The Parish and the Oratory have had a long, faith-filled journey together. The parish is named after St. Gaspar, who was born to the del Bufalo family in Rome on January 6, 1786, on the feast of the Epiphany, and was named after one of the three wise men. Gaspar was ordained in 1808 at the age of 22. During Napoleon’s reign, Gaspar was imprisoned, along with most of the clergy, for four years. After Napoleon’s defeat, chaos and banditry reigned in Rome. The Pope appointed Gaspar to preach missions where he combined the spirituality of the Precious Blood with the concept of a community for the apostolic works of mercy. In 1815, Gaspar founded the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood to “proclaim peace through the blood of the cross.” He brought devotion to the Blood of Christ out of the sanctuary into the villages by preaching missions, instructing, and transforming the people. Gaspar opened a night oratory where our Lord was worshipped all night by men, like Nicodemus, who didn’t have the courage to go to confession. Gaspar died on December 28, 1837, and was canonized on June 12, 1954.

The first Catholic Church established in the area of St. Gaspar’s was St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Avilla. Father Dominic Duehmig was installed as the fifth pastor there in 1863. He traveled from place to place during the week and eventually built churches at Ege, Albion, Bremen, and Rome City. When Father Duehmig built the first church in Rome City, he was attempting to replicate St. Peter’s Church in Rome, hence the name of the town, Rome City. Father Duehmig also played a role in the founding of Kneipp Springs (now the Patroness of America Center), a health spa site renowned for its mineral springs. In 1901, the Sisters of the Congregation of the Most Precious Blood purchased Kneipp Springs. The Precious Blood priests ministered to the sisters in their chapel at Kneipp Springs and to the congregation of the overcrowded St. Peter’s church. In 1916, a new and larger Mother of Mercy Chapel was built (now the Oratory of the Holy Family) at the Springs, and members of St. Peter’s Church began attending Mass there. In 1956, Bishop Pursley was entreated to authorize a new parish and church in Rome City. In 1957, St. Gaspar Del Bufalo church was built on land given by the Sisters of the Precious Blood. This church was the first in the world to be named after the recently canonized saint.

We are thrilled to host the parish and celebrate the expansion needed to accommodate the expanding congregation. Congratulations to the parish for their bold examples in faith.