Pilger, Holy Trinity Parish

Prior to our chapel being built in Pilger in 1948, mass was celebrated in Paul Hoenman's machine shed. Before this, the townspeople drove in the summer and travelled faithfully by caboose in winter to St. Bernard's Church. Albert Hueser and John Cody had large cabooses and they transported as many people who could squeeze in. They headed out to St. Bernard's regardless of the temperature or weather!

Children, women and men all had jobs to be done. Stones were carried to fill the forms, lunch and hot coffee were served and well appreciated on those cold days. Mixing and pouring cement was heavy work. When the foundation was completed, a temporary roof was installed. The community donated many hours to complete this first step toward having a church in Pilger. On Dec. 8, 1948, Fr. John Hable, OSB, celebrated the first mass at Holy Trinity Chapel.

Many still remember taking turns early in the morning to start fires in three heaters which were only converted 45 gallon gas drums—all this in the hopes of taking the chill out of this basement structure. In winter no one sat too close to the walls which were several degrees cooler than the rest of the room! All parishioners were expected to make fuel donations, usually of wood, but sometimes money.

In spring, planks were set double in order to keep one's feet above water, or at least drier. Later the mud was scraped out and gravel hauled in so that a cement floor could be poured.

The chapel was completed with benches purchased from St. Joseph's, Fulda, and an organ from Holy Family Church.

In 1963, the reality of a new church came a little closer. The parishioners purchased a two storey school house located in Marysburg. It was important to de construct this building with care so that as much of the lumber as possible could be saved for re use on the church to be built in Pilger. Endless hours were donated to this job. The workers also had to sort the lumber, take it toPilger, and clean up the school building site.

There was concern that the foundation, our chapel, was not strong enough to support a structure. Fr. John consulted the architect, Ted B. Arling, to confirm that this wood structure would be well supported by this foundation! Fr. John had worked hard making plans for this new building but never saw it completed. He passed away Dec. 3, 1963. Fr. Florian Renneberg, OSB, was his assistant at the time and kept the project going.

The new church rose on the foundation of the basement chapel. There was enough lumber salvaged from the Marysburg school to do the frame work. The rafters were purchased and put up. As the work continued the building took shape. A phoning committee was organized to arrange for a crew and a chief foreman for each day. The women organized to have coffee and lunch available for each crew. They helped with what they could. The weather that fall was wet and cold but all persisted. On Dec. 8, 1963, the first mass was celebrated in the Holy Trinity church.

Priests from the abbacy who served at Holy Trinity Parish were: Fr. John Hable, 1931-1963, Fr. George Brodner, 1964-1971, Fr. William Gehlen, 1971-1977, Fr. Werner Renneberg, 1977-1983, Fr. Philip Loehr, 1983-1988, Fr. Damian Yaskowich, 1988-1989, Fr. Joseph Ackerman, 1989.

Others who acted as assistants were Frs. Florian Renneberg, Maurice Weber, Albert Ruetz and Lawrence DeMong.