Workforce Programs
Community Organizing
Helping Small Businesses
Affordable Housing Initiatives
Family-Based Childcare
Jackson Square Revitalization

Blessed Sacrament: A Look Behind The Scenes
Blessed Sacramente Redevelopment: A Look Behind The Scenes - March, 2009

Click an image to start the slide show:
Early 20th century postcard of Hyde Square, Centre & Creighton (rectory lawn on right) Blessed Sacrament rectory, ca. 1906 Blessed Sacrament, ca. 1920 View of sanctuary
Detail of artwork on ceiling Detail of artwork on ceiling Blessed Sacrament, ca. 1930, viewed from across Centre Street A trolley on Centre Street at Hyde Square, ca. 1940
Jamaica Plain World’s Fair with Blessed Sacrament in background, 2003 Jamaica Plain says goodbye to Blessed Sacrament, August 2004 Parishioners leave after the last mass. 'The fear of gentrification runs especially deep in Hyde Square… where community groups have spent more than a decade beating back gang activity …. Longtime families fear that they may be pushed aside by developers of luxury condominiums.' - The Boston Globe April 12, 2005
JP Neighborhood Council, February 2005 The Boston Banner, March 10, 2005 'Preserve Blessed Sacrament for the benefit of the Jamaica Plain Community!' Petition signed by 1,400 former parishioners and other community residents
Rally to support community-controlled redevelopment of Blessed Sacrament, April 2005 April 2005 'Though the fight to keep Blessed Sacrament open failed, the effort to save it as the heart and soul of an affordable development project has mobilized the Hyde Square and Jackson Square corridor.' - Peter Gelzinis Boston Sunday Herald, April 10, 2005 April 2005
April 2005 'The Fears of a Community for the Future of Blessed Sacrament' - El Mundo, April 21-27, 2005 April 2005 April 2005
'In the largely Hispanic area of Hyde Square in Jamaica Plain… the archdiocese is negotiating exclusively with a trusted nonprofit group.' - The Boston Globe July 1, 2005 'Blessed Sacrament in the Hands of the Community' - El Mundo, July 7-13, 2005 JP World's Fair Hyde Square, September 2005 JP World's Fair Hyde Square, September 2005
Signing the petition for JPNDC redevelopment of Blessed Sacrament - JP World’s Fair, September 2005 Press conference to announce JPNDC purchase of Blessed Sacrament, September 2005 Sr. Virginia Mulhern, September 2005 'It's a great victory for the neighborhood,' said Mayor Thomas M. Menino. 'I applaud the church and the NDC for working together.' - The Boston Globe, September 13, 2005
Betsaida Gutierrez, September 2005 September 2005 'Last night on Centre Street something quite rare took place: Real estate developers joined a diverse blend of neighborhood folk and city pols, who congratulated local clergy for proving that, once in a while, it is possible to do well by doing good.' - Peter Gelzinis, Boston Herald, September 14, 2005 September 2005
Monsignor Bourke of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, September 2005 September 2005 Rafael Benzan, September 2005 September 2005
State Representative Jeffrey Sanchez, September 2005 September 2005 Community meeting, December 2005 Mildred Hailey, December 2005
Site plan for Blessed Sacrament redevelopment Preliminary planning sketch for Creighton Condos (16 affordable homes for first-time buyers)
Cheverus School, to be renovated for programming of the Hyde Square Task Force Former convent, to be renovated as housing for formerly homeless people in collaboration with the Pine Street Inn Artist's rendering of view from Centre Street, with new mixed-use building on left. June 2008
Preparing for relocation of the rectory (left), October 2008 Rectory prior to relocation, October 2008 Relocation of rectory, October 2008 Garage excavation, November 2008 (convent, Cheverus School and temporarily relocated rectory in background)
November 2008 Progress on garage excavation, December 2008 December 2008 February 2009
February 2009 Before the final rectory move, March 14, 2009 The rectory at its new permanent location, March 17, 2009! Thank you.

Blessed Sacrament Timeline

1891 – Blessed Sacrament parish established by the Redemptorists of Mission Church in Roxbury

1894 – Blessed Sacrament rectory completed, today the oldest building on the campus

1896 – Norbert School completed (high school)

1901 – Cheverus School (grammar school)

1913-1917 – construction of Blessed Sacrament Church

2004 – Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston closes Blessed Sacrament

August 2004 – Last mass is held at Blessed Sacrament Church in Jamaica Plain

January 2005 – Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston announces 90 day period for accepting offers on church, convent, rectory, and schools at Blessed Sacrament

February-March 2005 – JP Neighborhood Council holds two public meetings on the future of Blessed Sacrament, each attended by more than 150 people

April 2005 – The JPNDC and private partner New Atlantic Development Corporation submit a proposal for the purchase and redevelopment of Blessed Sacrament.

September 2005 – JPNDC/New Atlantic and Boston Archdiocese sign purchase and sale agreement.

December 2005 – The JPNDC/New Atlantic partnership purchase the Blessed Sacrament site

2006-2007 – The Blessed Sacrament project wins approval from the JP Neighborhood Council, the Community Advisory Committee appointed by Mayor Menino, the Boston Redevelopment Authority, the Boston Landmarks Commission, the Boston Civic Design Commission, and the City of Boston Zoning Commission.

2008 – The nationwide credit crisis and economic downturn stall progress on the redevelopment of Blessed Sacrament. Both the City of Boston and Commonwealth of Massachusetts step up their commitments to the project.

October 2008 – The former rectory is relocated to a temporary new position and construction begins on a parking garage that will underlie two components of the Blessed Sacrament redevelopment.

March 2009 – The rectory is relocated to its new permanent location on Creighton Street for renovation as affordable condominiums for first-time homebuyers.
JPNDC 31 Germania Street Jamaica Plain MA 02130 617-522-2424
Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation
building our community

HomeAbout the JPNDCGet InvolvedThe BreweryNews and Events