Parish History

Most Blessed Sacrament Parish has a very brief history here in Oshkosh.  Why?  We are one of the newest parishes established in the Diocese of Green Bay.

On July 14, 2007, the Parish of Most Blessed Sacrament was created with our sister parish, St. Jude the Apostle, by Bishop David A. Zubik

Most Blessed Sacrament was formed by the merger of three parishes on the north side of Oshkosh.  Those parishes formerly were St. Josaphat, St. Mary and St. Peter.  Currently, the worship sites of St. Peter and St. Mary are used for weekend and weekday liturgies.

All three former parishes thrived as they entered that great Catholic era of the first half of the 20th Century.  However by the 1990's, the Green Bay Diocese, like so many other dioceses, was experiencing numerous challenges.  Declining membership in many of the parishes, increasing expenses in parishes, as well as a shortage of clergy led to extensive studies of many of the faith communities of the Diocese.  Oshkosh was by no means any exception.  A two year study ensued in the early years of the new century followed by the announcement in January 2007 of the establishment of two new parishes, each formed from a consolidation of three Oshkosh parishes.

Change is always difficult for anyone, but the loss of a parish and its identity is extremely difficult.  Members of St. Mary, St. Peter and St. Josaphat were no exception.  But it was most painful for the members of St. Josaphat who were not only losing their identity as St. Josaphat parishioners, but were dealing with the closure of their worship site as well.

In late January of 2007, both Rev. James Jugenheimer and Rev. Thomas Reynebeau met with Bishop Zubik and accepted his call for both of them to serve as pastors in the formation of the two yet-to-be named parishes.  Word finally came in mid April of Bishop Zubik's decision on the name of the parish.  It would be known as Most Blessed Sacrament Parish.

Sunday, July 8, 2007 saw the final Sunday liturgies celebrated at all three former parishes.  It was a bittersweet time for many parishioners, and an especially emotional one for the people of St. Josaphat Parish.

On Saturday, July 14, 2007, Most Blessed Sacrament Parish officially became a parish.  That same weekend the new Mass schedule took effect.  On Saturday, August 18, 2007, at the 4 PM liturgy, Fr. James Jugenheimer was installed by Bishop Zubik as the first pastor of Most Blessed Sacrament Parish in Oshkosh.

On July 1, 2009, Fr. Joel Sember was transferred as an assistant to two parishes in De Pere, Wisconsin.  He was not replaced.

Our history as a new parish might be brief, but we are building upon the rich traditions of our three predecessor parishes of St. Josaphat, St. Mary and St. Peter.

Since our history had its beginning in the predecessor parishes we are including the history of these three parishes as well as the history of the Catholic Church in the Fox Valley before any parishes were established.

History of the Early Church in the Fox Valley

History of St. Josaphat's Parish

History of St. Mary's Parish

History of St. Peter's Parish