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Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
Saint Paul
MN
55119-3508
- Roman Catholic churches in Saint Paul, MN
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Who we are
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.
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.
Location of worship / Church Address
2119 Stillwater Ave E
Saint Paul,
MN
55119-3508
United States
Phone: (651) 738-0677 ext. 10
Fax: (651) 738-6492
Download Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church vCard with Mass Times
Church Pastor
Reverend Benny Mekkatt
Pastor
2119 Stillwater Ave E
Saint Paul,
MN
55119-3508
United States
Phone: (651) 738-0677 ext. 11
Fax: (651) 738-6492
Download Pastor Reverend Benny Mekkatt vCard with Bio
Quote of the Day
Jeremiah 29:13
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Denomination
Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic churches in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
Roman Catholic churches in Minnesota, United States
Roman Catholic churches in United States
All churches in Saint Paul, MN
Affiliations:
Website:
Social Media
Leadership
Leader Name:
Reverend Benny Mekkatt
Leader Position:
Pastor
Formal Title:
Leader Address:
Tel:
Fax:
(651) 738-6492
Leader Email:
Leader Bio:
I am humbled and honored to be appointed as your pastor at Blessed Sacrament Church. I consider it a privilege and a great gift to be able to serve within this parish community. This new appointment is a return to the east side for me, as I recently served as pastor at Presentation of Blessed Virgin Mary. I know some of you, and I am sure, at least a few of you, already know me. Most of you may be still curious to know more about me, so let me use this column to introduce myself.
I am originally from Kerala, India. I come from a traditionally Catholic family. As my name indicates, Benny, I am the Benjamin (the youngest) of six children. I have three sisters and two brothers, and one of my sisters is a nun, belonging to the Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC). My mom and other siblings live in India. I am also blessed to have dozens of nieces and nephews and a few grand nieces and nephews, too.
I am a member of the Congregation of the Sons of the Immaculate Conception (CFIC), founded by a saintly man, Blessed Luigi Maria Monti, in Rome, Italy in 1857. The Congregation has communities and missions in 23 countries. As part of my priestly training I lived in India, Italy and the Philippines. After completing my studies for the priesthood, I was ordained a priest in India on October 9th, 2004. Three years after my ordination I was asked to come to St. Paul as part of our CFIC community at the Church of St. Mary in downtown St. Paul. During my first six years in Minnesota, I worked primarily as a hospital chaplain at Hennepin County Medical Center and helped out in various parish communities. During that time I used to celebrate the first Saturday Mass at Blessed Sacrament. For three and a half years I was pastor at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Maplewood. Since July 1st, 2017, I have served as pastor at the Church of St. Mary. In the same month, I was also appointed as the Superior for the CFIC North American Delegation.
I am originally from Kerala, India. I come from a traditionally Catholic family. As my name indicates, Benny, I am the Benjamin (the youngest) of six children. I have three sisters and two brothers, and one of my sisters is a nun, belonging to the Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC). My mom and other siblings live in India. I am also blessed to have dozens of nieces and nephews and a few grand nieces and nephews, too.
I am a member of the Congregation of the Sons of the Immaculate Conception (CFIC), founded by a saintly man, Blessed Luigi Maria Monti, in Rome, Italy in 1857. The Congregation has communities and missions in 23 countries. As part of my priestly training I lived in India, Italy and the Philippines. After completing my studies for the priesthood, I was ordained a priest in India on October 9th, 2004. Three years after my ordination I was asked to come to St. Paul as part of our CFIC community at the Church of St. Mary in downtown St. Paul. During my first six years in Minnesota, I worked primarily as a hospital chaplain at Hennepin County Medical Center and helped out in various parish communities. During that time I used to celebrate the first Saturday Mass at Blessed Sacrament. For three and a half years I was pastor at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Maplewood. Since July 1st, 2017, I have served as pastor at the Church of St. Mary. In the same month, I was also appointed as the Superior for the CFIC North American Delegation.
Other Church Leaders:
Reverend Benny Mekkatt on Social Media:
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Leadership Photos
Administration
Admin Name:
John Florin
Admin Position:
Business Administrator
Admin Address:
Telephone:
Fax:
(651) 738-6492
Admin Email:
Mailing Address
Driving Directions to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
Travel/Directions Tips
Parking
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Saint Paul Mass Times
Mass Times
Saturday 4:00 pm
Sunday 8:30 am
Sunday 10:30 am
Monday 9:00 am
Tuesday 9:00 am
Wednesday 9:00 am
Thursday 9:00 am
Friday 9:00 am
First Saturdays (Healing Mass) 9:00 am
Confessions
Monday - Friday immediately following 9:00 am Mass
Saturdays 3:00 - 3:45 pm
Mass Times last updated on the 3rd of March, 2020
Saturday 4:00 pm
Sunday 8:30 am
Sunday 10:30 am
Monday 9:00 am
Tuesday 9:00 am
Wednesday 9:00 am
Thursday 9:00 am
Friday 9:00 am
First Saturdays (Healing Mass) 9:00 am
Confessions
Monday - Friday immediately following 9:00 am Mass
Saturdays 3:00 - 3:45 pm
Mass Times last updated on the 3rd of March, 2020
Worship Languages
Dress code:
Children and Youth Activities
Under 12s:
Under 18s:
Local outreach & community activities:
Other activities & ministries
Special Needs/Accessibility:
Prayers and hymns:
Main Bible:
Hymns and Songs:
Other information:
Average Adult Congregation:
Average Youth Congregation:
Additional Info:
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Photo Gallery
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church History
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.
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.