On May 8, Msgr. Arnold Biedermann, founding pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Ventura, placed his bags by the door, turned to view the multi-acre parish he and his devoted followers built, and bid his associates and parishioners, "Auf Wiedersehen."
Then he and his sister, Isolde Von Flue, climbed into the car that took them to Los Angeles International Airport and the plane that would carry them home to Europe.
Two weeks earlier, more than 500 people waited in line under a hot spring sun to bid farewell to their beloved pastor emeritus and his sister, who has accompanied him on his 38-year stay at Sacred Heart. On that day, many smiled and posed for pictures with their jovial pastor. Others dissolved into tears, unable to bear his departure. The two-hour farewell lasted nearly three hours in order to accommodate all who came.
When Father Arnold Biedermann first arrived at Sacred Heart in 1966, he looked at the small chapel in downtown Saticoy and realized he had a lot of work to do. Cardinal James Francis McIntyre had just given the small church parish status and appointed the young Austrian priest, who had served as pastor of St. Stephen Church in Los Angeles, to lead the congregation.
"You're going to God's country," the cardinal told the young priest. "You'll have nothing there. But your youthful energy and spirit hopefully will make something out of nothing."
Born in Austria, the second of 18 children, Arnold Biedermann was ordained Aug. 26, 1945 in Innsbruck. In 1948 he came to America where he learned to speak English in night school, flavored with an Austrian accent which parishioners came to love, and served at several parishes before his assignment at Sacred Heart.
Accompanying him to Ventura were his sister Isolde and brother-in-law Pius. Isolde served as a gracious hostess at the rectory, while her husband Pius served as parish custodian, handyman and sacristan, among other duties. Pius, who died at the rectory on New Year's Day 1985, is remembered by the exquisite stained glass window over the church's choir loft that he donated.
In 1979 Father Biedermann led the parish's expansion by constructing a parish hall that contained full kitchen facilities and a stage (the facility was designated Arnold K. Biedermann Hall). Also in 1979, Sacred Heart School opened with kindergarten and first grade. An additional grade was added each successive year, with the first class graduating in 1988. Sacred Heart School now accommodates more than 300 students, having added classrooms, offices and a faculty lounge in 1983.
On Sept. 13, 1984, Pope John Paul II bestowed the honor of prelate to his holiness (monsignor) on Sacred Heart's founding pastor. In 1990, Msgr. Biedermann became pastor emeritus of Sacred Heart, continuing to preside at Masses and other church events for the past 14 years.
Today the original Sacred Heart Chapel where Arnold Biedermann first celebrated Mass sits vacant in a field near the intersection of Darling and Wells roads. The present Sacred Heart Church --- a modern, arrow-shaped structure that the highly respected founding pastor and his devoted parishioners built --- accommodates a committed and growing Catholic community.
In 1995, Msgr. Biedermann returned to Austria to celebrate the golden jubilee of his ordination, accompanied by more than three dozen Sacred Heart parishioners. The entire parish celebrated this special anniversary upon his return.
Now 83, Msgr, Biedermann feels that he has accomplished the work God set before him. He and Isolde have returned to Europe to be with their remaining siblings.
To honor their beloved pastor emeritus, the Development Office at Sacred Heart established a Memory Book, to contain written memories of times shared with Msgr. Biedermann, and a Tribute Fund to ensure that his work continues for future generations.
Although the church, school, and parish hall are physical manifestations of Msgr. Biedermann's long, devoted tenure, his gifts of the spirit will endure forever. His love for each of his parishioners was revealed both in homilies and in everyday encounters as he lived our Lord's commandment: "Love one another as I have loved you." |