Anthony J. Merck's First Communion

Iglesia e Guatrache

 

Anthony J. Merck's First Communion was at Iglesia de Guatrache, Argentina on November 29, 1910.  The community of Guatrache had apparently been settled only four years earlier.  The Merck family arrived in early 1910.  An article discovered recently about the church's celebration of its Centennial in 2010 noted that the church was opened on November 6, 1910, only days before the First Communion event.  Obviously, he was in the first class at Iglesia de Guatrache.  His certificate was signed by the first Pastor of that church.

An article about the church (translated from the original Spanish):

"A little history.

 The San Francisco Javier Church was opened on November 6, 1910, although the 2nd of that month had appointed Bishop Teodoro Priest Chaplain Kraemer as first Vicar of Guatraché and must reside in that locality having jurisdiction in the southern half of the section 111 and the north half of Section IV.

Over the years he founded the Salesian College, are built of adobe and bedroom pieces. School staff was composed by Father Vaira, director and chaplain, Father Lúskar, in charge of Russian-German colonies, Mr. Manuel Bermejo worked as teacher and musician and Mr. Jose Malero as a teacher.

From 1910 to 1960, the church had already betrothed to 2462 13,204 marriages and baptisms performed.

Pallottines Parents are responsible for the organization of a shelter for years allowed to accommodate children of settlers who were in primary and secondary education, from there to this day passed through the parish among others, Father Luis Lütticke, Bernardo Kolberg, Jorge Gisler, Norberto Phol, Alfonso Linke, John Bohn, Jose Barbero, Claudio Fernandez, Father Eugene, Sergio Soria and Juan Jose Cueto currently."