Building the Parish Church

January 15, 1959

Work on the first Catholic parish church in St. Meinrad will begin next week. The St. Meinrad Archabbey parish was founded in 1861, but residents of St. Meinrad and the surrounding countryside have always attended the church at the Archabbey to which they contributed substantial sums during its construction.

Cost of the new church and rectory is not expected to total more than $200,000. The new church will be located on the former Gilbert Rupprecht property, near the parochial school. There are 240 students enrolled in the school.

The Rev. Peter Behrman, O.S.B., is the pastor of the parish, and Rev. Fidelis Jenn, O.S.B., is the assistant pastor.

Under the terrazzo floor of the new church will be an indirect heating system. Another feature will be a "crying room" for infants. The exterior of the church will be of St. Meinrad sandstone, with limestone trim. The interior will also be of St. Meinrad stone.

The pressure of a growing St. Meinrad parish and Archabbey made it evident some time ago that a new church would have to be built. The 250 families in the parish, with 1,200 communicants, sorely taxed the Archabbey church with its seating capacity of 400. The Archabbey itself has a population of nearly 1,000, including seminarians.