About Assumption B.V.M. · West Grove, Pennsylvania
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish (Assumption BVM) is a Roman Catholic parish in West Grove, Chester County, Pennsylvania, founded in 1873 and entrusted to the care of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The parish serves the western Chester County and Oxford region and is part of the Chester County West Deanery. It shares its campus with Assumption BVM School, a Middle States-accredited Catholic elementary school, and operates a thriving Catholic Youth Faith Formation program, daily Eucharistic Adoration, a regional CYO sports program, and a twice-yearly Parish Magazine. Worship is offered in English, with one weekday Mass celebrated in Latin, and the parish is currently led by Rev. Scott D. Brockson as pastor.
- Established
- 1873
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (under her title of the Assumption)
- Rector
- Rev. Scott D. Brockson
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Philadelphia (Deanery: Chester County West; Pastoral Planning Area: Western Chester County and Oxford Region)
Why belong here
Parishioners at Assumption BVM find a complete Catholic life on one campus: a historic parish founded in 1873, a Middle States-accredited parish school, daily and Sunday Masses with one weekday Mass in Latin, weekday Eucharistic Adoration in the Adoration Chapel from after morning Mass until 7 pm, a robust Catholic Youth Faith Formation program, a regional CYO for grades 5–8, and ministries for every age including the long-running Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima home-visitation program and a twice-yearly parish magazine. The parish is fully accessible and welcomes families from West Grove and the surrounding Chester County communities into a tradition that has just celebrated its 150th anniversary.
Mass times at Assumption B.V.M.
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays, 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
Adoration times
- Monday through Friday, after morning Mass until 7:00 PM in the ABVM Adoration Chapel (no adoration on public holidays or snow days)
Parish Identity & History
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish was founded in January 1873 to serve the Catholic families of West Grove and the surrounding Chester County farmland. For its first generation priests rode on horseback from town to town to offer Mass in Catholic homes — the 'missionary' roots explored in John Lynch's four-part 150th-anniversary history in the ABVM Parish Magazine. The original small church in the borough of West Grove was eventually outgrown; in 2001 the parish built a new church about a mile away in London Grove Township, on State Road, where the present campus of church, Parish Life Center, school, and rectory now stands. The parish celebrated its sesquicentennial in 2023, with Archbishop Nelson Pérez celebrating Mass on October 8, 2023, and a two-month celebration running through the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8.
- Founded January 1873
- Original church: borough of West Grove
- Current church built 2001 in London Grove Township, 300 State Road
- 150th anniversary Mass celebrated October 8, 2023 by Archbishop Nelson Pérez
- Sesquicentennial planning led by Father Scott Brockson
Clergy, Staff & Parish Leadership
The parish is pastored by Rev. Scott D. Brockson, with Rev. Msgr. Francis J. Depman in residence and Deacon Ronald L. Lewis serving as Permanent Deacon. The parish office team is led by Parish Operations Manager Mary Rose Edmonds, with Parish Outreach staff Ann Barr and Jeff Hanna. Faith Formation is directed by Nancy Burke (Director of Religious Education), with Janine Kramer serving as Coordinator (the archdiocese directory also lists Karen Batdorf as DRE in a separate listing). The parish school is led by Principal Danielle J. White with a lay faculty.
- Pastor: Rev. Scott D. Brockson
- In Residence: Rev. Msgr. Francis J. Depman
- Permanent Deacon: Deacon Ronald L. Lewis
- Parish Operations Manager: Mary Rose Edmonds
- Director of Religious Education: Nancy Burke
- Parish Outreach: Ann Barr, Jeff Hanna
- School Principal: Danielle J. White
Devotions & Prayer Groups
The parish life is rich with regular Marian and Eucharistic devotions. Wednesday evenings feature the Rosary from 6:30 to 7:00 PM, with a Patriotic Rosary on the second Wednesday of the month. On Thursdays, the Flame of Love Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet are prayed from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. First Fridays begin at 7:45 AM with a Rosary honoring the living and deceased benefactors of ABVM Parish and School, followed by the 8:15 AM Mass. A Men's Prayer Group meets on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays at 8:00 AM, and a Rosary for Life is also prayed regularly.
- Wednesday Rosary: 6:30–7:00 PM
- Patriotic Rosary: 2nd Wednesday, 6:30 PM
- Flame of Love Rosary & Divine Mercy Chaplet: Thursdays, 6:00–7:00 PM
- First Friday Rosary: 7:45 AM, followed by 8:15 AM Mass
- Men's Prayer Group: 2nd & 4th Saturdays, 8:00 AM
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Catholic Youth Faith Formation (CYFF) is the parish's religious-education program, forming children in grades 1 through 6 in the Catholic faith in harmony with the parish mission: 'to Know Jesus, to Love Jesus, and to Serve Jesus.' Registration for the 2026–2027 year opens May 22, 2026, with the first home-based parent preparation session on Thursday, September 17, 2026, in the Parish Life Center (lower level of the church). On-site classes meet Tuesdays (Levels 1–3) and Wednesdays (Levels 4–6), 4:40–6:00 PM. The program is led by Director of Religious Education Nancy Burke, and the parish's Catechists hold required clearances and pursue Basic Catechetical Certification through Loyola Press.
- Levels 1–6 (grades 1–6)
- On-site classes Tuesday & Wednesday, 4:40–6:00 PM, PLC lower level
- Director of Religious Education: Nancy Burke
- First parent preparation session: Thursday, September 17, 2026, 6:30 PM
- Contact: [email protected] / 610-869-8575
Assumption BVM School
Assumption BVM School, located at 290 State Road, is a Middle States-accredited Catholic elementary school sharing the parish campus. Under Principal Danielle J. White and a lay faculty, the school continues the parish mission 'to Know Jesus, to Love Jesus, and to Serve Jesus,' offering each generation of students a Catholic education rooted in tradition while adapting to current trends. Extracurricular life is broad: Choir, Band through the Northeastern Music Program, Student Council, Yearbook, Cooking Club, Rosary Club, and After-School Art Classes supplement the academic day.
- Middle States Accredited
- Principal: Danielle J. White; Lay Faculty
- Address: 290 State Road, West Grove, PA 19390
- Phone: 610-869-9576
- Extracurriculars: Choir, Band, Student Council, Yearbook, Cooking Club, Rosary Club, After-School Art
CYO Sports & Youth Athletics
Assumption BVM operates a regional Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) sports program in partnership with St. Patrick, St. Rocco, St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother, and Sacred Heart parishes. Athletes in grades 5 through 8 who are registered with their family in one of those parishes and attend Assumption BVM School or their parish's religious-education program (with an exception for 8th graders) are eligible. Sports offered include Cross Country, Volleyball, Basketball, Cheerleading, Soccer, Football, Track, and Baseball. The program is supported by parent volunteers and led by Athletic Director Neil O'Donnell ([email protected]); Kaitlyn Searls also serves as a contact for questions and volunteer opportunities.
- Grades 5–8; multi-parish regional program
- Sports: Cross Country, Volleyball, Basketball, Cheerleading, Soccer, Football, Track, Baseball
- Athletic Director: Neil O'Donnell ([email protected])
- Volunteer / general contact: Kaitlyn Searls
Parish Outreach & Pilgrim Virgin Program
The parish's Outreach team (Ann Barr and Jeff Hanna) coordinates the parish's charitable and pastoral reach into the community. A distinctive devotion is the Pilgrim Virgin Mary statue of Our Lady of Fatima, which has been traveling to homes in the parish for over nine years. Families sign up on a calendar in the church vestibule to host the statue for a week, drawing closer to God through the prayers of Our Lady. The parish also hosts Red Cross Blood Drives in the lower level of the church.
- Parish Outreach staff: Ann Barr, Jeff Hanna
- Pilgrim Virgin Mary statue of Our Lady of Fatima — 9+ years of home visitations
- Sign-up calendar in the church vestibule
- Contact for Fatima program: [email protected]
- Red Cross Blood Drives in the church lower level (sponsor code: assumptionbvm)
ABVM Parish Magazine
Since 2018, Assumption BVM has produced the ABVM Parish Magazine, a twice-yearly collection of articles and columns written by and about members of the parish. Content editor John Lynch and contributors produce a mix of personal profiles, ministry overviews, school news, commentaries, and deep dives into biblical archaeology, distributed via Constant Contact and linked to the parish website. The magazine's 2022–2023 issues centered on the parish's 150th anniversary, including the four-part history series, oral histories from longtime parishioners, and reflections on the meaning of 150 years of parish life.
- Published twice yearly since 2018
- Distributed via Constant Contact and parish website
- Content editor: John Lynch
- 150th-anniversary issue featured four-part parish history
Sacraments
Assumption BVM celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments as the heart of parish life. Baptisms are celebrated on Sundays, and Reconciliation is offered every Saturday from 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM. First Holy Communion and Confirmation are prepared through Catholic Youth Faith Formation and the parish school. Couples preparing for Matrimony, and those seeking Anointing of the Sick, are asked to contact the parish office at 610-869-2722.
- Baptism: Sundays
- Reconciliation: Saturdays, 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
- First Communion & Confirmation via CYFF
- Matrimony & Anointing of the Sick: contact the parish office
Facilities, Cemetery & Accessibility
The parish campus on State Road includes the church (300 State Road), the Parish Life Center / PLC on the church's lower level, the rectory at 316 Welcome Avenue, and Assumption BVM School at 290 State Road. The parish also maintains St. Mary's Cemetery on East Baltimore Pike in West Grove. The church, meeting rooms, and restrooms are fully ADA-compliant, with accessible entrances, curb cuts, ramps, accessible parking, doors wider than 32 inches, and wheelchair-adapted restroom facilities.
- Church & Parish Life Center: 300 State Road
- Rectory: 316 Welcome Avenue, West Grove, PA 19390
- School: 290 State Road
- Cemetery: St. Mary's Cemetery, E. Baltimore Pike
- ADA-compliant church, meeting rooms, and restrooms
Staying Connected
Beyond Sunday worship, parishioners stay connected through the ABVM Parish App (text 'APP' to 55321, or search zip code 19390 on myparishapp.com), the parish Facebook page (ABVM Parish Community, West Grove, PA), the parish YouTube channel, the parish blog, and the weekly bulletin (articles due by 8:00 AM Thursday for the following week; submit to the Parish Office or [email protected]). Snow-day Mass cancellations follow the Avon Grove School District and are announced via Twitter, Facebook, and the Parish App.
- Parish App: text APP to 55321
- Facebook: ABVM Parish Community, West Grove, PA
- Bulletin submissions: [email protected]
- Snow-day policy: follows Avon Grove School District closures