Blessed Sacrament

Parish History

Catholic life in Andover began around 1850 with Rev. John Touhey, who first said Mass in the Cornell homestead and later in the rear of the Pardon Store. St. John's (Roman Catholic) Church was formally organized in 1852, and a wooden church for 350 was built on Dyke Street in 1854-1855. As the Catholic population — especially on South Hill — grew, the parish under Rev. D. Walsh purchased land on July 13, 1883, broke ground on a new brick church, laid its cornerstone August 9, 1885, completed the building for about $12,000, and dedicated it on September 26, 1886. The parish added a pipe organ in 1892, new chandeliers, improved walks, and statues in subsequent decades, and by about 1915 was regarded as one of the best-administered and most artistically presented parishes in the Diocese of Buffalo.

• First Catholic Mass in Andover: c. 1850 (Rev. John Touhey, Cornell homestead, North Main St.)
• St. John's (R.C.) Church organized: 1852
• Wooden St. John's Church built: 1854–1855 on Dyke Street (cost $600, seated 350)
• Present brick church property purchased: July 13, 1883
• Cornerstone laid: Sunday, August 9, 1885
• Church completed at $12,000 and dedicated: September 26, 1886
• Pipe organ installed: 1892
• Interior repainted, statues and chalice added: 1893–1901
• Four chandeliers, updated heating and new sacristy case: 1901–1904
• Mid-1970s redecoration under art teacher William ('Scotty') MacCrae

Notable Native-Son Priests

Two Andover natives answered the call to priesthood and ministered at their home parish. Rev. John Lawrence Lynch was ordained by Bishop Walsh at St. Joseph's Old Cathedral on November 2, 1919, and celebrated his first Solemn High Mass at Blessed Sacrament on November 11, 1919; his priestly life was brief — he died in 1921 and is buried in St. John's Cemetery. Rev. John R. Shea, educated in Wellsville and then in Toronto and Rome, was ordained in 1924. He became pastor of Blessed Sacrament in 1947 and served until his death in June 1974, having marked his 50th anniversary as a priest in April of that year.

Parish Buildings, Cemetery & Campus

The present church stands on Elm Street in the village of Andover; the parish mailing address is One Church Street, PO Box 761, Andover, NY 14806. A parish house next to the church was purchased in 1928 (the J. C. Bassett house) and remodeled during the winter and spring of 2008-2009. An earlier parish house was deemed unsafe and torn down by congregational vote in the summer of 1982. About a mile east of the village on the Greenwood Road, Gate of Heaven Cemetery was purchased in 1927 and first used for the burial of John P. Dean in July 1931.

• Church: 24 Elm Street, Andover, NY 14806 (brick, dedicated 1886)
• Mailing address: One Church Street, PO Box 761, Andover, NY 14806
• Parish house: 1928 J. C. Bassett house, remodeled 2008-2009
• Old parish house demolished: summer 1982 (voted unsafe)
• Gate of Heaven Cemetery: Greenwood Road, about 1 mile east of Andover; purchased 1927; first burial July 1931

Parish Staff

The parish is led by its pastor (within Family of Parishes #1) and supported by an office team, music and religious-education directors, a building manager, trustees, and a youth minister.

• Pastor (Family #1) — Rev. James J. Hartwell (appointed Feb. 15, 2023)
• Secretary — Penny Hanbach
• Director of Music — Marcy Bledsoe
• Director of Religious Education — Jessica Wieszczyk
• Building Manager — Stephen Lewis
• Trustees — Michael Jackson, Gerald Vance
• Youth Minister — Dave Prete ([email protected], 607-661-0060)
• Parish e-mail: [email protected]

Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation

Blessed Sacrament prepares parishioners for the full sacramental life of the Church. Baptisms are scheduled by calling the parish office; baptismal training for parents meets the third Monday of each month at 7:00 PM at St. Jude's Chapel. Marriage arrangements must be made at least six months in advance (Diocese of Buffalo policy) and include a Pre-Cana conference. The Sacrament of the Sick / Anointing is available by notifying the parish office or rectory about those who are homebound, hospitalized or in nursing facilities. Letters of Recommendation are issued only to registered, confirmed and practicing parishioners; new parishioners are asked to register using forms available at the parish offices.

Faith Formation, Youth & Music

Beyond the celebration of the Eucharist, the parish invests in catechesis and music through its Director of Religious Education (Jessica Wieszczyk) and Director of Music (Marcy Bledsoe), supported by a parish youth minister (Dave Prete) who works with young people across the cluster. Working young adults are encouraged by the parish to take their own identity and register on their own.

• Religious Education program (parish-wide, led by DRE)
• Youth Ministry (Dave Prete)
• Liturgical Music program (Marcy Bledsoe)
• Baptismal training for parents (monthly)

Family of Parishes #1 — Cluster Connections

Since Feb. 15, 2023, Blessed Sacrament has been part of Family of Parishes #1 in the Diocese of Buffalo under Bishop Michael W. Fisher's pastoral restructuring. The family links six Catholic communities across Allegany County under one pastor: SS. Brendan & Jude (Alfred/Almond), Blessed Sacrament (Andover), St. Mary (Bolivar), Immaculate Conception (Wellsville), Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph (Belmont), and St. Mary (Canaseraga). Pastor of Family #1 is Rev. James J. Hartwell. Coordinated cluster Mass and confession schedules let parishioners attend the prayer and sacraments available at any of the linked parishes, including Catholic Campus Ministry at Alfred's St. Jude Chapel (Lower College Drive, Alfred).

• SS. Brendan & Jude — Alfred/Almond
• Blessed Sacrament — Andover
• St. Mary — Bolivar
• Immaculate Conception — Wellsville
• Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph — Belmont
• St. Mary — Canaseraga
• St. Jude Chapel & Catholic Campus Ministry — Alfred (Lower College Drive)
• Coordinator contact: Parish of Family #1 office, Andover

Visiting & Contact

Parish office hours at Blessed Sacrament Church in Andover are Friday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with urgent and emergency needs handled any time by calling the rectory at (607) 276-5304. The parish can be reached by mail at PO Box 761, Andover, NY 14806; by phone at (607) 478-8885; or by e-mail at [email protected]. The parish is listed in the Diocese of Buffalo directory and on regional Catholic Mass-time sites.

• Parish office: (607) 478-8885
• Rectory: (607) 276-5304
• E-mail: [email protected]
• Mailing: PO Box 761, Andover, NY 14806
• Office hours: Friday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Urgent/emergency: any time via rectory