Paid in full

Immaculate Conception

parishioners,

Father Mazouch,

celebrate mortgage burning

A large crowd gathered at the Immaculate Conception Parish Center in Claflin in February for an appreciation dinner designed both to thank God, and all those individuals who made it possible to pay off the debt of the parish center.

Prior to a meal catered by Wheatland Café of Hudson, Father Chuck Mazouch burned the mortgage for the parish center. He congratulated the parishioners for paying off the debt so quickly and joked about saving the ashes to be used on Ash Wednesday.

Interest for a parish center began forming in 1997. Although parishioners voted to purchase a nearby building, the bid made on it was not accepted. Parishioners were again surveyed in 1998, and decided to construct a new building. Members of the building committee were Father Joseph Bahr, Sister Catherine Therese Paulie, CSJ, Darlene Demel, Alfred Hammeke, John Herter, Doug Hickel, and Bill Miller. A building fund was established, and by March 1, 1999, the fund was at $110, 386.92.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Aug. 13, 2000. Total cost for the parish center was $329,021.65. An auction was held to raise funds for the construction, which raised more than $12,000. Parish investments for the building totaled $178,433, and savings with the diocese totaled $35,000. The ribbon cutting and blessing of the parish center took place March 11, 2001.

Amazingly, only a 10-year, $75,000 loan was requested from the diocese on Oct. 17, 2000. The final payment was a donation of $1,515.55, made on Sept. 18, 2007, by a husband and wife who are parishioners.

-- Susan Webber