About Blessed Sacrament · West Fargo, North Dakota
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 210 5th Avenue West in West Fargo, North Dakota. Founded on November 22, 1936, it first celebrated Mass in the north School gymnasium as a mission church of St. Anthony's Parish in Fargo and now belongs to the Diocese of Fargo. The parish is led by Fr. Gary Luiten and operates a wide range of ministries — Faith Formation for preschool through high school, Knights of Columbus, Liturgy and Music ministries, women's circles, RCIA, a Blessing Box food pantry, and a monthly community meal — all in service of its mission 'to strive for full and active participation in joyfully serving Christ while recognizing the gifts and dignity of all.'
- Established
- 1936
- Patron
- Blessed Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ (the parish's name itself is the patron)
- Rector
- Rev. Gary Luiten
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fargo
Why belong here
Blessed Sacrament is a welcoming West Fargo parish where visitors are greeted at the door, can join post-Mass coffee and fellowship, and are invited into a vivid parish life — Faith Formation classes from preschool through 12th grade, RCIA for adults and RCIC for children, Knights of Columbus Council #6465, and the Mother Seaton and Holy Rosary women's circles. The parish lives its mission in concrete ways, too: a Blessing Box of non-perishable food for the hungry on the church grounds, a free monthly community meal, and ongoing capital-care projects (recently a new roof and a foundation/flooring campaign) that show a community investing in its future. Mass is offered multiple times a week and live-streamed on YouTube, making it easy for working Catholics, shut-ins, and traveling parishioners to stay connected.
Mass times at Blessed Sacrament
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:30 p.m.
About Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
At Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, the simple hope is to see people come to know Jesus Christ and grow in their Christian faith. Since 1936 the parish has been helping spread God's good news in West Fargo and beyond, and the community prays that God will continue to use the congregation. All parts of the service are grounded in the Bible, and the parish is committed to the Apostles' Creed and Nicene Creed, which are prayed during Mass. No matter a visitor's Christian background, the parish hopes newcomers will feel welcome — greeters are stationed near the doors to help find the family/cry room, sanctuary, restrooms, and fellowship area, and coffee and goodies following Mass are an open invitation to get to know the priest and fellow parishioners.
Our History
The story of Blessed Sacrament begins on Sunday, November 22, 1936, when the first Mass was celebrated in the north School gymnasium under founding pastor Fr. Vincent Ryan (later Bishop Ryan of the Bismarck Diocese). Originally a mission of St. Anthony's Parish in Fargo, the congregation worshipped in the gymnasium for 13 years, with a folding table serving as an altar and the altar stone being taken home by a different family each week.
Growth, the Quonset, and the Current Church
By 1948 membership had grown enough to need a real church; with post-war supplies scarce, a 50-by-120-foot Quonset hut was chosen — half for worship, half for a parish hall. The first altar there was handcrafted by Joe Blasl, and the first Mass was celebrated on July 10, 1949, when the parish had about 85 families. Ground was broken in April 1970 for a permanent church, which was completed that October, with the first Mass on October 31, 1970 and Bishop Justin Driscoll blessing the church and consecrating the altar on January 10, 1971. An office-rectory complex followed in 1975, and the church debt was retired in 1979.
Building a Firm Foundation — Recent Capital Campaigns
Under Fr. Gary Luiten's direction the parish has undertaken two major capital projects. The 2017 'Raise the Roof' campaign replaced a leaking roof that engineers determined could not be repaired. The 2019 'Building a Firm Foundation' campaign raised roughly $400,000 to repair the foundation under the church, fill the underground tunnels causing dampness and musty odors, install new ductwork in all areas except the Education wing and rectory, replace two original furnaces, and lay new flooring throughout the building.
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Gary Luiten and supported by parish staff who coordinate Faith Formation and Liturgy/Mass Ministry. Fr. Gary — born and raised in New Rockford, educated at Cardinal Muench Seminary and NDSU, and ordained on June 6, 1992 — previously served St. James Basilica in Jamestown, St. Mary's Cathedral in Fargo, St. Helena in Ellendale, Nativity in Fargo, and St. Mary's in Park River before coming to Blessed Sacrament in July 2016.
- Rev. Gary Luiten — Pastor (since July 2016)
- Julie Yourczek — Faith Formation / Liturgy-Mass Ministry contact ([email protected])
- Mary Beth Odegaard — Faith Formation contact ([email protected])
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Blessed Sacrament runs a full faith-formation program for children and youth from September through May. Registration is by form on the parish website. Sacramental preparation, RCIA (adults) and RCIC (children of catechetical age) are also offered; volunteers are needed as catechists, substitutes, chaperones, retreat-team members, and sacramental-preparation team members. Julie Yourczek is the main point of contact for Faith Formation questions.
- Preschool & Kindergarten: two Sundays per month at 10:30 a.m. (begins September 14)
- Grades 1–5: most Wednesdays at 5:45 p.m. (begins September 10)
- B4WOW (Grades 6–8): most Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.
- WOW (Grades 9–12): most Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
- Vacation Bible School (VBS) in the summer
- RCIA for adults and RCIC for children
Liturgy, Music & Mass Ministries
The Mass is described by the parish as 'the most beautiful act of worship of Almighty God and a precious treasure of our Catholic Church,' and Blessed Sacrament invites parishioners to share their time and talent as part of Mass ministry. Liturgy roles include altar servers, lectors/readers, Eucharistic ministers, greeters, ushers, gift bearers, sacristan, linen maintenance, and environment. Media and Music (choir) ministries operate alongside the liturgical roles; the parish also maintains rosary leaders and a Homebound Communion visitation team.
- Altar Servers
- Lector / Reader
- Eucharistic Minister
- Greeter
- Usher
- Gift Bearers
- Sacristan
- Linen Maintenance
- Environment (church décor)
- Rosary Leader
- Take Communion to Homebound
- Music Ministry (choir)
- Media Ministry
Parish Organizations
In addition to Liturgy and Faith Formation ministries, the parish hosts several organizations where parishioners can be involved. Knights of Columbus West Fargo Council #6465 consists of male members over 18 who serve through Sunday breakfasts, Bingo, the Fall Bazaar, Pennies for Vocations, and liturgical roles such as ushers, greeters, Eucharistic ministers, proclaimers, media ministers, and choir. The parish also lists the Mother Seaton and Holy Rosary Circles, two women's parish organizations.
- Knights of Columbus West Fargo Council #6465 (email: [email protected])
- Mother Seaton Circle
- Holy Rosary Circle
Sacraments
Information about receiving the sacraments is given on the parish website. Infant baptisms are arranged through the Parish Office with Fr. Gary Luiten. Marriage preparation classes are scheduled as needed by couples and are conducted by Fr. Gary Luiten. Confirmation, First Eucharist preparation, RCIA / RCIC, and Anointing of the Sick / homebound communion are all part of the parish's sacramental life.
- Baptism (infant) — contact Parish Office, Fr. Gary Luiten
- Confirmation
- First Eucharist preparation
- Marriage — classes by appointment with Fr. Gary Luiten (701-282-3321, [email protected])
- RCIA (adults) / RCIC (children)
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion to the Homebound
Outreach: Blessing Box & Community Meals
Blessed Sacrament lives its mission in tangible ways. The parish operates a Blessing Box on the church grounds stocked with non-perishable food items for the hungry in the community. Additionally, the parish serves free community meals on a regular monthly schedule (dates published on the parish calendar) as an extension of its commitment to 'joyfully serving Christ while recognizing the gifts and dignity of all.'
- Blessing Box — non-perishable food for the hungry
- Free monthly community meal (free of charge; check the parish calendar for dates)
Diocese & Wider Catholic Community
Blessed Sacrament is part of the Diocese of Fargo, a Latin-Church diocese covering 30 counties in eastern North Dakota, suffragan to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. The diocese was erected on November 10, 1889 as the Diocese of Jamestown by Pope Leo XIII and renamed the Diocese of Fargo on April 6, 1897. Its mother church is the Cathedral of St. Mary in Fargo, and as of 2023 the bishop is John Thomas Folda. Blessed Sacrament is one of 129 parishes in the diocese and is listed in the Diocese of Fargo parish finder; the parish also partners with the JPII Catholic Schools network.
- Diocese of Fargo (Latin: Dioecesis Fargensis) — established 1889 (as Jamestown), renamed Fargo 1897
- Bishop (current): John Thomas Folda
- Cathedral: Cathedral of St. Mary, Fargo
- Deanery 2 — Fargo
- JPII Catholic Schools network — parish partner
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Vincent Ryan1936–
First pastor of the mission; later became Bishop Ryan of the Bismarck Diocese.
- Fr. Frank Nester
Second pastor; invested in the property on which the present church stands.
- Fr. (Val G. Gross)
Served as pastor; served Blessed Sacrament until 1995; had earlier served as rector at Cardinal Muench Seminary.
- Fr. John L. Cavanaugh1995–
Arrived September 4, 1995; previously a U.S. Naval officer; ordained June 2, 1990. Oversaw new addition dedicated November 8, 1997.
- Fr. Bert Miller2004–
Born and raised in Harvey, ND; former journalist; ordained June 1, 1991. Arrived July 2004; oversaw retiring debt, window and sewer replacement, parking lot paving, carpet and tuck-pointing on the ~40-year-old facility.
- Fr. Gary Luiten2016–present
Born and raised in New Rockford; attended Cardinal Muench Seminary and NDSU; ordained June 6, 1992. Previously served St. James Basilica (Jamestown), St. Mary's Cathedral (Fargo), St. Helena (Ellendale), Nativity (Fargo), and St. Mary's (Park River).