro’ Forest Park, contract awarded.
Streets:
Wade, from Tamm to Tamm Childress.
West Park from Hampton to Pierce.
Dale from Manchester to Kraft, grading nearly finished.
Dale from Kraft to McCausland, contract awarded.
Devlin, Sulphur to West Park, grading finished.
Prather from Mitchell to Plateau, completed.
Kraft from Manchester to Plateau, completed.
Berthold from Clayton Eastward to Fairmont.
Plateau from Prather to Cutter.
Mitchell from Manchester to Kraft.
Alleys:
Between Clayton and Wise from Kraft Eastward.
Between Hampton and Sproule from Manchester Northward.
Between Victoria and West Park from Hampton to Graham.
Sidewalks:
West Park from Childress to Louisville.
Berthold from Hampton to Clayton.
Louisville from Dale to Clayton.
Aquarium:
Site selected in Forest Park Between Wells Drive and Oakland.
Boulevard:
Hampton from Gravois to Forest Park, commissioners’ report filed March 26, 1927, four exceptions filed, one disposed of and three to be tried November 7th, then 2 months to write judgment and 2 months more to get appropriation, so opening should be completed next Spring. We are told none of present Bond Issue for viaduct over railroads on this Blvd.
An airplane named the Spirit of St. James has been built for the Minstrel Show that will be given today October 30th at 8 o’clock at Yale Hall under the auspices of the Holy Name Society.
Kelly and Ryan, leading Minstrels will appear on the stage alighting from an airplane; it was a problem to get a plane for the occasion, but difficulties are always surmounted in the parish, and the boys set to work to build one, which they appropriately named the Spirit of St. James.
Pierce is the designer, Pieschel, Plengemeier and Geo. Wiber the builders and Harry Brightly the decorator. They spent the greater part of their evenings during the past week constructing the machine. The propellers fashioned from electric fans resurrected from the debris of a saloon that was caught in the cyclone. They are driven by an electric motor taken, perhaps, from the church organ. It looks shapely and ornate, and is a decided attraction.
Admission of 50c to a $2 show is a part of the Spirit of St. James and in an outburst of goodwill and extravagance it has been decided to give a dress rehearsal at 2 o’clock for which general admission will be only 10c. Tickets will be sold this morning after the Masses in the vestibule of the church. Reserved seats can be procured from Frank Walsh, Hlland 6041.
A Euchre, Lotto, Bridge and Pinochle party will be given in the parish hall on Tuesday, November 15th, under the auspices of St. Ann’s Sociality. Many prizes have already been secured by the Sodality members and they request the parishioners to assist them by forwarding some suitable article to Mrs. McDonnell’s, Mrs. Bovard’s or Mr. Frank Walsh’s store.
The receipts of this Euchre will go to the benefit of the New Church.
The Angelic Warfare Society are very pleased with the results of the Euchre and Lotto given by them in the School Hall October 18th one hundred and fifty-five played Lotto, Mary O’Connell was awarded the first prize and Bernard Quinn the second. Agnes Bisso was given a ton of coal though she won only three games and Mrs. C. W. Klasek won a five gallon can of gasoline. There were sixteen tables at which Euchre was played and eight of Bridge. Father O’Connor and his little crowd were given a corner where they played pinochle. Complete returns have not yet been made. The receipts so far are over $150.
An Irish Setter after a journey of 4000 miles, arrived at the parish Rectory on October 20th. He was sent to Father O’Connor by his relatives in County Kerry, Ireland. The dog is a thoroughbred and looks it.
Tuesday is a Holy Day of Obligation, Confessions will be heard on the evening preceding the Feast of All Saints and All Souls immediately before and after evening devotions. There will not be a 10 o’clock Mass on Tuesday and the time of the other Masses will be as on Sundays.
On Wednesday the first Mass will begin at 6 a.m. and there will be a mass every half hour until 8 :30 when the last mass will be said.
Mr. P. H. Murphy, 6219 Victoria Avenue, is proving very efficient as an advertising agent for Let’s Go. We recommend him to the kindly consideration of the parishioners. When you are about to invest in a life, accident or health instance policy, why give it to a stranger when Mr. Murphy, a fellow parishioner, can give you as good a rate and as good insurance as you will get anywhere. He is a special agent for the Missouri State Life. His telephone is Hlland 3251. Our motto is ,“Let us help one another, all for each and each for all.”
Mrs. Mary Ellen Moran-Hamilton, 1539 Tamm Avenue, died at her home on Sunday, October 23rd. after a tedious illness. She reached a good old age and was a member of one of the oldest and most respected families in the parish, The O’Gorman family of which she is a member are listed in the first record made in the parish by Father MyIes Tobin in the ear 1861. Mrs. Hamilton’s father and mother are recorded as being members of the Rosary Society organized that year by Father Tobin. and are the only names listed of families now in the parish.
She was a sister of J. P., Thos and Wm. O’Gorman and mother to Mrs. Edna Croghan, Mrs. Mae Courtney and Rosalie Moran.
She was buried from St. James Church Wednesday, October 26th. A large number of relatives and neighbors at tended her funeral. She received the Last Sacraments with great piety and died as she had lived with the consolations that faith affords. May she rest in peace.
The indulgence known as Toties Quoties, or ‘as often as,” is a plenary indulgence that is granted a few times a year mostly in favor of the Faithful Departed. It is an Indulgence that can he gained several times on the day on which it is granted by all who have previously confessed and received and prayed for the Holy Father’s Intention. The only condition apart from those already enumerated is, a visit to a church each time one wishes to gain the indulgence and a few brief prayers for the Holy Father’s Intention.
To apply the indulgence to a particular soul, the visit should he made with that intention.
On the second of November, the Feast of All Souls, this indulgence can be gained and should be availed of by all the faithful.
FOR RENT -- 6216 Victoria Avenue, 5 rooms, furnace, electric and other modern conveniences. Garage if desired, Rent Reasonable.
In the calendar of the Catholic Church there is assigned to each day the Feast of a Saint and the favored servant of God is paid special honor in the ritual of the church and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; only those are given public worship whose saintly character was made manifest by Gods testimony permitting miracles to he performed through their supplication or at their invocation, and are approved of by an ecclesiastical tribunal as being worthy of homage. There are countless other saints in Heaven who have received no such distinction and these are honored collectively on the Feast of All Saints. They may be some of our own immediate relatives and loved ones who have entered the beatific vision and are rejoicing in glory, and we are called upon to unite with them in gratitude and thanksgiving for their triumph. On the day following, the Feast of All Souls, the church would turn our attention to those who have passed from this earth and are still in a state of purgation, they too are our fellow members in Christ and many of them may he amongst those for whom we shed tears at a death bed and funeral. For them we keep sacred a day and of them make a memorial. The Jews have a beautiful custom of lighting a candle and keeping a watch all night on the anniversary of a deceased parent, and the Catholic Church with a similar sentiment has instituted this Feast. It is a memorial day, a memorial of loved ones, a day of prayer and recollection, a day of memories and affections, a day for decorating the graves but above all a day for assisting at the holy sacrifice of the Mass, and making alms for the dead.
Forty Hours Devotion which was held at St. James Church on October 7th, 8th and 9th was favored with beautiful weather and was attended by many pious devotees of the Blessed Sacrament. The sermon on Friday night was preached by Father Nicholas Brinkman of the New Cathedral Parish, Saturday night by Father O’Connor and on Sunday afternoon by Father …………., S.J.
The closing ceremony and procession was a magnificent profession of faith and devotion. The church was filled and a large number of priests marched in the procession. Father Douglas of St. Ann’s carried the Blessed Sacrament, assisted by Rev. Joseph P. Newman, and Rev. Timothy O’Sullivan, Fathers McAtee, Nugent, Dan Ryan, J. Butler, Joseph Tammany, assisted and chanted the litany of the Saints. Father Pohl was Master of Ceremonies.
The fact that many of the men of the parish were assisting at the Holy Name Parade, did not seem to affect the attendance.
The priests were entertained at supper by Father O’Connor at Garavellis and later at the Rectory.
Free advertising will be given to all who have houses to rent or sell in the parish with the understanding that when the house is rented or sold, a limited fee be given for the ad. Those desiring to avail of this privilege, should communicate with our advertising agent Mr. P. H. Murphy, 6219a Victoria Avenue, HIland 3251.
Lillian Hense Dvoepe gave birth to her fourth boy at St. Mary’s Maternity Hospital a few weeks ago.
The general contractor expects to have the new church closed in by Christmas, hence it will be necessary to install the stained glass windows before that time. Those desiring to donate a memorial window should see the pastor at their earliest convenience.
The windows vary in price from $100 to $1500. The name of the one to be remembered will be burned into the glass and the artist requests that those names he sent to him as soon as possible.
The eight large side windows have been donated by parishioners whose families have been a long time in the parish. These include: J .P. O’Gorman, Miss Anna Merriman, John J. Brady, Mrs. Peter Manion, J.P. Dolan family, Mr. Charles Heil, the relatives of Mrs. Chas. Heil, and Mrs. Kern and family. These windows cost $600 each.
The eight windows within the sanctuary are donated by the Alumni association to former pastors of St. James Church and the Bishops who assigned them. These will be a historic record as will be those windows assigned to the older parishioners.
A window in the Nun’s Chapel close to the Sanctuary will commemorate Sisters Catherine and Louis.
Applications for other windows have been made by Mr. and Mrs. Boman, Mr. Wm. 0’ Shaughnessy, Mrs. Peter Walker, Mr. Ed. Cody. Mrs. Ed. Honlihan. Many others have signified a willingness to have memorial windows but as the have not yet made definite arrangements, their names are not listed. Mr. and Mrs. J. Blythe expressed a desire to donate the Baptismal Font and furnish the Baptistery in memory of their two deceased children.
Payments on the windows need not he made at once and might he extended over a period of one year.
It is absolutely essential to have the names before the art glass leaves the studio and those who contemplate giving a window should confer with the pastor not later than Sunday, November 6th.
A memorial in St. James Church accomplishes a two fold purpose, beautifying the House of God and perpetuating the memory of a loved one in a place that is most sacred and much frequented, whereas a memorial in a Cemetery is seen rarely and by very few outside one’s immediate relatives.
Three priests of the Order of the Mission of the Holy Family have come to live in the parish at 6690 Oakland Avenue where they purchased a home. They intend making it a branch house where students whose education was begun in Germany will reside whilst completing their theological studies at St. Louis University.
The Fathers of the Holy Family were established in Holland in the year 1895 by Father Berthier. The object of this order is to assist invalid priests and help out in the Home Mission Fields, and foster belated vocations for Home and Foreign Missions.
Father Bongarts, the superior, is Chaplain with the Little Sisters of the Poor, Father Wahlen has been assisting at St. Luke’s on Sundays, and Father Paar is unassigned.
The order has only two other missions in the United States, one at New Braunfels, Texas, and one at Hillman, Minn. They have also Missions in Brazil and Borneo. One of the Fathers whilst still a student was drafted into the German army and fought around the Arras section, he was captured and spent two years in English and French prisons. He is charmingly simple and interesting. He has been saying Mass during the past week in the parish church and had breakfast at the Rectory. These missionaries are extended a hearty welcome.
Timothy Buckley, 6425 Nashville Avenue.
Elizabeth Holderle, 2157 Grove Avenue.
UNCLE HENRY'S LETTER
July 3, 1927.
dear Charlie:
i guess that Sum of the peeple wot has always thought of St. James Parish as just plain “Dog Town’ will have their eyes open when they find out wot we done in the Seminary drive last week. Certainly im braggin; why not? anyone in the parish has got a right to feel proud of the way the parishioners come through for this worthy cause. To old timers like me and you this is a remarkable change from the lean times wot the priests used to have trying to raise enough money to pay the parish expenses. the scientific education which the parishioners has had in the “art of giving” suggests that they is ‘organization genius lurkin somewares in the woodpile,” and i have got an idear that the genius is embodied in the firm of “O’Connor and Pohl.”
they got us on the defence right off of the reel by telling us that the assessment for the parish was higher than wot it should be on acount of it was based on the collections for last year, when we was putting on a drive for funds for the new church. that just put us in the mood to expect a big asessment against each 1 of us. then them two psychologists made another stroke by markin the cards so low that we was tickled pink, an nearly everybody raised the figger higher than they intend to give in the beginning.
then Gen. Oconnor and Col. PohI call every able body man to the defence of the colors, wile the Gen. & Col. was holdin the fort, they sent out the 1st battalion on offence, under the able leadership of Major Ray Dolan, an from the way they ‘mopped-up” they must of thought they wus goin into the Argonne or Wipers or sumwares, an i dont think many of the enemy escape without damage, for instance ollie Dolan was tellin me how Tony Columbo took him thru the Italyn districk, an’ he made every 1 of Caruso’s country-men (hg into the family sock, of course them peeple is got as much right to give there share as anybody else. but you are lucky when you have got sumone like Tony to make them reelize it.
i don’t think anything ever please the pastor so much as the willing spirit which the boys showed when he asked them to take over the work of collectin for this drive, an he was tellin me about it, and his eyes light up like they always do when he is happy about something, an he said “we have got the greatest organization of supporters that this or any other parish has ever had.”
wel Charlie, i wus down the other evenin to watch the Holy Name Minstrels rehers there show wot they are giving at Yale Hall, Sunday, an believe me they are goin to have sum show. of course i wouldnt claim like i herd father Pohl anounce last sunday, that it is goin to be better than the Mothers Club show, on acount of the minstrel mothers has got sum stars that nobody could beat. The boys has been workin hard though an they have made up a bunch of special scenery, an they are getting good costumes, an they have got sum good singers an several dancers, specially Tom Hankins so they have got about everything they need. i got a idear
that the priests is puttin over a fas one on the inside corner when they go around sayin this show is better than the other 1 an vs., because now all of the mothers will go to see how good this show is an nex the mothers are, an so both of them will benefit on acount of the competishun. I seen martin Coad an Arthur pahl hangin’ around the rectory the other evenin’ an i knowed sumthing was being framed up, an later i found out that they was fixen up a fishn’ trip with the Pastor, for the nex day. later in the evening, sum peeple come in to arange for a funeral, an they had to call off the fishintrip, an i wouldn’t be a bit surprise to hear a request from the alter that the parishioners should manage to have there weddungs au funerals an sick calls fall on saturdav durin’ the hunting seazon , so as not to brake up the Pastors week.
Your particlar friend and uncle,
HENRY
BACK TO LET'S GO, 1927
BACK TO LET'S GO, 1925-1932
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