as on week days, and to notify the parishoners with
sorrowful tolling that some member has departed this life or is being
lowered into the grave.
In the fall of 1854 the celebrated Jesuit
missionary, F. X. Wenninger, gave rousing missions at St. Agatha, St.
Clement's and New Germany. At the close of the mission a huge
cross was erected in front of the church. The missionary himself
painted the inscription on its arms: "He who perseveres to the end
shall be saved." The mission cross erected in 1847 was on the cemetery.
The Wenninger cross remained in its place till taken down, when
the new church
was built.
Soon the fathers also procured a
conveyance to drive to distant missions and to sick calls. Father
Ebner remained in St. Agatha till June 16, 1856. Father Caveng
was transferred to Buffalo in 1850, and was replaced here by
Father Joseph Ritter during 1850 and 1851. In 1852 Father Jos.
Fruzzini replaced Father Ritter, who came again for the year
1853. The rest of the time Father Ebner was alone here.
Father John Holzer and Father William
Kettler took charge of New Germany towards the end of 1848.
Father Holzer remained there with one other Father, first
Kettler, then Kobler, and lastly Ritter. Early in the year 1852
they abandoned New Germany and took charge of Guelph. These
Fathers of the different places helped each other as the occasion
demanded, and their names are found more or less promiscuously in the
various registers.
See Part III. for notes of the different
priests who labored in the district.