St. Joseph Parish Celebrates Elimination of Building Debt

Father Kevin Richter is seen burning the bank loan papers after the St. Joseph Parish was able to pay off their $2.3 million loan, seven years early.

(Le Mars) — Members of the All Saints Parish – St. Joseph Church of Le Mars gathered Sunday afternoon for a burning of the loan documents ceremony.
Following the addresses from Tom Rohe, Janine Reuter, and Dick Ahlers, andĀ Father Kevin Richter, Richter took a lighter to ignite the documents. The parishioners were able to pay off the $2.3 million dollar loan seven years early. The total construction cost for the new church building, and parking lot exceeded $10.5 million. However, nearly three-fourths of the funds were raised
before construction began for the new church building that was dedicated in October of 2011. Dick Ahlers, is a parish director. He spoke briefly saying there are two major reasons why the church building was able to be paid for early.

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Ahlers says the second reason is because the church building committee incorporated many of the artifacts from the old St. Joseph church as well as other former Catholic churches from the surrounding area.

Ahlers said when the original architecture plans were shown to the church’s congregation, he knew then, by the response of the people that they had an instant love for the new church building.

More than 150 people had gathered for the loan burning ceremony. Father Richter explained that everyone, including the children, helped finance the new church building. He informed the gathering, that through the collection of the nickels, dimes, quarters, and sometimes dollars, the children paid for the new baptism basin. He says the children contributed over $41,000. After the burning of the loan, champagne was given to the people and they joined Father Richter in a toast commemorating the great accomplishment of paying off the debt early.

 

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