Blessed Sacrament Parish stands on the west side of La Crosse along Losey Boulevard South, just south of downtown. A Catholic parish of the Diocese of La Crosse, it gathers a community around daily Mass, perpetual adoration, the seven sacraments, faith formation, and a steady rhythm of outreach to neighbors in need. The church building, completed and dedicated in 1950, reflects the work of master artisans and remains the heart of parish life.

Mass, Confession, and the Adoration Chapel

Weekend Mass is offered on Saturday at 4:30 PM and on Sunday at 9:00 AM, with the Sunday Mass livestreamed on YouTube for those who cannot be present in person. Daily Mass is celebrated each weekday morning at 8:00 AM. Confessions are heard Saturday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:15 PM, or by appointment at other times.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is available in the parish adoration chapel, which sits midway up the alley running parallel to Losey Boulevard on the west side of the church. The chapel is open to all for prayer and adoration through a code-access door; the code is available by contacting the parish office. Parking for the chapel is off the same alley.

The Seven Sacraments

Blessed Sacrament celebrates all seven sacraments instituted by Christ: Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick. The parish teaches that "the whole liturgical life of the Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments." Sacramental preparation is offered for each, beginning at the parish office.

Marriages follow a structured preparation path rooted in Catholic teaching. Couples begin with a meeting with the pastor, Fr. Billy Dodge, or with Deacon David Allen, who schedule the date and begin paperwork; gather recent baptismal certificates and a valid marriage license; complete the FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study) online assessment with a trained parish couple; plan the liturgy and music with Mary Blaha-DeBoer, Director of Music and Liturgy; attend a diocesan marriage retreat; share a faith conversation with the pastor; and receive instruction in Natural Family Planning grounded in the Church's teaching on love, openness to life, and mutual respect. Couples are encouraged to begin nine to twelve months before the wedding.

A Parish with Deep Roots

The parish opened in 1937 in the basement of Blessed Sacrament School, across the street from where the church now stands. Masses were celebrated there until the church building was completed and dedicated in 1950. Its stated mission is to be "a praying and worshiping community of faith" from which members draw spiritual energy to serve each age and vocational group, with the central theme of parish life being "to know Christ Jesus because all things hold together in Him."

Sacred Worship and Music

The Sacred Worship Committee supports the liturgical life of the parish, coordinating lectors, ushers, masters of ceremony, servers, Eucharistic ministers, gift bearers, sacristans, and church-care teams, along with the schedule of perpetual adoration. Children in fourth grade and up train as Mass servers, learning at daily Mass and serving at weddings and funerals. Men who are seniors in high school or older with a deep understanding of the liturgy train as Masters of Ceremonies to assist the priest during the celebration of Mass. Weekend lectors proclaim the scriptures once a month; daily Mass lectors read for a week at a time. Hospitality ministers - ushers and greeters - welcome people to weekend liturgies, and Extraordinary Ministers of Communion assist with the distribution of Holy Communion at both daily and weekend Masses.

Music is a vital part of the parish's worship. Volunteer cantors lead the assembly in sung prayer at Mass, and a group of instrumentalists enhances the 9 AM liturgy. The St. Cecilia Funeral Choir sings at funeral liturgies and occasionally at Sunday Masses, a flexible ministry well suited to singers who cannot commit to weekly rehearsals and a source of comfort for grieving families. Visitors to the parish regularly remark on the choir's contribution. The Angels of Mercy Prayer Chain is activated when prayer needs arise, with parishioners dedicated to praying for the needs of the parish.

Family Life and Becoming Catholic

Faith formation for families is a visible parish priority. Family Holy Hour is offered monthly on Sunday afternoons, gathering families for guided prayer and song with a special invitation to little children to experience Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by a potluck supper. Monthly Sunday Brunch after the 9 AM Mass builds community over food and conversation.

The parish welcomes those exploring Catholicism through its Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) program. The parish OCIA coordinator walks inquirers through questions about Catholic belief and practice, scripture, the role of Mary and the saints, the Catholic moral life, and Church teaching on marriage, contraception, and abortion, and accompanies those preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.

Catholic Social Teaching and Outreach

The parish follows the principles of Catholic Social Teaching: the dignity of the human person, the common good, the needs of the poor, the dignity of work, the acceptance of diversity in the human family, and care for God's creation. Practical outreach expresses those principles throughout the year.

Blessed Sacrament supports the La Crosse Warming Center, run jointly with Catholic Charities and other La Crosse churches from November 1 to April 30 each year, providing a warm place for homeless adults eighteen and older; the parish provides food and staffing one weekend a month. Food, blanket, coat, and school supply drives run throughout the year alongside support for Birthright, a pregnancy support organization. Mobile Meals delivers meals to elderly, disabled, and homebound residents in La Crosse and Onalaska, with volunteers giving about an hour and a half a month. Martha's Meals brings a hot meal to those who are ill, bereaved, or have just had a baby. Funeral lunches provide a meal of consolation to grieving families.

The St. Camillus Group, named for the patron saint of caregivers, visits the homebound and those in nursing homes, bringing Communion and Christ's love; Deacon David Allen coordinates this ministry. Beyond La Crosse, the parish supports Casa Hogar, a Peruvian orphanage affiliated with the Diocese of La Crosse, and maintains a sister-parish relationship with a community in Ifakara, Tanzania. The parish also contributes to a "Pay it Forward" program in India.

Council of Catholic Women and Men's Club

The Parish Council of Catholic Women is open to all women of the parish aged eighteen and older. Affiliated with the National Council of Catholic Women, the La Crosse Deanery Council of Catholic Women (representing thirteen local parishes), and the Diocesan Council, the group unites women through religious, educational, and social activities, works with the pastor on parish welfare, and reaches out to the broader community. Activities include a Christmas Fair, special gatherings, annual charitable donations, and funeral lunches. Charitable giving supports local organizations such as Catholic Charities' Warming Center, Catholic Charities' St. Lawrence Community Services, the Jail Ministry, Hope Academy, and Pro-Life Wisconsin, along with international outreach including One Child in India, the sister parish in Tanzania, the FSPA's work against trafficking, and Casa Hogar.

The Men's Club invites all men of the parish aged twenty-one and older into fellowship and service. Its mission is to promote the spiritual well-being of parish men, encourage participation in parish activities, foster cooperation with other parish organizations, and complete special projects for the parish and community.

Pastoral and Finance Councils

The Parish Pastoral Council assists in the administrative management and welfare of the parish. According to the Code of Canon Law, eight members are elected for a two-year term and four are appointed. The full council meets every other month beginning in September.

The Finance Council acts as a consultative body assisting the pastor in administering parish finances and property. It develops the budget, sets policies for the care of buildings, monitors the Scrip program and the Endowment Trust, and oversees the regular operating budget of nearly one million dollars. Members are appointed by the pastor for two-year terms.

The Blessed Sacrament Parish Endowment Trust, established in 1988, provides perpetual financial support beyond envelope giving. It accepts cash, stock, bonds, real estate, life insurance, deferred annuity and unitrust arrangements, and gifts by will, with investments managed by Trust Point.

SCRIP and Aquinas Catholic Schools

A signature parish fundraiser, SCRIP (now operated through RaiseRight) sells gift cards and certificates for hundreds of national and local retailers at face value. The retailer returns a percentage to the parish, and most rebates are directed toward tuition assistance at Aquinas Catholic Schools. Parishioners can also direct their rebate toward another family or toward the Guardian Angel fund for families in need, determined by the Aquinas Catholic Schools office. The Scrip office is staffed by volunteers during regular parish office hours. Online sign-ups use the parish code to link accounts, with both physical and electronic cards available.

Catholic Resources at Home

The parish points members to a wide range of Catholic digital resources for ongoing formation at home. A subscription to Formed offers Catholic video, audio, and reading content on most devices. The Bible in a Year podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz walks listeners through scripture in daily episodes. A FORMED Bible study on the Gospel of Matthew is hosted by scripture scholars Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. Michael Barber. Word on Fire features the homilies and writings of Bishop Barron. The Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan, broadcast a daily online Holy Hour. Building Better Families, a sixteen-part video series on character strengths, supports parents in forming their children. Encyclicals by Pope Francis, including "On Love of the Family" and "On Care for Our Common Home," are linked for parish use.

Joining the Parish

Anyone interested in registering as a parishioner is invited to contact the parish office to set up a meeting with Fr. Billy Dodge. Registration forms are available, as is a direct-payment form for those who wish to set up electronic giving. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:45 AM to noon at 130 Losey Boulevard South, and can be reached at 608-782-2953 or office@bsplacrosse.org. A weekly bulletin is published and archived, carrying announcements, scripture readings, and reflections for the week ahead.