A Home for Formation and Fraternity
Nestled in the former rectory of Holy Family Catholic Church in Duluth, the Monsignor Buh House marks a new chapter for the Diocese of Duluth. Once home to the Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus, the building sat vacant for two years — until now. Revived with purpose, it’s become a place of fraternity, formation and rest for seminarians and priests alike.
Nestled in the former rectory of Holy Family Catholic Church in Duluth, the Monsignor Buh House marks a new chapter for the Diocese of Duluth. Once home to the Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus, the building sat vacant for two years — until now. Revived with purpose, it’s become a place of fraternity, formation and rest for seminarians and priests alike.
The original Buh Mission House was built in 1921 and named after Monsignor Joseph Buh, a beloved missionary priest in Northern Minnesota. It served as a hub for priests serving multiple missions, offering not just lodging but a spiritual home base. Monsignor Buh himself lived there, guiding and supporting the men who passed through its doors. That legacy of mission and community is what inspired the house’s renewal today.
The Buh House now accommodates up to 13 people on its upper level, with plans to renovate the basement to expand sleeping capacity. The vision is clear — to create a home for seminarians during the summer months and a place where priests can come to rest, reconnect, and be renewed.
“It’s a place where priests can come and just breathe,” says Father Scott Padrnos, director of vocations for the diocese, who currently resides in the house. “Primarily, though, it’s for the seminarians — to give them a sense of belonging and stability.”
Father Scott sees the Buh House as a solution to both spiritual and practical needs. Seminarians can live together, maintain a rhythm of prayer and community and avoid the spiritual drift that can come from leaving the structured environment of seminary life. For priests and seminarians visiting Duluth for events like ordinations or the chrism Mass, it offers a reliable place to stay — more welcoming than a rectory, which can often feel temporary.
The house also fosters deeper relationships among seminarians, who often come from different seminaries and only see each other briefly throughout the year. Here, they can build lasting bonds rooted in shared prayer, meals and mission. “Friendship,” Father Scott reflects, quoting Aristotle, “is two men running together in the same direction.” These men are not just classmates — they are future brother priests, walking the same path.
While Father Scott is currently the only full-time resident, he’s grateful for the chapel, where he celebrates daily Mass. It serves as the spiritual heart of the house and can accommodate all the seminarians when they gather.
Some seminarians stay for a night; others spend the entire summer. Father Scott hopes to help them find summer jobs that build pastoral and practical skills, while continuing to foster community life at the house.
There’s still work ahead. The second floor is furnished, but the main floor needs remodeling, while the basement — damaged by water — awaits transformation. Plans include adding beds, a shower and expanding the kitchen and deck to better serve the growing community.
“We want this to feel like a home,” Father Scott says. “A place they can return to, grow in, and be formed by.”