Print Issue: October 17, 2002

Mortgage Paid in 63 Months - Joyful St. Benedict's Parish Turns To New Building Project

By Erika Anderson, Staff Writer

DULUTH - A sign in the vestibule of St. Benedict's Church shows the progress of the campaign to pay its mortgage.

In big letters, the words "Paid in Full!" brought special smiles to parishioners of St. Benedict, who commemorated the occasion Sept. 29 with a mortgage burning and Mass celebrated by Archbishop John F. Donoghue. Msgr. Hugh Marren, pastor, concelebrated the Mass, along with the church's parochial vicars and Father Stewart Wilber, former parochial vicar, now pastor of St. John Neumann Church, Lilburn.

(L-r) Michael Ring, Msgr. Hugh Marren, pastor of St. Benedict Church, Tom Deets, Archbishop John F. Donoghue, Father Daniel Rogaczewski, Frank Kutcher and Jimmy Taylor participate in the parish mortgage burning during the 10:45 a.m. Mass, Sept. 29. Taylor is the chairman of the parish finance council, while the other lay men serve with him. The 10-year promissory note was paid off in 5 years and 3 months. (Photo by Michael Alexander)

The church, which was dedicated in February 1998, has 15,000 square feet providing seating for 1,200 people. Thanks to the generosity of its parishioners, St. Benedict's 10-year, $3,970,000 mortgage was instead paid off in 63 months.

In his homily, the archbishop said that debt is an obligation, and that burning a mortgage "gets the devil off our back." Because of the generosity of the church, when a parish is in need of improvements in its facility, the money is available.

"And so, on a day like this, when the debt is paid, when the final two lines of that amortization schedule have reached a zero balance, it is fitting that our rejoicing be great, for we have all had a part in the resolution of a bond - the whole Church in North Georgia is happy to know that our monies have been well-invested, and honorably returned," he said. "Your pastor is happy to know that his people have faithfully responded to the need of the parish, and not let him, or his predecessors down - and you, the people of St. Benedict's, are happy in knowing that when your word is given, no one need fear that your word might be broken or found wanting."

The archbishop also encouraged them to be vigilant in their faith.

"Let us be thankful today, that God has seen the labor of our hands, and the generosity of our means, and given us our church, free of debt, and ours to care for our love of Him," he said. "But let us also remember, at this Mass, and every day, that out of love for us, he has given us His Son Jesus Christ, who lived and died for our sins, whose forgiving power is as close as the nearest confessional, and whose Body and Blood, the health of our souls, awaits us every day, on the altar, at the Masses celebrated here in our church."

He concluded by thanking parishioners for their generosity.

"Thank you for making the burning of this mortgage a reality," he said. "I know Msgr. Marren is relieved and anything that makes him happy, makes me happy."

Following Communion, members of the finance committee and parish council spoke and thanked those who had given of themselves.

Over a glass bowl, Msgr. Marren and Archbishop Donoghue each held a half of the paper mortgage. As they held the document over a candle it quickly ignited, as the choir sang "Alleluia." Parishioners responded with a standing ovation as smoke rose from the burned document.

For Kathy Cotta, president of the parish council, St. Benedict's is more than a parish.

"St Benedict is like home to me," she said. "My children were baptized and made their first Communion here. My husband was confirmed and received his first Communion here just seven months ago. I have cried at funerals and have experienced the joy of love at weddings of friends in this church. This is my community, brothers and sisters who aren't blood relatives but are related to us by the blood of Christ."

She recalled a time when the church was still under construction just before Christmas and she heard the choir rehearsing. She said she couldn't resist sneaking a peek at her new home.

"After always attending Mass in what is now the Parish Life Center the sights and sounds took my breath away," she said, adding that she had visions of the long train of her daughter Amy's wedding dress making its way up the aisle.

"Amy is my daughter and she had just celebrated her fifth birthday," she said. "I admit I may have been jumping the gun a little, but I think that's when it dawned on me. I was thinking of St. Benedict as a big part of my family's future."

With the mortgage paid off, the parish is getting ready to launch a campaign to raise funds for the new Parish Family Center. A two-level building, the center will include new staff offices, 12 preschool rooms, at least 26 multi-use rooms, a gymnasium, youth room, exercise room and locker rooms.

Bernie Strain, project chairman of the new center, has been a parishioner of St. Benedict's for 13 years.

Bernie Strain addresses the congregation of St. Benedict Church, Duluth, about the proposed Parish Family Center. Strain is the chairman of the building project for the new center.

"There is a vitality here - there is always something going on, some type of expansion," he said.

Although the parish has grown tremendously and now has around 2,600 families, Strain says the spirit is the same as when he and his wife first began attending.

"This is an active parish," he said. "Though we've grown, there is a nucleus that stays behind and stabilizes the community."

Msgr. Marren commended his predecessor, Msgr. Terry Young, who embarked on the building campaign with his parishioners. The pastor believes the financial success of his parish is because of its people.

"This is a very generous and very faith-filled parish. They are serious about their church," he said. "It is such a beautiful church. Msgr. Young, with the committee, did such a beautiful job. When you see a beautiful structure like this it encourages (parishioners) and makes them feel good about paying it off."

He said he is confident that the new Parish Family Center project, which will cost around $7 million, will be successful.

"I don't believe in twisting arms," he said. "This is a response to faith. It's like I always say-never underestimate the generosity of your parishioners."