South Side German Catholicism & Passionist
Ministry:
From the Short History of St. Michael's Parish, 1886
by Father Philip Birk, C.P.
In 1886, Father Philip Birk, C.P., at the request of Father Bernard Hehl, C.P., pastor of St. Michael's Parish wrote Kurze Geschicte der St. Michaels Gemeinde. Written in German for the 1886 consecration of the parish, this 163 page book brings into focus some of the key forces that shaped Pittsburgh German Catholicism in the two decades after the American Civil War. Among them were diocesan and Passionist leadership, lay participation in parish life, economic realities, church architecture, and devotional life. We are fortunate that in 1942 Father Christopher Berlo, C.P. (1902-1979) translated the ten-chapter book into English. The entire 1886 German book, as well as the English translation by Father Berlo (except for chapter seven which was lost), is in the Passionist Historical Archives.
A member of St. Paul of the Cross Province, he was born on January 14, 1843 at Serrig near Treves, Germany. He came to Pittsburgh with his family as a young boy. He grew up in the shadows of the monastery. In 1858 he pleaded and received from Father Anthony Calandri, C.P. permission to enter the Passionists novitiate. He professed his vows on August 16, 1859 and was granted a dispensation so as to be ordained a priest on July 23, 1865. For two and one-half years he was the assistant priest at St. Michael's German Parish Church, Pittsburgh. Then he was a missionary to Bulgaria. Back in the United States he was a Passionist seminary professor, pastor of St. Michael's Monastery Parish, West Hoboken, New Jersey, and retreat preacher. In 1918 he moved back to Pittsburgh. On July 23, 1919 he suffered a slight stoke and died on January 12, 1920.
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