Paid in Full
St. Brendan\\\'s celebrates mortgage burning
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ELKINS – After nearly three decades of sacrifice, prayer and steady generosity, St. Brendan Catholic Church has paid off its mortgage, marking a milestone parish leaders say will open the door to new possibilities for ministry and service.
The celebration came on Aug. 9 at the close of the 11 a.m. Mass, when parishioners learned the long-awaited news: the debt was gone. Moments later, members of the church family gathered outside in the plaza, cheering as the mortgage was ceremonially burned in a dramatic symbol of freedom and gratitude.
"Because of the generous and giving hearts of our parish and community, we will be financially stable for many years to come," said newly appointed pastor Father Babu Joseph Elamturuthil.
St. Brendan Catholic Church has been part of the Elkins community for more than 129 years. The parish first built a wooden church in 1897, and later replaced it in 1928 with a stone church at the site now occupied by the Randolph County Arts Center.
In September 1995, Father William Anderson and parishioners broke ground on a larger, more modern church off the Glenmore Loop, near the St. Brendan Cemetery. The new church was consecrated in October 1999 after being built at a cost of more than $2 million.
For 27 years, the parish faithfully carried a large monthly mortgage payment. That commitment helped make the church possible, but it also meant that maintenance, staffing and other needs often had to wait.
This spring, recently retired pastor Father Jim O'Connor and the church's Finance Council developed a plan to eliminate the remaining balance of approximately $200,000. With permission from the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston and encouragement from the St. Brendan church family, the "Burn the Mortgage Campaign" launched in early May.
Donations quickly began coming in, both large and small. Among them was a $40,000 gift from the West Virginia Catholic Foundation in memory of Fr. William Anderson, whose leadership helped bring the current church to life.
"This is a special gift to the parish," Father Babu said. "This frees us to do more of God's work for our parishioners and our community."
Proceeds from the annual St. Brendan Parish Yard Sale were added to the campaign, along with donations from parish children, helping push the effort across the finish line. On Aug. 4, the parish reached its goal and the debt balance dropped to zero.
Five days later, Ty Burgess, who spearheaded the campaign, made the announcement at Mass. The moment capped months of focused giving and years of faithful commitment, ending with cheers, applause and the unforgettable sight of a mortgage going up in flames.