Fridolin Pascalar

Fridolin Pascalar (May 14, 1841 – February 12, 1899) was a German Jesuit and Catholic priest. He served as the first permanent pastor of St. Michael's Church in Rochester, New York from November 1874 until his resignation in April 1896.

Early life Fridolin Piscalar was born on May 14, 1841, in Stimpfach, Württemberg, He returned to Wurttemberg in 1870, for he was not well-suited to India's climate.

He was ordained on July 30, 1872, in Maria Laach Abbey. He was the pastor and treasurer there for twenty two years until his resignation in April 1896. He changed his last name to Pascalar not long after his arrival.

In 1891, he was sent by Bishop Bernard McQuaid to recruit young German and Polish women for the Sisters of St. Joseph for the St. Stanislaus Kostka Church. Twenty-one young women returned with him to join, where they tutored newly arrived immigrant children in English, served as pastoral assistants, trained altar servers, instructed faith-formation classes, cleaned the church and directed the choir.

In 1892, he patented a self-filling holy water fountain to be used in churches.

Pascalar presented two young Virginia red-tailed deer to the Genesee Valley Park in 1894. At the time, it was the first and only official gift to Rochester Parks, now the Monroe County Department of Parks. One of them was fatally attacked by dogs.

Later life and death He resigned due to failing health in April 1896. He returned to Württemberg, and he died in Untermarchtal on February 12, 1899. His death was met with surprise and sadness from the attendees at St. Michael's Church. His likeness is embedded in the stained-glass window display on the church's south wall, where he is looking at Bishop McQuaid.