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Trinity's History

As the cross is the symbol of all Christian Churches, so the crosses of Trinity reflect the history of our church in Christ and keep us together in His love.

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church was begun as a Mission in 1851 by the Rev. M. Strobel. About a year later, the congregation was formally organized, and its first church building completed in 1853. The Rev. Strobel served the congregation until 1858.

The first parsonage was built in 1860 and enlarged in 1867. A new church building was dedicated in 1868 while Rev. Ulrich Berner was pastor. In 1870, the church became affiliated with the Texas Synod.

In 1883, the Rev. Karl Weiss became pastor, serving for over 30 years, during which time a third church building was dedicated in 1909. It was located on the comer of DeLeon and Constitution streets.

The Rev. E.A. Seifert was installed as pastor in 1914. Some services were introduced in the English language while German (the original language) was still used on a limited basis. A new parsonage was built in 1920 to replace the previous one, which was destroyed by fire.

In 1925, the Rev. M.A. Ritzen became the pastor and the parsonage was relocated. The present Luther Hall was built in 1928.

The Rev. J.M. Schedler became pastor in 1936. During his pastorate, in 1957, the present church building was completed. The Rev. James L. Carlson began his duties as associate pastor under Pastor Schedler in 1964. After Pastor Schedler’s death in 1965, Pastor Carlson became Senior Pastor until his retirement 30 years later in 1994.

In 1980, during Pastor Carlson's pastorate, the Rev. Barney A. Matocha, Jr. became the associate pastor. After Pastor Carlson's retirement, Pastor Matocha accepted the call to serve as Senior Pastor in 1995. The Rev. James R. Dew became associate pastor in 1996.

The crosses of Trinity have served well over the years to remind us of Christ’s love.

Pastoral History

Luther Hall Time Capsule from 1928

The Time Capsule that was placed in the cornerstone when Luther Hall was constructed in April, 1928 was found and opened on June 5, 2004. Following is a list of the contents were:

• Trinity Lutheran Church - Sebentieth (Seventieth) Anniversary 1852-1922
• A picture of the 1928 Confirmation Class of Trinity Lutheran Church - Pastor M. A Ritzen. Names of those in the confirmation class were: Leslie Miller, Beulah Houseworth, Sophie Ernst, Berniee Schmidt, Arthur Kramer, Oscar Weidemeier, Victor Spiegelhauer, Beatrice Bielstein, Bernise Walker, Pastor M. A Ritzen, Dorthy Hiller (could not tell if the spelling was Miller or Hiller), Bertha Kramer, Wilfred Powitzky, Roland Koehl, Helen Schrader,. Betty Louise Berry, Dennis Koehl, Lydia Moeller, Irene Stoermer and Wallace Bernhard.
• Two dimes both with the same mint mark (w). One is dated 1919 and the other 1917, but neither one is in very good shape. The 1919 has a mint marking of an (s) and 1917 marking is no longer visible.
• A sheet of paper with the
  • Church Council - April 1928
    • C. C. Zirjacks, Fred Urban, Walter Pilgram, 1. G. Kickendahl, E. H. Stange, W. F. Hofmann, Geo. E. Hofmann, Ernst C. Vogt, Will Hiller, W. A Miller, Otto L. Urban, L. A. Albrecht, Honorary Member: Frank Zirjacks
  • Luther Hall Soliciting Committee
    • H. E. Diebel, Walter Pilgram, H. L. Weigand, Mrs. C. C. Zirjacks, Miss Lucy Fiek
  • Luther Hall Building Committee
    • W. F. Hofmann, W. A Miller, Fred Urban, Mrs. O. L. Urban, H. L. Weigand
• Small black book - Hymnal in German - Published in 1894. There are no pictures and written in German
• Medium size book - Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church - Copyright 1919. This book has a primitive drawing of a person - seems too be drawn by a small child in pencil.
• One small communion card found stuck in the Common Service Book.
• A new medium size bible - Bible No. 6160, bound in Kraft-black leather. This bible has never been used. It was still wrapped in paper inside the box it was bought in. Condition is good considering it has been buried for 76 years, but it is still fragile and covered with mold and mildew.
• One small flag depicting 48 stars - in very fragile condition.
• The Lutheran (small news paper) - Vol. 10, No. 21 - mailed to Rev. M. A. Ritzen, 404 E. Constitution St., Victoria, Texas.
• The Faithful Visitor (small newspaper) - Vol 6, No. 6, Dated July 1927 - Something like our modem day Newsletter sent out monthly.
• The Faithful Visitor (small newspaper) - Vol 7, No.3, Dated April 1928
• The Faithful Visitor (small newspaper) - Vol 7, No.2, Dated March 1928
• Luther Men (small newspaper) - Vol 8, No 3, Dated March 1928. Cost of this paper was $.50 per year. This paper was originally sent to Charles C. Zirjacks. Motto printed under Lutheran Men at the top of the paper was:
  • "Organization For Service"
  • Labor
    When men are rightly occupied, their amusement grows out of their work, as the color petals out of a fruitful flower; when they are faithfully helpful and compassionate, all their emotions are steady, deep, perpetual, and verifying to the soul as in the natural pulse to the body. - Ruskin.
• The Texas Lutheran (small newspaper) - Official Organ of the Texas Synod U.L.C., Vol XXIV, Monthly No.6, Fredericksburg, Tex, Dated February 1928

  Victoria - Mrs. Emilie Goldman, a teacher in Trinity Lutheran Sunday School, was honored by the Church Council through the gift of a beautiful Testimonial of Appreciation. The Sunday School also presented her with appropriated gifts. Mrs. Goldman has been teaching in Trinity Sunday School for over fifty years.

  At the annual congregational meeting final plans for the new Luther Hall were adopted. Building operations will begin at an early date. The building will be constructed of tile with brick facing, costing approximately $18,000.00

• The Victoria Advocate (newspaper) - Vol XXXI, No. 49, at a cost of $1.50 per annum.
• The Victoria Advocate (newspaper) - Vol 30, No. 248, See the article about Luther Hall below.
  • Title: Corner Stone of Luther Hall Will Be Laid Sunday
    The corner stone of the new parish house of Trinity Lutheran Church to be known as Luther Hall will be laid with appropriate ceremonies Sunday morning, April 22, at 10:30 o'clock. Rev Martin A. Ritzen, pastor of the church, will be master of ceremonies.

    The congregation will assemble in front of the new building for the ceremonies and following them a special service will be held in the church. The following articles of special interest to future generations will be placed in the corner stone.

    A history of the congregation, a history of the Texas Lutheran Synod and copies of the Victoria Advocate, Faithful Visitor, Lutheran and Texas Lutheran.

    The hall is being constructed of tile and brick measuring 104 by 44 feet, with an extension of ten feet for a pipe organ. It will be a two story structure. The lower floor will contain office and reading rooms, class rooms for the smaller children of the Sunday school and a kitchen. The upper story will be used as a auditorium and will have a seating capacity of about 650.

    Rev. Ritzen, formerly of Falls City, Nebraska, succeeded Rev. E. A Sievert as pastor of the church three years ago. Rev. Sievert is now field secretary for the Immigrant Board of the Unit Lutheran Church with headquarters in New York City.

New Trinity Lutheran fellowship building will meet congregation’s need

This article appeared in The Victoria Advocate on June 3, 2004:

Trinity Lutheran Church plans to demolish the old Luther Hall on Constitution Street within the next few weeks and replace it with a new $1.1 million fellowship building.

The new 6,600-square-foot structure will include improved handicapped accessibility, a partial gym and a new kitchen, said Bill Wheeler, the church building committee chairperson. The new building win be larger than the old one, but Wheeler said he didn't know the exact square footage of Luther Hall.

The old facility, built in 1928, in many ways no longer met the needs of the congregation, said Pastor Barney Matocha.

The church's congregation includes many elderly members who can no longer navigate the stairways in the building, Wheeler added.

Internal demolition of the building is already under way, Matocha said. External demolitions should begin in the next few weeks, Wheeler said. The church expects to finish construction of the new building in February 2005.

The project is being financed through a branch of the Lutheran Church, Matocha said. The church is also renovating its classroom and office space, Wheeler said.

Note: The Luther Hall came tumbling down on Friday, June 11, 2004. As it started coming down, there were some folks who had lumps in their throats and tears in their eyes. Lots of good memories were had in Luther Hall.

Pastor celebrates 25 years in ministry

This article appeared in the Victoria Advocate on August 13, 2005 and was written by an Advocate Staff Reporter.

The Rev. Barney Matocha, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, celebrated his 25th anniversary in ministry Sunday, Aug. 7, 2005, with a celebration hosted by the congregation.

Chris Repayment read a poem about Matocha, and various members of the congregation spoke regarding the effects he had on their lives.

Special guests included his wife, Leah Matocha; his mother, Mrs. Alma Matocha; his children, Matthew Matocha, Scott Matocha and Amanda Matocha; his mother-in-law, Mrs. Elaine Cordes; along with numerous other relatives and friends.

Other special guests included Joseph Bolick, the newly arrived intern for Trinity; his mother, Mrs. Rita Bolick; and his sister, Sarah Bolick.

Matocha was ordained on June 22, 1980, at United Dr. Martin Luther Church in Shiner by the Rev. Willis Erickson, secretary of the Texas-Louisiana Synod.

He graduated from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, S.C., and served as an intern at St. John's Lutheran in Ocean City, N.J. Upon the retirement of former Trinity Lutheran pastor, the Rev. James Carlson, in 1995, Matocha became the senior pastor at Trinity.

New Intern Hired - 2005-2006

Greetings Trinity Lutheran Church!

My name is Joseph Bolick and I am very pleased that I will be serving Trinity Lutheran Church as vicar for a year beginning in August. Pastor Barney tells me that you have never had a vicar before, and as I have never been one before, I look forward to walking this new road together. I know that a lot of hard work goes into preparing for a vicar and I appreciate all that you have done already very much. So that you know a little-bit about me:

I was born and raised in North Carolina, for most of my life living in the town of Salisbury with my Mom and Dad, and my sister Sarah, who is eight years younger than me. Our home congregation is St. John's Lutheran in Salisbury.

In high school, I ran cross-country and track, acted in the local theater, and began playing guitar. I studied Literature, Creative Writing, and Art at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. During college, I worked as a counselor at Lutheridge and Lutherock, two of the Southeast's larger Lutheran outdoor camps.

After graduating from Appalachian State, I volunteered with Lutheran Volunteer Corps in Baltimore, Maryland, at a transitional housing facility. From Baltimore, I moved to Columbia, South Carolina, to attend Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. I have studied at LTSS for two years and enjoy it very much.

I enjoy playing and listening to bluegrass, blues, country, and gospel music. I also enjoy running, playing basketball, and hiking.

This will be my first time in Texas and am very excited about this new adventure God is leading us one. I keep Trinity Lutheran Church in my prayers and I look forward to getting to know all of you and sharing the journey of faith with you over the course of the coming year!

Christ's Peace,

Joseph Bolick

Intern for 2006-2007

Dear Trinity Lutheran Church,

How y'all doing? Greetings from Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina! My name is Jared Stillions and I will be your next intern or vicar. I grew up in the Stone Mountain / Snellville / Lilburn suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. I graduated from Georgia Tech with a Bachelor of Science plastics and textiles engineering. While in college I was a co-op student where I worked both as a process engineer and in the laboratory for thermoplastic manufacturers.

I enrolled in the summer of 2004 at Southern Seminary for summer Greek. In class, I met Joseph Bolick. The following summer, I completed my Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in Raleigh, North Carolina at Rex Healthcare. I participated in the inner-city ministry program and served as a chaplain at two different free / low cost doctors' clinics for poor residents of Wake County. This summer, I took an elective class at LTSS about preaching from the Gospel of Mark.

My family is from Indiana and I was born in Indianapolis. From there we moved to Huntington, Indiana, then to Lynchburg, Virginia, and then in third grade we moved to Atlanta. My father is a small business owner and my mother works for him. I have one sister who is three years younger than me. She still lives in Atlanta. We have always had pet dogs and my folks currently have four! My family members still belong to Trinity Lutheran in the suburb of Lilburn.

As a child, I attended Trinity Lutheran Church. I was a very active member of the youth group and attended the Southeastern Synod's AFFIRM summer camp for many years. I was even a counselor there twice while a college student. In college I joined Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in downtown Atlanta. At Redeemer I was a member of the Young Adult Ministry (college-aged to middle-aged people) committee and the Youth Ministry committee. I helped plan and lead retreats and taught Sunday school and Bible studies for each. During the last two years I have been assigned to work at Nazareth Lutheran in Lexington, South Carolina. My Junior year duties included assisting in leading worship and home visitations. My Middler year duties included assisting with worship, preaching, and teaching Sunday school Last fall we learned about the Book of Concord and this spring we learned about the liturgy.

I enjoy athletic pursuits of many stripes. Growing up, I played rec soccer, basketball, and a tiny amount of tennis and I was a shot and discus thrower on my high school track team. I have played on the seminary flag football team for the last two years and when my studies permit, I play basketball on Wednesdays with a group from the seminary. I enjoy weight lifting and running for personal fitness. I look forward to the break between spring and summer classes for a bit of fishing with a classmate on his pond.

Like Joseph, I play guitar, although not nearly as well. I like many kinds of music especially jazz, blues, and rock. Stevie Ray Vaughn, a Texas native, is my favorite guitarist. Since graduating high school, I have also developed a fondness for bluegrass, folk, and especially country music. I am a tremendous Parrott-head and went to Jimmy Buffett's Atlanta concert in June.

I am excited to move to Victoria, Texas for the next year. This will be my first trip to Texas. I am glad to stay in the South and even to move further south and closer still to the coast. I am also excited to join Trinity for the next year as her vicar. I pray that in the next year we may be empowered by the Holy Spirit to serve our king the risen Jesus and to bring glory to the Father together.

Sincerely,

Jared Stillions

Farewell Trinity -

Jerry Jeff Walker and Gary P. Nunn recorded a song called "What I like about Texas." Nunn's version has become a favorite of mine on 98.7 Texas Mix radio station. In it they describe many aspects of Texas: the geography, the cuisine, the pastimes, the landmarks, the culture, and the "Spirit of the people down here who share this land!" One year of residency doesn't make me a Texan, but I can deeply understand the sentiment expressed in that song.

Last April I learned that I would spend the next year in south Texas. I didn't know what to expect beyond an adventure. I have had so many wonderful experiences and fun times here. I dare say that I had one of the fullest internships among my classmates. I got to: go tubing on the Comal, hike up and repel down Enchanted Rock, attend Camp Chrysalis and climb the new rock wall, go fishing from the reservoir to the bay, visit San Antonio including the Riverwalk, Menger Hotel, and the Alamo, visit the presidio and the missions, visit Austin and 6th Street, visit Schlitterbahn, join the Victoria Young Professionals, play two seasons in Crossroads Kickball Association, visit the Houston Museum of Fine Art, buy a pair cowboy boots (south Texas style, of course!), become a connoisseur (of sorts) of Mexican food, eat Texas barbeque, "work" cattle (some of you will be proud to learn that I can now identify different breeds of cattle), survive a flood, visit the Shiner Beer brewery, eat kolaches, go to an A&M football game, go to Wurst Fest, build a chicken coop (I did not go the chicken ranch!), meet real ranchers and oil workers, watch Jerry Jeff Walker play at Gruene Hall, visit the hill country several times, learn to make pinto beans, learn to play drums, see the wildflowers, and a whole bunch of other stuff that I can't (or shouldn't!) fit on this page. This is also the most friends I have made all at once since probably my freshman year in college.

I want to thank all of you for such a wonderful internship. Without you those experiences I listed would not have happened and I would have not have inched closer to becoming a congregational pastor. I thank you also for the many gifts I have received throughout my year, especially those at Christmas and my going away. I thank you also for the chance to learn how to be a pastor from such a rich congregation. I thank you for the opportunities to be with you at births, weddings, anniversaries, hospital stays, and deaths and every Sunday morning. Thank you for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with me and allowing me to share the Good News with you.

As I leave Victoria to return to school, I have few things ahead of me: my senior year at seminary, approval for ordination meetings with both the faculty and Southeastern Synod, the "draft" where each senior will be picked by one of the 65 bishops, and interviews for a first call.

While I am excited to reconnect with friends and relatives back home, I will dearly miss my new friends and brothers and sisters in Christ here and all the times we've shared. There's another Jerry Jeff Walker song called "Leavin' Texas." I'll close with a quote from it.

"Hey old friends, keep alive the good times we've had in those rollin', rollin' hills

They will always be a part of me whenever I think of Texas memories."

The Lord bless us, defend us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

Vicar Jared

Intern for 2008-2009

As some of you have already heard we will have a new intern coming to town in August. As ministers of the Heavenly Father, we are called to be an example of Jesus Christ through our faith. Welcome Nick and Holly with open arms. (and Wally)

Previous housing for our intern had been a furnished place. Now we are looking into an unfurnished apartment. We will be letting everyone know what will be needed to make the housing complete in the bulletins and in the August Newsletter. Major things would be a washer and dryer and possibly a microwave.

"Greetings Trinity Lutheran, from the far north reaches of Fairbanks Alaska. My name is Nick Slater and I will be your next intern. I am very excited, and a bit petrified, to take this new step in my life. I am very eager to learn and exchange ministry with Trinity Lutheran and Pastor Matocha, and am also very eager to experience all the culture and activities that Victoria and the surrounding areas may offer.

I'm originally from Iowa, but have my share of roots in Wisconsin and Illinois as well. I graduated from Iowa State and ended up returning to the Ames, Iowa area prior to entering seminary. My employment history is very colorful and includes custom picture framing, mattress sales, and emergency childcare. I'm currently living and working in Fairbanks, Alaska, as a probation / parole officer for the state.

I met my wonderful wife Holly at seminary in Chicago at LSTC. She is just winding up her internship in Fairbanks, and has been kind enough to share all the ins and outs of a successful internship. She enjoys cooking and I enjoy eating, quite possibly a match made in heaven. I also enjoy music, Bailey's and coffee, football, sleeping in, and eating chocolate. My wife and I take care of a three year old cat named Wally who enjoys supervising us while we play Nintendo Wii. In the next coming weeks please be patient while I begin learning about the members of Trinity, but please, please, please take a moment and introduce yourself to me and my wife. Many warm or perhaps cool thoughts."

Nick Slater

Good Bye Trinity Members:

On July 31st Holly and I will begin to make our transition back to the Chicago area. It's hard to believe that the year is almost up, and that it's gone so quickly. In many ways I'm sad to see it go. I spent some time searching for some scripture that was suitable for the situation, but was unsuccessful. So instead of wisdom from the Bible, I found wisdom from Jim Henson and the Muppets. Not quite scripture, but sometimes a more accurate depiction of life.

Muppets Take Manhattan

Since it's foolish to try, I'll keep things succinct. Thank you so much to everyone who opened up their lives and were willing to share them with Holly and 1. We have had a terrific year experiencing the life and the passions of south Texas and are sad to see it go. But most of all we have had a terrific year getting to know you. Relationships are an investment, and so even though we're leaving there's a portion of you that we will be taking with us in our future. Holly and I will look back on our time together here in great fondness and will be able to share many stories, smiles, and laughs. We hope that you're able to do the same.

To ensure that the next intern has as much of a positive experience as I've had, it's important that I let go of Trinity for a while after I've left. While this may seem like I've dropped off the face of the earth, it is in no way a reflection of my time here or how I feel about Trinity. It is merely part of the internship process.

Wishing you all the best on your future endeavors and ministries,

Nick & Holly

Intern for 2009-2010

Greetings members and friends of Trinity! I am your new vicar intern for the next year and my name is Kristen Van Stee. Moving all the way from Columbia, South Carolina where I have been attending Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary for the past two years, I am delighted to make this big transition from the south east to the Gulf Coast of Texas. Moving, while always a stressful time of change, is not a new experience to me. Growing up, my dad was enlisted in the Air Force, so I was born on a little base in the middle of the desert in South West Idaho. We lived there until I was 11 and then moved to South Carolina.

While there, my mom attended the Lutheran seminary, graduated, and was ordained in 1999. From there we moved to my mom's home state of Virginia. I graduated from high school in 2003 and went on to Roanoke College, the Lutheran school of Virginia. I double majored in History and Spanish and graduated Magna Cum Laude. While I love the subjects of history and Spanish, it was during my college years that I began working at a Lutheran camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia called, Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp. As a camp counselor every summer for kids of all ages and backgrounds, I discovered my love and calling for ministry which had been hidden in me all those years of growing up in different congregations across the United States. I love the outdoors, camping, backpacking, and traveling.

I have been to Spain, France, Costa Rica, and recently Nicaragua with Lutheran World Relief on a study tour for Fair Trade Coffee. On my days off, however, you are most likely to find me curled up in a comfy chair reading a great novel while drinking a cup of coffee (fair trade of course). I want all of you to know that I am delighted to be with all of you for the coming year and I hope to meet all of you in turn over the course of the next few months. God's Peace!

Kristen Van Stee