The Newsletter from Holy Trinity, "the German Church", published since 1899.

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Father's Letter

Dear Monatsbote Readers,  

Commentary

 THE GOOD OLD SUMMER TIME

Summer is a carefree time.  So with all cares aside, recall with pleasure all the joys of the past three months.   We may have spent the "Off Season" doing the planning and dreaming but now we are in the final stages of putting those plans in effect. And who can say they have not added zest to the other nine months of the year?

Whether it was a week or two in the mountains or at the seashore, a cruise, or travel to a foreign land, the normal routines of the rest of the year have been broken.  Maybe you avoided the "Joys" of modern travel by staying around, but had the pleasure of being visited by other members of a widely separated family.  Summertime is the time for such events.

Those of us who can count themselves as surviving members of a slowly vanishing generation have the opportunity of meeting with our peers by attending one or more Elderhostel sessions, as did we.  By selecting a program subject on an aspect of Geology we were able to visit several National parks famous for their geological revelations.  The effect of trickling water over millions of years - besides revealing the ravages of time - has left sights worthy to behold.  However, in terms of our own lifetime and life styles, it is a long way from The Rest House on Quincy Shore to the National Parks of Utah. 

Then would summer be what it is expected to be without the Boston Pops, the Esplanade Concerts or the music of our familiar German composers wafting on the breezes emanating from Tanglewood?  It is still not too late for all children young and old to take their annual Swan Boat ride and thus complete the season. 

                                                                                                            C.  N. Faulstich

Special Notices

Important Notice

Due to the special demands of the various activities connected with the Bishop's Visitation there will be no Oktoberfest this year.  Plans are underway, however, to conduct many of our favorite Oktoberfest events on German Heritage Sunday (November 18, 2001.)  We hope that everyone can be patient those extra 5 weeks and that the entire parish will join together on the third Sunday in November for the combined observances.

Visitation Update

During the summer months the Visitation Committee and parish leadership completed work on the self evaluation study that forms the principal input to the Bishop's review.  We are very pleased that such a large cross-section of the parish membership participated in this very valuable effort.  The final result is so much better because of their involvement. 

The report provides a detailed review of who we are and what we are trying to achieve as a community of faith.  It highlights our needs and what we believe we must do in the coming years to address them.  Copies will be sent to Bishop Boles and to Very Rev. Arthur F. Wright a few weeks before their visit.  This will give them a chance to become familiar with where Holy Trinity stands today and where we plan to go.  We are looking forward to the Cardinal's and the Bishop's advice and counsel. 

Sunday, September 30 will be a very busy day at Holy Trinity.  Bishop Boles will celebrate the 10 o'clock Mass and will preside at the 12 noon Mass.  Naturally, we will have music at both services and our choirs are already getting ready.  Many others are working hard to make sure that our house is clean and that everything is ready for our guests. 

We will use the regular social hours after each Mass as an opportunity for the Bishop to meet with individual parishioners.  We hope that as many people as possible will participate as we extend the parish's hospitality to our visitors.

Once again, our gratitude to all who are giving so much of their time to make this effort successful.  The spirit of cooperation and commitment has been remarkable.

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 The Boylston Schul Verein in Walpole will hold its annual German Heritage Day the evening of Saturday, September 29.  Call the BSV at 508 660-2018 for details on their food, music and dancing.

September 2001 Calendar

Etwas Neues

·          * As noted elsewhere in this issue, we have decided not to hold our regular Oktoberfest this
   year. It simply would have put too much of a burden on our volunteers coming just two
   weeks after the Visitation Sunday.  We will, however, move many of the traditional
   Oktoberfest activities to German Heritage Sunday (Nov. 18) and we are hopeful that all our
   parishioners will participate.  Details for the day's events will be published in next month's
   Monatsbote.  In the mean time, however, please contact Rosalie if you have any handmade
   arts and crafts you would like to contribute to the Crafts Table.   They are always popular
   and would be very welcome.

·        * Harry Kaufman update: On March 30, Bishop Cote of Portland, ME formally accepted Harry
   and seven classmates as "candidates for ordination to the transitional diaconate and to the
   priesthood."  Also, Harry arrived at St. Brigid's Parish in South Boston (his summer 
   assignment) just two days prior to Congressman Moakley's funeral.  (Yes, you did see our
   acolyte/seminarian on TV!  The prayers of Heilige Dreifaltigkeit are always with you,
   Harry!

·          * Miss Anna Miethe, our retired R.N. and lifetime member of Holy Trinity's Immaculate
   Conception Sodality, has changed her residence from Dorchester to the Ellis Nursing &
   Rehabilitation Center, 135 Ellis Ave., Norwood, MA 02062.  A greeting card or visit would
   be appreciated!

·          * "Auf Wiedersehen but not Goodbye!"  Our message to Professor Michael Foley and family
   who are leaving "The Heights" for Notre Dame in South Bend. Mike and Alexandra shared
   much time and talents as faithful members of our Latin congregation, Parish Council and he
   offering the Fr. F.X. Weiser, SJ lecture series of the revitalized Holy Name Society while she
   was ever helpful with the Martha & Mary Society.  (We would be remiss if we did not
   acknowledge also the joy they brought to us with their wee daughters, Catherine and Mary
   Veronica.)  All Holy Trinity parishioners offer prayerful wishes for success in this important
   career step.

·          * Our deep sympathy to Joyce Donovan of the Latin Choir and her sons and daughters-in-law
   upon the death of her beloved spouse, John.   He was a graduate of Holy Cross and an
   engineer who suffered a lengthy hospitalization but happily welcomed the birth of his first
   grandchild.  As his Latin Mass sang: Requiescat in pace!

·        * "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!"  This is evidenced by Taylor Faulstich, age 14, who
   as a student in Melrose Middle School is writing his autobiography - learning about his
   German ancestors and making a list of his goals which include world travel.  His justly proud
   grandparents, Anna and Charles (he's the CN Faulstich of Monatsbote columnist fame) have
   sown well.  

·        * Bob Miller is not a trombonist as his father, Richard; an organist as his sister, Doreen; a
   shakuhachi player (Japanese woodwind) as his sister Mary Ellen but he is a percussionist of
   note - playing the jimbe, an African drum, for the past 5 years, performing in the "Earth
   Rhythm Drummers" throughout the Midwest.  He and its founder, Ms. Fons Koster, also
   study and perform with master drummers and dancers from Mali, Guinea, Senegal and the
   Ivory Coast. (No doubt, with Mom Dolores as publicity agent, the Miller Quartet will soon
   be heard on CD's and WCRB!)  Congratulations to all!

·        *  To the Houston-McCloskey families prayers as they bade farewell to their uncle. George, a
   WW II veteran, was buried form Holy Trinity at a Tridentine Mass.  Requiescat in pace!

·          * Mary Geiger reports that the spiritual bouquet to the Holy Father for Peace was most
   successful.  A partial tally of both local and out-of-state societies listed over 1,000 each of
   Masses, Holy Commun-ions, Rosaries, and over 3,500 other prayers and devotions. The
   Catholic Women's Guild and National Catholic Women's Union say Dankeschön!

·          * On May 31, Lucy May (Fernekees) Curran, age 97, slipped away to God's eternal
   presence. Prayers and happy memories are extended to her 4 generations.  Lucy was an
   active participant of the C.W.G. and hosted many Mission Circle (packing events) at her
   Dedham home.  May she now know heavenly peace!

·          * The Boylston Schul-Verein (Rte. 109 near the Westwood/Walpole line) is holding its famed
   Oktoberfest on September 8 and 9!  It features live German music and luscious traditional
   food, kuchens and beverages.  Enjoy a day in the country mit Familie und Freunde!

·          * September and school are synonymous and thus we quote this thought-provoking poem from
   FOCUS (the newsletter  for the National Catholic Women's Union.)

MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB

Mary had a little Lamb, his fleece was white as snow,
And everywhere that Mary went, the Lamb was sure to go.
He followed her to school each day, 'Twasn't in the rule.
He made the children laugh and play, to have this Lamb in school.
And then the rules all changed one day, Illegal it became
To bring the Lamb of God to school, Or even speak His Name.
Every day got worse and worse, and days turned into years.
Instead of hearing children laughing at play, we heard gunshots and tears.
What must we do to stop the crime that's in our schools today?
Let's let the Lamb come back to school and teach our children to pray!

Special birthdays for this month are:

1 - Richard Remmes                         3 - Mary Geiger

6 - Sr. Francis Will, OSF                  8 - Our Blessed Mother

9 - Jonathan Cooper                         10 - Pauline Smith

29 - Catherine Warren

Wir gratulieren Ihnen zum Geburtstag!

Sept 9

Sept 16

Sept 23

Sept 30

Richard Doucette

Hildegarde Dreist

Mary Geiger

Hildegarde Dreist & Michael Hager