About Blessed Sacrament · Laredo, Texas
Blessed Sacrament Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Laredo, Texas, located at 2219 Galveston Street and belonging to the Diocese of Laredo. Established in 1950, it was created from territory of St. Peter the Apostle Church to serve Laredo's growing east-side neighborhoods. The parish runs the city's only Catholic school (Blessed Sacrament School, founded 1960), maintains an active Spanish-and-English liturgical life with several weekday Masses, and is known especially for its strong Eucharistic devotion, including a dedicated Adoration Chapel built in 2020-2021. The parish serves families across Laredo with religious education for all ages, youth ministry, a school, choirs, and outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
- Established
- 1950
- Patron
- Blessed Sacrament (Most Holy Eucharist)
- Rector
- Fr. Wojciech Przystasz
- Diocese
- Diocese of Laredo
Why belong here
Blessed Sacrament is a bilingual, family-friendly parish with deep roots in east Laredo and the city's only Catholic elementary school (PK3-8). Daily Mass, multiple Sunday Masses in English and Spanish, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in a chapel dedicated in 2021, and a rich calendar of ministries — from Life Teen and ACTS Retreats to St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus, Boy and Girl Scouts, choirs, and Bible studies — give every age and stage a place to belong. The parish's stated mission is to nurture a personal encounter with the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and to form intentional disciples for the next generation.
Mass times at Blessed Sacrament
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
- Wednesday: 5:30 PM - 5:55 PM (during Lent 7:00 PM)
- First Friday: 5:30 PM - 5:55 PM
- First Saturday: 8:30 AM - 8:55 AM
Adoration times
- Weekdays (Monday-Friday): 7:30 AM - 8:00 PM in the Adoration Chapel
- Saturday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM in the Adoration Chapel
- First Fridays: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
- Third Thursday of each month: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Parish History
Blessed Sacrament Church was officially elevated to parish status on September 29, 1950, with Rev. George Gloeckner as its first pastor. The parish was created out of territory belonging to St. Peter the Apostle Church to serve Laredo's rapidly growing east-side residential neighborhoods. The first church building, constructed by contractor Jack Foster, was dedicated by Bishop Mariano S. Garriga on April 30, 1950, in a ceremony attended by Mayor Hugh S. Cluck and broadcast on KPAB radio. Pastor Gloeckner served from founding until his death in 1979; he built the rectory (1954), oversaw the parish school (1960), and launched the campaign that produced the current church, which was dedicated April 17, 1968 — the first church in the Diocese of Corpus Christi built according to the post-Vatican II liturgy.
- Established as a parish September 29, 1950
- First pastor: Rev. George Gloeckner (1950-1979)
- Original church dedicated April 30, 1950 by Bishop Garriga
- Rectory built 1954
- Current 700-seat church dedicated April 17, 1968 by Bishop Thomas J. Drury
- Jubilee Year 2025 celebrated the 75th anniversary
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Fr. Wojciech Przystasz as pastor, with Msgr. Stanley A. Sliwiak, Ph.D., in retired residence, and Deacon Roger Martinez, Jr. assisting. Mrs. Bertha A. Rodriguez serves as the parish contact. Fr. Przystasz led the parish's 75th anniversary celebration in 2025 and articulated the parish's mission to 'instill a calling within our parish community to nurture a personal encounter with Jesus, who is sacramentally present in the Holy Eucharist.'
- Pastor: Fr. Wojciech Przystasz
- Retired in residence: Msgr. Stanley A. Sliwiak, Ph.D.
- Deacon: Roger Martinez, Jr.
- Parish Contact: Mrs. Bertha A. Rodriguez
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religion classes are offered for children, youth, and adults as part of the parish's ongoing faith formation ministry. The parish partners with the Catholic Leadership Institute on parish goals and objectives focused on forming intentional disciples, with a particular emphasis on Eucharistic devotion among youth and young adults.
- Catechists
- RCIA / Adult faith formation
- Children's religious education
- Bible study groups
- Prayer groups
Blessed Sacrament School
Blessed Sacrament School is the only Catholic (parochial) school in Laredo, serving approximately 270-295 students in grades PK3 through 8. It opened September 5, 1960 — its construction bids opened in April 1960 with Henry A. Khan as builder and A.A. Leyendecker and Caudill, Rowlett & Scott as architects — and was blessed and dedicated by Bishop Garriga on February 7, 1961. The school has been led over the decades by the Ursuline Sisters, the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament Sisters from Corpus Christi, the Salesian Sisters, and lay administrators; the Incarnate Word Sisters returned to administer the school in 1992 and again in 1997. It is accredited by the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops Education Department in cooperation with the Texas Education Agency, and holds memberships in the National Catholic Education Association and AdvanceED/SACS-CASI. The school is located at 1501 N. Bartlett Ave. and is managed using a Principal/Pastor administrative model. Principal: Mrs. Gabriela Castillo.
- Opened September 5, 1960
- Grades PK3-8
- Principal: Mrs. Gabriela Castillo
- Phone: (956) 722-1222
- Address: 1501 N. Bartlett Ave., Laredo, TX 78043
- The only Catholic school in Laredo
Ministries & Organizations
Blessed Sacrament has a wide array of ministries spanning liturgical service, youth, music, outreach, and community life. These include youth and adult choirs, altar servers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, lectors, catechists, Eucharistic Adoration, the Life Teen Youth Group, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Bible study and prayer groups, the ACTS Retreat, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the Altar Society, and the Knights of Columbus.
- Life Teen Youth Group
- Youth Choir & Adult Choir
- Altar Servers, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Knights of Columbus
- Altar Society
- Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts
- ACTS Retreat
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, including Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick, with Faith Formation programs preparing children and adults to receive them. Specific sacramental preparation schedules are coordinated through the parish office.
- Baptism
- First Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
Music & Liturgy
Music at Blessed Sacrament features both youth and adult choirs supporting Sunday and weekday liturgies. The parish's organ is the Frels Organ Opus 37, installed in 1985 as a rebuilt and enlarged version of the Hook and Hastings Organ Opus 2315, which was built in 1913 for the World's Fair in St. Louis by Hook and Hastings Co. of Boston — at the time considered the leading organ manufacturer in the United States. The church's 1968 sanctuary and altar — consecrated with relics of Saints Fortunatus, Eulogius, and Reparatus — was the first in the Diocese of Corpus Christi built according to the post-Vatican II liturgical reforms.
- Frels Organ Opus 37 (1985)
- Built on Hook and Hastings Opus 2315 (1913 World's Fair organ)
- Main altar consecrated with relics of Saints Fortunatus, Eulogius, and Reparatus
Outreach & Charity
Parish outreach is led by the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which provides direct aid to those in need in the Laredo community. The parish's Jubilee Year 2025 included a parish Lenten Mission and other works of charity as expressions of thanksgiving for 75 years of parish life.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Parish Lenten Mission (annual)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. George Gloeckner1950-1979
First pastor; oversaw construction of the original 1950 church, the rectory (1954), and the parish school (1960). Served until his death in 1979.
- Msgr. Lucian Braseley1990s
Pastor during whose tenure the Incarnate Word Sisters returned to administer the school (1992).
- Msgr. Stanley A. Sliwiak, Ph.D.
Listed as retired in residence at the parish.
- Fr. Wojciech PrzystaszCurrent
Current pastor who led the parish's 75th anniversary Jubilee Year in 2025.