New Rectory

Dear Parishioners,

We continue to move forward with plans to build a new rectory on the church property. When I last wrote about this project in November we were in the process of securing permits. I am happy to announce that the City of Forest Lake accepted our application to amend the existing Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and Planned Unit Development (PUD) to construct a single-family home and a utility shed on the existing property. Normally, the zoning code does not require a site plan review for the construction of a single-family home and storage shed, but in our case a site plan review for the CUP and PUD Amendments was required based on a 2016 approval condition that stated: “Any future significant alterations to the building facility or site, as determined by the City, will require the Applicant to obtain an amendment of the Conditional Use Permit.”

That process is now complete along with obtaining a CAPROC permit from the Rice Creek Watershed District and permissions from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to sell the existing rectory at 20182 Explorer Court North and to build a new rectory on church property. The final step, before building may begin, is to obtain a Building Permit from the City of Forest Lake. This process requires the submission of a structural drawing of the house and the shed along with a list of contractors and subcontractors who will be doing the work. We hope to have the application completed in the next few weeks and approvals shortly thereafter.

In the meantime, eleven large cottonwood trees were removed from the back of the Annex to prepare the site for the utility shed. The metal shed will sit north of the parking lot on the back side of the Annex. It will measure 60 feet wide by 30 feet deep and will replace the two yellow sheds on the west end of the main parking lot.

I will keep you updated with further details as we continue to make progress in this process.

God bless, 
Fr. Bodin 

Dear Parishioners, 

This is an official announcement that the Church of St. Peter is going to build a new rectory! Now that I have your attention, let me explain the details and why this is great news for all of us. The rectory (the residence where the parish priests live) is currently located 3 ½ miles from the church at 20182 Explorer Court North. The parish purchased this property in 2008 with the intention of using it as an investment for future sale in 2012. Well, as we know, that never happened for one reason or another. 

Today, the rectory holds a market value of $415,000. It is well maintained and ideally located next to roads and trails with close proximity to the Twin Cities. Its greatest downfall, however, is that it is not located on parish property and would prove difficult should an older priest be assigned to the parish.  

After personally meeting with the Trustees, Parish and Finance Councils, and the Parish Corporate Board, which includes the Archbishop (Bernard Hebda) and Vicar General (Fr. Charles Lachowitzer), the decision to capitalize on the current market by selling the rectory and rebuilding on the parish grounds was unanimous. Both the Archdiocese and parish leadership see great value in having the rectory on campus. It not only fulfills the parish’s obligation to provide suitable housing for its priests, but also offers long-term stability for the parish. At St. Peter’s we want the continued possibility of having two priests in residence to meet our sacramental needs. The new rectory would be built to our specifications and offer rooms for priests, seminarians, and guests. On-site living would reduce the time priests are away from the church and travel expenses. The slab on grade construction, although more expensive to build than a two-story or three-story home, would also be more accessible for an older priest, should he be assigned to St. Peter’s in the future.  

What is this going to cost? The good news is, with the sale of the current rectory and wise financial investments, which the parish has made over the years, we have the funds to cover the $578,000 construction cost. No additional capital campaigns or fundraisers will be needed to complete this project. 

We are currently in the process of securing permits from both the City of Forest lake and the Rice Creek Watershed District. We hope to conclude these steps by the end of this month with plans to begin construction in December (weather permitting) or early next spring. The new rectory will be built by Sherco Construction Inc. and located on the west end of the church property where the utility sheds currently stand. I will continue to keep you updated about these plans by way of my bulletin article. 

God bless, 
Fr. Bodin