Becoming Lumen Christi
On July 19, 1995, Msgr. Berntson died of a heart attack. The HCC mourned his death, and a search for a new co-pastor ensued. In June 1996, Fr. Jerry Grieman was appointed as the new co-pastor and on August 5, 1996, the HCC and Bishop Lawrence J. Welsh of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis celebrated Fr. Grieman’s installation. This Mass was celebrated outdoors at St. Gregory and began the tradition of the annual outdoor Mass for the Highland Catholic Community.

In October 1996, the Mass schedule changed again, enabling the two co-pastors to preside at more of the weekend Masses.

By July 1, 1997, the HCC was restructured in an effort to make better use of its facilities, allowing each site to be used even more than before. St. Leo became the Administrative Center, St. Gregory the Educational Center and St. Therese the Activity and Outreach Center. Each individual parish, however, continued to be the center of its own parish events and activities.

In the Fall of 1997, Highland Catholic School began a capital campaign that was successful in raising over
$1.6 million. The funds are being used to renovate the school building, making it safer, more accessible,
and better adapted to new directions in education. The school also added a third kindergarten class that year, reflecting the increasing demand for quality
Catholic education.

In 1999 upon the medical retirement of Fr. Jerry Grieman, Fr. John M. Bauer was appointed pastor of the Lumen Christi Catholic Community. Fr. Tom Hunstiger, previous co- pastor of Lumen Christi Catholic Community, took on the assignment of Senior Associate.

With the appointment of Fr. Bauer a planning process was begun that eventually resulted in the merger of the three formerly independent parishes of the Lumen Christi Catholic Community.

The Church of St. Leo was closed for renovation at the end of December 2004. It was reopened on Holy Saturday March 26, 2005 under the parish’s new name “Lumen Christi.” The Church of St. Gregory was closed on Sunday May 15, 2005, and The Church St. Therese was closed on Sunday February 5, 2006. The new parish center for Lumen Christi was formally opened on February 11, 2006. It was dedicated by Archbishop Harry J. Flynn on April 23, 2006. All parish activities now take place at the Lumen Christi site.