Why did we need a new residence for the priests? Our previous priests’ residence was flooded, and the flooding revealed problems that had developed over many years. What initially appeared to be damage from a single flood exposed evidence of repeated flooding, including mold and rotten structural studs. The former residence was built around an atrium that frequently collected water. On some occasions, the atrium would even back up with water from the city drainage system. After evaluating the condition of the building, it became clear that it was no longer a good long-term home for our priests.
Was the old residence actually unsafe? The flooding revealed extensive deterioration, including mold and rotten studs resulting from years of exposure to water. The problem was therefore much more than simply cleaning up after one flood. The house also had continual problems of sewer odors backing up into and remaining around the house, pointing to plumbing problems. The condition of the building made it clear that we needed a different long-term solution for the priests’ housing.
Why didn't we just repair the old residence? We considered the possibility of repairing or rebuilding the former residence, but the underlying problem was not simply one damaged room or one plumbing issue. The building had a history of flooding, and its design around an atrium made it particularly vulnerable to future water problems. We needed to remove and replace all the walls, and close off and fill in the atrium, which would have meant pouring a new foundation in the atrium and adding onto the roof. This meant we were looking at a new foundation, new walls, and a new roof, or in other words, a new house. Continuing to invest significant amounts of money into a building with those underlying problems did not make good financial sense. We needed a solution that would provide our priests with a stable home for many years to come.
Where did the priests live before the new house? After the previous priests’ residence was no longer usable, the priests lived in the rooms above the parish offices. This was also where the priests lived traditionally when the sisters were still in the parish and lived in the house with the atrium. That arrangement worked as a temporary solution, but it was never intended to be the permanent solution for our priests.
Why Isn't the Space Above the Offices Good Enough?
Why can't the priests continue living above the parish offices? There are several reasons. First, the building itself is older, and the space was not designed particularly well for communal living. Second, our parish has fewer priests today than it did in the past, while at the same time we have more lay staff and a greater need for office space. The rooms above the offices are needed for parish work, and having a residence in the same space creates practical concerns about privacy and security. Parishioners, volunteers, and staff need to be able to access the offices without feeling that they are entering the priests’ home. The Trinitarian priests who previously served here also had houses in the neighborhood where they could retreat to when they needed privacy. In addition, the average assignment was about four years, so the housing was essentially temporary. We wanted to establish something different for our priests today: a real home where they can live, pray, eat, rest, and enjoy fraternity together.
Why is it important for priests to have a real home? Priests spend much of their lives serving others. They need a place where they can also rest, pray, share meals, enjoy fraternity, and simply be at home. The goal is not to provide priests with luxury. It is to provide them with a healthy and appropriate living environment that supports their ministry and their life together as priests.
Why is it important for the priests to live together? Priests are called to live not only as individual ministers but also as brothers. Living together allows them to share meals, pray together, support one another, and enjoy the ordinary fellowship that is part of a healthy priestly life. The new residence makes communal living easier while also giving each priest appropriate personal space.
Why not have each priest live separately? We believe there is great value in priests living together. Priesthood can be demanding, and fraternity provides important support. A shared home allows the priests to develop a stronger community of prayer, fellowship, and mutual support. The goal is to balance community and privacy rather than choosing one over the other.
Why This House?
Why did we decide to buy a house instead of build one? We seriously considered what it would take to build a new priests’ residence. A new building would have cost at least $750,000 and probably more, depending on construction costs and the features required. At the same time, the parish did not have enough available funds even to make a substantial down payment on a house without fundraising. Purchasing an existing home provided a much more financially responsible way to meet our needs.
Why didn't we rent a house? Renting might have provided a short-term solution, but it would not have been the most financially prudent long-term decision for the parish. With a purchase, the parish is investing in a property that it owns. Instead of making rental payments indefinitely without building any equity, we are paying toward an asset that will serve the parish for many years. After considering the long-term financial implications, purchasing made more sense than renting.
Why couldn't we have purchased a smaller house? The priests need to live in community, but they also need appropriate privacy and independence. A smaller home with fewer bedrooms or bathrooms might have reduced the purchase price, but it would also have made communal living considerably more difficult. Each priest needs not only his own bedroom, but also adequate bathrooms and common spaces are important when several adults are living together. Though the priests are spiritual brothers, they are not actually family members, but rather coworkers who need their own individual privacy as well. We were looking for a home that would function well as a shared residence, not simply a place where several people could sleep.
Why does the house need four bedrooms? The four bedrooms allow each priest to have his own private bedroom with an additional room for guests, whether priests who provide coverage or seminarians who are here to learn. Due to the size, complexity, and diversity of the parish, we can expect to have three priests assigned here, priests visiting regularly, and seminarians in training.
Why does the house need three full bathrooms? Three full bathrooms provide appropriate privacy and functionality for several priests living together. This is not about providing unnecessary amenities. It is about making communal living practical and allowing the priests to have both shared spaces and reasonable personal independence.
Could we have bought a cheaper house? We looked at what was realistically available in our local housing market. Homes that meet the parish's basic requirements—a suitable number of bedrooms and bathrooms, adequate common space, and a condition appropriate for long-term use—cost approximately what we ultimately paid. We purchased a home that meets the practical needs of the priests and the parish.
Why is the house in the neighborhood instead of directly on parish property? There is no requirement that a priest live immediately beside the church or parish office. It allows the priests to remain close to the parish while also having a genuine home separate from parish offices and daily parish activity.
Is it unusual for priests to live in a neighborhood home? No. In fact, there are other parishes in our diocese that have priests living in homes within the parish neighborhood rather than in a residence attached to the church. A priests’ residence does not need to be on the church property. What matters is that the priests have an appropriate place to live and that they remain available to serve the people entrusted to their pastoral care.
Financial Questions
How much did the new house cost? The purchase price of the new priests’ residence was $488,000.
Why did the house cost so much? The price reflects the local housing market and the specific needs of the parish. We needed a home with four bedrooms and three full bathrooms that would allow several priests to live together while maintaining appropriate privacy and independence. Homes meeting those requirements in our area are generally in this price range. The goal was not to purchase an expensive house. The goal was to purchase an appropriate house.
Did the parish use all of its savings to buy the house? No. We did not use any of our savings to purchase the house. The purchase was made possible through a dedicated fundraising effort and the generosity of parishioners and friends of the parish. We were very intentional about protecting the parish's existing savings rather than depleting them to make the purchase.
How much did parishioners raise for the house? Through the fundraising campaign, we raised $288,000 toward the purchase of the new priests’ residence. We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed. Without that generosity, we would not have been able to make this purchase.
Why did we have to fundraise for the house? The parish could not simply take the money from its existing operating resources or savings without compromising other important needs. The fundraising campaign allowed those who wanted to support the project to help make it possible while allowing the parish to continue meeting its regular financial obligations and building toward greater financial stability.
How much debt will the parish have on the house? After the intial fundraising, the parish had a loan of $200,000, but that has already begun to be paid on quite aggressively.
How long will it take to pay off the house? The house will be paid off within two years – sometime in 2028. Paying it off quickly will allow the parish to eliminate the monthly debt payment and preserve more of its resources for parish ministry and other needs in the future.
Will the parish have to pay property taxes on the house? No. Because the home is owned by the parish and is being used for its religious purposes as the residence of the parish's priests, the parish does not pay property taxes on the property.
Is buying the house an investment? In one sense, yes: the parish is investing its resources in an asset that it owns rather than making indefinite rental payments. But the purpose of the purchase is not to make money. The purpose is to provide a stable, appropriate home for our priests while making responsible use of the parish's financial resources.
Life in the New Residence
Will the priests still be available to parishioners? Absolutely. Living in a neighborhood home does not change the priests' commitment to the parish or their availability to the people they serve. The priests will continue to celebrate Mass, hear Confessions, visit the sick, accompany families, lead ministries, and be present throughout parish life. The difference is that they will have a home to return to after their work is done.
What are the benefits of having a separate priests' residence? The new home gives the priests a place where they can truly live together as a community. They can share meals, pray together, have conversations, welcome one another home after a long day, and enjoy ordinary priestly fraternity. At the same time, each priest has a private bedroom and appropriate personal space. It also allows our parish offices to function as offices rather than simultaneously serving as someone's home.
What happens if the number of priests changes in the future? Priest assignments change over time. A parish might have more priests, fewer priests, or priests with different responsibilities in the future. The new residence gives us flexibility to accommodate those changes. Rather than creating a temporary solution based only on today's circumstances, we purchased a home that can serve the parish for many years.
Was this decision made quickly? No. The decision came after experiencing the failure of the former residence, living with the temporary arrangement above the parish offices, considering the parish's future office-space needs, and evaluating the various options available to us. We considered repairing or rebuilding, renting, and purchasing. After weighing the costs and benefits of each option, we concluded that purchasing an existing home was the best long-term solution.
Did the parish consider other options before buying this house? Yes. We considered continuing to use the space above the parish offices, repairing or rebuilding the former residence, constructing a new residence, renting a house, and purchasing an existing home. Ultimately, purchasing an existing home gave us the best combination of cost, functionality, stability, and long-term financial responsibility.
Why spend this much on a priests' residence when there are other needs in the parish? Providing an appropriate residence for our priests is one of the responsibilities of the parish. Just as we need appropriate facilities for worship, parish offices, religious education, and ministry, we also need an appropriate place for our priests to live. At the same time, we recognize that every dollar entrusted to the parish must be used responsibly. That is why we did not simply use our savings or build a new residence at a cost of $750,000 or more. Instead, we raised $288,000 specifically for this purpose, purchased an existing home for $488,000, and plan to pay off the remaining debt quickly. This was not simply a decision about buying a house. It was a decision about finding a stable, responsible, long-term solution for the priests who serve our parish.
Why should parishioners feel good about this decision? Because this was ultimately an investment in the long-term health of the parish. The old residence had a history of flooding and deterioration. The space above the parish offices is increasingly needed for parish staff and ministry. Renting would have created an ongoing expense without giving the parish ownership of the property. Building would have cost substantially more. Instead, through the generosity of our parishioners, we were able to purchase a home that meets the needs of our priests, protects our existing savings, and gives the parish a stable solution for the future. Most importantly, we now have a home where our priests can live together, pray together, share meals, enjoy fraternity, and find the rest and support they need to continue serving our parish well.