Last week, we received a tip from a former parishioner that admitted child molester Fran Hoefgen lived with Father David Ostrowski at the Church of the Holy Cross rectory in Minneapolis around 2005. In 2005, Fran Hoefgen was still a priest and on restriction (since 2002) at Saint John’s Abbey. Father Hoefgen was laicized in 2011.
A quick review of public records (see screen shots, below) shows the church’s address for both Hoefgen and Ostrowski.
Ostrowski Addresses – Click to View Larger
Hoefgen Addresses – Click to View Larger
(Map: 1621 University Ave NE Minneapolis, MN 55413)
Another record search shows that Hoefgen may have lived at the church’s rectory from June of 2004 until April of 2006. [ View ]
On May 21, 2014, Sister M. Benita at Holy Cross confirmed that Fran Hoefgen was often at the rectory around 2005. Sister Benita added that that she knew Hoefgen had some “issues” but would not say what those issues were.
A former parishioner at Holy Cross, who left the Catholic church because of the sexual abuse issue, also saw Hoefgen on church grounds.
What did the Archdiocese Know?
Did the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis know that Father David Ostrowski (a former Saint John’s Abbey monk) was harboring an admitted child molester [ View ] at the rectory? Did Hoefgen pay rent? Meet with parishioners? Help with parish duties? Say mass? Entertain?
Has Father Ostrowski provided Fran Hoefgen access to the rectory and/or parishioners at Ostrowski’s current church, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Minnetonka?
