North Carolina Parish has a Strong Sense of Community and Service

The new Blessed Sacrament Parish building in Burlington, North Carolina

Parishioners of various ages and backgrounds have come out for the Multi-generational Advent Program at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Burlington, North Carolina. They have prayed and reflected on Jesus’ first coming and on how He will come again. They also spoke about the many everyday moments when Jesus becomes present to them.

Blessed Sacrament is a very dynamic parish. With the help of Friar Robert Benko, who is the pastor of Blessed Sacrament, and several other Franciscans and lay people, the parish brings persons of all ages and different backgrounds together in worship while focusing on their individual needs. Friar Jacek Leszczynski, for example, having worked in Peru, ministers to Blessed Sacrament’s Spanish-speaking parishioners.

Friar Jacek Leszczynski

Blessed Sacrament in fact has such a vibrant community that it has outgrown its church building. Parishioners attending Mass have been for some time forced to stand in the doors to the church while their parked cars have crowded the local neighborhood. Clearly something had to change.

And it has, Blessed Sacrament has started construction on a new church building. This is a complex process that involves fundraising, architectural design, and many other matters. But with a focused and dedicated community, the new Blessed Sacrament building will open its doors and welcome parishioners next year.

(Source of all related images on webpage and homepage: Blessed Sacrament Parish, Burlington, NC

and Friar Jacek Leszczynski.)