The board of St. Eloi and the architect of the project joined Father Craig Timmerman in putting a shovel to the ground as the new addition and elevator was officially ground broken on Sunday in Ghent. Members of the St. Eloi Catholic Church of Ghent gathered outside the church Sunday morning for a dedication and groundbreaking for their new elevator and building addition.

St. Eloi ‘turns the shovel’ into the future

Father Craig Timmerman called it, “Bringing new life to our parish.”

On Sunday a “Blessing and Groundbreaking,” was held at the St. Eloi Catholic Church in Ghent on the new building and elevator that will enhance the operation of the facility.

It was 14 years ago when this project first was formulated when a feasibility was done. In 2016, the church hired an architect to design the project.

“This project has been a great joy for me,” said Father Timmerman.

A year or so ago fund-raising began. Now, it’s expected construction will begin in the spring and in six months the new elevator will be in operation.

It will also provide new storage space and operation space for the church. “This brings us all together,” Father Timmerman said.

The project was approved by the Diocesan Building Committee and has been moving ahead ever since.

Father Timmerman gave a huge amount of credit for the formation and adoption of the project to Conrad Hennen, a parishioner who passed away on January fourth of this year.

It was Hennen who spearheaded the project for years and who was instrumental in helping it become reality.

“This is the most ambitious project we’ve undertaken since the school (former St. Eloi School) was built 52 years ago in 1966,” Father Timmerman said.

“God will bring this construction to successful completion,” Father Timmerman added.

Members of the St. Eloi Building Committee are: Eugene Bossuyt, Bernie DeCock, Julie DeCock, John Head, Martin Hennen, Missy Hennen, Doug Maeyaert, Sandy Nuytten, Dale Schmitt, Ron Sussner and Father Timmerman.

During the Blessing and Groundbreaking, the sisters who serve the church sang selections and members of the board helped with the ceremony.

During the construction, current plans are to continue to have Mass in the church building.

Part of the basement of the church will be affected and storage space will be constructed where the church stage is currently located. Other projects are also being planned by the board.

Fr. Craig Timmerman

Contact Us

The Minneota Mascot
Address: 201 N. Jefferson
Minneota, MN 56264

Phone:(507) 872-6492