The champagne music maker:"Lawrence'Welk remembered WASHINGTON (CNS) Champagne music maker Lawrence Welk, whose dance sounds made him a U.S. institution, found inspiration for his craft at SS. Peter and Paul Church, Strasburg, N.D., which he attended as a boy. The band leader died of pneumonia May 17 at the age of 89 in Santa Monica, Calif., where private funeral services were held May 20. The Lennon Sisters, who found fame through appearances on "The Lawrence Welk Show," sang at his funeral. Peggy Lennon Cathcart, the second oldest of the quartet, said in an interview that Welk's show conveyed Christian values by way of its "general attitude." "His purpose was to entertain in a way that would enhance people's enjoyment of life and enjoyment of families and make a better world," she said. Welk died rich and famous amid a California empire, second only to Disneyland as a draw for tourists. The empire was built around his hit show, a melodic tribute to unabashed sentimentality. The program aired on ABC from 1955 to 1971, and then on independent stations until 1982. Throughout, it reflected values Welk absorbed in his childhood farm hamlet where he learned to play the accordion at home, to appreciate organ and choir music at church, and to perform at barn dances in town. Welk often spoke of the faith in God and commitment to family values in Strasburg, where the farm families built their own church and brought from Germany their . special choir master, Max Fichter. Welk claimed that music in his hometown church vied with music
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LA WRENCE WELK'and the Lennon Sisters during one his television program. (eNS/ PBS photo) in such metropolises as New York or San Francisco. Welk was born in the United States but for much of his youth spoke German, the language of his' parents who emigrated from France's Alsace-Lorraine region, once a part of Germany. In an interview with the Catholic weekly Twin Circle, Welk said they brought with them "nothing but their prayer books, their high hopes, their utter belief in freedom and democracy - and oh yes, my father's antique button accordion." He credited his路 mother with teaching him a strong Catholic faith. Religion "helped me tremendously," Welk told Twin Circle. "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for my religion. God's laws are t,he 'best laws man has to live by. ' . "My philosophy is to be good to all people and do harm to no one,"
"There wasn't such a thing as 125 channels and a remote clicker," she said. Sunday was "The Ed Sullivan Show"; Monday, "I Love Lucy"; Tuesday, "The Milton Berle Show"; and so forth. Welk was a hard taskmaster, Mrs. Cathcart said. In 1959 the maestro fired "champagne lady" Alice Lon because she showed "too much knee" on camera. "Alii did was sit on a desk and cross my knees," Miss Lon said at the time. Welk tried unsuccessfully to hire her back when viewers were outraged by his action. "One of the best lessons we learned was that he expected everyone to know their work and be on time and be one step ahead," Mrs . Cathcart said. A family spirit pervaded the program. said Mrs. Cathcart. In of their weekly appearances on fact, the Lennons met Welk through his son Larry, who was dating Dianne Lennon. Welk is survived by his wife, the Mrs. Cathcart met husband Dick former Fern Renner; a son, Lawon the show, where he was a trumrence J r.; daughters Shirley Fredpeter. Today they have nine chilricks and Donna Mack; 10 granddren, three from Dick's first marchildren; and a great-grandchild. riage and six born to them later. Today three of the four sisters "Da Lovely Lennons" are out of show business, though By singing at his funeral, "da the four occasionally do benefits lovely Lennon Sisters," as Welk together, said Mrs. Cathcart. Janet, used to introduce them, showed a the youngest, still sings profesfondness for the man who gave sionally and works for her hus- . them their TV debut on Christmas band in a a recording company. Eve in 1955. Dianne teaches kindergarten in Thefour sisters performed week- a Catholic grammar school in the Iy until 1968, when they left Welk Los Angeles Archdiocese and to build their own career. Kathy is executive secretary for Welk was a stalwart of early tele- her husband, a chiropractor. vision, Mrs. Cathcart told CNS Mrs. Cathcart, who was edufrom Crespi Carmelite High School cated by the Sisters of the Holy in Encino, Calif., where she works Names for 12 years, said she'd in campus ministry. thought about a religious vocation "It was a time when entertain- when she was a youngster. '" - merit was much less sophisticated, :. ';Itls'tead she :Mvdoped a stiow but in a sense much more enjoya- business career and met her husble," she said. "The general public band. Now, with family and a and television were like one family." career helping students at the Everyone watched ttte same school, where she has also taught shows. religion, she said, "I have it all."
Welk said. "I also feel that if you give it shall be given unto you. "We don't have to talk of religion on our organization," he said, referrin'~ to his musical family. "We ju;t live by it." We,k received honors from chur.;h groups. In 1961, the Frhnciscans priests in Chaska, Minn., for example, honored him for portraying in 20th-century style the C'ttitudes of the "troubadour of St. Francis of Assisi." Three years later, in 1964, he was given papal honors when named a Knight Commander of St. Gregory by Pope Paul VI in recognition of service to the church. Welk was not totally happy with the church, however. Some liturgical changes following the Second Vatican Council bothered him. In a 1976 interview he criticized guitar Masses. Welk had attended some, he said, and found that "none of the young guitarists could play the instrument."
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Mary's prayer
.......... ALICE CONSIDINE (left in top photo), director of nutritional services at Catholic Memorial Home, Fall River, demonstrates the use of calipers designed to assist in calculating a person's percentage of body fat while residents sample fruit and low-fat recipes at a recent nutrition fair at the diocesan health facility. The event also featured information about good nutrition a,d computerized analysis (below) of the diets of residents, sl aff, visitors and guests. The fair was the culmination of a month of activities promoting interest in nutrition among Catholic Memorial Home's 288 residents and 360 employees. (Hickey photos)
By Bernard Casserly Are we oldtimers the only ones keeping alive the traditional devotions to Mary, the Mother of God. in the United States'? If so, we are in deep trouble. Across the centuries, many Americans have had a "love affair" with Mary in their spiritual lives. If that special place for her disappears with this older generation, our church will be the less. The beautiful month of May has been taken over by those who love Mary. It begins with May Day rosary processions and ends with the feast of the Visitation on May 31. There are a total of 14 feastdays and many other votive Masses and commemorations set aside for the Mother of God. With all these special days in the church year, how can there be less interest in the Blessed Mother'? The surest sign is the decline in the use of the rosary. How many funerals have you been to lately where the beads were used'? If the rosary is said, it is usually at a time apart from the rite of visitation in the funeral chapel. And who is saying the mysteries'? Usually only the elderly members ofthe parish Rosary Society or the Knights of Columbus. Those of us who grew up during the great depression and World War II knew the rosary well. We prayed it as if our lives depended on it. and it worked.
My brother Joe flew 50 missions as a World War II bombardier blowing up oil tanks and railroad yards in southeast Europe. His rosary was his constant companion - even when he had to parachute from his battered bomber. My rosary got lots of use when I was sailing Liberty ships delivering UNRRA cargoes through North Atlantic gales and a 120-knotsper-hour "bora" through fogshrouded mine fields in the Adriatic. Of course the rosary was second nature to the Casserlys and countless other Catholic families during the depression. It remains a special friend in daily walks or exercycle time. When sleep won't come, Hail Marys alone are better than counting sheep. Mary is Queen of the Universe and beloved around the world, but few nations can match her unique role in American' history. That special relationship is being recalled this year as we observe the quincentenary of Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World. "Santa Maria" was the name of Columbus' flagship. He gave the name of "Santa Maria de la Concepcion" to the second island he reached. Queen Isabella gave her first gold from America to pay for part of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. Many books, seminars and arti-
des have pointed out the link' between Mary and the Americas. The history and impact of that relationship is noted by Sister Mary Christine Athans, BVM, in the Fall 1989 U.S. Catholic Historian. Sister Athans notes the disappearance after Vatican II of many of the Marian devotions of earlier days. However, far from downplaying Mary. she said. the Council restored her to her place as Mother of the Church. most notably in "Lumen Gentium," the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, of 1964. . The Council reached out in other documents to the Orthodox and other Protestants as well as to Muslims and many pagan religions ofthe world. Our Orthodox friends have a rich theology of Mary. and Muslims. too, honor her in many ways. It is surely no accident that Mary chose Fatima. Portugal. named for the daughter of Mohammed, as the site of her most important apparitions in this century. Perhaps she will provide the link we so badly need. Maybe Mary's prayer. the rosary, will bring us together. Notice . how often Muslims can be seen fingering their beads in the marketplace'? Who knows what might happen if more Catholics. young and old, prayed their rosaries in public'?