"A family tree can wither if nobody tends its roots."

Dec9th2010

Our Family Churches

by  Phyllis Zeck

Our family attended Saint Callistus Catholic Church at 2167  W Dekalb (now Bowler St).  The church was built in 1919.

St Callistus Church

My parents, Robert Winike and Corinne Del Principe, were married here on January 9th, 1949.

A ceremony honoring the Blessed Mother called May crowning was a tradition at St. Callistus.

Crowning the Blessed Mother at St. Callistus

An eighth grade girl would be chosen to do the honor.

There is a Catholic tradition, particularly in big cities with many parishes, to try to visit seven churches on holy days.  Elvira died on Christmas Eve 1939 praying in front of Our Lady Of Sorrows Church.  Her granddaughter Muriel remembers getting a brand new 1939 silver dollar from her grandmother as a Christmas gift, and she still has that silver dollar to this day.

This is a photo of Frank’s daughter Muriel taken approx May 1935.

Muriel's First Communion - Precious Blood

She received her First Communion at Precious Blood Church.  With Muriel is her brother Luke.  Behind Luke is Muriel’s grandfather Vitullo and behind Muriel is her Uncle Hank.


 

One Response to Our Family Churches

  1. 9 years ago by Carol Battista

    My Grandparents lived next to St. Callistus on Dekalb/Bowler st. so sad it was torn down… would love to go back and see it… they even made the wine for the mass during prohibition..


 

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