Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Saint Paul MN

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota is a Christian congregation serving the Saint Paul community and encouraging others through a life-changing Christian journey.

We seek to serve God by working for justice and peace, respect and learn from all the great faith traditions and desire to be known by the love we have for one another.

 

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https://www.blessedsacramentsp.org/  

 

 

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A Brief History of the Parish of the Blessed Sacrament

For many years, the residents of Hazel Park travelled each Sunday to St. John’s or Sacred Heart Church to keep their faith. The education of the small community’s children was left in the care of Ames Public School. Not content with the role of commuting Catholics, the women of Hazel Park spearheaded a drive to bring about the establishment of a Catholic parish in the Hazel Park area.

1915

Twenty six families met to establish a church in the area First project was the recruitment of new members

1916

Archbishop John Ireland and Bishop John J. Lawler, laid the plans for the new parish The church was in a fifteen dollar a month small frame building

1917

Fr. William Finley was appointed as pastor and celebrated the first Mass in the first constructed church with a seating capacity of 432 persons

1918

School opened with 170 students It was staffed by four Sisters of St. Joseph

1919

Fr. Finley moved into the new church rectory

1924

Parish contributing membership was up to 166

1930’s

Depression started- the lean years Fund raising activities included: an annual homecoming carnival, games of pool and bowling in the church basement

1941- 1947

A bigger church was needed. WWII stopped the construction of a new church The cornerstone for the new church was laid and blessed Seating capacity was for 650 people.

1954

St. Thomas the Apostle was established as a subdivision of Blessed Sacrament parish

1957

Expansion of the school building to accommodate over 600 students

1961

Property for a convent was purchased and the sisters moved into their new home in 1963

1969

School was completely renovated, church & school connected, science lab & library added

1970’s

Casavant Pipe organ was dedicated The back altar was removed and the tabernacle was repositioned from behind the priest Deacon seminarians were assigned to Blessed Sacrament

1980’s – 1990’s

The convent and its grounds were sold The hand carved altar was donated and the tabernacle was returned to the front of the church below the crucifix Flag pole & monument were constructed and dedicated to veterans from the parish

2000’s

Perpetual Adoration was instituted in 2000 on the 1st weekend of Lent and opened for 24 hrs. a day adoration School enrolment markedly declined K-8. After 87 years, the school closed in June 2005. The school building was leased to Caesar Chavez Academy in the fall. The Karen community joined Blessed Sacrament parish from 2011 until the church closing in Jan 2015. ( Karen people are refugees from Burma. 15% of the Karen are Christians)

Throughout the years, the faith community of Blessed Sacrament served the parish through various ministries. e.g., Holy Name Society, Altar and Rosary Society later known as Council of Catholic Women, Pastoral Council, Trustees, Finance, Liturgy/Music, Faith Formation, Education, Outreach, Hospitality, Knights of Columbus and parishioners who provided “free” maintenance work known as the FREEBE Construction Company.

A Brief History of the Parish of St Thomas the Apostle

Like many communities in the early 1950’s, the east side of St. Paul and its neighboring suburbs experienced a building boom. It soon became apparent that a new Catholic church was needed to relieve the crowded conditions of Blessed Sacrament Church and surrounding parishes. Catholic residents of the neighborhood met to consider and pray what their new church would be like.

Archbishop Murray requested Fr. Thomas Robertson, who was just discharged from the army, to undertake the founding of a new parish which was to be a sub-division of the Blessed Sacrament Parish.

1954

The basement of Frank Kielsa’s hardware store on Stillwater Ave served as the temporary church. The first Mass was held on October 17th.

1955

July 10th, groundbreaking for the combined church and school building overlooking Beaver Lake.

1956

The first Mass in the new church was held on Feb 5th. Church services were held on the lower floor and the school occupied classrooms on the upper floor. The school opened its doors on Sept 3rd and was staffed by the Sisters of the Order of the Servants of Mary from WI. Lay teachers were added to the staff a year later.

1960 – 1964

The nuns moved into the new convent in the fall of 1961. Student body reached 340 students in 1962. Staff included 4 nuns and 3 lay teachers. The new church building to accommodate the growing parish was completed in 1964.

1968

The rectory was built.

1969

Due to falling enrollment the school closed in June. The building was leased to various community organizations for several years and in 1999 the school building and convent were sold to ACORN Language Academy.

1997-1999

There was a growing need for newer, more efficient facilities. The rectory was sold in 1999 and the construction of the addition to the church which now houses all the offices, education wing and the gathering area begun.

2000

The newly remodeled church and combined administrative and educational facilities were dedicated on August 27th.

Over the years, the St. Thomas the Apostle community of faith through the various ministries such as Pastoral Council, Trustees, Finance, Men’s Club, Women’s Club, Grounds & Maintenance, Adult & Youth Faith Formation, Liturgy/ Music, Outreach, Hospitality, Parish Nurse, Meditation Garden etc. has supported the parish in its growth, both financially and spiritually.