NEWS FROM KOLPING VANCOUVER Greetings from Vancouver to all our Kolping friends.
As we look back over the year 2011, it has been a year of monumental changes for Kolping Vancouver. Holy Family Parish had been our home since 1956, but times and circumstances have changed. A lot of soul-searching and discussions had taken place for some time, and with the wholehearted support of our membership we moved our base to St. Monica Parish in Richmond. As anyone who has ever moved knows, moving entails a lot of adjustment, and we are no different; it will take time to adjust to our new surroundings and also to earn credibility and respect with the new parish.
On October 30th we celebrated the Kolping World Day of Prayer with Mass at St. Monica’s, in observance of the 20th Anniversary of the Beatification of Adolf Kolping. Vice-president Günther Vetter represented our president Horst Zimmermann, who, with six other members, was taking part in the Rome pilgrimage. We joined Kolping members around the world in praying for the beatification of Kolping. With the help of Erika Fahrmann, Resi Knoll and Elisabeth Lange, who went out of their way to prepare the food, our first function turned out well.
Our Rome travellers, who had returned home safe and sound, joined us for Kolping Memorial Day on November 27th, the first Sunday of Advent. In his homily, Father Boniface reminded us to look beyond all the ordinary stress and preparations for Christmas, to pause and take time for longing, hope and the promise of the coming of Christ. At the end of the Mass, Father asked our president Horst to give a short introduction on the work of the Kolping Society. As we gathered for brunch, Father, who had been on vacation at our previous function, felt right at home, happily reconnecting with old acquaintances. Karl Schindler was honoured for 60 years of loyalty to Kolping – an impressive achievement. Karl, our “music man”, was initiated in Bavaria. In keeping with the spirit of the Advent season, Christian Rumpf shared two inspiring stories with us: The Talking Christmas Candle and the Christmas Guest. Thank you to our hosts Sigi Araszewski and Resi Knoll for preparing the food, as well as to Heidi Stolting for the beautiful table decorations.
We are sad to report that we had to say farewell to our Kolping brother Joachim Knoll, who passed away suddenly on November 26th after a long illness. We extend our sincere sympathy to his wife Frances, three children and five grandchildren, as well as to his twin brother Winfried. Joachim and Winfried immigrated to Canada in the early 1950’s, where they both joined Kolping and started their families.
As we prepare for the holy Christmas season, we think of all our friends who are ill and keep them in our prayers. On behalf of the Kolping Family of Vancouver, I wish you all the love, peace and blessings of the Christ Child throughout the coming New Year!