by Joe Bollig
joe.bollig@theleaven.org
BENDENA — The well-maintained St. Benedict Church here, built in 1903, is traditional, inspirational and charming. And the parish hall is clean, modern and attractive.
But it wasn’t always that way.
Just a couple of years ago the parish hall was, frankly, a disaster.
“It was in bad shape,” said Father Michael Guastello, pastor for the past five years.
“The roof leaked. When it rained and the wind blew, the water would come in through the windows, which were in really bad shape,” he said. “The wind would blow the curtains when the windows were closed. We had a large crack in the cement floor. It was moldy.”
When Father Guastello asked Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann for permission to do something to the hall, he said, “This is a necessity, not a luxury. We need to do it for the life of the parish.”
On Aug. 11, Father Guastello and the 80 families of St. Benedict Parish celebrated the blessing and dedication of their renovated and expanded parish hall. Archbishop Naumann was the main celebrant and homilist of the Mass.
The one-story, rectangular metal building is located east of the church, between the church and the rectory (unoccupied since 1993). It served the parish well since it was built in 1968, but over the years, it aged and began to experience issues. Discussions were held since 2011 about what could be done — replacement or remodel?
A vision committee was formed to choose the best plan, but the project was put on hold because the church needed renovation. The issue, with increasing urgency, was picked up again in 2021.
Father Guastello commissioned a feasibility study and began collecting money to build a new hall, which was parishioners’ preference. But inflation increased the costs substantially, so that option was soon out of the question.
“I had to reassess what to do,” said Father Guastello. “It was really stressful because I had collected money for a project we couldn’t do any more. When I explained this at Mass to the parishioners, I said, ‘If anybody has any ideas, I would be happy to hear them.’”
Parishioner Paul Rush, who works for Brooner Construction & Crane Company in St. Joseph, Missouri, said his firm might have a solution.
Brooner was hired to remodel and expand the hall. Kent Francis of Rossville was hired to oversee the project. Midwest Coating, Inc., of Topeka installed a roof overlay system to strengthen the roof. Dan Himmelberg, former archdiocesan director of real estate and construction, was consulted.
Work began in late September 2023 and was completed this past May.
The cost of the project was $842,726. It was funded with a capital campaign, parish savings and a loan from the archdiocesan deposit and loan program. Bill Maloney, then-director of the archdiocesan office of stewardship and development, assisted the parish with the capital campaign.
The outside of the hall was painted barn red and a covered vestibule was added for the main entrance. The overall size was expanded to 5,000 square feet. The interior was totally gutted.
Now, it has new gray vinyl flooring; a drop ceiling with recessed, rectangular lights; a new, spacious kitchen; new HVAC and electrical systems; a main hall with a seating capacity of 175 people; two restrooms; and storage. The interior was painted a grayish white.
Father Guastello is pleased with the improved hall and so are parishioners.
“We have more room,” he said. “It will allow for CCD classes on Sundays. Before, couples would have their wedding receptions off-site, but we’re hoping people will have their weddings at the church and the receptions in the hall. It’s what the families wanted. We can have our annual turkey dinner fundraisers there.”
Father Guastello serves St. Benedict Parish in Bendena, St. Joseph Parish in Wathena and St. Charles Church in Troy. He resides in Wathena.
