Blessed Sacrament: A Large Parish with a Rich History

By Steven Trowern

The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, more commonly known as Blessed Sacrament, in the Chevy Chase neighborhood of Washington, D.C., serves a vibrant, close-knit community of Catholics such as Steven Trowern, a partner at MCM Capital Partners. Steve Trowern and his family are the latest in a long line of families who have served the parish during its century-long history in the nations capital. Blessed Sacrament began as a mission parish, a small outgrowth of St. Anns in Tenleytown, D.C., for parishioners who lived in the Chevy Chase neighborhood. Founded in 1910, the parish first held Mass at the Chevy Chase Library, until it constructed a church in 1911. At first, Blessed Sacrament shared a priest with St. Anns. The parish experienced rapid growth during the First World War, when people involved in the war effort flocked to the Washington, D.C., area. By 1924, it had a school that enrolled 113 students under the instruction of three religious sisters. By 1927, Blessed Sacrament had outgrown its old building and dedicated a new church, designed by the same architectural firm that designed the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, also in Washington, D.C. World War II prompted a new migration of government workers to the Washington area and a new boost in population for The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament. By 1952, the school needed a new addition to hold its 800 students. In only 40 years, the parish had grown from a small, mission church to a large parish well known in the D.C. area for its active, influential, congregation.