Here is the content of the letter Fr. Jasinski sent to all parishioners on the status of the building project. For more details, visit the Building Project page.

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Feast of Our Lady of Fatima
May 13, 2022

Dear parishioners and friends,

I am writing you today to give you an update on the status of St. Benedict’s Parish master facility plan. I am truly grateful and humbled by the dedication of the members of the Core Building Committee, Parish Finance Council, Parish Board, and others in planning for the future of our parish. The last several months they have worked diligently to finalize the details and begin the implementation of the master facility plan.

Last fall you were provided with a copy of the letter Bishop John Folda sent to the FM Diversion Authority, requesting the Authority to reconsider its refusal to provide assistance to the parish to address the negative impact of the FM Diversion upon the parish. To date, the FM Diversion Authority has not changed its position. However, representatives of the Diocese of Fargo will continue efforts to engage with the Authority on this issue. While there has been no resolution of the request made to the FM Diversion Authority, Bishop Folda has given permission for us to move forward with the planning and construction of a new facility located in Horace, North Dakota.

Following are updates on various aspects of the master facility plan implementation:

1. Move to Horace: As communicated to you in the past, as a result of the negative impact of the FM Diversion upon the current parish site, the decision has been made to move the parish to property in Horace, North Dakota. The site consists of approximately 22 acres located in the Lakeview Addition of Horace (a map of the Lakeview Addition can be viewed at lakeviewnd.com). The first phase of the facility to be constructed in Horace will consist of a social hall and parish offices. When completed, all parish operations will be moved to the new facility. The first phase will not include a new rectory. However, the parish will secure housing near the new facility.
2. Finance: In 2017, St. Benedict’s Parish started a capital campaign for the construction of a social hall. Most of the pledges made will be satisfied by the end of 2022. The construction cost for the new social hall, offices and move to the Horace site will exceed the funds raised through this campaign. The Diocese of Fargo requires that a parish have pledges in place for the costs in excess of funds raised for a project before the Diocese will finance the balance of construction costs. However, Bishop Folda, following the recommendation of the Diocese of Fargo Finance Committee, has approved an exception to the Diocese’s usual requirements for the financing of construction projects in the Diocese. As a result, the project is able to move forward.
3. Construction Status: Architectural design work for our new 22,000 square foot parish hall and offices has been completed to the point where bid packages have been created. Assuming acceptable bids are received, it is anticipated that construction contracts will be in place by late May or early June 2022. Construction should begin this summer with a goal of completion by late 2023 or early 2024.
4. Design Drawings and Selections: Over the last few years, you have been provided with design and site plan drawings of the master facility plan. We have copies of the final drawings for the new parish hall and offices, and will post them in the social hall. This will give you an opportunity to see greater details of the master facility plan. The Core Building Committee is finalizing details related to exterior masonry and siding, interior design, kitchen design, and other interior design details. As those decisions are finalized, examples of the design selections will be made available in the social hall for your review.
5. Existing Church: The plans for the new facility will incorporate existing church patrimony (stained glass windows, statutes, furniture, etc.) into the design of the social hall, which will serve as the worship space until a church is built on the Horace site. The current church will not be moved to the new site. When a new church is built at the new site, additional church patrimony will be incorporated into the design as appropriate. Final decisions on how to incorporate current church patrimony into the new social hall and, ultimately, our new church have not been made, but is a focus of ongoing design work.
6. Transition of Current Site: Upon completion of the construction of the social hall and offices at the Horace site, the celebration of Mass, faith formation classes, parish events and all other operations will take place at the new facility. The current site consists of approximately 25 acres. It will be transitioned fully to cemetery use operated by the parish. The Cemetery Board will work on a landscape plan to address the removal of buildings from the site. Parish leadership will review whether all the property of the current site is needed for cemetery use once parish operations have moved to Horace. No decisions have been made on the issue at this point.

As you can imagine, there are many logistical issues to consider and resolve as we move forward with the new master facility plan. We will continue to provide you with updates as decisions are made and post them on the “Building” page of our parish website (www.stbensnd.org/building). However, if you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me or parish leadership as identified in the Sunday Bulletin.

Finally, I ask that you pray for the success of this project and the future of St. Benedict’s Parish. It’s an exciting time in the history of our parish and represents an investment in our future. The 2017 campaign “Embracing Our Tradition, Building Our Future” is finally being realized. Thank you for your support. May Mary, the Mother of God, and St. Benedict, our patron, pray for us.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Rev. Andrew Jasinski
Pastor