In 1910, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish was established to service the growing Catholic population of Westfield. An offspring of St. Mary's Parish, it was placed in the northern section of Westfield, with the Westfield River providing a natural dividing line for the parish boundary. On May 29, 1910, the first Mass of the Parish was celebrated on the second floor of what is now the True Value Hardware Store on North Elm Street.

The existing church structure was originally erected at the corner of North Elm and Princeton Streets. Excavation for the church began on August 15, 1910. The church was built in the style of Gothic architecture at a cost of $22,000. Its exterior dimensions are 142 feet in length and 60 feet in width. The interior measures 125 feet long by 45 feet wide and has a seating capacity of 545 persons. Among the many beautiful features of the church are the five large Tiffany stained glass windows on each side of it. Construction of the church was swift, and seven months later on Passion Sunday, April 2, 1911, the first Mass was celebrated by Reverend Michael J. Ahearn, Pastor. The formal dedication of the church occurred on July 2, 1911, with Bishop Thomas R. Beaven officiating.

As the needs of the parish grew, an opportunity to acquire a new site for the church became a reality, when, in 1920, the home and surrounding property of Dr. James B. Atwater was purchased. At that time, the church was physically moved from Princeton Street to its present location on the corner of Union and North Elm Streets. The move was a noteworthy event, drawing crowds of spectators, as horses drew the structure one-quarter mile to its new site. Recently, when installing gas tanks on Princeton Street, parts of the church's original foundation were uncovered.

Dr. Atwater's former home became the new rectory. This beautiful home is of historical value to the City of Westfield, as it contains examples of marble which was quarried in Westfield. The outside walls of the rectory were constructed of this marble, as well as the interior decorations, which are of polished serpentine black and green marble. Three of the fireplaces in the house are also embellished with it.

The growth of the northern section of Westfield began to quickly expand the parish community, and with it, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish began to experience a need for a Parish Center. Four parcels of land which were acquired from the Tarala, Roselli, Baginski, and Nadolski families were purchased in March of 1960. These nine acres of land provided the area to construct a modern facility for Catholic instruction for the youth of the parish. Under the leadership of Reverend Timothy O'Connor, who became Pastor in 1953, the plans for the Center came to fruition when the groundbreaking occurred in August of 1961, exactly 51 years after the groundbreaking for Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church. The Center was dedicated by Bishop Christopher J. Weldon on June 18, 1962.

Originally, the exterior of the church was wood shingled and stained dark green. Two sets of stained glass windows were located above the front door of the church. In the early 1980's, the exterior was remodeled, and white vinyl siding was added to create a more modern appearance. The belfry above the main entrance of the church is 90 feet high and is surmounted by a gold cross. The stained glass windows above the front door were eliminated during the renovation project. As in the original design of the church, there are still five entrances to the church. The main entrance of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church that originally faced Princeton Street, now faces Union Street.

Rev. Francis X. Sullivan coordinated the interior church renovation project in February of 1992. More than $13,000 in donations from parishioners resulted in an interior paint job for the church as well as a new carved wooden pulpit and coordinating altar, sanctuary, aluminum kneelers with blue cushions, and contemporary candle racks. With contributions from other sources - such as money left to the church by its former Pastor, Fr. Edward Kroyak - the church was also able to install new bells and chimes.

Betty Iovine, who was instrumental in selecting the interior color scheme, also created the contemporary designs above the Baptismal Font and Tabernacle, as well as those behind the statues. The designs created by Ms. Iovine were her own original designs that she had created for a booklet for the church years ago. She enlarged them and specified what colors they were to be painted and an artist specializing in mural painting followed her specific instructions, creating the intricate designs. Each design represents a symbol of our faith. Click here for a detailed explanation of the designs.

The original church organ, which was built by the Westfield Pipe Organ Company, had fallen into disrepair and the cost of needed repairs was prohibitive. While the interior renovations were underway in February of 1992, the Holy Name Society made arrangements to purchase a Thomas Organ from a parishioner that would be used for all services until enough money could be saved to purchase a new one. In August of 1996, Rev. Francis X. Sullivan and Melanie S. Peetz reviewed several replacement options and ultimately selected the Allen Digital Organ built by the Allen Organ Company in Macungie, PA. After two months of additional renovations to the choir loft, the new organ was installed in November of 1996. The Thomas Organ was moved to the Parish Center and is now used for masses during the summer months.

Today, the spirit of the first parishioners of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish grows. It continues to foster sharing, spiritual growth, and a sense of community which has always been a hallmark of this parish. It also encourages innovative ideas in Religious Education and experiences in the Catholic Faith.