WEST FARGO - Citing a need to meet development and growth in the community, West Fargo's Holy Cross Catholic Church will move south of Interstate 94 and add a school.
The church, which currently shares property with the adjoining Lutheran Church of the Cross at 1420 16th St. E., will relocate to an undeveloped piece of land west of Veterans Boulevard in West Fargo and south of I-94, according to Bishop Samuel J. Aquila of the Diocese of Fargo.
The new spot is located on 14 acres of land bordering 26th Avenue East to the north, Seventh Street East to the west and Bluestem Drive to the east.
The move was announced in a news release issued Wednesday, one day after Aquila sent a letter mailed to Holy Cross parishioners.
The current Holy Cross site, which was founded in 1981, will stay open for at least two more years, according to the letter, which was co-signed by the Rev. James Meyer, pastor of Holy Cross.
ADVERTISEMENT
On Wednesday Meyer said he had "mixed" feelings about the move.
He said in his two years at Holy Cross he "developed great relationships" at the current site. "At the same time I'm excited for a new campus and excited for future growth for our faith community."
By mid-afternoon, Meyer had received 11 phone calls from parishioners. One caller was angry about the move and the others were curious about it. After talking to them, they seemed excited, he said.
Meyer said the new Holy Cross would seat around 900, compared to the 425 the current site holds.
"We will miss our close relationship with Lutheran Church of the Cross and will continue collaboration as possible," the letter stated.
"Just as a growing family changes neighborhoods to accommodate its needs, our growing Church family is doing the same," the letter stated. "We are hopeful this transition will open new doors of opportunity for their congregation as well."
A Catholic school and "religious education formation facility" will also be built on the new site. Such operations were not possible at the current Holy Cross site due to parking and traffic flow limitations, the diocese's press release said.
The release added that this was "the first of several decisions related to a year-long review of parishes and Catholic schools in West Fargo, Fargo and Horace."
ADVERTISEMENT
In January, Aquila announced a proposal to reorganize parishes. Under that plan, West Fargo's Blessed Sacrament, with 639 families, would close and merge with Holy Cross' 1,194 families at the current Holy Cross site.
Some parishioners voiced concern and criticized the plan and the bishop at church discussions of the proposal.
Other aspects of the January proposal included two schools being added to the diocese: one at the current Holy Cross in West Fargo and the other at a proposed new St. Benedict's site in Horace.
The future of Blessed Sacrament remains unclear, and the diocese, in its press release, said decisions about other parts of the proposal would be announced in early May.
Readers can reach Forum reporter John Lamb at (701) 241-5533
