Monatsbote
February 2006
Volume 118
Issue 2
The Newsletter from Holy Trinity, "the
Dear Monatsbote Readers,
I find
the Gospel for February 2nd to be most appropriate. You might say the Alpha and the Omega. May each one’s life fit into the models
provided by Jesus and Simeon.
God
bless all of you!
Father O’Regan
When the days were
completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph
took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in
the law of the Lord: “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to
the Lord” and to offer the sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves or two young
pigeons” in accordance with the
dictate in the law of the Lord.
Now there was a man
in
“Now, Master, you
may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen
your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples, a light for
revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”
St. Luke 2:22-32
Commentary
ROXBURY IN RETROSPECT - GERMAN HILL
Histories of the parish describe the facilities
in Roxbury as the "Home" and continue with a detailed
description. What follows here is a
vignette of the German community which developed in the surrounding area and in
some quarters became known as "German Hill". This section had been a Yankee stronghold, as
evidenced by the many large houses scattered throughout the area. All this as it remains in the memory of a
second generation native who was reared in this environment.
KIMMEL-LANG-KRIM-PINK-WILL-HINDERSCHEID. The ethnic
flavor of the neighborhood can be captured by recalling the name of families
and schoolmates at random, intermixed with an occasional “Auslander”,
a Murphy or a Sullivan. Immigrants
identified by their "Go mit the hill up"
and other such expressions in a newly acquired language, lived in harmony with
their native born offspring.
REISS-BOEHNER-HOHMANN-CAVELIUS. Sunday
mornings found many at the
SCHMIDT-SPOTH-MUELLER-WESSLING. Appropriately
"German Hill" was located in close proximity to the local breweries
bearing German names, Haffenreffer in Jamaica Plain
and Burkhardt in Roxbury Crossing. Close by was Arbeiter
Hall and not too far away near
C.
N. Faulstich
As part of this
column’s retrospective series, this essay is reprinted from the January 1995
edition of Monatsbote.
Announcement
As is widely known by
now, Archbishop O’Malley has granted Fr.
O’Regan’s request to retire.
Archdiocesan Reorganization News
As reported last month, the Parish Council received a letter from Archdiocesan Chancellor, David Smith, dated December 15, in which he announced that the audit of Holy Trinity’s financial affairs that he undertook as a result of the Council’s demand had revealed that Holy Trinity funds had been improperly transferred to St. James, the Greater Parish. The figure he cited was $176,390, which has since been returned. Subsequently, representatives of the Council met with Chancellor Smith (on January 11) to learn details of what actually happened. At Mr. Smith’s invitation, a subcommittee will shortly be returning to the Chancery building to review detailed financial records of their choosing in a cooperative effort to confirm to everyone’s satisfaction that due diligence was exercised in this undertaking.
On December 28, 2005 the lay members of the Parish Council
wrote to Archbishop O’Malley formally stating that the fact that more than
$100,000 had been taken from Holy Trinity over a period of at least six years
with no apparent objection from anyone in the Archdiocesan hierarchy was clear
evidence that there was deliberate intent to run down the parish so as to
better justify its closure. The letter
explicitly states the representatives’ judgment that this is a clear violation
of Canon Law. It also explicitly requests
that the Archbishop do everything within his power to right the wrong starting
with declaring that it is no longer his intention to suppress
Lastly, the Archdiocesan “Parish Reconfiguration Fund
Oversight Committee” continues to be interested in the financial affairs of Hoy
Trinity and will be taking its own look at the results of the Chancellor’s
audit at its January meeting.
Text of Father O’Regan’s letter announcing his retirement.
Hello Everyone,
Not long ago, I wrote to Archbishop Seán requesting permission to resign as Administrator of
Saint James the Greater and Holy Trinity Parishes. I am seventy-five years of age and while not
required to submit a request for retirement, I find it the right time to do
so. I suggested that my forty-ninth
anniversary of Ordination might be an appropriate date.
On
I am grateful for the Archbishop’s
agreement and I hope that you will accept this and cooperate with whomever the
Archbishop assigns to take my place.
Thank you for your cooperation with me
during the past eighteen years. I am
grateful for the opportunity that I have had to serve you during this
time. Deo Gratias.
Sincerely,
Fr.
O’Regan
Video Recordings of Holy Trinity’s Day
of Thanksgiving Masses are in production!
On Sunday, June 26, the parishioners of Holy Trinity
gathered for a day-long celebration. In
two beautiful liturgies we expressed our Thanksgiving for this wonderful parish
and for the postponement of its closure.
The Masses were professionally recorded with special attention paid to
capturing the sound of both the prayers and the music. (The impact of the tower bells as they were
rung as part of the Gloria of the
Frank Wallent
Productions, LLC
Sat 4 |
Holy Trinity German Choir rehearsal, |
Feb 5 |
10 AM Mass in English/German. Frauenbruderschaft. The Mass will be offered for Herbert A. Wessling and Elizabeth Wessling
and for Joseph & Anna Reiss. Blessing
of throats will follow immediately after 12 |
Sat 11 |
Holy Trinity German Choir rehearsal, |
Feb 12 |
10 AM Mass in English/German. Männerbruderschaft. The Mass will be offered for Michael Kitterick and for Joseph & Dorothea Ryan. 12 |
Feb 19 |
10 AM Mass in English/German. Holy Trinity German Choir. The
Mass will be offered for Frank & Louise Freier. 12 |
Feb 26 |
10 AM Mass in English/German. Immaculate Conception Sodality. The Mass will be offered for Herbert &
Marie Barton, for Herbert Barton Jr., and for the living and deceased members
of the Catholic Women’s Guild. 12 |
Wed 1 |
Ash Wednesday. Low Mass in
Latin. Schola Amicorum and Preces Canatae, |
Fri 3 |
Stations of the Cross and Benediction, |
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Ø Mea maxima culpa to
Sr. Herberta (Marie Smith) C.S.J.
(Can’t blame this faux pas on a computer or editorial error.)
Ø
Paul Ketterle – brother of
Mary Ketterle of Marian Manor.
Bertha (Hucksam)
Cray – sister of the late Louise (Hucksam) Gross.
Marie (Andresen) Chamberlain
– widow of James and a Past-Prefect of Y.L.S.
William MacDonald – son of the late William &
Virginia (Faulstich) MacDonald.
Elizabeth Wessling –
daughter of Paul Wessling.
May
we remember these souls in our prayers that God will grant them eternal peace
in His Presence!
Ø As Spring appears cheerfully
around-the-corner on our calendar, so too is the anticipated joy of two
Frauenbruderschaft members.
Ø
As we mention Spring births-to-be, we honor those who were born in
February: (5) Peter Cooper; (7) Rosalie (Cavelius) Cooper; (18) Vincent Bachelder; (19) Martha Engler;
(25) Dorothy (Schwab) Grigorupolos; and (29) Martha Rettman whose natal observance this year is pre-empted by
Ash Wednesday. Gratulieren zum Geburtstag zu Alle!
Ø February offers special holydays and holidays as
well: (2) Presentation of the Lord
(Ordination Day memories for many priests); (3) St. Blaise;
(11) Our Lady of Lourdes; also –
(14) Valentine’s Day – an occasion to send sweet
messages to our loved ones and homebound elders; (20) Washington’s Birthday –
now, Presidents’ Day – when we should ask God’s Blessings on our
Commander-in-Chief for wise decisions and judgments especially in the realms of
peace and justice. Remember March 1st
ushers in the Lenten Season. Plan ahead
for your personal, particular penitential participation!
Ø Congratulations to Joseph Krim
upon his reaching of the ¾ century plateau!
Heard that “big brother” George escorted you and your lovely Marcia on a
tour of
Ø In reminiscence, we recall pious customs still
observed by many devotees: The Angelus:
Three versicles, three Hail Marys
and a special prayer recited each morning, noon, and night commemorating the
announcement to Mary by the Archangel Gabriel and the ringing of the Angelus
bell reminds us of Our Blessed Mother’s acceptance of the divine will and of
the Incarnation (St. Luke 1:26-38).
Ø Among Mary’s tangible gifts to us:
Brown Scapular – Our Lady of Mt. Carmel to
Green Scapular – Blessed Mother to Sr. Justine Bisqueybers, Daughter of Charity of
Miraculous Medal – Our Lady to Sr. Catherine Labouré also a Sister of Charity.
Spring at
Tilma of St. Juan Diego – may be seen at the Basilica in
Königen des Himmels, bitte für uns!
Ø Louise Watts wrote to tell us that since relocating to
Ø A few memorable thoughts come to mind after
reading Father’s letter of
Who
is Rev. Hugh O’Regan?
A loving only son.
Devoted brother to two sisters.
Justly proud uncle.
Dedicated seminarian.
Devout priest of almost half a century.
Loyal
Administrator of St. James the Greater and to
its local and Chinese congregations.
Administrator of Holy Trinity and to its
German and Latin parishioners.
Vicar, Franciscan, hospital Chaplain.
Refurbisher of parish offices – adding
new technological equipment.
Builder of a reconciliation room in the area
of a former confessional.
Installer
of sacristy restroom – much appreciated and needed.
Replacer of heating system.
Purchaser of new altar table and linens.
Updater of sound system.
Replacer of unsafe sanctuary
carpeting.
Monatsbote publisher.
Provisioner of sacristy supplies.
Scheduler of priests for Sunday Masses and
other services, etc., etc.
Meanwhile, he
faithfully responded to his hospital chaplain’s pager as well as to requests by
parishioners for sick calls. The wakes
and funerals he has attended, not as celebrant but as comforting shepherd, are
too numerous to tally.
Who
is He Not?
An accountant or
diplomat, courses sadly neglected or omitted in the seminary.
A very wise person
said; “Yesterday
is history; Tomorrow is a mystery; Today, the present, is a gift – enjoy
it!” Ad multos
annos – liebe Vater.
Ø Our appreciation to Genevieve Schmidt, to the
CAS committee members, and to all the musicians who worked so hard on such
short notice to ensure that Holy Trinity’s annual Epiphany Concert was held on
schedule. Thanks for all you dedicated
people do for us all the year through.
Ø We were delighted to hear from Marilyn Oberle who wrote after reading Charlie Faulstich’s
column in the December 2005 issue. She
wanted to let us know that the Italian Children’s Home mentioned in the column
does, in fact, still exist at its
Lectors for
English/German Masses |
Feb 5 |
Michael
Hager |
Feb 12 |
Richard
Doucette |
Feb 19 |
Joseph
Harzbecker |
Feb 26 |
Dolores
Miller |
140
617-426-6142