08.b2a Narrative for BETHANY CENTER FOR PRAYER AND RENEWAL
Mission Statement: Provide the opportunity for people to encounter God through
reflection, radical hospitality, and resurrection.
Reflection: Create a quiet, beautiful environment that uplifts the soul and is
conducive to reflection and silent prayer.
Radical Hospitality: Serve people in such a way that they experience God’s
particular love and care for them.
Resurrection: Provide high-quality spiritual direction to help people experience
Christ’s resurrection power in their personal lives.
Bethany is a town located just outside Jerusalem where sisters Mary and Martha
and their brother Lazarus lived. We have a glimpse of their history in the Bible for
they were known to be Jesus’ close friends. In the Gospels we see Jesus stopping
at Bethany on his journeys to and from Jerusalem.
The historic town of Bethany and Jesus’ friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus are the
inspiration and model for Bethany Center for Prayer and Renewal. We are seeking
to create a space just outside of St. Paul and Minneapolis where people can come
to encounter God. The Gospel of Luke tells us a little about these sisters: “As they
continued their journey [Jesus] entered a village where a woman whose name
was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord
at his feet listening to him speak.” (Luke 10:38) We see the sisters again in the
Gospel of John, but here the focus is on their brother Lazarus, whom Jesus
resurrects from the dead.
These three siblings represent the pillars of our mission: Mary is our model for
reflection as she sits and listens at the feet of Jesus; Martha is our model for
radical hospitality as she welcomes Jesus into her home and tends to his needs;
Lazarus is our model for resurrection as the Lord raises him to new life after being
dead and buried in a tomb for four days.
Bethany Center for Prayer and Renewal will endeavor to accomplish this mission
by acquiring and developing acreage within an hour of St. Paul and Minneapolis
that is a place of beauty and quiet.
Bethany Center has recently purchased the property at 23393 Nolan Ave which
definitely meets the requirements of beauty and quiet. At 110 acres, the property
encompasses the southern shore of Sea Lake, and includes an adjacent 15 acre
parcel with access to 240th Street (13519) and recently housed a tree farm. Many
of the existing trees will be retained. The existing built facilities currently on-site
meet the majority of structures needed for the Center.
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The existing main residence will be repurposed as the Hospitality Center and
will provide meals and three bedrooms for housing visiting spiritual directors and/
or retreatants. It will also utilize the existing kitchen and eating area as well as
space for quiet reflection and meeting rooms for spiritual direction.
An elevator will be installed and bathrooms remodeled to make the facility
handicapped accessible. It is anticipated that the existing water, sewer and
electricity infrastructure will be sufficient for the revised use. Very little, if any
modifications, will be made to the existing facilities. The rural character of the
structures will be retained and enhanced throughout the grounds.
The existing large barn will provide storage of equipment for the grounds as well
as a larger conference/dining room with future kitchen facilities. The property
immediately around the large barn has sufficient space for parking on a gravel
surface. An initial layout would accommodate up to 72+ vehicles. It is anticipated
that an area for up to 34 cars would be provided initially. If additional spaces are
required in the future, the parking area would be expanded.
The existing granary will be repurposed and remodeled into a chapel.
Two adjacent parcels, (13519 240th Street) contain an existing farmhouse and
detached garages. The home and garage will be renovated/remodeled as the
residence of the Director, or for housing of staff or grounds managers.
An additional home/garage may be built on the site for the Priest’s residence. The
location for the residence will be on the eastern portion of the site separated and
visually isolated from the Hospitality Center, Nolan Ave, or 240th Street. A new
driveway off of 240th Street will provide access to the site with new septic and
well water installed on site for the residence.
The primary retreats Bethany will offer are silent and individually directed. There
will be small hermitages on the grounds where people can stay for 1, 3, 5, 8, and
even 30-day retreats. Each hermitage (less than 1,000 square feet) will have its
own bedroom and bathroom, kitchenette, and prayer room or chapel where the
retreatant can pray and a priest making a retreat can offer Mass. They will also
have access to the hospitality center, other chapels on site, or various prayer
destinations on the grounds.
The site locations for the Hermitages will focus on maximizing visual isolation
utilizing existing vegetation, topography and the relocation of existing vegetation,
to provide considerable views from the units and to blend the units into the
existing natural setting. The units will utilize group septic systems and group wells
to the extent possible. The proposed locations are at a concept level at this point,
and may shift to accommodate efficiencies of septic and water systems. All
setbacks from adjacent property lines, wetlands, etc., will be adhered to and
finalized in an overall site plan prior to construction.
Access to the Hermitages from the Hospitality Center will be primarily by foot on
mowed or natural trails. Several existing cart ways (gravel access roads) will be
retained and maintained to provide emergency access to the Hermitages. Exterior
lighting will be kept to a minimum to enhance the natural landscape.
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A site sign is proposed for the driveway access at Nolan Ave. Size and setback
requirements will be met. Drawings for placement and design will be submitted
prior to construction.
Six portable prayer sites (gazebo-like structures without a foundation) where
people can pray will be located throughout the grounds.
It is the intention to complete all required land use permits this winter so that the
construction can start in the spring after completion of wetland delineations and
the final site plan showing the final Hermitage locations.
A very intentional part of Bethany’s mission is serving Jesus in our priests.
Bethany will be partnering with Holy Trinity Hermitage who will be sharing the
property, facilities, and resources. These two entities will be working together to
offer priests, religious, and other faithful a place to come for renewal. We will serve
them with radical hospitality so that they will be refreshed in both body and soul
and be able to return to their parishes and homes with renewed confidence and
deeper awareness of God’s love for them.
In addition to the retreat component, Bethany will offer opportunities for people to
learn how to deepen their prayer lives. The hospitality center will have a large
conference room which will allow a greater number of people to gather to learn
different ways to pray. They would also be able to use of the grounds and
facilities to pray with what they’re learning.
In all of this, Bethany plans to rely on God for guidance and providing the means
to carry out its mission. People will be able to participate, regardless of their
means. Financial support will be sought from free-will donations.
PROPERTY BREAKDOWN
Respectfully submitted December 14, 2021.
PID #Acres Acres
0403220130001 1.37
0403220410001 16.1
0403220140001 38.63
0303220230001 38.8
subtotal 94.9
0303220220002 11.81
0303220210004 3.28
subtotal 15.09
TOTAL 109.99
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