About Blessed Sacrament · Erie, Pennsylvania
Blessed Sacrament Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Erie, located on Erie's lower west side at 1626 West 26th Street. Established in 1938 and served today by Father Philip Pinczewski and Deacon Jerome Sobrowski, the parish celebrates weekend Masses in the main church on Saturdays and Sundays and weekday Masses in its Greengarden Boulevard chapel, with services streamed on Facebook Live for those unable to attend in person. The parish runs a robust Religious Education and Confirmation program under Director Jennifer Durney, supports a Knights of Columbus council, an OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process, a Food Bank, a Prayer Shawl Ministry, and other lay organizations. The parish's affiliated Catholic elementary school, long staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph and known as the Bulldogs, closed at the end of the 2024–25 academic year after decades of service to the surrounding neighborhood.
- Established
- 1938
- Patron
- The Most Blessed Sacrament (the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist)
- Rector
- Rev. Philip Pinczewski
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie
Why belong here
Blessed Sacrament is a welcoming, mid-sized parish rooted on the shores of Lake Erie that explicitly aims to make the love of Jesus Christ visible through generous service, neighborly care, and joyful Gospel living. Active parishioners can join the Knights of Columbus, the Ushers Society, the Pastoral or Finance Councils, the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), the Food Bank, or the Prayer Shawl Ministry, while families with children can enroll in the parish Religious Education program and Confirmation preparation. Weekend Masses are offered in the main church on Saturday evening and three times on Sunday, plus online on Facebook Live, and confessions are heard Saturday afternoons — making it easy to find a way to worship, serve, and belong.
Mass times at Blessed Sacrament
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM
About Blessed Sacrament Parish
Blessed Sacrament Parish is a Roman Catholic community in the Diocese of Erie, established in 1938 and located on Erie's lower west side at 1626 West 26th Street. The parish takes its name from the Most Blessed Sacrament — the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist — and centers its life on the celebration of Mass, the sacraments, and lay service to the surrounding neighborhood. Its mission statement describes it as 'a welcoming parish where the love of Jesus Christ is made visible through generous service, neighborly care, a strong sense of belonging, and joyful living of the Gospel.'
Parish Staff & Clergy
Blessed Sacrament is led by pastor Rev. Philip Pinczewski and assisted by permanent Deacon Jerome (Jerry) Sobrowski. The parish office is staffed by Diane Fisher (Office Manager / Support Staff), Amy Gollmer (Business Manager), Jennifer Durney (Coordinator / Director of Religious Education), and Kathy Golden (Director of Music / Liturgical Music Contact).
- Rev. Philip Pinczewski — Pastor
- Deacon Jerome (Jerry) Sobrowski — Permanent Deacon
- Diane Fisher — Office Manager ([email protected])
- Amy Gollmer — Business Manager
- Jennifer Durney — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Kathy Golden — Director of Music
Sacraments
Blessed Sacrament prepares parishioners for and celebrates the three sacraments of Christian initiation and marriage in accord with diocesan norms. Parents are asked to contact the parish office well in advance for Baptism and Marriage; engaged couples should meet with a priest or deacon at least six months before their requested wedding date.
- Baptism — celebrated within the first weeks after birth, at any weekend Mass or after the 11 AM Sunday Mass; baptism class required for first child, new parishioners, or after five years; not normally celebrated during Lent.
- Marriage — initial meeting with a priest or deacon at least 6 months before the wedding date.
- Confirmation — preparation during freshman year of high school, directed by the parish Religious Education Leader.
- Penance / Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:00–3:45 PM (and by appointment).
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish Religious Education program, directed by Jennifer Durney, serves children from Pre-K through eighth grade with weekly classes and a published annual calendar and handbook. Confirmation preparation begins in the freshman year of high school and combines whole-group sessions, parish and community service, an interview with clergy, a diocesan Confirmation retreat at Gannon University, and liturgical rites. Online registration, the religious-education handbook, the calendar, and a class-fee payment link are posted on the parish website each year.
- Religious Education for grades Pre-K through 8
- Confirmation preparation for 9th graders (orientation, whole-group sessions, service, clergy interview, retreat)
- Diocesan Confirmation retreat at Gannon University
- $85 Confirmation class fee covers materials and retreat
Organizations & Lay Groups
Blessed Sacrament's parish life is shaped by a wide range of lay organizations and councils that support worship, faith formation, service, and parish governance. Contact information for each group's leader is published on the parish website.
- Knights of Columbus — Joe Scalise and Mike Scalise ([email protected])
- Ushers Society — Parish Office (454-0171)
- Pastoral Council — Parish Office
- Finance Council — Parish Office
- Vocation Committee — Parish Office
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Jason Bish ([email protected])
- Food Bank — Linda Wagner
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — Carm Phillips ([email protected])
- Athletic Director — Mark Kloecker (881-1016)
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at Blessed Sacrament is directed by Kathy Golden, the parish's Director of Music. The parish holds ONE LICENSE #A-735019 for the reproduction of worship music. Holy Day, weekday, and Sunday liturgies are supported by this music ministry, and services can be watched live via the parish Facebook page.
- Kathy Golden — Director of Music / Liturgical Music Contact
- ONE LICENSE #A-735019
Blessed Sacrament School (1939–2025)
Blessed Sacrament School opened in the fall of 1939 and for generations was staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph. At its mid-1950s peak the school expanded by ten classrooms to accommodate more than 1,000 students and became a focal point of the west-side Erie Catholic community, with its athletic teams known as the Bulldogs. In February 2025 the Erie Catholic School System announced the school would close at the end of the 2024–25 academic year following a 52 percent enrollment decline since the diocesan 'Building in Truth and Love' restructuring; enrollment had dropped to 178 students under Principal Sister Katherine Horan, OSB. The pastor subsequently leased a portion of the school building to an educational support agency to help cover utility costs and continue an educational mission on the site.
- Opened fall 1939; long staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph
- Mascot: the Bulldogs
- Peaked above 1,000 students in the mid-1950s with a ten-room expansion
- Last principal: Sister Katherine Horan, OSB (since 2023)
- Closed at the end of the 2024–25 academic year
- Decision supported by Bishop Lawrence Persico and Jim Gallagher, diocesan superintendent of schools
Visiting & Joining the Parish
Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed. The parish publishes a dedicated 'I'm New Here' page answering common questions about parking, children, hearing assistance, and how to get involved. There is a cry room in the balcony (up the western steps), hearing-assistance devices in the sacristy, and two parking lots — one primarily for the handicapped at 26th and Greengarden Blvd, and a larger lot at the west end of the church. Those who wish to formally join are encouraged to register with the parish office.
- Two parking lots — east lot at 26th & Greengarden (handicapped) and west lot
- Cry room in the balcony (western steps)
- Hearing assistance devices available — ask an Usher
- Online Mass via Facebook Live for those unable to attend
- Parish Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Capital Campaign & Stewardship
Blessed Sacrament's parish prayer asks God to form the community through the Holy Eucharist into the Body of Christ and to inspire generous sharing of time, talent, and treasure. The parish currently promotes a Capital Campaign to fund facility improvements and ministry needs, and emphasizes stewardship of creation as part of Catholic discipleship.
- Blessed Sacrament Capital Campaign (active)
- Stewardship of time, talent, and treasure
- Care for creation as a requirement of faith (parish teaching)