Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
A People            A Mission            A Structure
 

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.

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
July 2005 became Chaplain to the Kitchener Council of the Knights of Columbus

Assisting Father Lobsinger as associate pastor is Father Malcolm Katzenberger.
Father Malcolm Katzenberger was born in Saskatoon Sask.  He grew up and has spent most of his years living in Burlington Ontario.  He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Anthony Tonnos DD on May 5th, 2007 at Christ the King Cathedral in Hamilton Ontario after completing seminary studies at Blessed John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts. 
Blessed Sacrament Parish is Father Malcolm's first assignment as associate pastor.
He looks forward to applying his life experiences and his academic formation in service to God's people at Blessed Sacrament.

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. Malcolm Katzenberger Associate Pastor Further info:	Administrative Assistant: Mrs. Doreen Yarascavitch (Office Hours: 8:15 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday)	Custodians: Lee Hannan and Richard Proulx
Director Of Music Ministry: Mr. David Hall Home: 519-741-0067 Further info:	Music assistant: Joann Koehler Further info:	Pastoral Associate:

OUR PARISH SCHOOLS

School Liturgy Schedules: 
 

John Sweeney School on 185 Activa Ave	Monsignor Haller School On Shea Crescent	St. Brigid's In Ayr ON.
Our Lady Of Grace School On Gracefield Crescent	Blessed Sacrament School On The Country Way

• SCHOOL LITURGY SCHEDULE 2008-2009

St. Brigid Family Mass: Wednesday December 3, 2008 @ 6:30 p.m. in school

St. Brigid Feast Day Mass: Wednesday, February 4, 2008 @ 12:30 p.m. in school

SACRAMENTAL CELEBRATIONS 2009