58
HISTORY
OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
over for the occasion. As he was quite a musician, he must have
had a good choir. Father Holzer states that the church up to that
time had cost $900.00, though it had no floor nor furniture, nor was it
plastered. He also says that the Lay Brother, named Pilz, who was
an expert carpenter and joiner, laid the floor, built the altar and
pulpit, made the doors, windows, etc. He also painted the church
and furniture. The Brother describes the Monstrance in use up to
that time in the church. It was a board with a hole cut into it
for the Sacred Host, and a few sticks of wood sticking out to represent
the usual rays. He says jokingly that this Monstrance would be a
great acquisition for any museum of art or antiquities.
Father Holzer states that about the time he had
dedicated the church he received a handsome sum Of money from Europe,
with which he expected to finish the church and have something left
over for other needy Missions. Here is his rendiconto:
From the Leopoldinenstiftung in Vienna,
On one occasion Father Holzer received £400 in
one sum and various other amounts, some for the German Missions and
sometimes for the needy ones generally. Wilmot, New Germany,
Preston, Galt, Rainham and other Missions got some of these remittances
from Vienna, Munich and from personal friends, how much in the
aggregate no one can tell, but certainly a considerable amount.
He also received several lots of church goods which he
distributed carefully to all the Missions under his charge.
From one consignment of church goods New
Germany received: One Monstrance, replacing that of wood fit for the
museum; one Christmas crib, 10 dozen Rosaries, one piece of altar
linen, the painting of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This I mention
to show the people how much was done for them in their need, so that
they may consider whether they can not do anything for other poor
churches in their need. The matter of Church Extension should be
one of importance, especially for old parishes that have no pressing
wants themselves and are, therefore, well able to help Missions in new
districts and places where the Catholics are few and unable to help
themselves just like our colonies in their beginnings.
On his arrival in Canada, Father Holzer made
his home in New Germany. His first baptism was October 31, 1848.
He had as assistant Father Sadler the first year, Father Kohler
the second, and Father Ritter in 1850.
Father Holzer writes to his Provincial Superior
at Innsbruck under the date, September 4th, 1851: That their Superior
General, Father Boulanger, had been on a visit to their Missions, and
that he had consented to allow the Fathers to remain in New Germany.
That with four priests they were looking after 6,000 Germans,
that the Bishop was anxious that they should also take charge of 10,000
English-speaking settlers of Guelph and the country northward to
Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. Further, that he wished to build two
churches for the Irish, one in Galt, another in Peel, I suppose on the
12th Con-
Next Page
Page
Index Picture
Index List of
Places