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General information
From Highway 401 get off at exit 278 or
Highway 8 West into Kitchener. Follow Highway 8 until you reach the 7/8
overpass then exit West in the direction of Stratford. When on the 7/8
look for Homer Watson Blvd. and exit; at the lights turn left. Follow
Homer Watson Blvd. until you come to Blockline Rd. Turn right and follow
until you reach Laurentian Dr. The Church is at the corner of Blockline
Rd. and Laurentian Dr.
The property on which Blessed Sacrament
Church is situated has a history dating back to the year 1800 when
George Bechtel purchased it and established it as part of the Bechtel
Tract. Even more interesting, perhaps, is that recently discovered
archival information hints that Catholics were destined to have a church
on this property!
Beginning in 1842 and for the next 100 years, 142 acres of this original
tract was owned and farmed by the Wilhelm family. This farm on which the
church is situated was bounded by what is now Laurentian Drive, Bleams
Road, Westmount Road, and Blockline Road.
According to a book by Rev. Theobald Spetz, C.R., D.D. (1916), titled
The Catholic Church in Waterloo County, in 1862 the Catholics of
Strassburg and Williamsburg, south of Berlin (later to be renamed
Kitchener), were planning a church.
"At Anthony Wilhelm’s farm they had already gathered considerable
building material for it. The people of Lexington and Bridgeport, north
of Berlin, also were busy with church planning about that time," he
says. "Father Ebner was at St. Agatha from 1848 to 1856. He strongly
advised the people of Strassburg and Williamsburg, and those of
Bridgeport and Lexington, to give up their idea of building churches as
planned. He felt that if all the Catholics in and around Berlin, within
a radius of from four to eight miles would unite their forces they might
in time create a parish large enough for a resident priest. Many small
churches could never expect to have regular service when priests were
still so scarce. Hence he persauded the Strassburgers and their friends
and also those of Bridgeport and Lexington to join the Berlin people and
erect a church there." This first church was built in 1856 on the
Southeast corner of Weber and Duke Streets, and became St. Mary’s
Church.
In the book, Spetz concludes that the people of Strassburg and
Williamsburg heeded the advice of Fr. Ebner, "though no doubt with
sorrow by some", and joined the first Berlin church. However, we are
certain they must be resting more peacefully now, knowing that their
plans for a Catholic Church on Wilhelm’s farm finally reached fruition
nearly 120 years later.
In 1999, a Wilhelm descendent, Jerome Reinhart of Breslau, together with
his wife Sheila donated a plaque, which has been erected on the lobby
wall, to commemorate those early Wilhelm days, reminding us that Holy
Mass was celebrated at this site, at least occasionally, as much as 150
years ago.
PARISH HISTORY
Blessed Sacrament Parish was formed due to
overcrowded conditions at St. Francis Church. In 1971, a Christmas Mass
was celebrated in Monsignor Haller School by Fr. Michael Burns.
In the spring of 1972, the pastor of St. Francis, Fr. Gehl,
decided the need for a weekly Mass existed in the area of Laurentian
Hills. This remained a mission of St. Francis Church until October 1,
1977, when the parish of Blessed Sacrament was established.
The first Mass was celebrated by the founding pastor, Father Harry
Schmuck, and Monsignor Haller School continued to be the centre for
the new parish community.
The first communal baptism in November 1977 welcomed David Eugene Leveck,
Lindsay Arran Theresa Ross, Leslie Kara Vogel, Betty Kobetich, Andrea
Elizabeth Reck, Tracey Lynn Crossman, Shawn Adam Keffer, and Todd Allan
Prince. The first marriage solemnized in the parish was between Donald
Joseph Walsh and Sharon Joan Cunningham on May 6, 1978.
On Sunday, June 17th, 1979, Father Schmuck announced that he was
being transferred to St. Teresa’s Parish in Kitchener, and the new
pastor would be Father Edward Sheridan, secretary to Bishop
Reding and assistant pastor at St. Augustine’s in Dundas. Fr.
Sheridan began his first assignment as a pastor on June 29, 1979.
Before his departure, Father Schmuck had established a Building
Committee, and under Father Sheridan's leadership, the work of
preparing for construction began in earnest. The architectural firm of
Snider, Reichard, and March prepared the design, and the construction
contract was awarded to Watcon, Incorporated. Ground was broken on
October 4, 1980. The cornerstone was laid on May 17, 1981, and the new
church was dedicated on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ,
June 21, 1981. All these events were presided over by Bishop Paul F.
Reding, who was immensely proud of the leadership shown by his
former secretary in uniting a steadily growing community with great
enthusiasm. Bishop Reding continued to be a strong supporter of
our Parish in every way, until his death of cancer, much too young, in
December, 1983.
The debt of $1.1 million for the building of the Church has been reduced
at a fantastic pace; it is now anticipated that it will be completely
paid off by the 2Oth Anniversary of the dedication, in 2001.
Father Sheridan had associate pastors from 1981 through 1991. For
the first half of that time and until his death in 1985, retired
Monsignor Vincent A. Priester considered himself a member of the
family, living close by in the original rectory on Briar Knoll Drive,
and served the parish in many ways.
Beautifying enhancements to the Church complex were added at regular
intervals, ranging from statues to flagpoles to the furnishing of the
Parish Centre downstairs. Father Sheridan ensured that the Church
complex never ceased to Iook as though it had just been opened.
By the time of his transfer, after 13 eventful years, the parish was at
least 5 times the size and population it had been upon founding. Our
third school, Blessed Sacrament, in Country Hills, was the only school
opened during his time as Pastor, and was already the largest of the
schools in the parish. The area below the Church showed every sign of
exploding in growth, and this has in fact been the case in the years
since. Now there is still more residential growth on the other side of
Westmount Road, and still another new school is likely to be on the
scene by the year 2002 at the latest.
Father Sheridan made his sad good-bye to the people on June 24,
1992, and became the Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Waterloo,
where he still serves to this day.
His successor was Father Martin Vallely. Like Father Sheridan,
Father Vallely came to Blessed Sacrament as his first pastorate,
having served as a priest for 12 years, 5 of them in the Chancery Office
in Hamilton as the Director of the Office of Religious Education.
Father Vallely has had two associate pastors, Father Donald
Wilhelm (1992-1995), and Father Mark Sullivan (1995-1998). On
June 29, 2005 Father Martin Valleley was transfered to
St. Francis Xavier Church (1947)
No. 8 Highway, Stoney Creek, Ontario L8G 1E6.
On the same day, June 29 2005, Father
Wayne L. Lobsinger was
assigned
as Pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish, Kitchener with a mission church,
St. Brigid, Ayr.
Father Lobsinger was
ordained
a Priest for the Diocese of Hamilton, May 7, 1994 in the Cathedral of
Christ the King, Hamilton by
Bishop A.F. Tonnos, D.D.
He served as Associate Pastor in 4 parishes: Our Lady of Lourdes,
Hamilton, St. Anthony Daniel, Kitchener, St. Eugene, Hamilton, Holy
Cross, Georgetown.
In 1994-2003 served as Master of Ceremonies for
Bishop Ustrzycki, D.D.
In June 2003 assigned as Pastor of St. Anthony Parish, Kincardine,
Sacred Heart Parish, Teeswater and St. Ann Parish, Riversdale
In
July 2005 became Chaplain to the Kitchener Council of the Knights of
Columbus
Click
here to see Fr., Lobsinger's Vocation Story onYouTube.
During these last years, the pastoral care of the community, and
its works of service, have continued to expand. A renovation of the choir area
was completed in 1995, a new roof was placed on the complex in 1996, the parking
lot was thoroughly repaired and re-sealed in 1998, and a "lift", to link church
level and Parish Centre level, as well as extensive washroom renewal,
highlighted 1999. The parish marked its 20th Anniversary in 1997 with a special
Eucharistic celebration and a new Photo Directory, Commemorative Edition style.
In May, 1995, the first native son of the parish to be ordained a
priest, Father Edward Henhoeffer, son of William and Marlene, celebrated
his First Mass of Thanksgiving in our Church, surrounded by family and well
wishers. The Henhoeffers had farmed in this region for many generations before
Blessed Sacrament Parish came to be.
In September, 1997, long-serving Director of Music Joyce Knarr retired,
leaving an astonishing legacy of building the music program of the Parish. It
has continued to grow, in the capable hands of her successor, Mr. David Hall.
We face the future confidently, and ask God that we may continue to be
generous in sharing the gifts with which we have been blessed.
School Liturgy
Schedules, click here
PARISH SCHEDULES
Sunday Masses:
Saturday - 7:00p.m.
Sunday - 8:30a.m. - 10:00a.m. - 11:30a.m.
Mission: Ayr Catholic Community:
Mass On Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in Christ Church (Anglican), Manley
Street, Ayr
Weekday Masses:
Monday - Friday - 9:00a.m.
Blessing of Expectant Parents:
After all Masses on the first Sunday of each month.
Sacrament of Baptism:
Please call the rectory to arrange preparation.
Sacrament of Penance:
Saturday - 11:00a.m. - 12 Noon.
Sacrament of Marriage:
By Appointment - Please phone the Rectory.
St. Vincent De Paul Society:
Church door collection on the last Sunday of each month.
PARISH STAFF
Parish priests:
Rev. W. L. Lobsinger,
Pastor
Further info: |
Rev. Anthony Raj,
Associate Pastor
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Rev. Mr. Neil Devereaux,
Deacon
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Administrative Assistant:
Mrs. Doreen Yarascavitch
(Office Hours: 8:15 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday) |
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Director Of Music Ministry:
Mr. David Hall
Home: 519-741-0067
Further info: |
Music assistant:
Joann Koehler
Further
info: |
Pastoral Minister/Children’s Ministries:
Michelle Sage
Further
info:
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Pastoral
Minister/School Liaison:
Marilyn Koehler |
Custodians:
Lee Hannan and Richard Proulx |
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OUR PARISH SCHOOLS
School Liturgy Schedules:
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John Sweeney School on 185 Activa Ave
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Monsignor Haller School
On Shea Crescent
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St. Brigid's In Ayr ON. |
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Our Lady Of Grace School
On Gracefield Crescent
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Blessed Sacrament School
On The Country Way
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