With Vid: 'Spirit will live on' at former Blessed Sacrament church

Click here for a gallery of the final service at Blessed Sacrament.

WINDSOR, Ont. Parishioners say the spirit will live on after a west end church closes at the end of the month and becomes a support centre for the needy.

Blessed Sacrament was sold by the Diocese of London to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for one dollar and will be used as a food hub, resale store and hospitality centre when the transfer takes place on July 27.

This place was always all about the poor. We helped the poor a lot and now its staying that way, just without the masses, said Margaret Murphy, lay pastoral minister for the church since 1995 and parishioner for nearly 30 years.

The spirit is still there and its just heavenly that they got it for $1. Were all very happy about that and it makes our transition out of here a little easier.

Murphy said what shell miss most about the church is that it was like a second home and family to her. She not only worked at the church, but also attended three masses there a week and the hominess and humbleness are at the root of all the memories shell always cherish.

The pews were packed at the farewell mass for the 75-year-old church Sunday and seven priests, along with Bishop Ronald Peter Fabbro, attended to celebrate the ceremony and mark the occasion.

Sisters Marilyn Fahringer, Laura Mazzali-Gingrich and Pat Steed grew up at the church and had all their sacraments done there, along with four other siblings. They lived in a house just down the street from the church and their parents, Peter and Vicki Mazzali, got married at Blessed Sacrament a year after it was built.

Steed, whos 73 years old, had to change churches a number of years ago because she requires a wheelchair but Blessed Sacrament is not wheelchair accessible. She wanted to return for the final mass, however, so the priest, Fr. Joe Langlois, agreed to meet her out front of the church moments before the mass began to give her communion.

It means a lot because I was baptized here as a baby so its kind of special, said Steed, who still resides on the citys west end.

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With Vid: 'Spirit will live on' at former Blessed Sacrament church