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Holy Trinity Parish, New Denmark, is small in comparison with most Catholic parishes. It currently has around 80 families. However, the church and parish grounds, including the cemetery, are maintained in excellent condition. The interior has pine-paneled walls and a beamed ceiling, part of the work accomplished when the church was completely remodeled in 1939. A large number of the parishioners are of Bohemian extraction, and the church is often referred to around the neighborhood as the “Little Bohemian Church”, and “Jak se Maj!” (How are you?) is a Bohemian greeting used in the parish to this day.
The land on which the church now stands was bought from Franz Kozlovsky on December 9, 1866, for $30. Originally, Catholics living in the area of the present church attended mass in the now ghost parish of St. Wencelaus in Green Street, nine miles away.
Charter members of the congregation were Kozlovsky, Nepomac Wanek, Casper Pociepicky, John Hanek, Frank Tuma, Frank Pelishek, Anton Shochpol, Frank Kapinos and Joseph Kapinos.
Parish men cleared the land and began the erection of a log church.
The logs were squared and the ends were flush. Hemlock logs were used and the building measured 24 by 36-ft. The gabled ends were boarded up and a chimney rose from the southwest corner.
It was roofed with long lasting pine shingles. Later, the log sides were covered with sawed siding. There was no vestibule but a 6 by 6-foot platform made ingress easier.
There was only one altar, the main one, and a sacristy was formed by a curtain hanging across the southeast corner. The inside walls were plastered and the ceiling covered with wainscoting.
The main altar was made by a local carpenter of wide, clear white pine. Each family made its own pew or had it made.
A box stove stood in the northwest corner, with the stovepipe running diagonally to the southwest corner chimney.
Father Gideon Mazanek, the Greenstreet pastor, who urged the construction of the church, offered the first mass in it.
In 1873, on Trinity Sunday, a dinner was scheduled at Kozlovsky hall following the parishes Feast Mass.
Father Mazanek came for the dinner, but complained of not feeling well. Off the kitchen was a small room, its floor thickly covered with shavings from making shingles. He laid down in shavings and asked that the priest in Cooperstown be summoned. Father Mazanek later died and is buried in the Greenstreet cemetery.Fr. Ludmissus Klacal, who followed Fr. Mazanek as Greenstreet pastor, came to Holy Trinity during the summer months only.
Around 1888, Rovnost National Cemetery, about 2 miles away, was founded by local members, allegedly over a disagreement over pew rent and overdue Church dues.
Later in the century the parish then was abandoned and neglected.
Records in St. Francis Xavier parish, Green Bay, indicate that for a time the mission was served from Green Bay, but to this day, original deeds to the parish are not located and official “ownership” is unknown by local parishioners.
During the early days of the parish, when a death occurred, Frank Vogltanz was called to measure the body for a coffin. He would then build the coffin of oak, scraping it with broken glass and polishing it with wax, while the neighboring women washed, dressed and prepared the body for burial.
In 1897, Father Max Oswald was appointed pastor of St. Mary’s, Glenmore. Enroute to his mission in Stark, he passed the then dilapidated and broken down church of the Holy Trinity.
He approached a member of the congregation, promising to offer mass twice a month if the church would be rebuilt.
In 1898, the log building was taken down, and the better logs were used. The men contributed each a portion of money, and one went to Denmark for a load of lumber, and the men worked on the church. This process was repeated until the church was finished.
Father Oswald had pews and altars installed.
Holy Trinity parish has been served from Denmark since 1922 when Father Joseph J. Ahearn was appointed first resident pastor of All Saints’ Parish. Other pastors of Holy Trinity were Father Dusold, Father Jacobs, Father Short and Father John Gehl.
In 1929, records show that the original “DSA” was $50 per parish, as stated in a letter from Bishop Rhode, and pew rent was $12.
In 1939, under Fr. Gehl’s tenure, the church was completely remodeled and enlarged by widening and lengthening it. The remodeling may have been undertaken after a storm damaged the building when a tornado passed close by. A main altar, two sacristies and the side pew areas were added. The basement was excavated for use as a meeting hall and dining room and new heating equipment was installed.
The remodeling project in 1939 totaled $8996 and was funded by the parishes 82 families. The stained glass windows were installed at a cost of $100 per window. They were paid for through honorariums from the parish for $50 per side, and still have the donating family names on them. The cornerstone cost $15. An invoice from Fr. Gehl in 1939 – Easter Candle $1.86 - Altar Candles $10 - Push Broom $1.99. During the renovation, services were held down the road at Gallager’s Hall.
The rebuilt church was dedicated on Nov. 14, 1939, with Bishop Mark Rhode presiding. The Cornerstone was blessed by Monsignor Joseph A. Marx, V.G., P.A.
Father Chester A. Dionne served as pastor from May 10, 1944, until his retirement in January of 1971. During Father Dionne’s tenure, many improvements were made. The interior of the church was redecorated, a new altar was installed, some carpeting laid, and a new Conn organ was purchased. Perpetual care of cemetery graves and lots was initiated and the cemetery grounds expanded in 1955. Rumor has it, in the late 60’s, the existing forward facing altar was installed by Fr. Geenen from St. James while Fr. Dionne was out of town. Around that time, the communion railing was also removed and is stored in the choir area in a side closet.
During the 1950’s, Holy Trinity’s congregation hosted a large parish summer picnic. The picnic included 3 large tents, booyah, burgers, hotdogs and sandwiches were served, along with games for the children and bingo for the adults.
On Oct. 30, 1966, Holy Trinity observed its Parish Centennial, with Father Dionne as celebrant. Bishop Bona presided at a Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving at 4 p.m. that day with Father Kenneth Rodgers as deacon, Father Lambert Schomer as subdeacon, and Father Richard Schafer as master of ceremonies. A celebration was held after mass in the church basement.
Father Donald Feller became pastor in 1971. In June of 1971, a banquet honoring Father Feller was held celebrating his twenty-five years in the priesthood.
During Fr. Feller’s tenure, many new items were purchased, such as vestments, candleholders, and many more, all of which were donated by members of the parish. The first annual family parish meeting and picnic was held in August of 1972. This event has been held annually ever since.
Fr. Feller was well known for taking time after mass to talk to the parish children who remember him well to this day. Fr. Feller also enjoyed taking time after Sunday morning Masses to join the men outside in conversation before heading back to Denmark for his next Mass.
Fr. Feller retired in 1990, and Holy Trinity was served by Fr. Cyril Dickrell until 1992. In 1992, Fr. Robert Gulig was appointed pastor, and served until his retirement in 2000.
During Fr. Bob’s tenure, a small church refurbishing was done in the late 1990’s. Wood flooring on the main altar and sacristies were refinished, walls were scrubbed, and paint re-touched. Fr. Bob provided an Oriental rug for use under the main alter, which is still in use today. Also in the 1990’s the Kozlovsky family donated the monument and ornamental bushes that beautifully grace our cemetery.
Fr. Bob had a special relationship with the parish, as was probably the norm whenever he served. He was comfortable in the rural parish and it was not uncommon for him to drop in for lunch or supper with a local family. His beautiful and powerful singing often rattled windows. He also had his own special relationship with the children of the parish, and his special Christmas story every Christmas Eve is fondly remembered by not only the children but by all. Fr. Bob was also well known for his late arrivals, and was once heard saying, “It is OK to be late, once I have them in church they will wait for me to arrive”.
In 2000, with Fr. Bob’s retirement, All Saints, Holy Trinity, and St. James Cooperstown entered a linked parish arrangement with Fr. Ron Colombo assigned as pastor. Sadly, at that time regular Sunday masses at Holy Trinity were discontinued. However, as a trustee was quoted by a local reporter at the time “We are Not Closing”, and as our active congregation shows, that was a very true statement.
Over time, the linkage expanded. In 2005, St. Joseph’s, Kellnersville, entered into the linkage with Holy Trinity, All Saints, and St. James, and in 2009, St. Mary’s Glenmore/Stark joined the linkage. Both parishes became wonderful additions to the arrangement.
Despite lacking a weekly mass, Holy Trinity continued as an active parish. Monthly Communion with the Word services were held the first Tuesday of every month, and Fr. Ron celebrated Mass the third Thursday of the month. The parish was encouraged as a community to gather for our monthly services, as well as special holiday services on Christmas, Easter, Trinity Sunday and our parish picnic, and of course for funerals, baptisms, and weddings.
In 2014, Father Ron Colombo retired, and Father Kevin Ori, along with Deacon David Scheuer, was assigned to the new “cluster” of All Saints, St. Mary’s Glenmore/Stark, and Holy Trinity parishes while another priest was assigned to the linked cluster of St. James and St. Josephs. With the arrival of Father Kevin and the changes in the linkage organization, Holy Trinity was given the opportunity to begin having weekend Masses again on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month, alternating with St. Mary’s Stark down the road.
Holy Trinity’s first “regular” Mass in 14 years was held in August of 2014 and have continued since. We no longer have Thursday evening Mass, but we have continued our Prayer Services on the 1st Tuesday of the month.
In 2016, Holy Trinity celebrates their “Sesquicentennial” marking 150 years of Faith from 1866 when our ancestors purchased the lot of land to worship on for $30.
Members of Holy Trinity are active in our linked parishes, participating in liturgies, serving on council’s and committees, and participating in social events. Our Altar Society and choir are still very active, and various improvements have been recently made to the church and site including a new metal roof and wheel chair ramp to the front door.
Throughout the parish’s history, whenever something was needed, parish members would band together to gather the necessary monies or to donate time and materials to complete any needed tasks, repairs or upgrades. Whether it be a new roof or chimney, replacing a furnace, new paint on the walls, or just cleaning the church or raking the lawn every spring, the congregation has found a way to get the job done. We hope to continue this legacy far into the future.
The members of the parish have been truly blessed with a robust and colorful history, with outstanding spiritual leaders, and a faithful congregation