Pastors

Brief History

On November 11, 1947, Rev. Louis Putz was officially appointed as pastor of the new Waterloo parish of Blessed Sacrament. The parish was bounded by Black Hawk Creek and Burton Avenue in Waterloo, and Rownd Street in Cedar Falls. The parish began with a population of 723 persons in 200 households. A gift of $2,000 from Sacred Heart Parish and a loan from a friend made possible the purchase of 17 acres of land from Emmanuel Wilmette.

The first Mass for Blessed Sacrament parishioners was celebrated on January 4, 1948 in the Little Theater of Edison School. Archbishop Rohlman was present the following Sunday to officially establish Blessed Sacrament Parish.

In July 1948, a temporary church building was completed on Falls Avenue. The building was later sold and became the Boat House. The cornerstone for the school was laid on September 17, 1950, and the first wing was dedicated on March 2, 1952. Additions were made in 1955 and 1961. What is now used as the school cafeteria was used as a church from 1951 until 1966.

Construction of the church and rectory began July 29, 1965, and the cornerstone was laid on March 21, 1966. The first Mass in the church was celebrated on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1966. The building was officially dedicated by Archbishop Byrne on April 9, 1967.

In December of 1991, the new Anne Sulentic Parish Center was dedicated in conjunction with the silver jubilee of the church building. Later wings were added to connect the parish center with the church and school.

The fledgling community of 200 households with $2,000 in the bank has grown to 1,100 households with an annual budget of $1,000,000. The story of the Community of Blessed Sacrament is a story of the faithfulness of God and a community of faith dedicated to the growth of the reign of God in this little corner of the world.