About Blessed Sacrament · Albion, Indiana
Blessed Sacrament is a small Catholic parish in Albion, Indiana, rooted in the farming community of Noble County and serving the faithful of northeast Indiana as part of the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend. The parish was founded in 1875 as Sacred Heart Church by twelve Catholic families and has since grown into a Eucharistic-centered community served today by Rev. John A. Steele, CSC ("Father J."), a priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross. Members gather in a newly-built church that was formally dedicated to the Most Blessed Sacrament on August 25, 2018, by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, after 26 years of saving and planning.
- Established
- 1875
- Patron
- The Most Blessed Sacrament (also historically dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus)
- Rector
- Rev. John A. Steele, CSC ("Father J."), of the Congregation of Holy Cross
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
Why belong here
Blessed Sacrament is a small, growing parish where the Eucharist is clearly the heart of everything — its very name, its 150-year history, and the new church built debt-free in 2018 all point to a community centered on the Real Presence. With Father J. Steele, CSC, sharing his time between Blessed Sacrament and St. Joseph in LaGrange, the parish offers a tight-knit rural Catholic family in Noble County, faithful weekday and weekend Masses, weekly Confession and Adoration, and a parish campus with room to grow. It is a place where a visitor can join in traditional Catholic worship rooted in Sacred Heart and Eucharistic devotion, in the heart of northeast Indiana.
Mass times at Blessed Sacrament
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM
- Anytime by appointment
- Thursdays at 5:00 PM (combined with Adoration)
Adoration times
- Thursdays at 5:00 PM (per parish website)
- September, October, March 15–April 30 (per diocese listing)
- Benediction 7:45–8:00 PM during these periods
Welcome to Blessed Sacrament Parish
Blessed Sacrament is a small, rural Catholic parish of the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend, located at 2290 N State Road 9 in Albion, Noble County, Indiana. It is pastored by Rev. John A. Steele, CSC — known affectionately as "Father J." — a priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross, who also serves St. Joseph Parish in LaGrange. The parish maintains a simple website (blessedsacramentalbion.org) carrying its Mass schedule, contact information, and a calendar for parish events.
- Pastor: Rev. John A. Steele, CSC ("Father J.")
- Diocese: Fort Wayne–South Bend
- Address: 2290 N State Road 9, Albion, IN 46701
- Phone: (260) 636-2072
- Email: [email protected]
Parish History
Blessed Sacrament traces its roots to 1875, when twelve Catholic families gathered to build Sacred Heart Church on East Hazel and First Streets in Albion. Through a century and a half of growth, hardship, anti-Catholic hostility, and relocation, the parish has kept its focus on the Eucharist — even adopting the name Blessed Sacrament when its current church was dedicated in 2018. The parish marked its 150th anniversary with a special Mass on September 27, 2025.
- 1875 — Parish founded as Sacred Heart Church by 12 families
- Originally a mission served from St. Mary's, Avilla; later transferred to Ege, Auburn, and Kendallville (after 1903)
- Father Francis Ege walked 17 miles in subzero weather from Ege to Albion to offer Mass
- Young priest John Francis Noll (later Bishop of Fort Wayne) once served here
- 1924 — Last Mass in the original wooden church; building dismantled in 1929
- 1930s — Re-established after a Methodist minister invited a priest to an interdenominational open house to dispel Catholic myths
- 1934–1969 — Served by Oblate Missionaries from Boston; Mass first held in a room above the Albion post office
- 1941 — New stone church built on the Albion courthouse square
- 1993 — Relocated to the present six-acre site on N State Road 9
- 2017 — Ground broken for the new church (built debt-free after 26 years of saving)
- August 25, 2018 — Bishop Rhoades dedicated the new Blessed Sacrament Church
- September 27, 2025 — 150th anniversary Mass and celebration
Parish Life and Ministries
Despite its small size — about 125 registered households — Blessed Sacrament hosts an active devotional and parish life. The parish has welcomed the Eucharistic Miracle Exhibit of Blessed Carlo Acutis, made stewardship a hallmark by saving for 26 years to build its new church debt-free, and continues to grow under Father Steele's leadership.
- Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction
- Hosting of the Eucharistic Miracle Exhibit (Blessed Carlo Acutis)
- Parish liturgy and music program
- Stewardship and parish-building efforts (debt-free construction)
- Parish secretary's office (Pam Edwards) coordinating parish communications and events
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Francis Egelate 19th century
Known to walk 17 miles from Ege to Albion, sometimes in subzero weather, to celebrate Mass.
- Rev. John Francis Nollearly 20th century
Served as a priest at the parish before later becoming Bishop of Fort Wayne.
- Father William Ehrman (of Kendallville)early 1930s
Received the request from 28 local Catholics that led to re-establishment of the parish.
- Oblate Missionaries (from Boston)1934–1969
Served the re-established parish for 35 years.
- Rev. John A. Steele, CSC ("Father J.")2012–present
Holy Cross priest who arrived when the parish had 95 families; oversaw the building and 2018 dedication of the new Blessed Sacrament Church.