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Little
Flower Reflections
by Little Flower Parishioners, Past & Present
This is the only parish I have belonged to and, even though I moved out of
the area in 1991, I could not give up my membership. Since I have virtually
no biological family here, the parish, in general, and the Legion of Mary,
in particular, are my family. I am very grateful for these relationships. God
bless each person who has touched my life.
– Jean Leonhardt, parishioner since 1952
Marcel Bergansky and Bill Wells singing duets, seeing my eighth grade teacher at Holy Redeemer, Sister Ann Vincenta, working as the school secretary when my daughter, Carrie, entered Little Flower Kindergarten are some of my favorite memories. Little Flower means “warmth and friendship” to me.
– Dave Herrmann, parishioner since 1979
We have lived in Little Flower
for 37 1/2 years, one-half of the parish’s 75-year history. Our six children
all went to the school for their primary education. We have great memories
of fellowship, scouting, clubs, CYC float trips, theatre, etc. Most of all,
Little Flower Church has been where we have known and loved our God, Jesus
Christ.
– Tom and Joann Ruoff, parishioners since 1963
My great uncle
was Monsignor Tammany. I grew up in St. Roch’s parish. When we went to
visit Uncle Joe, I remember thinking it was so far away. It seemed to take
forever to get there. How a young mind works. Little did I know that Little
Flower was practically a neighbor. I used to marvel at the beautiful round
church. I am now pleased to be a part of the Little Flower family.
– Susan Tammany McCarthy, Mother of Dan, a third grader at Little Flower School
In
May 1954, while driving around with our children after leaving Marty
at Immaculate Conception Church (our parish at the time), Bob spotted
a “For Sale” sign
at 1269 Arch Terrace. He said to himself, “This is where I want our family
to live forever.” We prayed a lot that God would grant our wish. He did.
We were able to purchase that house that month and moved in August. Seven of
our 12 children were born there. Once Bishop Gottwald, after all the children
had graduated from Little Flower, asked how many years of attendance our family
had accumulated. It turned out to be 85 years. What a blessing it has been.
– Bob and Marty Walsh, parishioners since 1954
Little Flower Parish means a lot to
me. I can pray better during the day in the silent chapels – St. Therese
de Lisieux and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
– Nick Fiorita, parishioner since 1998
Our family, John and Adele Zaegel, Barbara Zaegel Milster, Madeline
Zaegel Rousselow, and Richard Zaegel, moved into the parish in
1951 and remained
until 1988. I remember with great fondness my time in grade school,
the school picnics,
the card parties and the midnight Mass processions. Everyone knew “the
round church.” Even though all of us moved, it was always special for
us to come “back home” for Mass with our parents.
– Barbara Zaegel Milster, former parishioner, 1951-1988
Our son was baptized at Little
Flower in 1951 and started school in 1955 or 1956. Jack’s grandfather,
John J. Gallagher, took up the first collection in the church with his derby
hat, which is buried in the cornerstone of the church. My brother, H. Don Flood,
was buried from Little Flower in 1985. Jack sang in the choir when Joe McCarthy
was director. Jack’s father, Harry Flood, was buried from Little Flower
in 1951. Mother Anna Gallagher Flood was buried from Little Flower in 1982.
– John J. Flood (Jack), former parishioner, 1939-1959
My family lived in the parish
for 16 years. I was the youngest of five and, unlike my older
siblings, did not have the opportunity to finish school at
Little Flower,
which was heartbreaking
for me. I vowed someday I would move back to St. Louis and
to Little Flower. We moved away in 1975, when I was in fourth grade,
and
I returned to St.
Louis in 1983 to attend college and finally moved back into
the parish in 1999. I
came back for a visit nearly every summer to see the old neighborhood
and my old school. Little Flower has always meant home to me,
a community of
family
and friends. For someone who moved at least once every year,
sometimes switching schools twice a year, Little Flower was
always a home
base for me. It represented
stability and roots. Some of the lessons I remember from Little
Flower School were of kindness when a generous custodian (Joe
McEntee) sweetly
handed out
long pretzel sticks sold in the cafeteria to hungry students
playing at recess. I learned tolerance when Sister Christine
explained
the importance of treating
others as you would like to be treated by accepting others
who are different from yourself. Sister Louise taught me patience
when she
continually
corrected
us with our incessant socializing in class. Mostly, Little
Flower meant a strong faith in God, something not forgotten no matter
how far from
home a person
wanders. Little Flower was a wonderful, caring community then
and still is.
I feel very blessed to know that my children will have the
same
opportunity to experience some of the love and warmth that
I felt here.
– Diana (Sagitto) Luczak, former parishioner, 1959-1975, parishioner since 1999
I have a number
of special memories, but the one that means the most to me
occurred on June 10, 1964. Al and Gertrude Einig (my mother
and father)
had been
married 50
years. Web and I had been married 25 years. Monsignor Tammany,
who was pastor at that time, said it was the first time that
parents and daughter
both belonged
to Little Flower Parish. He insisted that both renew our
marriage vows at the altar. It was very impressive. The Mass was celebrated
on Saturday,
June
6,
at 5:00 p.m. and a dinner was held after the Mass.
– Lillian Federspiel, parishioner for 41 years
I remember helping my mother make chicken salad sandwiches
to be served at the reception after the Mass when we dedicated
the School Hall and named it McEntee Hall in December 1973.
That was
such a wonderful
day for
our parish. My parents celebrated their 50th anniversary
at a 12:00 noon Mass in October 1968. Our entire family,
as well
as
the congregation,
joined in
the celebration.
– Colleen Kohler, parishioner since 1966
I was born
and baptized in Little Flower Parish, but soon moved
away. My family moved back to Little Flower in 1943, but because
I was
in the sixth
grade at
St. Luke’s, I continued to go to school there. My loyalty was divided between
St. Luke’s and Little Flower until 1953, when I married Don Mueller (a
Little Flower parishioner). After his military service, we were very happy
to stay in Little Flower because of his family (Fred and Florence Mueller)
and because we liked the parish church and school, the friendly atmosphere
of the neighborhood, and because it was home.
– Nancy Mueller, parishioner from April to October 1931, and since March 1943
Back in the 1940s, when I
was a student at Little Flower, the nuns emphasized
the importance of being saints. After all, if the Little
Flower had done
it by being good
in small
ways, so could we. The Little Flower Saints Club, organized
independently by a group of friends, was the result
of our sincere but misguided
efforts. When
word got out that we were playing Mass, Communion,
and Confession in my mother’s
basement, we got into big trouble. I can remember being taken “out into
the hall” for an intense talk with Sister. When she realized our utter
guilelessness, we were forgiven and spared the next dreaded step for those
who committed serious infractions, “a trip to the Office.” Realizing
that saints must not be discouraged by setbacks, we redirected our zeal toward
demonstrating “acts of kindness for others.” And who, we reasoned,
needed kindness and comfort more than Our Blessed Mother at the Foot of the
Cross? We felt very sorry for her, and with that in mind, gathered wild flowers
from the various vacant lots that dotted the parish at that time, fashioning
them into little wreaths and lovingly placing them on Mary’s head. We
didn’t get into trouble for that one. Mr. Clark, the janitor during those
years, left them in place for a few hours before quietly removing them. And
now, when I pass what is still the most beautiful crucifixion statue I have
ever seen, I’m always struck by the fact that Mary’s head seems
strangely bare. I guess they aren’t making saints the way they used to.
– Janice Harlan Mikesell, former parishioner 1935-1955, Class of 1949
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