DISCIPLE: Locals Leading Project's Early Stages

In the past, Catholic churches were built, not just with the financial contributions of parishioners, but with raw material from their lands, the sweat of their brows, and the hard work of local laborers and artisans. That tradition lives on today in a modified form—especially for Fehn Companies.

Owner and president Gary Fehn has lived in the St. Michael-Albertville community his entire life, and he and his wife were married at the historic St. Michael Catholic Church. His family’s business is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a new headquarters at the corner of 50th Street and Barthel Industrial Drive in Albertville—and a new addition to the church they helped to build in 2003-2004.

“We were involved in excavating the current church,” he says, “but I actually got to be on this job and move the dirt myself, which makes it exciting.”

Since October, Fehn Companies has been busy with erosion control, excavation, utilities work, and shoring—reinforcing the edge of the excavated worksite with I-beams and planking so the current entrance to the church does not collapse. They have also been preparing the soil for the building’s foundation, hauling away wet or soft soils to prevent future settling and bringing in approximately 280 truckloads of sand to replace them.

“We raised our family in this community,” Fehn says. “It is very humbling to be able to use the company we have built to help build and expand on the legacy of the Catholic Church in St. Michael. I am so thankful to be able to work on a project that results in a place we can go to be closer to God.”

Fehn Companies’ Senior Project Manager Dave Steele is also a parishioner—he and his wife Michelle have been members of St. Michael for more than 20 years.

“It’s exciting to be working on a project that will touch others now and in the future the way our church community has touched my family over the years,” Steele says. “It feels good to be giving back to the church doing work that I really like to do.”

Note: This is one of the featured articles from the Advent issue of the DISCIPLE newsletter. If you are not receiving DISCIPLE at your home, please register as a parishioner or update your contact information by emailing Deanna at the parish office. Pictured above are Gary Fehn (left) and Dave Steele. Photo courtesy of Fehn Companies.