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Saint
Willebrord Parish |
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WORLD WAR I INTERRUPTS BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS The original school building was condemned in 1908, and true to its generous, willing spirit, the community opened a new school building in 1909. Four years later, the present rectory was built. There was a building hiatus during World War I. It wasn't until 1919 that the church was redecorated and new light fixtures were installed. In 1925 the old organ needed to be replaced and Father Van began in his usual way by making a donation and then getting subscriptions. A new organ was installed that year. The last major improvement during Father Van's tenure was made in 1927. This was the building of a vestibule which enclosed the steps of the church. Father
Van died May 16, 1932. He served the people of 5t. Willebrord for 37 years.
During his time as pastor, records of the activities of the church became
more accurate. Father Peter Duerr, a priest son of
the parish, wrote that Father Van Susteren was
"the most beloved pastor the city of Many people still remember Father Van, as he was affectionately called. One of the oldest members of St. Willebrord's 1989 community, 94-year-old Theodora Raymaker Van Beckum, started keeping house for Father Van when she was 12 years old, in 1907. Theo sang in the choir and recalled pumping the organ for Joseph Rut ten. One day when it was snowing, one of the girls in the choir was wearing a hat with a full rim. When she looked over the banister in church, the water dripped from her hat onto a man's bald head. The man got up, swore and ran out of church. Said Theo, "Father Van sent an altar boy to the choir loft to tell us to come to the sacristy before we went home. We told Father Van what happened. Well, I thought he was going to fall down. He laughed so hard when he was taking off his vestments that he tore one of them. I had to mend it." Abbot Sylvester Killeen helped out on weekends in the parish when Father Van was pastor. He said Father Van was never severe though he saw the need for some regulation and quoted Father Van as saying "some of it (the regulations) is a lot of damn nonsense."
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