Minot church refocuses projects after 2011 flood

      

Stained Glass Before and After
      

St. Therese, Church of the Little Flower, in Minot had big plans. Then the flood of 2011 hit the city and changed things.

While the aftermath of floodwaters of the Souris River precipitated the closing of the school, it didn’t dampen the spirits of the parishioners. In fact, the plan refocused to creating a more welcoming community for everyone.

The three-part project was made possible through a capital campaign and a loan from the Expansion Fund of the Diocese of Bismarck. With $2.3 million a gathering space was built and the sanctuary was renovated, among other projects.

“It was a quick moving project over the span of a year, give or take,” explained Fr. Fred Harvey, pastor there since 2005. The major project, he said, was to connect the church to the old school with a new gathering space.

The school building now functions as the parish activity center. The former school gymnasium was utilized for Mass while the sanctuary was being renovated for five months.

“It was sort of fitting that we were back in the gym,” Fr. Harvey added. “The church started there and we were, in a sense, going back in history.”

Fr. Harvey was referring to the church’s beginnings some 60 years ago when ground was broken on the school first in 1954 and once that was completed, Mass was said in the school gym until May of 1963.

St. Therese is a prime example of how parishes can utilize Expansion Fund dollars for renovation or construction projects. Parishes across the diocese deposit excess operating money into the fund making it available to be used to loan to other parishes. The resource of the Expansion Fund is a sort of “savings account” serving as a secure fund for loan generation for parishes in need.