Generous gift gives Rolette parish new life

When Father Paulraj Thondappa got the phone call, he had to sit down. On the other end of the line was an attorney representing the estate of Esther (Charnatsky) Crabtree, who informed Father Thondappa that Esther had left his parish, Sacred Heart Church in Rolette, a generous gift upon her passing. The catch was that the parish could only use the money for building improvement or preservation projects.

Sacred Heart Church had previously identified several projects that needed to get done if and when the money could be raised. In fact, parishioners had just completed a fundraising campaign and work to renovate the rectory and remove mold from within the rectory walls when the call from the Crabtree estate came in. With the estate funds dedicated, it was up to Father Thondappa to work with the parish council, and other parishioners and representatives of the Crabtree estate to prioritize what needed to be done.

Three major projects were identified and funded with the donation. The church received a new heating and air conditioning system, new carpeting in the adoration chapel and main sanctuary, along with new paint on the altar, and a new roof for the church and rectory. The donation is taking care of all costs of materials and some of the labor, but most of the labor was donated by parishioners and Father Thondappa. The roof projects were delayed by weather and will be completed in the spring or early summer.

Sacred Heart wasn’t the only beneficiary of funds from the Crabtree estate. Money was also earmarked for St. Ann’s Church in Belcourt. According to Diocesan Facilities Manager Earl Wilhelm, the funds will be used for a roofing project there as well.