THE
Diocese of Crookston | 2021 Capital Campaign
INVITATION from BISHOP PATES DEAR FRIENDS IN CHRIST, I am pleased to invite you to participate in The Perfect Fit Campaign, an initiative that will fund the purchase of Mount Saint Benedict Campus for the Diocese of Crookston. With your help, the sisters’ facility, with its modern accommodations, offices, and chapel, will become the Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Crookston and a retreat center employed to deepen the faith of Catholics in parishes and schools across northwest Minnesota. Importantly, the purchase will allow the sisters to continue to live their monastic communal life in a private section of the facility without an upsetting relocation. The timing of this project is providential for the Diocese of Crookston, as well as the Benedictine Sisters, and will offer tremendous support to diocesan ministries. The campaign has my full support! It is simply the perfect fit for all parties concerned. Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Rev. Richard E. Pates Apostolic Administrator Diocese of Crookston
CAMPAIGN GOAL
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$12,000,000
$3,000,000
$15,000,000
Purchase of the Mount Saint Benedict Campus
Endowment Fund
Campaign Total
What makes the purchase of Mount Saint Benedict Monastery the PERFECT FIT? PROVIDENTIAL BENEFITS FOR THE DIOCESE, THE SISTERS AND THE PARISHES The Mount Saint Benedict (MSB) Campus (constructed in 1. 2015) will become a pastoral center and retreat facility for the Diocese of Crookston, meeting a need that has existed for some time. The present chancery building, dedicated in 1951, needs extensive restoration with an estimated cost of about $5 million. The chancery chapel only holds 16 people, the building is not handicap accessible and offers no gathering or training space for meetings or conferences. Offices are cramped. The grounds (20 acres) and chancery buildings have a market value of approximately $1.5 million. Proceeds from the sale will be used toward the purchase of the MSB facility. proceeds of the sale of the monastery will be allocated 2. The to the retirement support of the Benedictine Sisters who
have served our diocese so generously and effectively for over 100 years. The arrangement provides a private section of the current monastery to allow the sisters to live out their monastic lives. The sisters will be relieved of the burden of managing a facility which has become too large for their community. in the Diocese of Crookston will thrive in a 3. Ministries modern, accessible, pastoral center that offers training
rooms, offices, retreat facilities and private beautiful grounds within walking distance from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The chapel holds 135 people. There are private retreat rooms for up to 44 people, as well as several large and medium meeting rooms. Groups could use the retreat space for Cursillos, marriage retreats, marriage preparation, faith formation, confirmation retreats, formation and spiritual activities designed to deepen the faith of parishioners and youth across the diocese. Diocesan ministries and gatherings would no longer have to be convened in secular locations where oftentimes there is little opportunity for Mass in a prayerful setting. Our youth camp locations would remain the same. 2
LETTER from the SISTERS DEAR FRIEND OF MOUNT SAINT BENEDICT MONASTERY, We have some exciting news to share with you: The Diocese of Crookston has agreed to buy the property and buildings of Mount Saint Benedict Monastery−and we are praying for the success of their capital campaign. As the sisters of the monastery plan for our future, we have been searching for a buyer for our buildings, one who would allow us to maintain our monastery in a section of the building while the new owner assumes responsibility for managing the extensive property. The Diocese of Crookston has come forth, and we believe they are the perfect fit for this plan. Our vision is that, by sharing the building, we will be able to continue our monastic lifestyle without so many managerial responsibilities, while the diocese will have a new space for their pastoral center and have space for diocesan meetings and retreats, as was once possible when the diocese could use our former Marian Hall for programs. The monastic community will consolidate our personal living spaces to two of the five residential wings. We will also maintain a smaller number of offices in the office area surrounding the chapel. Some parts of the building will be shared, such as the reception area, parlors, dining facilities (there are two dining rooms), large conference room and main chapel. The diocese will take over management of the grounds, buildings and food service−which will be a blessing for us. As religious communities across the United States have become smaller, they have been searching for ways to regroup in smaller residences while putting their larger buildings to alternate good uses. Some religious communities are being left with empty, unusable structures. We are among the fortunate communities whose buildings are relatively new, still in excellent shape, and there is someone standing by, ready to use the building for a worthy, ministry-related purpose. Financially, the earnings from the sale will go into our Retirement Fund, which is the predominant source on which we now depend for operations. For this reason, we are grateful that the diocese has stepped forward. We look forward to providing a spiritual presence for the future pastoral center in the Diocese of Crookston.
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Sister Jane Becker, OSB Monastery Administrator
WAYS THE FAITHFUL & PARISHES will be SERVED RETREATS
Cursillo Confirmation Retreats Deacons and Spouse Summer Retreat Deacon Formation Young Adult Singles Retreat Retrouvaille Padre Aplas Retreat Principals Retreats Pre-Marriage Retreat Going Forth as Disciples One Day Annual Retreat Priest Retreats Priest Study Days Days of Reflection
TRAINING/ WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS
Safe Environment Coordinators Liturgists Workshops Stewardship Workshops Parish Staff Retreats Teacher Workshops Communications Workshops Continuing Education and School Retreats
CONSULTATIVE BODIES
Deans Meetings Diocesan Priests Assignments Committee Catholic Community Foundation Board Meetings Faith for Tomorrow Grants Committee Meetings Diocesan Finance Council Priest Pension Plan Board Presbyteral Council Ministerial Review Board Meetings (f.k.a. Safe Environment Review Board)
PROVINCIAL MEETINGS
Tribunal
FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS
Knights of Columbus or Catholic Daughters could use the retreat center for gatherings 4
MAKING Your COMMITMENT PLEDGE PAYMENTS
Demonstrate your faithful support with a three-year pledge. You will receive pledge reminder notices in accordance with the payment method you select until your pledge is paid in full. One-time gifts are also welcome. Please make your checks payable to: Diocese of Crookston Catholic Community Foundation.
IRA GIFTS
If you are over 70 ½ years old, you may also be eligible to make a charitable gift from your IRA assets of up to $100,000 per year with no tax complications. These types of gifts must be transferred directly and count toward your minimum required distribution. It is always a good idea to speak with your financial advisor for more information.
GRAIN, SOYBEANS AND LAND
We welcome harvest gifts and real estate conveyances. Contact the Diocese of Crookston for discussion and giving instructions.
STOCKS AND BONDS
There are added advantages to giving stocks, bonds and securities. You not only take credit for a charitable gift at its present value, but if held for more than a year, you are also exempt from paying tax on the profit realized from the original investment. Again, speak with your financial advisor for more information on making these types of charitable donations.
TAX DEDUCTIBLE GIFTS
All gifts are tax deductible as provided by law. Receipts will be provided.
WILLS AND BEQUESTS
Providing for the Diocese of Crookston in your will can have significant federal and estate tax advantages. For additional information, please contact Reathel Giannonatti at (218) 281-4533, Ext. 420.
MSB CAMPUS Highlights Handicap Accessibility
39 Private Acres
State of the Art Training Technology Geo-thermal Heating/Cooling
Back-up Generator
Chapel seating for 135, Furnishings & Pipe Organ 44 Retreat Rooms 5
Commercial Kitchen
Large & Small Dining Rooms
Why THE PERFECT FIT 1. Why is this the perfect fit?
Prayer is in the walls of the monastery, in the quiet and the beauty of the design. Embedded in every corner of the property is the Catholic faith, it is peaceful and joyful and has been designed with the Benedictine principles of hospitality and community in mind. The location adjacent to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception makes it particularly attractive to the Diocese of Crookston.
2. How can a monastery serve the needs of the diocese?
First and foremost, the Sisters of Saint Benedict and the ministry leaders of the diocese have a shared mission: to grow and sustain the call to missionary discipleship. The MSB campus offers a chapel that can seat 135 individuals, meeting and training rooms that seat 50, 44 single and double private retreat rooms and administrative offices that comfortably house ministry offices without wasted space. Two wings will be available to use as a regional retreat center, something that has been needed by Catholics in northwest Minnesota for a very long time.
3. What’s wrong with the chancery?
The chancery is 70 years old and was built as a residence for the bishop and the vicar general. Because it was constructed of concrete during the Cold War, renovations are well-nigh impossible. Wireless internet does not function as it should, none of the five entries is handicap accessible, the chapel seats 16 people. Ministry offices were designed as residential space for support staff, most offices have private bathrooms with bathtubs, which require much maintenance. There is a great deal of unusable space at the chancery that must be heated, cooled and maintained. There is no prospect of central air in the chancery and the roof needs to be replaced.
4. Are the sisters happy about the move?
The sisters are fully supportive of the project and believe that, for them, it is the perfect fit. As the sisters have retired from active ministry, maintaining the monastery has become burdensome for them physically and financially. They delight in the idea that the Diocese of Crookston will one day carry on the shared mission from the place they so carefully designed and built. Importantly, once the purchase of the MSB campus has become complete, the sisters will retain adequate space for the monastery and share some space with the diocese. They will rent their space from the Diocese of Crookston, comfortable in the beautiful place they have planned for their retirement. Maintenance of the facility will become the responsibility of the Diocese of Crookston.
5. Can we afford to buy and maintain the monastery?
The Diocese of Crookston is in good financial health. Twenty percent of the successful capital campaign will be reserved for an endowment to provide for the maintenance expense of the pastoral center, to avoid raising assessments and annual appeal goals to pay bills and obligations.
6. What will happen to the chancery building?
Because the chancery is located on 20 acres of excellent residential real estate in a lovely neighborhood, the intention is to market the property to interested developers. Much of the property borders a golf course, making it prime local real estate. Proceeds from the sale will be used for the purchase and ongoing maintenance of the Mount Saint Benedict campus when it becomes the new pastoral center for the Diocese of Crookston.
7. When would the move take place?
If funding permits, the earliest date for transition is late summer of 2022 but no later than the summer of 2023.
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STEERING COMMITTEE Bishop Richard Pates Monsignor Mike Foltz Father Vincent Miller Sister Kathy Kuchar, OSB Deacon Mark Krejci Janelle Gergen Reathel Giannonatti Jane Mattson Mike Richards Chad Ryan Michelle Senger Hugh Welle Heidi Whiting Pete Zavoral
HONORARY CHAIRPERSON Most Reverend Victor Balke Bishop Emeritus of Crookston
Diocese of
CROOKSTON
1200 Memorial Drive | PO Box 610 | Crookston, MN 56716 218.281.4533 • www.crookston.org/perfectfit