About Most Precious Blood · Fort Wayne, Indiana
Most Precious Blood Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Bloomingdale neighborhood of Fort Wayne, Indiana, within the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. Founded in 1897 by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood (Society of the Most Precious Blood) and their sister religious, the parish is home to a parish school (preK-8) and a striking red-brick, twin-spired Gothic-inspired church completed in 1912. Now led as a diocesan parish since 2005, it serves roughly 577 families (about 1,195 parishioners) and is well known for its devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, its strong Catholic school, and a quirky piece of history: a 1929-vintage bowling alley tucked into the basement of the school building.
- Established
- 1897
- Patron
- Most Precious Blood of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. David Ruppert
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
Why belong here
Most Precious Blood is a tight-knit, family-oriented parish where a 19th-century faith community still meets the needs of modern Bloomingdale families. Worship is rooted in the devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, with weekday Mass, Saturday Vigil, two Sunday Masses, weekly Confession, all-day Tuesday Adoration, and a parish school (preK–8) just down the block where children are formed academically and spiritually. Add a working 1920s bowling alley in the school basement, the Home and School Association, and a long history of Precious Blood religious serving the community, and you have a parish that still feels like the neighborhood's spiritual heart.
Mass times at Most Precious Blood
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:30 PM
- By appointment — call the parish office at 260-424-5535
Adoration times
- Tuesday 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM (after the 8:15 AM Mass)
History of Most Precious Blood Parish
Most Precious Blood was founded in 1897 by the Society of the Most Precious Blood at Bishop Joseph Rademacher's invitation, fulfilling the vision of the late Bishop Joseph Dwenger. The first pastor, Precious Blood Father Frank Nigsch, conducted a census of 155 Catholic families who became the founding members. A combined church-school was built in 1898; the current Gothic-inspired red-brick church with twin spires was completed in 1912. The Precious Blood Sisters staffed the school from its beginnings through 1982, and the Missionaries of the Precious Blood pastored the parish until 2005, when declining numbers led them to hand it over to diocesan care.
- 1897 — Parish founded; Father Frank Nigsch, C.P.S., first pastor
- 1898 — Combined church and school erected
- 1912 — Current red-brick, Gothic-inspired church with twin spires completed
- 1929 — New school built; basement bowling alley added to help fund construction
- 1982 — Precious Blood Sisters withdraw from the school
- 2005 — Missionaries of the Precious Blood turn pastorship over to the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend; Father Joseph Gaughan becomes first diocesan pastor and leads an interior renovation
- June 15, 2021 — Father Francis Chukwuma appointed parish administrator by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades
- September 16–17, 2022 — 125th anniversary celebrated with Mass by Bishop Rhoades, open house, Fun Fest, and vintage-themed events
- 2025 — Rev. David Ruppert listed as pastor in the diocesan directory
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is currently pastored by Rev. David Ruppert, with a lay staff overseeing parish administration, finances, communications, religious education, and music. The 2025–26 diocesan directory also notes the parish at roughly 577 households and 1,195 parishioners.
- Rev. David Ruppert — Pastor ([email protected])
- Jamie Kolasinski — Business Administrator ([email protected])
- Emily Springer — Parish Secretary ([email protected])
- Molly Webb — A/P, A/R, Communications and Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
- Martin Wheeler — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Thomas Neuer — Director of Music and Liturgy ([email protected])
Most Precious Blood Catholic School
Most Precious Blood School is the parish's parish school, serving about 175 students from preschool through 8th grade at 1529 Barthold Street, right next door to the church. Principal Rachel Ottenweller leads a faculty and staff that includes Stan Passino and Angela Gernhardt in the school office. The school is recognized for combining a strong Catholic formation with a notably modern set of enrichment programs, including Adoration and Virtue=Strength faith activities alongside Lego Robotics, 3D printing, and TV Production.
- Grades: preschool through 8
- Enrollment: approximately 175 students
- Principal: Rachel Ottenweller
- Faith life: weekly Adoration, Virtue=Strength program
- Enrichment: Lego Robotics, 3D printing, TV Production
- Address: 1529 Barthold Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46808
- Phone: 260-424-4832
- HASA (Home and School Association) — meets 2nd Monday of each month in Mohr Hall
Religious Education and Sacraments
Faith formation at Most Precious Blood runs through both the parish school and a parish-wide religious education program directed by Martin Wheeler. Sacramental preparation — Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick — is arranged through the parish office.
- Director of Religious Education: Martin Wheeler ([email protected])
- Sacramental preparation through parish school and DRE
- Confession for students and parishioners Saturday afternoons and by appointment
Parish Life, Ministries, and the Bowling Alley
Beyond Mass and the sacraments, Most Precious Blood is known for its Home and School Association (HASA), its annual Fun Fest, Father-Daughter Dance, Muffin with Mom, Knights of Columbus events, and one of Fort Wayne's most unusual parish landmarks: the original 1929 bowling alley in the basement of the school. The alley still uses vintage ball returns and hand-written scorecards and is maintained by longtime parishioners and alumni Larry Sarrazin, Wendy Luley, and Rich Luley.
- HASA (Home and School Association) — monthly meetings in Mohr Hall
- Annual Fun Fest
- Father-Daughter Dance and Muffin with Mom
- Knights of Columbus
- Live Stations of the Cross reenactment during Lent
- The 1929 school bowling alley — built to help fund the original construction and still in continuous use
Visit, Contact, and Location
Most Precious Blood Parish is located in the Bloomingdale neighborhood of Fort Wayne, Indiana, on Barthold Street between Fourth and Barthold. The parish and school share a campus; the parish office can be reached by phone or email during office hours.
- Parish address: 1515 Barthold Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46808
- Parish phone: 260-424-5535
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- School address: 1529 Barthold Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46808
- School phone: 260-424-4832
- Website: preciousblood.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Frank Nigsch, C.P.S.1897–
First pastor; appointed by Bishop Rademacher. Conducted the census of 155 Catholic families that became the founding members and secured land for church, school, and parish buildings.
- Missionaries of the Precious Blood (C.P.S.)1897–2005
Staffed the parish and school continuously from founding until declining numbers led them to turn pastorship over to the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.
- Father Joseph Gaughan2005–
First diocesan pastor of the parish; led a major interior renovation that restored wooden flooring and pews and addressed structural issues.
- Father Francis Chukwuma, JCD2021–c.2025
Appointed parish administrator effective June 15, 2021 by Bishop Rhoades, while continuing to serve as a judge on the diocesan Marriage Tribunal; led the 125th anniversary celebration in 2022.
- Father David Ruppert2025–
Listed as pastor in the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend 2025–26 directory.