Conclusion of the Day



I'm currently looking at secondary sources comparing various Catholic immigrant groups with the Volga-Germans.  I came across this description of the Volga-German Catholics by one historian:

The Germans counted more rural Catholics than did any other national group. The German Catholics of the Great Plains displayed a greater stolidity, stability, and conservatism than did other Catholics there. They were generally more prosperous. Their churches were usually larger. They enjoyed a richer devotional and liturgical life. Even outside the church they sought occasions to pray and to sing the traditional German hymns. They had not the same intimate association with their priests as had the Irish, and their pastors generally had shorter stays among them. Although as determined as their eastern counterparts to have their own schools, they had not the same need for their variety of parish associations.

In general, I think this statement is pretty accurate.  I'm not sure how one measures "a richer devotional and liturgical life."  I've been to St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City and St. Andrews Catholic Church in Roanoke, both founded by Irish immigrant communities, and both seem to have parishioners that are just as spiritual as any Volga-German Catholic Church I've attended.  It is true that the encounters with priests were less frequent than the Irish in the early stages.  This happened because there were a limited number of priests in most Volga-German settlement areas and the priest might only visit the Church to preside over Mass every three months and give sacraments.  The priests also stayed for only about 1-2 year periods in the colonies. 

One thing to consider when looking at religious life for the Volga-German settlements is to note that when priests or sisters traveled to those areas, they saw themselves as missionaries to that particular group of immigrants.  This meant they thought of themselves as "civilizing" forces (nineteenth century language and not mine).  Whereas, in the Irish urban communities and German urban communities, the priests were usually diocesean ones, meaning they stayed longer and wanted to cultivate a strong diocese for the future to make their mark in Catholic cities.   Urban areas also meant more political activities and having strong Catholic institutions reinforced the Catholic voice in local, state, and national politics.

Photo: This picture of of St. Catherine Catholic Church in Catherine, Kansas.