651-738-0677 ext. 11

Archbishop Bernard Hebda assigned me as Pastor of the Church of the Blessed Sacrament July 1, 2026. I am excited to be here!

I am at home in St. Paul! I grew up on the West Side of St. Paul. Our home was on a hill facing downtown St. Paul. I loved looking out our picture window to gaze upon the beautiful the Cathedral of St. Paul up on the hill across the Mississippi River. I am the youngest of five children, one of whom died before birth. My father Wallace died when I was five and my mother Angeline died in 2022. My three living brothers and their families live here in the Twin Cities. I have two nieces and two nephews.

I attended St. Matthew Grade School, Brady High School, the University of Minnesota, and Saint Paul Seminary. I was ordained in 2007 and have served as an associate pastor and pastor in parishes in our archdiocese.

After graduating from college, I felt called to a deeper life of prayer, and so joined a small “Carmelite inspired” Community called The Little Brothers of Carmel in St. Paul. While in this community I sensed God calling me to the priesthood and so entered the seminary.

I truly love being a priest! I love praying with parishioners and guests of Blessed Sacrament. God loves us, and prayer is intentionally taking time to be with Him. St. Teresa of Jesus loved being a “good friend of Jesus” and defined prayer as "nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us." For St. Therese of Lisieux, “prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.”

We are blessed to celebrate the most profound and intimate prayer which is the Mass, and by extension, Eucharistic Adoration. Check out our Mass and adoration schedule! Come pray with us, as we “take time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.”

651-738-0677 ext. 10

I grew up in the parish of St. Thomas the Apostle, where my family worshipped during my childhood. After getting married, my husband and I settled near the original Blessed Sacrament site and raised our family while attending church there for many years. This parish community has been a constant in my life, and I truly feel blessed to be so deeply connected to it. For over twenty years, I’ve had the privilege of working in the parish. I began my ministry as the Faith Formation Director, where I was honored to walk alongside families and children on their journey of faith. Over the past ten years, I’ve transitioned into the administrative side of parish life and now serve as the Business Administrator—a role that allows me to support the daily operations of our parish while continuing to build meaningful relationships with our wonderful parishioners. Outside of work, my greatest joy is spending time with my husband, our ten children, and twenty-six grandchildren. Faith and family are everything to us, and we cherish every moment together. It is truly a blessing to serve this community that has taught me much about my faith and warmly embraced my family for generations.

For over 40 years, I have had the joy and privilege of serving in music ministry at Blessed Sacrament. My work includes coordinating liturgies, playing for Masses, and leading rehearsals with our cantors and choirs. Music has always been a meaningful part of my faith, and it’s a blessing to share that gift with our parish community.

In addition to my ministry work, I am an Avon Consultant and operate a home-based medical billing business. I grew up on a rural farm in Wisconsin and later moved to St. Paul, where I’ve made my home.

My husband, who passed away in 2001, and I have been blessed with a large and loving family—children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren totaling over thirty. Family is a central part of my life, and I cherish every opportunity to spend time with them.

In my free time, I enjoy shopping at the Mall of America, playing piano, and flower gardening—each activity brings me joy and peace in its own way.

It has been a true blessing to be part of this parish community for so many years, and I look forward to continuing to serve through the gift of music.

Mark has served as our Facility Manager since 2022, helping to ensure that our parish buildings and grounds are safe, functional, and well-maintained. While Mark does not have set office hours or a direct phone line, any facilities-related concerns can be directed to the parish office, and staff will coordinate with him as needed.

Mark and his wife have been faithful and active members of Blessed Sacrament for over 37 years, and we are truly grateful for their dedication and service to our parish community.

651-738-0677 ext. 12

My family has been part of Blessed Sacrament Church for over 60 years, faithfully attending Mass at both worship sites. Over the decades, this parish has truly become our spiritual home, and the time I spend with my parish family is deeply meaningful to me.

I currently serve as the volunteer Office Support Manager, a role I’m honored to fulfill. After working at the University of St. Thomas for over 41 years, I bring a broad range of technical skills and professional experience that I now use in service to our parish community.

My responsibilities include computer system support, managing Flocknotes, assisting with website updates, funeral coordination, homebound Communion, and general office support. I’m also blessed to serve as the parish photographer, capturing moments from parish events to share on the bulletin boards in the Gathering Space.

I look forward to continuing this journey of faith and service—and to seeing you at church!

651-738-0677 ext. 18

Since joining our parish in 2021, Martha Gonzalez has been a vibrant and integral part of our faith community. A devoted mother of five—two of whom live nearby—Martha brings not only her deep faith but also her joyful energy and leadership to all she does.

Currently serving as our Faith Formation Director, Martha has been instrumental in inspiring parents and children alike to reclaim Sunday mornings for God. Under her guidance, our Faith Formation program has flourished, nurturing the spiritual growth of children from kindergarten through twelfth grade. She and her dedicated team of volunteers prepare students for the sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation, while also leading our Blessed Youth group with passion and purpose.

In addition to her role in youth formation, Martha also leads our adult faith formation, including the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA), helping adults come into full communion with the Church.

As the parish’s Safe Environment Coordinator, she ensures that we meet all Archdiocesan standards to provide a safe and nurturing environment for all members of our community.

Her commitment doesn’t stop there—Martha also coordinates our weekly Friday Prayer Group, our monthly Spanish Mass, including organizing the choir and musicians, and co-leads our Parish Evangelization Cells System (PECS), which fosters spiritual growth through small-group faith sharing.

Martha’s dedication, faith, and servant leadership continue to inspire our parish family. We are deeply grateful for her presence and ministry among us.