CHAPTER X.
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ST. PAUL’S PASTORAL RESIDENCE.
The next pastor was Rev. G.H. Rieken, who arrived in Norwalk February 1st, 1894. His short pastorship of eight and one-half months was pleasant and beneficial from beginning to end. The term of office of John Hoddick and C.P. Venus had expired in the previous January, and as there had been no election at the time, Father Rieken, acting on the advice of the Rt. Rev. Bishop, appointed these gentlemen to fill their respective positions in the council for the ensuing two years. The other two councilmen were Michael Schuh and Joseph F. Wilhelm.
The work of renovating the pastoral residence, which had begun
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ST. PAUL’S PASTORAL RESIDENCE, 1894.
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by his predecessor, was vigorously continued, though on a more moderate scale and in a more subdued tone, and by the middle of May the handsome building, seen in the adjoining illustration, was completed. The amount expended in renewing and improving the residence, including the furniture, was $3,297.44. The appearance of the house, church and surroundings was much enhanced by a neat iron enclosure; and the school building was rendered safe and commodious by a large stairway, erected at the south end, and leading to the second story. The chapel also was painted and beautified.
Father Rieken obtained the pulpit that is now in the church. This pulpit is the gift of Francis J. Durst, and cost $230. Mr. Durst did not live to see the pulpit in position; he departed this life on July 21st, 1894, just one month before the pulpit was finished. He was a model young man, and an earnest and sincere Catholic. May his soul rest in peace! At the base of the pulpit is a tablet containing the following words: “In memory of Francis J. Durst.”
It is owing to the exertions of Father Rieken that the two ornamental and convenient confessionals were procured. One was bought by the congregation; and the other is the gift of the Concordia Society.
Of his own volition, and for reasons known only to himself, Father Rieken resigned this charge and was by Bishop Horstmann assigned to the pastorship of the Immaculate Conception parish at Bellevue. On the morning of October 24th, 1894, he left Norwalk and proceeded to his new field of labor.
During his short stay in St. Paul’s the receipts, exclusive of loans, were $4,001. The parochial obligations, however, because of the great amount of work done on the parsonage, were considerably increased. The classified debt was $15,320. There was yet an unclassified debt, of which in his short career he had not become cognizant, of $498. more, making the financial responsibility at that time amount to $15,818.00.
Rev. F. Rupert, the present incumbent, was the successor at this juncture. He arrived in Norwalk on the evening of October 24th, 1894. His first efforts were directed toward raising funds for diminishing the debt. Expenses were reduced to a minimum, and all available moneys applied to the object in view. Ways and means were devised to which the people gave their heartiest co-operation and made them gainful beyond expectation. Soon a considerable portion of the debt was liquidated, and at the end of four years the obligations of the parish were reduced to $5,450.
In January, 1895, Joseph F. Wilhelm and Charles L. Gfell were associated with John Hoddick and C.P. Venus in the church council, and since that time only one change has occurred, namely, in 1897, when
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August Dietrich was elected to fill the expired term of Joseph F. Wilhelm.
This same year, namely 1895, water works at an expense of over $400. were procured for the St. Paul’s cemetery, which, since that time has been exceptionally beautiful.
The year 1896 was rendered eventful by a visit of Rt. Rev. Bishop Horstmann. He arrived in Norwalk on the evening of June 29th, coming here from Peru. He was met at old St. Peter’s church by all the societies, and also by the people of the parish and town, who turned out en masse to welcome him and to escort him to St. Paul’s. The next day day after solemn high mass 152 persons were confirmed.
In the spring of 1897 the church received a handsome donation from Miss Frances Durst, who gave $650. for a set of Stations of the Cross. These Stations were procured from the Daprato Statuary Co., Chicago, Ill. The height is six feet and seven inches, and the figures are three-fourths relief. They were placed in position during the month of October. But like her brother, who donated the pulpit, Miss Durst did not live to see the Stations in the church. On Sunday, August 1st, at noon, and after an illness of nearly a year’s duration, she calmly expired, and has, without doubt, gone to a better home than this world can afford. She had a most sincere and tender devotion to the suffering Saviour, whose picture she constantly kept before her eyes. This devotion prompted her to furnish the means for procuring the costly Stations that now adorn the church walls. On the first Station, in small letters, appear the words: “In memory of Frances Durst, who departed this life Aug. 1st, 1897.” May the good God grant her an eternal reward.
The year 1898 was uneventful in the parish. The only material item worthy of note was the procuring of suitable pews for the gallery to replace the temporary ones thus far in use there. These pews were made by the Tiffin Manufacturing Co., and cost $182. An elegant electric arc light was also put into position in front of the church. This brings the history of the congregation up to January 1st, 1899, at which time the parish was officered as follows:
REV. F. RUPERT, PASTOR.
COUNCILMEN - John Hoddick, C.P. Venus, Charles L Gfell, August Deitrich.
CEMETERY BOARD - Rev. F. Rupert, C.P. Venus, August Dietrich.
CHURCH CHOIR - J.J. Lenz, organist and choir director; Mrs. J.A. Hirt, Mrs. F.X. Link, Mrs. J.J. Link, Minnie Crips and Lena Nops, sopranos; Misses Mamie Suger, Clara Wagner, Mary Keller, Louisa Venus and Lillie Crips, altos; Theodore Mueller, William Huth and
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Alois E. Meyer, tenors; Frank X. Link, Engelbert Isele and John J. Nahm, bass.
JANITOR AND SEXTON - George Winkler.
The school is in charge of six Sisters of Notre Dame, of Cleveland, O., and there are 247 pupils enrolled.
The following are the church societies and the date at which they hold their regular meetings:
The Young Ladies’ Sodality, 72 members; meets in the chapel at 3:30 P.M. on the first Sunday of each month.
The Ladies’ Altar Society, 86 members; meets in the chapel at 3:30 P.M. on the third Sunday of each month.
The Ladies’ Catholic Benefit Association, 86 members, meets in the C.M.B.A. hall on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 P.M.
The Knights of St. John, 48 members; meet in their hall on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 P.M.
The St. Peter’s Aid Society, 85 members; meets in school room No. 4 at 7:30 P.M. on the first Monday of each month.
The Concordia Aid Society, 110 members; meets in Stoll’s hall at 7:30 P.M. on the first Wednesday of each month.
The Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, 78 members; meets in school room No. 4 on the second and fourth Monday of each month all standard time.
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ORDER OF DIVINE SERVICES.
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Sundays.
A.M. - Holy Communion at 6:00 o’clock; Low Mass at 7:30 o’clock; High Mass at 9:30 o’clock.
P.M. - Baptism at 1:00 o’clock; Sunday School at 2:00 o’clock. Twice each month, namely, on the second and fourth Sundays of the month, Vespers, Benediction and an English sermon at 7:00 o’clock P.M. On the other Sundays Vespers and Benediction are held at 3:00 o’clock P.M.
On week days there is a Low Mass at 7:45 A.M. in the chapel, excepting Saturdays. On Saturdays the Low Mass is celebrated in St. Peter’s church at the west end of town at 7:30 A.M.
An English sermon is preached at Low Mass at 7:30 A.M. on the first and third Sundays of each month, and at Vespers at 7:00 P.M. on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. At all other services the sermons are in the German language.
Confessions are heard every Saturday afternoon from 2:30 to 5:30, and from 6:30 to 9:30 P.M. Also on every Sunday morning before Low Mass. Confessions are likewise heard on the vigils or eves of Holy Days at the same hours as on Saturdays.
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PASTORAL SUMMARY.
The names of the pastors of whom the German speaking Catholics of Norwalk and vicinity are especially indebted for spiritual comfort are summarized in the following table, as also their place of residence and the dates of their labor.
Names of pastors Place of Residence Date of service Rev. Stephen T. Badin one visit 1828 Rt. Rev. E.D. Fenwick three visits 1829-1831 Rev. John Henni at intervals May 1830-Feb.1833 Rev. F.X. Haetcher C.SS.R., Peru July 1832-Oct. 1832 Rev. Frederick Rese at intervals Oct. 1831-Sept. 1833 Rev. F.X. Tschenhens Rev. Simon Saenderl Rev. Peter Czakert C.SS.R., Peru May 1834-Jan. 1840 Rev. Joseph Prost Rev. Jos. Freygang Peru Nov. 25, 1840-6-21-1841 Rev. F.X. Tschenhens Rev. J.N. Neumann C.SS.R., Peru 6-26-1841 - 8-16-1843 Rev. L.M. Alig Rev. T.S. Brunner Rev. C.A. Capeder Rev. M.A. Meyer C.PP.S., Peru 1-18-1844 - 12-1-1847 Rev. Jacob Ringele Rev. John Wittmer Rev. Matthias Kreusch C.PP.S., Thompson 12-1-1847 - 8-4-1851 Rev. F.X. Obermueller C.PP.S., Thompson Rev. Chas. Evrard Peru 8-4-1851 - 6-1-1853 Rev. Nicholas Roupp St. Peter, Norwalk 6-1-1853 - 9-1-1854 Rev. Jacob Hamene Peru 9-2-1854 - 4-10-1855 Rev. J.P. Dolweck Peru 4-23-1855 - 7-1-1855 Rev. N. Ponchell St. Peter, Norwalk 7-3-1855 - 9-1-1859 Rev. A.X. Monclerc St. Peter, Norwalk 9-1-1859 - 7-26-1860 Rev. J.P. Dolweck Peru 9-24-1860 - 3-31-1861 Rev. M.A. Meyer Peru 4-1-1861 - 9-1-1861 Rev. F.X. Obermueller St. Peter, Norwalk 9-1-1861 - 12-15-1865 Rev. A. Dambach St. Peter, Norwalk 12-20-1865 - 5-16-1867 Rev. A. Mangehahn St. Peter, Norwalk 5-16-1867 - 9-1-1869 Rev. J.A. Kuhn St. Peter, Norwalk 9-1-1869 - 8-10-1871 Rev. M. Dechant St. Peter, Norwalk 10-10-1871 - 7-20-1872 Rev. Gustave Drolshagen St. Peter, Norwalk 7-23-1872 - 9-30-1873 Rev. George Peter St. Peter, Norwalk 1-18-1874 - 10-30-1875 Rev. Peter Kolopp St. Peter, Norwalk 11-1-1875 - 6-25-1881 Rev. John M. Puetz Monroeville 2-1-1883 - 8-1-1886 Rev. Frederick Ludwig Old St. Peter’s Norwalk 10-13-1882 - 1-25-1883 Rev. John M. Puetz Monroeville 2-1-1883 - 8-1-1886 Rev. A. Dambach Old St. Peter’s Norwalk 8-1-1886 - 6-15-1891 Rev. J.A. Michenfelder St. Paul’s, Norwalk 6-15-1891 - 1-3-1894 Rev. G.A. Rieken St. Paul’s, Norwalk 2-1-1894 - 10-23-1894 F. Rupert St. Paul’s, Norwalk 10-26-1894 - (p. 76) PASTORS OF THE NEW ST. PETER’S CHURCH on Hester St. Name Place of residence Date of service Rev. A Magenhahn attended, Old St. Peter 2-10-1868 - 9-1-1869 Rev. J.A. Kuhn attended, Old St. Peter 9-1-1869 - 8-10-1871 Rev. M. Dechant attended, Old St. Peter 8-10-1871 - 7-20-1872 Rev. M Dechant resides, New St. Peter 7-20-1872 - 12-9-1873 Rev. A. Eilert resides, New St. Peter 12-9-1873 - 8-19-1876 PASTORS OF ST. PAUL’S Name Place of residence Date of service Rev. A. Eilert residence, St. Paul’s 8-19-1876 - 5-24-1888 Rev. J.A. Michenfelder residence, St. Paul’s 5-25-1888 - 1-31-1894 Rev. G.H. Rieken residence, St. Paul’s 2-1-1894 - 10-23-1894 Rev. F. Rupert residence, St. Paul’s 10-24-1894 - (The copy of these two pages is so poor, that some of the dates may have been misread.)