May/Jun 2008 - German World Magazine

PAPALMANIA IN NEW YORK
BY KATHY JOLOWICZ
New York
On his visit to the US, Pope Benedict XVI,
Joseph Ratzinger from Bavaria, visited
New York City on April 18. Part of his tour
took him down on Fifth Avenue where
thousands of people were lining the
streets in order to see the Pope in person -
among them a group of about 20 members
Pope Benedict XVI greeting
representatives of the
Steuben Parade on Fifth Ave.
of the Steuben Parade who had come in their Bavarian costumes in honor
of the “Bavarian Pope”. Pope Benedict XVI also visited Yorkville, known
as the former “Kleindeutschland” when giving a Mass at St. Joseph’s
which was founded in 1873 by the first of tens of thousands of German-
Americans who for more than a century created a German-speaking “village”
of Yorkville’s butcher shops, beer gardens, dance halls, restaurants,
and theaters.
Front, l.t.r.: Nicole Radske, Stephanie Radske, Cindy Rom, Christina Rom, Lars
Halter, Christine Schultz, Geraldine Brand; (Back row, l.t.r.i): Cornelia Rom, Cathy
Neumann, Richard Rom, Eric Hoffmann, Tanja Ohlson, Carolin Baars
© Robert Radske
The neighborhood became a 2-week media frenzy of reporters, photographers,
and film crews in anticipation of his visit. The once famous
German-American community suddenly became recognized after
decades of oblivion. St. Joseph’s is no longer predominantly German;
however they do still hold a monthly Mass in German. On April 18, the
Pope stressed in his sermon, that we embrace the unity of spirit amid a
diversity of believers.
Last year in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the von Steuben Parade, we
tried to honor this once internationally famous landmark in New York City
comprising German-speaking Eastern and Middle Europeans, an era
from the 30s through the 60s, by requesting to name 86th Street, the heart
of Yorkville, “General von Steuben Way”, but our local community board,
and city council representative turned down this attempt to commemorate
a part of this city’s history. Then God sent us the Pope. We couldn’t do
better than that!
Kathy Jolowicz is a Yorkville Historian who has organized many exhibits
of German-American history in New York.
COUNCIL FOR EUROPEAN STUDIES ANNOUNCES
2008-2009 PRE DISSERTATION AWARD WINNERS
On April 4, 2008, the Council for European Studies (CES) announced the
winners of the 2008-2009 Pre Dissertation Award in New York.
The winners are awarded a stipend for travel and stay in Europe between
summer 2008 and summer 2009 and a conference stipend to attend the
17th International CES Conference of European Studies to take place in
early spring of 2010.
Among the award recipients are JAMES G. CHAPPEL, Doctoral
Candidate, Columbia University, Department of History; JAN CHRISTOPH
KUEVELER, Doctoral Candidate, Columbia University, Department of
English and Comparative Literature; JULIA LANGBEIN, Doctoral
Candidate, University of Chicago, Department of Art History; and KRIS-
TEN LENG, Doctoral Candidate, University of Michigan, Department of
History.
You know and trust us
for our washing machines...
Now take advantage of Miele’s new fabric care collection
of high-efficiency detergents and speciality cleaning
agents. Order online at miele.com or call 800.843.7231.
IMMER BESSER
May/June 2008 www.german-world.com
31