ST. CLOUD - St. Cloud Cathedral is starting fundraising in hopes of building a new two-story facility on its campus.

Cathedral president Mike Mullin says the school has spent six years preparing for the project.

"We reached a major milestone last Friday when the members of the Cathedral corporation, which is Bishop [Donald Kettler] and the nine pastors, voted to proceed towards the next step."

The hope is to put the new facility in the spot just north of the schools "1938 building", where a previous building had stood until 1982. Mullin says the new building could be used as a chapel and for labs for science and technology. The goal is to fundraise $16.5 million for the project.

"We would strengthen our area Catholic elementary schools, and the remainder would go towards constructing that facility here on the Cathedral campus," Mullin says.

Cathedral hopes to utilize the environment of the nearby Mississippi River for the facility. The new building would also facilitate expected enrollment growth at the school.

The school is now reaching out to parents and alumni who previously pledged support to ask for funds for the project.

More From AM 1240 WJON