parish work in Wheeling and Pittsburgh, becoming director of Toner Institute, a home for delinquent boys: He also spent some years as director of St. Joseph's College in Hays, Kansas.

  One of the first improvements undertaken by Father Cassian as pastor of St. Augustine's was the repairing of the roads in the cemetery. Curbs were placed and concrete laid wherever necessary. Father Clement Pfeifer, O.M.Cap., assistant at the time, deserves special credit for supervising the work. A new furnace was installed in the parish house and repairs were made in the hall. These improvements required an outlay of $7,242.95.

  On January 1, 1922, St. Augustine's witnessed its first departure service for two missionaries destined for China, Father Agatho Rolf and Father Rudolph Blockinger. Father Fidelis Meier, O.M.Cap., delivered the sermon on this occasion. The speaker emphasized the nobleness of the two pioneers of our Province and called upon the faithful to support them spiritually and materially. About forty priests attended.

  One of the first to take to heart the suggestion of Father Fidelis in his departure sermon was the pastor himself. He immediately organized the Kansu Mission Club to assist the missionaries with church equipment. Every Thursday evening after the Holy Hour the members met in the parish library to sew and do other work for the Capuchin Mission of Kansu. The school children, too, were enrolled in the mission cause and on one occasion their little sacrifices netted $420.00 for the missions.

  In 1923, from January 21 to February 4, a fruitful mission was conducted by Fathers Chrysostom Theobald, O.F.M., Andrew Henze, O.F.M., and Cyril Georgel, O.F.M., Franciscans of the Cincinnati Province.

  In July, 1923, Father Cassian completed two years of pastoral work at St. Augustine's and was transferred to St. Fidelis Church in Victoria, Kansas. Here he remained pastor till 1927, when he died as a result of a stroke. His genial character has won a lasting place in the hearts of his people. 

   Successor to Father Cassian was Father Philip reappointed to St. Augustine's after his two years of parochial work in Cumberland. The new pastor endeavored especially to interest the parish in the school, and through his appeals in the St. Augustinus he increased the number of scholarships for the commercial department and promoted study by insisting that normally the scholarship should be won by competition.

  In 1924, Father Philip had the woodwork of the parish house repaired and painted and the church organ completely overhauled. Zeal for decorum during the church services led him to sponsor the organization of the Ushers' Club in 1926. The corps of ushers meet once a month and discuss ways and means to promote harmony and good order during the services. The first officers in the club were: Charles E. Benz, President; Louis Dadowski, Jr., Secretary; Matthew Werries, Jr., Treasurer.(2)

  Charity for the missions and other worthy causes continued to be one of the pastor's outstanding qualities. In 1924 a collection and a. raffle brought $1,148.29 toward building the new wing of St. Fidelis Seminary at Herman, while another collection netted $841.34 for Fathers Agatho and Rudolph in China. In 1925, the missionary gifts of the parish amounted to $4,367.56 and the parish was superseded only by the cathedral. In 1926, the charities reached $6,914.74, which again gave the second honors to St. Augustine's.(3)  No less remarkable was the charitable spirit of the parish in the diocesan campaign for education launched by Bishop Boyle in 1924. The parish assessment was $17,704.00 to be paid within five years. With the usual enthusiasm and leadership Father Philip went to work. Calmly he organized his collectors and sent them to every door in the parish. At the close of the campaign on April 6, $10,122.43 were already paid in cash, and by June 18, 1926, the assessment was overpaid by more than one thousand dollars. Thus, $18,652,53 were sent to the Bishop within two years after the campaign. The final years of Father Philip's pastorate were also distinguished by various ecclesias-



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(2) Constitution for St. Augustine's Usher Club, 1926. Parish archives.
(3) St. Aug., April, 1925, p. 68; March, 1926, p. 50.

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tical celebrations. On October 5, 1924, the Third Order Fraternity commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of its establishment in the parish. A triduum preached by the Reverend Fulgence Meyer, O.F.M., preceded the day of jubilee. On the day itself the Most Reverend Bishop Hugh C. Boyle pontificated and Father Sigmund Cratz., O.M.Cap., preached the sermon. The tertiaries, about seven hundred strong, wearing cord and scapular, marched in procession from the hall to the church. A second and more solemn tertiary celebration occurred from September 19-21, 1926, when the Provincial Tertiary Convention was held at St. Augustine's. Besides the Most Reverend Hugh C. Boyle who pontificated on Sunday, September 19, the following members of the hierarchy were present: Most Reverend Anselm Kenealy, O.M.Cap., Archbishop of Simla, India;(4); Most Reverend John J. Swint, Bishop of Wheeling; and Most Reverend Francis Tief, Bishop of Concordia, Kansas.

  The afternoon witnessed the great mass meeting of 2600 tertiaries in the Harris Theatre. Again the prelates graced the occasion and addressed the tertiaries. A host of clergy, both diocesan and regular, attended the convention. Representing the tertiaries affiliated with their respective provinces were Very Reverend Bede Hess, O.M.C.,(5) of Seaside Park, N.J.; Very Reverend Vincent Schremp, O.F.M., of Chicago, and Reverend Father Ludger Werth, O.M.Cap., of New York City. The polyphonic choir of St. Paul's Cathedral under the direction of the Reverend Charles Rossini rendered the music for the occasion.

  In 1925 and 1926, Father Philip took kindly notice of the golden jubilees of the Ladies' Sodality and of the Young Mens' Conference. On both occasions the members assembled for commemorative services.(6) On June 7, 1925, Father Edward Heyl, O.M.Cap., returned to his home parish to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination. Father Julius Becker, O.M.Cap., preached the jubilee sermon. On June 28, 1925, Father Nicholas Krebs, O.M.Cap., another son of the parish, sang his first solemn Mass and Father Anscar Zawart, preached.

  This second pastorate of Father Philip terminated in July, 1926. Deploring Father Philip's departure the writer in the St. Augustinus remarked:


  From St. Augustine's Father Philip went to Wheeling as pastor of St. Alphonsus. But he had hardly begun his work when his health began to fail and he was forced to resign his office. He remained in Wheeling assisting in the parish in so far as his health would permit until December 27, 1930, when a heart attack called him to his eternal reward.

  Father Gilbert Stickelmeier, O.M.Cap., succeeded Father Philip in July, 1926. Born in Peoria, Ill., on June 1, 1889, he entered the Capuchin Order in July, 1910, and was ordained to the priesthood on May 31, 1917. After rendering chaplain service in the world war he served chiefly in the West, partly as pastor and partly as director of St. Joseph's College in Hays.

  On assuming office the new pastor recognized the necessity of extensive material improvements. The smoke and soot of Pittsburgh had wrought their usual havoc on the walls and ceiling of the church hence the Rambusch Company of New York were summoned to redecorate the church and to install new lighting fixtures. The altars were painted by John Zawart and the statues by




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(4) Resigned his archdiocese on January 13, 1936, and  retired to the Capuchin friary at Pantasaph, England.  Analecta O.M.Cap., March, 1936. p. 71.
(5) Most Rev. Bede Hess, O.M.C., was born on November 16. 1885, and professed as a Franciscan Friar Minor Conventual on November 17, 1901. Ordained on July 26, 1908. Prominent missionary and orator. Resided for many years at Seaside Park. N. J. Residing in Rome as General of his Order since 1935. Schematismus FF. Min. Conv., Syracuse, 1926, p. 117.
(6) Cyprian Gehrling, O.M.Cap.. History of the Young Ladies' Sodality, 1875-1925, Pittsburgh. 1925, pp. 39.
(7) August, 1926. P. 152.

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William Maetzkus. A marble wainscotting was built in the sanctuary and shrines were erected in honor of St. Ann and of the Little Flower. A set of gold vestments was also purchased for the sum of $1,282.00.

  After renovating the church Father Gilbert turned his attention to the school and the cemetery. In the school new maple floors replaced the old, new desks were purchased and drinking fountains installed on each floor. At the cemetery a retaining wall 160 feet long and ten feet high was erected near the entrance. The cost of all these improvements mounted to more than $30,000, but since the church had a surplus fund of more than fifteen thousand dollars, and the pastor raised a like sum by a house collection, bazaars and entertainments, the parish was saved from debt.

  Father Gilbert also made other changes in the parish. In 1927 he introduced the eleven o'clock Mass on Sundays and arranged the other Masses at a more convenient hour. In order to gain more time for preaching the word of God he reduced the pulpit announcements to a minimum and issued a weekly bulletin containing all other parish information. Striving to arouse the laity to a more active participation in the services, he appointed the various parish organizations to take their regular turn in conducting the Holy Hour on Thursday evenings. The system has worked out well and is still observed. Having established the Archconfraternity of the Cord of St. Francis in the parish, Father Gilbert invested all the school children as cordbearers on December 3, 1926. In 1927, he also started St. Augustine's Alumni Association among the graduates of the school. Its purpose is to foster among the graduates an active interest in the affairs of their Alma Mater. December 23, 1928, brought special joy to the parish, for it marked the home-coming of two youthful neophytes to sing their first solemn Masses. Father Aurelius Nickel, O.M.Cap., celebrated  at  9:30 and Father Anscar, O.M.Cap., preached. Father Elmar Praxmarer followed at 11:00 o'clock and Father Leonard Dorn, O.M.Cap., preached.

  Father Gilbert left St. Augustine's in July, 1929, to join the Mission Band of St. Augustine's Province. In this capacity he preached missions and retreats in many States of the Union. Since 1931, he has been engaged in missionary work in Puerto Rico.

  The next pastorate, although full of promise, was of short duration. Father Wendelin Green, O.M.Cap., succeeded Father Gilbert but after scarcely seven months, untimely death cut short his hopeful career. Father Wendelin was born at Carbon Center, Pa., on July 16, 1880. He entered the Capuchin Order in July, 1900, and was ordained on June 20, 1906. Throughout his priestly career Father Wendelin was engaged in parish work, first as curate at St. Augustine's, then at SS. Peter and Paul's, Cumberland. In 1913, he became pastor of the Sacred Heart Church at New Philadelphia, Ohio, going thence to St. Cecilia's, Rochester, Pa., for six years. He returned to New Philadelphia for one year and in 1921, he became guardian and pastor of St. Mary's, Herman, where he remained for three years. From 1924 till July, 1927, he was pastor at Rochester and during 1928 and part of 1929, he was pastor at Herman. In July, 1929, he succeeded Father Gilbert as pastor of St. Augustine's.(8)

  One of the first changes inaugurated by Father Wendelin was the introduction of the weekly envelope system to obtain church revenue not only from the fathers and mothers but also from all over sixteen years of age who are capable of contributing. The system has proved its worth many times. A man of apostolic faith and zeal, Father Wendelin appealed urgently to the people of St. Augustine's to adopt a parish in Puerto Rico, the new mission field of the Pennsylvania Capuchins. He said in the St. Augustinus: "St. Augustine's parish at Pittsburgh should and will adopt one of these little chapels in Puerto Rico, build it, name it our baby church of St. Augustine in Puerto Rico, and keep on mothering it until it is able to take care of itself."(9) It is significant that one month later the St. Augustinus bearing the news of Father Wendelin's death, carried also the following notice regarding the Capu-



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(8) St. Aug., February, 1930, pp. 21, 22.
(9) Ibid., January, 1930, p. 10.

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chin missionaries in Puerto Rico: "St. Augustine's parish has given these missionaries one thousand dollars towards the little St. Augustine's Chapel which the parish has adopted in Puerto Rico."(10) This same little chapel, the "Baby St. Augustine's" is still mothered by St. Augustine's parish of Pittsburgh.

  What other ideals and projects Father Wendelin had in mind for the good of the parish will probably never be known in this world, for on the night of February 18, 1930, death came with a simple heart attack and cut down his victim in the fulness of his years. After the solemn Requiem at St. Augustine's on February 22, the earthly remains were taken to Herman to be interred in the friars' plot of St.Mary's Cemetery. A large delegation from St. Augustine's attended the funeral.

  We now meet Father Ferdinand Hartung, O.M.Cap., as pastor. Born in Pittsburgh on September 29, 1879, he became a Capuchin on July 15, 1900, and a priest on June 20, 1906. His first appointment was to St. Fidelis Seminary where he taught for ten years. From 1917-1918 he was in charge of the mission at Freedom, Pa. From 1918-1921, he was pastor at Herndon, Kansas, whence he came as pastor to Charleston, W. Va., and remained till 1924. His next appointment was as professor at Hays College, Kansas, where he remained till 1926. Then he was transferred to St. Augustine's as assistant pastor and secretary to the Father Provincial. Upon the death of Father Wendelin he assumed the office of pastor.

  Father Ferdinand will be remembered for the road repairs in the cemetery and for the erection of a house for the caretaker. He also had the walls and ceiling of the hall washed, the woodwork given the mahogany finish and new lights installed. During the depression years he opened a soup kitchen and fed daily as high as 200 and more children who otherwise could not have attended school because of under-nourishment. Both in the pulpit and in the pages of the St. Augustinus he begged food for the soup kitchen and organized a staff of cooks who gave generously of their time and skill to preparing substantial and tasty meals for the children of the poor.  In the spiritual realm he introduced the all-day exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on the first Fridays of the month. Permission for this had been granted by the Most Reverend Bishop. In 1932, from February 14-28, a mission was conducted by Rev. Hubert Ostermann, O.M.C. and Rev. Godfrey Wolf, O.M.C., Conventual Franciscans from Seaside Park, N. J. The pastor also encouraged the laymen's retreat movement and.through his efforts large delegations went yearly to Herman for this purpose. In September, 1931, with the Bishop's permission he opened a four-year high school for girls. The move became popular at once.

  The following noteworthy celebrations occurred during Father Ferdinand's term of office: On June 22, 1930, Father Cyprian Gehrling, O.M.Cap., commemorated the silver jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood, and Brother Ivo Litsch, O.M.Cap., celebrated the golden jubilee of his profession as a Capuchin lay brother. Both friars had spent many years in the service of the parish, the one as zealous curate, the other as faithful sacristan. Very Rev. Henry Kluepfel, O.M.Cap., preached the sermon.

  First solemn Masses during the incumbency of Father Ferdinand were as follows: On September 28, 1930, Fathers Edgar Schano, O.M.Cap., and Gerald Greenwald, O.M.Cap., Fathers Boniface Weckmann, O.M.Cap., and Claude Vogel, O.M.Cap.. preached; on June 19, 1932, Father Terence Moffat, O.M.Cap., the preacher on this occasion was Father Paul Seibert, O.F.M.; again on June 18, 1934, Fathers Bernard Nickel, O.M.Cap., and Linus Doemling. O.M.Cap., Fathers Claude Vogel, O.M.Cap., and Edwin Dorzweiler, O.M.Cap., delivered the sermons.

  On July 10, 1930, Mr. Edward Pottmeyer, an outstanding member of the parish, passed to his reward. He was born in Pittsburgh on July 17, 1881, the son of John and Elizabeth Pottmeyer, pioneer members of St. Augustine's. In August, 1907, he married Ida Farmerie and from the union seven children were born. Mr. Edward Pottmeyer had great administrative ability as is shown from the important offices he held. For more than a decade he had been secretary-treasurer of Branch 5, Knights of St. George, and chair-



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(10) Ibid., February, p. 29.

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man of the Pittsburgh District Committee of the same Order. He was also Vice-President of the Allegheny County Branch of the Catholic Central Verein and past President of the St. Augustine's Casino and of the St. Raphael's Society. He was. moreover, a member of the Pittsburgh Council of the Knights of Columbus, and for seven years had been secretary of the Board of Trustees of St. Augustine's Church. At the funeral on July 14, Father Ferdinand was celebrant and Fathers Cyprian Gehrling. O.M.Cap., and Cecil Nally, O.M.Cap., assisted as deacon and subdeacon. In the death of Mr. Pottmeyer the parish lost an exemplary member and a very energetic trustee.(11)

  Father Ferdinand retired from St. Augustine's in July, 1933. He left a well-balanced budget, for the parish had on hand nearly $4,000. This is all the more remarkable since his pastorate fell in the worst years of the depression. Moreover, as a result of the Bishop's resolve to rebuild the Home for the Aged conducted by the Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Augustine's was assessed $1.750.00, and in keeping with its traditional spirit of charity the parish contributed $2,043.75 to this worthy cause.

  From St. Augustine's Father Ferdinand went to Charleston, W. Va., as pastor of the Sacred Heart Church. After three years he returned to Pittsburgh as chaplain of St. Francis Hospital. In 1937 he was transferred to Dover, Ohio, as curate.

  The successor to Father Ferdinand was Father Henry Kluepfel. He was born in Steinfeld, Bavaria, on September 27, 1876. In September, -1890, he entered St. Fidelis Seminary and joined the Capuchin Order on July 14, 1896. Completing his studies, he was ordained priest on June 21, 1902. His first appointment was to St. Joseph's, Dover. Ohio. The same year, 1902, he entered on professorial duties at St. Fidelis Seminary where he remained till 1907. In this year he took up special studies at Duquesne University, in preparation for the presidency of St. Joseph's College at Hays, Kansas. He retired from the college in 1917, and became curate at St. Mary's Church, Herndon, Kansas. The following year he was appointed guardian and pastor at Victoria, Kansas. In October, 1921, he was elected Provincial and served two terms in this capacity. At the expiration of his provincialate in July, 1927, he served as chaplain to Mount Immaculate Academy, Pittsburgh; chaplain to Toner Institute, pastor at Herman, and finally as pastor of St. Augustine's.

  Under Father Henry the perpetual novena in honor of St. Anthony was started. On the canonization of St. Conrad of Parzham (May 24, 1934) the latest Capuchin saint, special prayers to St. Conrad were added. For this purpose the Christian Mothers donated an artistic statue of St. Conrad.(12)

  August 20-23, 1933, were red letter days in the parish. During these days St. Augustine's was host to the Seventy-eighth Convention of the Catholic Central Verein, and the Catholic Women's Union of America. While the meetings took place in the Carnegie Hall and in the Fort Pitt Hotel, all the religious services, including the Pontifical Mass by Bishop Boyle, were held in St. Augustine's Church.(13)

  The pastorate of Father Henry was all too short, lasting but eleven months. Stricken with pneumonia, he struggled against it for twelve days when he finally succumbed to it on June 21, 1934. For the second time within four years death had come for the pastor of St. Augustine's and the people were bowed in grief. But the present victim had been a tireless worker and had spent himself in the service of his Blessed Master. The solemn funeral was held on June 25, 1934. Very Reverend Father Sigmund Cratz, O.M.Cap., Provincial, officiated as celebrant, Fathers Boniface Weckmann, O.M.Cap., and Gerard Scheiner. O.M.Cap., a nephew of the deceased, were deacon and subdeacon. Father Theodore Schillo was master of ceremonies. The Most Reverend Bishop Hugh C. Boyle presided in the sanctuary and gave the absolution. Burial took place in St. Augustine's Cemetery. (14)


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(11) Ibid., July, 1930, p. 1221.
(12) A booklet entitled: Perpetual  Novena in Honor of St. Anthony of Padua, was  issued in August, 1933.
(13) Transactions published in Bericht der 78 Versammlung, St. Paul. 1933.
(14) St. Aug., July, 1934, pp. 1-3.

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