Ø      Dual felicitations and special prayers for Angelo Messina, parishioner, chef and “peppermint patty man” of West Medford upon his May 2004 wedding to his “American Beauty” Rose, and to the apparent success of his brain tumor surgery and chemotherapy in June.  I was a delight to see Angelo back at Holy Trinity recently and we offer this new couple our wishes for God’s choicest blessings – health, happiness and peace for many, many years. 

Ø      To Susan Ryan-Vollmar, we send congratulations upon her appointment as editor-in-chief of the South End News and Bay Windows.  Susan, an “obsessed” (her terminology) political newsperson, is the granddaughter of the late Joseph and Dorothea (Vollmar) Ryan.  We remember the justly deserved eulogy which she wrote and delivered at Joe’s funeral service.

Ø      Holy Trinity is saddened to report the November 30 death of one of its oldest (if not, the oldest) parishioner – Edward B. Muenninghoff – who celebrated his 100^th birthday on July 7, 2004.  Ed was a past Grand Knight and 4^th degree member of the Knights of Columbus.  Before he and his late wife, Catherine, moved to Danvers, they were active at HT.  May God grant them His eternal peace!

Ø      From March 9 to 13, “Max” Colella (15), grandson of Hilde Dreist, will perform in Indianapolis as a member of the King Philip Symphony Band of Wrentham.  This talented musical group of high-school honor students was one of seventeen selected throughout the U.S. and the only band chosen to represent New England.  Max plays the tenor saxophone and is a jazz aficionado as well.  Along with his tuxedo, we hope he’ll pack the proud wishes of family, friends and Holy Trinity.

Ø       Among February’s “Fast Days” are treasured feasts and festive occasions: 11^th - Our Lady of Lourdes (the Blessed Mother’s miraculous appearance to St. Bernadette); 14^th - Saint Valentine’s Day (a tradition observed over 1800 years since the days of ancient Rome when Claudius II, a warmonger, outlawed marriage in order to enlarge his army.  St. Valentine was imprisoned for performing the Sacrament of Matrimony to couples in secret.  As Paul Harvey might say: “and now, you – and Hallmark – know the rest of the story.”)  21^st - President’s Day (a holiday deserving our prayers for our country’s leaders and our petition to God for peace.)

P.S.  “Three things last forever: faith, hope and love.  The greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinth-ians 13:13.  Valentine greetings to elders and the ill could be considered a pious practice!

Ø       Calls to the priesthood are special and cherished – as are those dedicated to become God’s “Fishers of men!”  They never take a vacation from their vocation.  The vineyard is plenteous but the true laborers are few, thus we pray:

   O Jesus, our great High Priest, hear my  humble prayers on behalf of your priests.

   Give them a deep faith, a bright and firm hope, and a burning love which will ever increase in the course of their priestly life.

   In their loneliness, comfort them.

   In their sorrows, strengthen them.

   In their frustrations point out to them that it is through suffering that the soul is purified; and show them that they are needed by the Church, they are needed by souls, they are needed for the work of redemption.

   O loving Mother Mary, mother of Priest, take to your heart your sons who are close to you because of their priestly ordination and because of the power which they have received to carry on the work of Christ in a world which needs them to much.

   Be their comfort; be their joy; be their strength; and, especially, help them to live and to defend the ideals of consecrated celibacy.  Amen.                                    John Joseph Cardinal Carberry.

Ø       Gratulieren zum Geburtsag to Herr Editor, Peter Cooper on the 5^th, his Mutter, Rosalie (Cavelius) Cooper (7^th), Fraulein Martha Engler (19^th), Frau Dorothy (Schwab) Gregorupolos (25^th), and Grosse-Oma Martha (Schlaich) Rettman on the cusp of 2/28 and 3/1 – her choice.  To all we sing a very hearty “Ein Prosit.”

Ø      On January 2^nd, approximately 300 people were treated to the annual Epiphany Concert at Holy Trinity.  This year, Sängerchor-Boston was augmented by the Bel Canto and A Capella Choirs of Marlborough High School both directed by Laura Prichard.  The three Kings, themselves, in the persons of Richard Doucette, Carl Camelo, and Jim McClosky, processed in their stately march bearing gifts which they presented at the krippe to the Christkind.  It was a joyous and music-filled occasion.  Dankeschön to the Christian Arts Series Committee for supplying all the time and effort that goes into to arranging such an outstanding program.  Thanks also to the bakers and servers at the after-concert reception in the Medeiros Center.

Ø       Another mini-Epiphany choral program was presented by our Director of Music, Genevieve Schmidt, and her kleine Sängerchor at Deutsches Altenheim on January 10.  Somehow, the drei Königen (this time the magnificent robes were worn by Mark Doucette, his dad, Richard, and Robert Quagan) were able to travel to West Roxbury and perform their Magi wonders.  The auditorium was packed with residents who were delighted with both the singing and the visit from their royal highnesses.

Ø       Courtesy of Michael Hager, Esq., we offer the following glimpse of the past which he translated from German as it appeared in Das Monatsbote (Vol. 3, No. 11, page 5) of July 6, 1902.   “When Buffalo Bill was here recently with his Wild West Show, a performance was given that was not on the program.  At the invitation of Farther Jutz, pastor of the community, a number of Indians paid a visit to  Casino Hall and delighted the school children gathered there with a war dance.  Then Father Jutz entertained them and led them to the church, where he prayed with them in the Indian language.”

Note: Father Jutz, SJ, was our pastor from 1896 to 1906 and founded Das Monatsbote in 1899.  He was a friend of Blessed Katherine Drexel and, prior to coming to Holy Trinity, worked among the Sioux and Arapahoe Indians.  (See Monatsbote of February 2004, page 5 for further information on the establishment of this newsletter.)

Ø      In line with this, we were reminded of another late Jesuit pastor of note, Rev. Robert J. Carr, when viewing a recent TV Mass offered by Rev. Robert Carr presently of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.  The former Father Carr, our last Jesuit pastor, spent his later years in his vocational dream as an active missionary among the poor in the hinterlands of Jamaica.  Father Carr died in February of 1971.  R.I.P.

Ø      Heard at a religious gathering recently:  What does the word “BIBLE” mean?   Besides being the inspired words of God, it represents this acronym: Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth.  (Brief and to the point!)  Thanks, Hilde, for sharing this with us!

Ø      Last month’s query about the phrase, “Gelobt sei Jesus Christus” brought comment from the matriarch of the Wessling Family, (Barbara Bergdoll)  who said her late husband, John, has these words incised on his gravestone.  When asked what her preference will be she replied, “In  Ewigkeit, Amen.”  Herr George Krim and his dear Elsa have GSJC on their monument also.  He added that all his original music compositions and arrangements are always signed thus.  Praise to the Lord is still affirmed in 2005!

Ø       In the Pilot we read an article confirming the combining of two churches in Quincy (Hough’s Neck area) namely, Most Blessed Sacrament and Star of Sea, now to be known as Holy Trinity.  Their 160 years plus “Big Sister” in Boston, Holy Trinity (German) Church, sends prayerful greetings at this re-birth and christening.

Ø      February, our shortest month, ushers in, on February 9 – Ash Wednesday, a long liturgical season – Lent, 40 days of prayer and penance before the salvation of Easter.  In today’s local and international turmoils, our small sacrifices may seem puny but, hopefully, purging as we thank and beseech our Creator for his mercy and guidance. 

Ø      Let us all make a concerted effort during Lent – barring blizzards, broken limbs or bursitis from shoveling – to attend Holy Trinity’s Masses on Sunday and its other Lenten services.  Though distance may make for a long pilgrimage, our devotional prayers and presence are its hope!

Ø      Quote of Note: “Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.”                     Thomas Moore.