Blessed Sacrament Parish - Historical Highlights

BLESSED SACRAMENT PARISH COMMUNITY
3109 Swede Ave Midland MI 48642-3842
989-835-6777
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Historical Highlights


October 14,1951	Fr. Camil Klos was appointed to begin organizing Blessed Sacrament Parish. 250 families from Saint Brigid were the first parishioners. Msgr. Joseph B. Illig, then pastor of Saint Brigid Church selected the church name, Blessed Sacrament. It signifies "bread of angels, bread of heaven".

November 18,1951	The first mass was celebrated by Fr. Klos at 8 a.m. in the gymnasium of the City of Midland's Northeast Intermediate School on East Sugnet Street.

December 21, 1951	A ranch type home was purchased for a temporary rectory at 4103 Elm Court, cost was $19,500.

February 18, 1952	An altar society was organized. Mrs. William Berg was elected the first president. Today the altar society is known as the "Ladies of Blessed Sacrament".

March 16, 1952	A housewarming took place for the new rectory.

August 1952	Paul A. Brysselbout, an architect in Bay City, was hired to design a master plan for all the parish buildings. The first was a combined church/auditorium (which is now our gym and social hall) and grade school.

October 25, 1952	The first parish wedding took place, Elon E. McDaniel and Leona Martin.

May 2 and 3, 1953	The first spring festival was held at UMWA Hall, sponsored by the Altar Society.

June 1953	Four lots adjacent to the existing parish site were purchased from Lester Kent in order to provide access to Kentwood Drive, price was $12,512.20.

June 21, 1953	Twenty-eight children received their First Holy Communion.

March 25, 1954	The parish had grown to 400 households, about 1800 members. School building contracts were signed with the following concerns: Henry C. Weber Construction Co. of Bay City, general contractor, $218,370; Eurich Plumbing and Heating Co., plumbing and heating contract, $70,595; and Allen Electric Co., electrical contract, $14,325. This made a total basic bid of $303.290. Total cost, including architect's fee: $345,000.

September 1954	Blessed Sacrament Parish had a food booth at the Midland County Fair. Proceeds of $1,251.81 from the fair booth were to be used to equip a classroom in the new school. (Blessed Sacrament continued ownership of the food booth through 1961)

March 1955	Ground breaking took place for the convent building adjacent to Blessed Sacrament School, Fr. Klos presided. The cost was $92,000.

April 24, 1955	The first mass in the new church-auditorium of Blessed Sacrament School was celebrated by Fr. Klos. The church and school buildings cost $345,000. The church/auditorium seated 500 worshippers in the main area with seating for 300 in the social hall behind the altar.

September 1955	Blessed Sacrament School opened with an initial enrollment of 278 students. The first teachers at Blessed Sacrament School, all members of the Bernardines, are: Sister Mary Roger, first grade; Sister Mary Montmarie, second grade; Sister Marie Lourdette, third grade; Sister Mercita Evelyn, fourth grade; Sister Mary Hedwinette, fifth grade; Sister Mary Walter, sixth grade and principal; and Sister Mary Sixtus, housekeeper.

October 16, 1955	A blessing of church and school building by Bishop Stephen S. Woznicki began at 4 pm, followed by a civic banquet in the social hall.

September 1956	Blessed Sacrament School opened the school year with 426 students in grades 1-8.

February 22, 1957	Construction started on the rectory on Swede Road, Joseph Agostinelli, a parishioner, was the builder, cost was $43,794.

November 20, 1957	Property was purchased for a Catholic Central High School (Regina). Ground breaking for the high school was on Easter Sunday, 1962. September 1963 Regina opened. Sister Noreen Marie was the first principal. June, 1970 Rev. Kenneth E. Yaroch appointed principal for Regina High School. After review and recommendation by the Diocese of Saginaw, Regina High school was closed at the end of the school year in 1971.

1958	Blessed Sacrament Parish had expanded to 700 families, almost tripling in three years.

1960	The Parish purchased house and lot on East Ashman, next to convent for $9,000.

September 1960	St. Paul's Seminary opened in Saginaw. By August of 1963 12 seminarians from Blessed Sacrament were studying for religious order. Five studying for the priesthood, two preparing themselves to become brothers and five girls preparing to become sisters.

October 1962	On the tenth anniversary of the first parish mass, Blessed Sacrament consisted of more than 900 families.

March 27, 1966	The parish community decided to build a new church building. Participants in the brief Sunday afternoon groundbreaking ceremony included: Rev. Henry P. DuRussel, pastor; Rev. Edward P. O'Reilly and Rev. Leo Gengler assistant pastors; Rev. Thomas W. Ryan, pastor of Saint Brigid parish. Blessed Sacrament grade school children marched in procession and sang hymns during the program. Members of the church committee and parishioners were also present. The cost for the project was $600,000. The plan for worship space evolved from a cruciform shape to the circular shape we know today. The shallowness of the church property was a major influence on the shape of the church because it did not allow for a long narrow nave. This shape has certainly contributed to the unity of our parish since we see one another whenever we gather around the Tables of the Word and of the Eucharist.

October 16, 1966	In a special Sunday service, Msgr. Eugene Forbes of St. Mary's Cathedral in Saginaw, lay the cornerstone for the new Blessed Sacrament Church.

August 20, 1967	Fr. Henry DuRussel celebrated the first Mass in the new Church. The parish now had 1100 registered households.

October 1, 1967	Blessed Sacrament Church held an open house for the community and other friends followed on October 8, 1967 with a solemn blessing of the new Blessed Sacrament Church by Most Reverend Stephen S. Woznicki, Bishop of the Diocese of Saginaw. Rev. Henry P. DuRussel, pastor; Rev. Edward P. O'Reilly and Rev. Chester J. Pilarski concelebrated mass at 4 p.m. The Most Reverend James A. Hickey, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Saginaw and a native Midlander, delivered the sermon. A dinner followed.

June 1969	Fr. Gerald Balwinski was ordained after serving the parish for 9 months as a deacon. Over the next six years Blessed Sacrament celebrated four ordinations from within its parish family. Those ordained were; In February 1971, Fr. James Fitzpatrick, February 1972, Fr. James Falsey, July 1973, Fr. John Sarge and in April 1975, Fr. Robert S. Gohm.

March 1971	A Steering committee was named to establish by-laws and help organize a parish council. Members include: Fr. DuRussel, Sr. Venard, Bob Dostal, Mary Gilson, Frank Hart, Marge Roberts, Gloria Sulik, Reezie Walraven, Fr. Orlik, Jim Cahill, Chris Gurnee, Julie Peterson, Jim Siler, Tom Sinclair and Art Chomistek, chairman.

August 1972	C.C.D., Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, was coordinated by Sister Mary Louise Donnelly who assumed this newly created position.

July 15, 1973	John Sarge, son of Mr. And Mrs. T. W. Sarge (Blessed Sacrament Parish founding members), was ordained to the priesthood. July 16th Fr. John Sarge celebrates his first mass at Blessed Sacrament Church.

February 1976	Plans began for a new pictorial directory and a celebration of the 25th anniversary.

May 26, 1976	There were 1,453 registered parishioners and the parish had recorded 4,060 baptisms, 310 deaths, 2,249 confirmations, 3,151 First Communions and 864 marriages since its beginning.

July 1989	The parish had grown to 1800 households, which was about 4500 parishioners.

July 1990	The Parish Center building was completed.

November 15, 1993	Fire and smoke destroyed a significant portion of the interior of the church. Masses were held in the Parish Center during the clean-up and interior renovation.

March 5, 1994	The church was rededicated by Bishop Kenneth Untener. The interior layout now provides space for major assembly on weekend liturgies, a "gathering" place upon entering the church, a daily chapel designed for approximately 70 people, and a new baptismal font which created an environment for baptism by immersion.

June 17 through October 15, 2001	Blessed Sacrament Parish celebrated 50th Anniversary. The theme, "We are Truly Blessed" was used throughout the year. We began celebrating with our annual parish picnic held June 17th (parish feast day). Noteworthy events and experiences that shaped our community over the past 5 decades were gathered and then published as a keepsake booklet for every parishioner. A banner was hung in front of the church to let everyone know we were celebrating. Shirts with the anniversary logo were available for purchase. An anniversary golf outing was well attended. Anniversary banners commemorating our fifty years of growth as a parish decorated the church. The celebration culminated with a Founders Banquet on October 12 and masses celebrated by Bishop Kenneth E. Untener on October 13 and 14. Following the 11 am Mass on Sunday, October 14, a parish open house was held in the social hall.