About Blessed Sacrament · Wintersville, Ohio
Blessed Sacrament is a Roman Catholic parish in Wintersville, Ohio, in the Diocese of Steubenville. Founded in 1948, it shares clergy and a parish office with its sister parish, Our Lady of Lourdes in Steubenville, forming the Wintersville Catholic Parishes. The current church was built in 1976 to replace an earlier church lost to fire in 1974, and the parish is known for its stained-glass window mural (2013) and the 2024 commissioned portraits of St. Carlo Acutis and St. Bernadette Soubirous.
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- Blessed Sacrament (the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist)
- Rector
- Fr. Michael Gossett
- Diocese
- Diocese of Steubenville
Why belong here
Blessed Sacrament offers daily and weekend Mass in a welcoming Wintersville community, with weekday adoration on Wednesday evenings and a robust schedule of Confession. The parish runs an active religious education program (Parish School of Religion) and OCIA (formerly RCIA) for adults exploring the Catholic faith, plus Bible study, a Men's Club, a Women's Club, the Men of St. Joseph fellowship, and a St. Vincent de Paul outreach that helps local low-income families with monthly food assistance and Christmas gifts for children. As part of the Wintersville Catholic Parishes shared with Our Lady of Lourdes, visitors encounter a tight-knit Catholic community in the Ohio Valley rooted in Eucharistic devotion.
Mass times at Blessed Sacrament
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 9:00 PM (or as published — listed on parish schedule)
- Friday: 7:00 AM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesdays: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
About the Parish
Blessed Sacrament is one of two parishes that make up the Wintersville Catholic Parishes, the other being Our Lady of Lourdes in Steubenville. The two share clergy, a parish office, and a common pastoral identity while retaining their individual parish names and church buildings. Blessed Sacrament was founded in 1948; the original church was lost to fire in 1974 and replaced with the current church in 1976.
- Founded: 1948
- Current church built: 1976 (replacing the 1948 original destroyed by fire in 1974)
- Sister parish: Our Lady of Lourdes, Steubenville (founded 1957)
- Diocese: Steubenville
History
Blessed Sacrament was established in 1948 in Wintersville, a community in the Steubenville area of eastern Ohio. After a 1974 fire destroyed the original church, the present building was constructed and dedicated in 1976. In 2013 Monsignor Kurt Kemo oversaw the installation of a major stained-glass window mural, and in 2024 the parish unveiled two commissioned portraits of young saints by local artist Amber Knorr.
- 1948 — Parish founded
- 1974 — Original church destroyed by fire
- 1976 — Current church completed
- 2013 — Stained-glass window mural installed by Associated Crafts
- 2024 — Portraits of St. Carlo Acutis and St. Bernadette Soubirous unveiled
Notable Art & Devotions
The Wintersville Catholic Parishes commissioned two distinctive portraits in 2024, painted by local artist Amber Knorr and funded by parishioner donations. St. Carlo Acutis is shown with a laptop, Bible, rosary, soccer ball, and PlayStation controller, alongside the parish monstrance holding the Eucharist — symbolizing Carlo's internet evangelization for the Real Presence. St. Bernadette Soubirous is depicted kneeling before Our Lady as she appeared at Lourdes in 1858, surrounded by regional roses.
- St. Carlo Acutis portrait (2024) by Amber Knorr
- St. Bernadette Soubirous portrait (2024) by Amber Knorr
- Stained-glass window mural (2013) by Associated Crafts
- Eucharistic devotion central to parish identity (Blessed Sacrament)
Clergy & Staff
Blessed Sacrament is currently served by Pastor Fr. Joshua Erickson, Parochial Vicar Fr. Michael Gossett, and three Permanent Deacons: Deacon Mark A. Erste, Sr., Deacon Stephen Frezza, and Deacon Robert Rice. Monsignor Kurt Kemo, V.G., is identified in earlier records as pastor and as the priest who oversaw the 2013 stained-glass project.
- Fr. Michael Gossett — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Mark A. Erste, Sr. — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Stephen Frezza — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Robert Rice — Permanent Deacon
- Msgr. Kurt Kemo, V.G. — Pastor in earlier years (through at least 2013)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a Parish School of Religion welcoming children to learn about their Catholic faith, especially those who do not receive Catholic education through a school or homeschool. Adults exploring Catholicism or completing initiation sacraments participate in OCIA (formerly RCIA), meeting Thursday evenings.
- Parish School of Religion (children's religious education)
- OCIA / RCIA — Thursdays at 7 PM in Lower Sargus Hall (contact Cindy Gregor, parish office 740-264-0868)
- Wednesday Bible Study — Wednesdays at 9 AM in the Parish Rectory
Ministries & Groups
A wide range of lay ministries, fellowship groups, and service organizations support parish life at Blessed Sacrament. The St. Vincent de Paul Ministry reaches out to those in need locally, while men's and women's clubs build community and support parish fundraising. GriefShare provides support for those who have lost loved ones.
- St. Vincent de Paul Ministry — serves those in need in Wintersville and Bloomingdale
- Blessed Sacrament Men's Club
- Blessed Sacrament & Our Lady of Lourdes Women's Club
- Men of St. Joseph — Tuesdays at 7 AM in Upper Sargus Hall
- GriefShare — annual sessions for those grieving a loss
- Wednesday Bible Study
Outreach & Community Life
Through its St. Vincent de Paul Ministry, the parish helps low-income families in Wintersville and Bloomingdale with monthly food assistance and Christmas gifts for children. Friday Night Bingo is a popular parish fundraiser and social event. The parish also benefits from an active Women's Club that hosts funeral luncheons and fundraisers and a Men's Club that handles maintenance and the life-size outdoor Nativity scene.
- Monthly food assistance to families in need
- Christmas gifts for children through St. Vincent de Paul
- Friday Night Bingo — parish social/ fundraiser
- Life-size outdoor Nativity scene (maintained by Men's Club)
Sacraments
Information about the seven sacraments is available on the parish website, including Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Marriage, and OCIA/RCIA for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church. Families and individuals are encouraged to contact the parish office for preparation and scheduling.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist
- Marriage preparation (contact parish office)
- RCIA / OCIA for adult initiation
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Kurt Kemo, V.G.through at least 2013
Listed as pastor and was overseeing parish projects including the 2013 stained-glass window mural installation.