By Dan Sullivan
Catholic Herald

Priests learn about building on the job

SUPERIOR -- Besides their Roman collars, in their ministry priests may also be required to don hard hats. Many may be called on to oversee new construction or improvement projects at their church buildings.

In recent months Fr. Daniel Dahlberg, rector of Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior, is never more than an arms length away from his protective head gear. Dahlberg and a number of other priests, including Bishop Raphael M. Fliss, have been making sure the cathedral's preservation and enhancement project progresses.

"I don't go over there every day, but a couple times throughout the week," Dahlberg said.

As in any project there are numerous meetings to fill Dahlberg's and others' schedules with the cathedral effort. "There are meetings with architects and contractors." he said.

Dahlberg said that during his priestly ministry the cathedral enhancement and restoration is largest construction project that he has seen. "I never desired to be a builder, but when it comes, you have to do it," he said. "I have learned a great deal in the process. Before I came here, at St. Joseph's in Osceola we added an administrative wing to the church and remodeled the church social hall and kitchen."

On a recent morning Fr. Gabriel Baltes, OSB, director of the diocesan Office of Worship and co-chair of the cathedral preservation, put on his hard hat and wove his way through a maze of scaffolding to meet with project architect Robert Semborski of Architectural Resources in Duluth, Minn.

Baltes said that in his work with the cathedral he has gained a respect for the work of a number of individuals on this job, including Semborski's task as architect.

"It amazes me how much an architect needs to know," Baltes said. "The vocabulary they have to have. He has to be able to converse with all the contractors and subcontractors. Now with the cathedral, he even has to learn liturgical terms."

Like other priests involved, Baltes said he is gaining an education with the cathedral construction. "I'm expanding my own vocabulary," he said. "A number of factors have to be taken into consideration before you do something. Before this I would always look at construction very narrowly, from a liturgical point of view."

Baltes has learned that a number of elements, including weather, can put a damper on work.

During their recent visit Semborski and Baltes reviewed specifications that will be required to place a crucifix. This task included looking at the best way to secure the crucifix. Baltes even climbed the scaffolding to the heights above to check on the progress of craftsmen from Conrad Schmitt Studios of New Berlin, Wis.

Baltes compared the workings of a building to the inner woven human body. "Like the body, a building is made up of all sorts of intricate components that fit together," he said. "If you move one thing out of place everything else can be jeopardized. I have gained a whole new respect for a building."

Baltes said, even with an advanced degree in liturgy, he never had any courses in construction. "It's all been a learning process for me," he said.

After breaking ground on April 17, Fr. Gerald Hagen, pastor at Our Lady of the North Church in Phillips, is in the midst of a construction project at his church. During his ministry, Hagen said, he has learned that one must seek out those with special talents.

"You have to rely on others who have the gifts," he said. "If you don't have the expertise you surround yourself with others who make sure that things progress as they should and the parish interest is properly served."

Hagen credited Deacon James Celba, parish business manager, with overseeing many of of the daily needs of this construction effort.

"His expertise has served us very well," Hagen said. "My primary responsibility in a parish is to provide spiritual leadership, that's my main function. I have to have assistance to help with other things because I can't drop my priestly ministry for a construction project."

Hagen was thankful to parishioners who have come forth to serve as members of the parish building committee. "They assist at site meetings, with contractors, subcontractors and with any problems that may come up," he said. "This brings in parish oversight."

In his vocation as a priest Fr. James Brinkman, pastor of St. Anne Parish in Somerset and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Farmington, has been tagged as the "boiler priest." The nickname comes with the fact that during his ministry Brinkman has replaced heating systems at several parishes where he was pastor.

"I have done eight heating systems," Brinkman said. "In the seminary, they don't give you any training in Heating Plant 101, it wasn't offered. You have to learn it as you go along. I served in a number of parishes with old heating plants that needed to upgraded or changes made."

According to Fr. Ronald Bowers, vice rector and professor of canon law at St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., seminary studies have evolved to address new concerns.

Bowers said it was after visiting officials from a number of dioceses, including the Diocese of Superior, that a new course was created at St. Paul Seminary.

"One of the things we came up with was expanding the seminary course," Bowers said. "In an earlier era a priest would learn on the job, as an associate, but now they are called to become a pastor a lot sooner."

Bowers designed a course, that in addition to teaching about canon law issues, touches on the principles of construction management, parish supervising and parish personnel management. Initially the course was an elective, but is now required for all seminary students.

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2004