The following information is from the Allegan Library, written in 1986 by Bernard Dennis Flynn.

My name is Bernard Dennis Flynn and I was born in Allegan Township March 7, 1908. My parents, Dennis Flynn and Juliet Marron, were of Irish descent. The first time I remember going to Mass was when my parents took me to Mass at Streeters Opera House. The Opera House was located near the Masonic Temple and First of America Bank on the second floor. The last stained glass window of the current church was donated by my father, Dennis Flynn.

My paternal grandparents, Dennis Patrick Flynn and Eleanor Sullivan, born in 1818 and 1830, were from County Cork, Ireland, and my maternal grandparents, Frank Marron and Elizabeth Boyle, born in 1840 and 1850, were from Castleblayney, County Monagham, Ireland.

The first Church at the current location was built in 1912. The first priest that I remember was Fr. O'Neill. Fr. Leahy was the second priest. I was baptized by Fr. O'Neill. Fr. O'Neill was transferred to St. Augustine to become a dean. Fr. Leahy was transferred to Watervliet.

The next pastor was Fr. Griffin who was here during World War I and he was not very well. Fr. Griffin became very ill with the Spanish influenza. Many people became very ill during World War I and died. The Spanish influenza started in Europe during the war and soon spread to America. Many offices, stores, and schools were closed. The funeral of Arthur Harty's brother, Harold, was held on the front step of the Church as funerals were not allowed inside because of the disease. Even though Fr. Griffin was not very well, he said three Masses on Christmas, 12 o'clock midnight, 2 a.m., and 4 a.m., which were held in Allegan, St. Margaret's Church in Otsego, Michigan and Sacred Heart Church in Watson, Michigan. Fr. Dillon, who was from St. Augustine's Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan, helped Fr. Griffin.

Fr. Gannon served as the priest when the Ku Klux Klan was strong in Allegan. It was hard for a Catholic to hold public office. My cousin applied for a teaching position at Allegan Public Schools, and she was told that they didn't hire any Catholics.

Fr. Donahue was born in New York City, and he used to say how much better the country farmers had it than the city people. He said he was thirteen years old before he had ever seen a cow. Fr. Donahue married my wife, Bernadette, and I on June 20, 1934. Fr. Donahue used to lecture in St. Andrews Cathedral in Grand Rapids and was known as a capable speaker. He died in 1936 at the age of 52.

Fr. Callahan came here in 1934 from the Shrine of the Little Flower Church in Royal Oak. He served two years under Fr. Coughlin there. Fr. Coughlin was the pastor there and he was known as a radio priest. Fr. Callahan was the pastor there for thirteen years at Blessed Sacrament, from 1934 to 1947. He built the Church in Allegan in 1935. My daughter was baptized in the parish house because the original church had burned down. The priests said Mass in the Episcopal Church in the interim. The minister of the Episcopal Church had his service at 8 a.m., and the Catholic priest had his Catholic service at 10 a.m. Fr. Callahan was instrumental in eliminating bigotry, and the Protestants and Catholics got along better. The courts were favorable to non-Catholics. After Fr. Callahan, things changed for the better for Catholics. Before Fr. Callahan came to Allegan, we had Mass only every other Sunday as we had only one priest for three parishes. The priest came from Otsego saying Mass there at 8 o'clock or 10 o'clock and alternating with Mass said at 8 o'clock in Allegan every Sunday and Mass said in Watson at 10 o'clock every other Sunday. Fr. Callahan loved to talk with the children in the parish. At Christmas time when the Church was decorated so beautifully, he would ask, "Which do you like better, the pretty poinsettias or the crib?" He was pleased when he children gave the response, "The crib." At 1st Communion time when the prayer books were given out, he would ask which one they preferred, the cover with the child making his 1st Communion, or the cover with Jesus. He always asked questions like that.

Fr. Luther came to Allegan and Watson from Notre Dame, to say Mass in the early '40's. On April 18, 1943, Fr. Luther was on his way to say the 9 o'clock Mass in Watson when he drove past our farm on 118th Avenue and noticed flames coming from the roof of our house. On that day, Fr. Luther is perhaps responsible for saving the lives of some of my children. My wife was in the hospital for the birth of our child, Veronica, and I was in he barn doing chores. Fr. Luther rushed up the front steps of the house and yelled to my children, "Your house is on fire!" He helped get the neighbors to help us. The house was a loss, but we thank God that Fr. Luther just happened by that Sunday morning.

During the '40's and '50's the Sisters of St. Joseph from Nazareth in Kalamazoo came to Allegan during the school year to teach Catechism to the children after the 10:30 a.m. Mass. This instruction played a great role in their formation as Catholics. Some of the sisters were: Sister Laurene, Sister Ruth, Sister Kieran, and Sister Blanche.

In 1946 Fr. John Patrick Whelly, C.S.C., the Chaplain at Nazareth College, came to say Mass on Sunday. We enjoyed his sermons so much, especially the stories about his beloved Irish. Fr. Whelly came to Allegan and Watson until 1953. In 1950 the parish had a big St. Patrick's Day party a the Griswold Auditorium. Fr. Whelly showed his beautiful films of Ireland. Several solos were also presented by Phyllis Malarney Kiella, Mary Marvin, Patricia Bartz Lane, Maureen Flynn Warren, and Barbara Ferris.

Fr. Drinan was a naval chaplain who came to Allegan in 1947. Fr. Drinan had been a chaplain on a ship during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. As it happened, on December 7, 1941, he was asked to change places with another priest to say Mass. The ship that Fr. Drinan had been on was blown to pieces. If Fr. Drinan had not been asked to change places with that priest, he would never have made it to Allegan. During Fr. Drinan's stay, a children's choir was organized by Allegan High School music teacher, Orell Winchester Fritz, a cousin of my wife's. During the summer, Fr. Drinan asked Wanda Wallis and Maureen Flynn to have the children continue singing at some of the summer Masses. Fr. Drinan said his favorite hymn was "Lord for Tomorrow And Its Needs I do not Pray." Fr. Drinan was transferred to Ludington in 1950.

Fr. Edward Jaworowicz came to Allegan in 1950. One afternoon Father walked into the Church and heard some children practicing hymns. Father asked who they were and was told it was the Children's Choir. Two of them were my daughters, Maureen and Mary. Some members of the Children's Choir at that time were Mary Godlewski, Irma and Joan Zugel, Anna Marie Havaich, and Wanda and Cecile Wallis. He then sat at the organ, played, and taught the children some more hymns. He loved music. He was anxious to get a Catholic school started. Fr. Ed had the parish get together with annual chicken dinners and other fund raising affairs for the school. His plan was successful and in the 1955 the school opened with four lay teachers. Mrs. Basil (Leona) Kirby taught art classes in addition to the regular school curriculum. In January 1956, three sisters from Nazareth came to teach at the school. Mother Natalie was principal, assisted by Sr. Mary Ronald and Sr. Richard Jeanne. Until 1967, when the school closed, some of the sisters who taught at Blessed Sacrament were: Sr. Martha Chambon, Sr. Laurice, Sr. Carlene, Sr. Maxine, and Sr. Loyola Marie. My children, James, Veronica, Jerry, Colleen, Michael, Gabriel, and Edward, who was named after Fr. Ed, all attended Blessed Sacrament. Colleen and the girls in her class, who included Cheryl Coleman, Janice Darga, Anna Forestner, Diane Hartman, Peggy Hunter, Kathy Miles, Bridget Nahan, Mary Sprietzer, Sandy Swope, Karen Tatman, and Gloria Towne sang in the Church Choir at each weekday morning Mass that the whole school attended during the school year. Fr. Scheibel assisted Fr. Ed. Once when Fr. Scheibel was saying Mass, he fainted at the altar and a priest from Watson came to finish saying the Mass.

Fr. Donald Weber came to Allegan in 1967 from Muskegon. Fr. Weber went to St. Mary's School in New Salem. It was the same school attended by some Allegan parishioners, Bernadette Yunglas Flyn and Louise Webber Pullen. The school was in the country and Fr. Weber walked two miles. Fr. Weber left Blessed Sacrament in 1970. Fr. Weber is presently pastor at St. Francis de Sales Church in Holland.

Fr. Francis Flynn came to Allegan in 1970 from Muskegon. He stayed five years. During seminary days Fr. Flynn studied in Rome. Because Fr. Flynn had been in Rome, he gave interesting sermons about Rome and the Holy Land.

Fr. James Sullivan came to Allegan in 1975. He had been the College Chaplain at Western Michigan University. While there he conducted convert clased for students interested in the Catholic Church. My son Gabriel's wife, Joan Flynn, was one of thse converts. She said the students really loved him, Fr. Sullivan. Visitors often remarked how impressed they were with his sermons. Fr. Sullivan died in 1985.

Fr. Lawrence Woods came to Allegan in 1978 and was known in the Kalamazoo area as a builder. Fr. Woods is now in the process of expanding our own Church, here in Allegan. Fr. Woods has been instrumental in beginning many Church organizations for the service of others. Many parishioners have become involved in these organizations. Fr. Woods helped obtain the Papal Blessing for my wife and I on our 50th wedding anniversary. We are so indebted to him for this wonderful consideration.

Dated: August 3, 1986

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