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(Excerpts of information as collected by Deacon Robert Ghiloni
for a report dated January 17, 1996.)
In April of 1904, Father Charles Watterson was appointed by Bishop
Hartley to undertake the joyous task of organizing a new parish. It
was under this first pastor that the parish saw its' first church
and school building, a combined building also housing quarters for
the nuns who would be teaching here.
Father Watterson served the people of Blessed Sacrament
faithfully until his death on February 15, 1928. From the Golden
Jubilee Book, "Under Father Watterson's direction the Church and
School at Blessed Sacrament parish flourished and was marked by a
distinctive spirit of religious expression…and even after his death,
his influence lived on." In the twenty years he served there were
119 converts and 887 baptisms, a tribute to his leadership.
The first Mass was held in the Old Armory and on March
12, 1905, the single building combining the Church and the school
was completed and the school doors opened September 5th
of that same year. The school offered commercial courses as well as
a standard curriculum that went through the 12th grade.
The Dominican Sisters of Saint Mary of the Springs greeted classes
totaling one hundred and fifteen students. In 1931 the high school
and commercial courses were discontinued and all the students
wanting to continue to high school had to attend either Saint
Francis deSales on the "other" side of Newark or attend the public
school system. The Dominican Sisters served our school until the
late 70's, then the toll of declining vocations made "Our Good
Sisters" but a memory for those who had the privilege of knowing
their dedication and love. In 1953 there was a need for extra
classroom space which was found by converting a used sub station for
the Telephone Company and eventually another building was built to
house the upper four grades. In the 1940's the enrollment at Blessed
Sacrament School rose to over 200 pupils.
Father John Byrne, a native of Ireland, served Blessed
Sacrament parish until his death in 1946. The original church would
suffice for awhile, but because of the foresight of our founding
pastor, who immediately started a building fund with the estate of
Mrs. Mary Walsh, a new church building under the direction of Father
Byrne was erected and was dedicated on January 28, 1942. The church
was actually completed by Christmas of 1941 and permission was given
by the Bishop for Christmas mass to be celebrated in the new church
although the dedication would come later.
It was during Father Bryne's pastorate that Blessed
Sacrament received their first "assistant" pastor in Father Remark.
Father William Conners, Monsignor Ralph Huntzinger, Father Robert
Manning, Monsignor Thomas Bender, Father James Pickett, Father
Jerome Raiser, Monsignor Mario Serrgilo all served as Assistant
Pastors for the people of Blessed Sacrament.
The parish saw an interim pastor in Father Hubert
Kreamer, O.F.M., until the appointment of Father Richard Crosser in
1946. Father Crosser, as he told upon his departure in 1960, was
"the first pastor to leave Blessed Sacrament alive." The new school
was built by Father Crosser in 1957. He was a man strong in
attributes both physically and spiritually.
Father John Eyerman became pastor in 1960. He added to
the convent for the Sisters. His stay was relatively brief, five
years, and was followed by Father John Sughrue. Father Sughrue's
stay was brief also as the Lord called him home in 1968. During his
brief time with us, he had the responsibility to renovate the
sanctuary to conform to the Second Vatican Council.
Father Paul Laurinaitis, who was considered a very holy
individual, established the first Parish Council in 1970. Father
Frank Schaefer then became our pastor from 1970 until 1984 during
which time our parish was able to rebound from trying times
experienced in the late 60's and once again become viable
financially. Father Raymond Thomas who served until 1987 replaced
Father Schaefer.
Father Thomas Shonebarger arrived in 1987 and remained
until November 1995. Father Tom not only led the parish spiritually
throughout his stay but also was very active in the Licking County
community and was held in high esteem by clergy of other faiths
throughout the community. It was during his stay that we saw our
church struck by lightning and burn. The parish temporarily had to
move back into the original church on the third floor of the
original building. This brought back memories to many of the more
mature folks as they made their way up fifty plus stairs each
weekend. It was Father Tom who rebuilt the church proper and added
to the structure, attaching the rectory and church. The Catholic
community of the East End of Newark continued to see a growth in its
census.
Father Shonebarger's unexpected departure brought about
another interim pastor in Monsignor Robert Noon who saw the parish
through the celebration of Holy Christmas season.
Arriving January 1, 1996 is our current pastor, Father
Timothy Hayes, who has brought an excitement for the future under
his guidance. With the completion of the renovations to the Annex
across the street, the building committee is hard at work in
planning for the future. Under Father Tim's leadership, properties
surrounding the church and school have been purchased to allow for
future building for the church and school.
After the Dominican Sisters left their teaching
assignment, Blessed Sacrament was fortunate to retain one, Sister
Zita, who continued as a Pastoral Assistant. Today we still have a
presence of the Dominicans in Sister Raymunda Brooks O.P. who
travels to our town every week to direct the R.C.I.A. program.
The influence of our families, nurtured by our clergy
and religious, and by the grace of God, Blessed Sacrament has been
blessed by many vocations to the religious life. Among the
daughters and sons of the parish responding to the call of God are:
Sr. Angelita Conley, O.P., Sr. Olivia Glaub O.P., Sr. Coletta
Georgetti, O.P., Sr. Adele Heffley, O.P., Sr. Georgina Kaercher, O.P.,
Sr. Robertine Moats O.O., Sr. Ann Therese Moats O.P., Sr. Blandina
Mueller O.P., Sr. Jeanette Ohler O.P., Sr. Sabina Stokes O.P., Sr.
Fidelia O.P., Sr. Mara Deering, White Sisters, Sr. Assunta Ghiloni
O.S.F., Sr. Columba McGinley O.L.V.M., Sr. Carol Spencer O.P., Fr.
Athanasius McLaughlin O.P., Fr. Francis Mueller, Msgr. Herman
Mattingly, Fr. William Allen, Fr. Hubert Rubeck, Msgr. Harry
Connelly, Fr. Richard Connelly, Msgr. Joseph Susi, Fr. Robert
Mallonee, Fr. Mark Ghiloni, Deacon Charles Stevens, Deacon Jack
Elam, Deacon Robert Ghiloni.
"It was just about the time of the dedication of our
parish under the beautiful title of the "Blessed Sacrament", that
Saint Pius X was leading Catholics to a new understanding and
appreciation, and use, of the wealth of our religion. He promoted
frequent reception of the Eucharist and also for children. He urged
attendance at Mass, to be offered at hours convenient for
attendance, in places convenient for people and encouraged a more
intimate participation by the people in this Holy Sacrifice. This
is the program of and for the Blessed Sacrament. We are privileged
to carry the banner."
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