June 26, 2026
Pastor Message
The Rectory Project
From the founding of our parish until 1997, the church and school were located on the north side of Highway 5. For most of that time, the priests lived in a rectory that was next to the church.In 1992, as the parish continued to grow, the rectory was converted into parish offices. The parish purchased a two bedroom home located at 500 Del Rio to serve as the new rectory. The property was a few blocks from the church and school.
In 1997, the parish built our current church and school on the south side of Highway 5. The house on Del Rio continued to serve as the rectory.
In 2005, the parish purchased a home adjacent to the new church and school to be the new rectory of St. Hubert. In 2006, the parish sold the former rectory on Del Rio.
The new rectory was a single family home built in the 1950s. The house met the immediate needs of the parish, but was seen as temporary until a new rectory could be built.
Twenty-one years later, we are still living in the “temporary” rectory. The time was never right to build a new rectory, given the changes in pastors, the existence of parish debt from the construction of the church in 1997 and the addition in 2003, and other pastoral needs.
Archbishop Hebda appointed me as pastor of St. Hubert, effective July 1, 2023. Soon after my arrival, parishioners approached me about building a rectory. However, the parish had just finished a capital campaign to eliminate the debt and we had $3 million in unfunded capital repairs at the church and the parish cemetery that needed to be made in the next 0-5 years. Therefore, I said “not yet” to the idea of building a rectory. Rather, we focused on maintaining and improving our current facilities. Parish leadership made capital repairs the priority of the Lord, Renew Your Church (LRYC) capital campaign. Parishioners responded generously to this priority during the campaign, which started in January 2025, allowing us to move forward with repairs and improvements listed in our campaign case statement.
In early 2026, with the early success of the capital campaign clear, parishioners once again approached me about building a rectory. Again, I said it was not the right time. We had to focus on building a small addition to our facility that would give us the extra physical space needed to safely and securely accommodate our growing and vibrant parish and school community. This initiative became a priority of the LRYC capital campaign and known as the Door 7 Project, since the addition would be built on the property outside the door marked “Door 7”. The parishioners who had not yet contributed to the LRYC campaign were asked to make a pledge to the campaign that would help us fund the Door 7 project, estimated to cost $5 million. The need for that project continues, though we have not raised sufficient funds to make that project a reality.
This spring, when Archbishop Hebda appointed me to be the rector of the Basilica, I wondered whether “now” was the right time to build a rectory. I began asking parishioners who had expressed an interest in building a rectory. They were supportive of the idea. Father Bennet, the incoming pastor of St. Hubert, supported the idea.
The initial plan was to purchase a different home, tear down the existing rectory on Grandview Road, and build a rectory on that same site. We were expecting the new rectory to house four priests and cost between $1.5 and $2.0 million to build. The idea gathered early momentum. A parish family offered to buy the home for us and allow us to live rent free for the two years while the new rectory was being built.
That plan gave way to a new plan, when a non-parish family offered to sell us their home at a greatly reduced price. They are leaving Minnesota, had just put their house on the market, and were praying that a Catholic family would buy it. The home is 100 years old, has been updated four times, has six bedrooms, five bathrooms, four garages, an office/conference room, a space to convert to a chapel, a different space to convert into another suite, a modern kitchen, a dining area, and large common spaces inside and out. The house sits on a lot that is beautiful, quiet and peaceful and has a grotto with a large crucifix. It is about 8 minutes from church.
The owners are willing to sell us the property at a substantial discount, knowing that their home will be used for a rectory. The money to purchase the home will be borrowed from a parish family, who is excited about the possibility of the parish owning this property and using it as the rectory. The family will loan us the money to purchase the home interest free for at least two years so that we can buy the property without impacting the daily operations of the parish.
My goal is to raise $2 million in new donations. The money would be used to repay the loan to the parishioner, make renovations to the property, and cover expenses at the rectory for one or two years. The parish would be exempt from property taxes, since we would be using the property for religious purposes.
We would use the property for a few years to see if this property works as a rectory. If it does, we have saved ourselves the work and expense of building a rectory. If it does not work, then we can sell the property, hopefully to another Catholic institution, and either build a new rectory or buy a different property that works better for rectory life. We would have substantial equity, since we purchased the property at a price that is far below market value.
The parish needs a new rectory. Not just the priests who live in the rectory, but the parish. A parish needs healthy and holy priests to serve them well. A rectory with multiple priests helps form healthy and holy priests. A rectory should offer each priest both privacy and opportunities for community. A rectory is a place for priests to be community, to support, encourage, and challenge each other, a community to whom each priest is accountable. A rectory must have a chapel, a dedicated place for the priests to pray. A rectory has space to entertain parishioners, family, friends, and other priests. A rectory has room to host teaching parish seminarians who can experience parish and priestly life as they discern their own vocation. A rectory should be a home, in which the priest can rest, relax, and be re-created for ministry. A good rectory makes possible healthy and holy priests to serve the people of God. Our current rectory has a few of these features. We should want the St. Hubert rectory to have all these features.
I appreciate the positive responses to my homilies on the rectory project last weekend. I am grateful to the trustees and the members of the parish and finance council for their support and for the encouragement and counsel of Archbishop Hebda. I am humbled by the generosity of parishioners, whose early gifts to the rectory project already total $750,000.
Every family is invited to support this important initiative. Fr. Bennet and I have each pledged $5,000. You can pledge or make your gift through the button below [The picture on the website is not a picture of the new rectory.] Please contact me with any questions on the rectory project.
__________________
I am grateful for your support of me as your pastor during the past three years. Though surprised and sad to be leaving St. Hubert, I look back in wonder and awe at the wonderful work God has accomplished in and through the people of St. Hubert. I ask for your continued prayers for me. Be assured of my prayers for you.
Peace, Fr. Talbot
Prayer & Worship
Fourth of July Mass and Adoration
The Fourth of July Mass will be held at 9:00 AM on Saturday, July 4.The Adoration Chapel will be closed from 7 PM on Thursday, July 2 until 8 AM on Monday, July 6 for the Fourth of July holiday. Scheduled adorers during that time do not need to come for their Holy Hour.
Funeral Notice: Richard Howell
St. Hubert will celebrate a Funeral Mass for Richard Howell on Thursday, July 2 at 11:00 AM with visitation at 10:00 AM.Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Giving
News & Events
Farewell Events for Fr. Talbot
Join us after all Masses this weekend for a farewell reception honoring Fr. Talbot. Come enjoy special hospitality as we thank him for his faithful leadership and ministry over the past three years and wish him God's blessings in his next assignment. A card box will be available for those who would like to share a note of gratitude or well wishes.
Parish Job Openings
Part-Time Evening Front Desk Assistant
Hiring for 1-2 evenings (Monday through Thursday) from 5-8 PMSt. Hubert is seeking an evening, part-time front desk assistant. This person would be responsible for greeting all visitors in a friendly, Christ-centric way with a willingness and eagerness to help and answer questions.
Responsibilities:
- Review and be aware of the school and parish schedule of events and direct visitors to the correct location or information.
- Unlock/lock doors and any other rooms that need to be utilized.
- Help set up any audio-visual materials or room setup as needed.
- Perform and prioritize other administrative duties assigned by parish staff (e.g., making copies, stuffing envelopes, data entry, updating records, etc.).
- Candidate should also be creative, good communicator, organized, detailed orientated and fluent with technology (Microsoft office, Excel, Canva, etc.)
- The position requires mobility and ability to move/lift tables/chairs for setup.
Summer Offerings
Harvest Festival
Now Accepting Sponsorships
Event sponsors help cover our expenses for this event. We are offering several tiers of sponsorship that give varying levels of marketing exposure. We are appreciative of every sponsorship, and every contribution helps!Please consider sponsoring Harvest Festival as an individual, family, or through your business. See the links below for sponsorship levels and sponsor form.
Community
