About Assumption · Chicago, Illinois
Assumption Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Chicago's River North neighborhood, at 323 West Illinois Street, founded in 1881 by the Order of Friar Servants of Mary (Servites) to minister to Italian immigrants. Today it serves a diverse community of neighborhood residents, downtown workers, longtime parishioners, tourists, and intentional parishioners from across the Chicago area who are drawn by its soaring art-filled interior, welcoming atmosphere, and uplifiting liturgies. The parish is the home of the National Shrine of St. Peregrine, the 'Cancer Saint,' a fourteenth-century Servite friar whose 300th canonization anniversary was marked in 2026. Sunday Mass is livestreamed at 9 AM, and free parking is offered for weekend Masses, weddings, funerals, and special feast days in the 311 W Illinois building next door.
- Established
- 1881
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (under her title of the Assumption — body and soul into heavenly glory)
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Chamblain, OSM (Servite)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Chicago
Why belong here
Assumption offers the rare combination of a historic downtown parish — with stained glass, ceiling murals, and a worship space often compared to the Sistine Chapel — and the active, welcoming ministries of a contemporary parish. The Mass schedule includes a 7 PM weekday noon Mass that draws downtown workers and a robust Sunday schedule that welcomes longtime Italian-American families, River North residents, young adults, and visitors to the city. With more than forty parish ministries — from OCIA, Alpha, and Bible Study, to Assumption Young Adults, the Garden Club, the Chicago HELP Initiative, the Servite Secular Order, the Knights of Columbus, refugee assistance, and Eucharistic Adoration — there are genuine ways to grow in faith and serve others, all under the pastoral care of the Servite friars.
Mass times at Assumption
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday: 11:35 AM – 12:05 PM
- Daily: After all Masses (by request)
- Communal Reconciliation Service during Lent and Advent
Adoration times
- Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament — third Monday of the month, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
- Eucharistic Adoration held (contact [email protected])
Who We Are
Assumption Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Chicago's River North neighborhood, founded in 1881 and staffed from the beginning by the Order of Friar Servants of Mary (Servites). Today it serves a diverse, intentional community of neighborhood residents, downtown workers, historic parishioners, tourists, and people from across the Chicago area who come for its beautiful worship space, friendly atmosphere, and uplifiting liturgies. The title 'Assumption' refers to the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory at the end of her earthly life — the event commemorated in the great stained-glass window above the altar.
Parish History
Founded in 1881 by the Servites to serve Italian immigrants north of the Chicago River, Assumption was the first parish in Chicago specifically commissioned to minister to Italian-speaking Catholics. The current church was completed in 1886, and a parish school opened on Erie Street in 1899 — staffed by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart (founded by Mother Frances Cabrini, who herself worshipped at Assumption). After World War I the surrounding neighborhood went commercial and industrial, the school (once over 900 students) closed in 1945, and for decades Assumption served mostly the workers downtown and Italian-American families returning for Sunday Mass. River North's residential revival in the 1990s ushered in the parish's current chapter, now celebrating 144 years of continuous service to the city.
- 1881: Parish founded for Italian immigrants by the Order of Friar Servants of Mary.
- 1886: Present church structure completed.
- 1899: Parish school opens on Erie Street, staffed by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart.
- Mother Frances Cabrini worshipped at Assumption while serving Chicago's Italian immigrants.
- 1945: Parish school closes (had enrolled over 900 students).
- 1990s: River North becomes a residential neighborhood again.
- 2025: Parish celebrates 144 years of service to Chicago and River North.
Architecture and Art
The interior of Assumption has drawn comparisons to the Sistine Chapel for its dimensions and grandeur. The large stained-glass window above the altar is patterned after El Greco's 'The Assumption of the Virgin' (held at the Art Institute of Chicago). Ceiling murals and the twelve apostles in the lunettes were painted in 1939 by Louis (Lewis) Grell, a Council Bluffs, Iowa native trained in Hamburg, Munich, and Paris who also designed Broadway sets and taught at The Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and the Art Institute of Chicago. The altarpiece reproduces Da Vinci's Last Supper. In recent years new statues of St. Oscar Romero, St. Josephine Bakhita, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, and Blessed Stanley Rother have been added to reflect the universality of the Church.
- Ceiling murals and twelve apostle lunettes — Louis (Lewis) Grell, 1939.
- Assumption of the Virgin stained glass — patterned after El Greco (Art Institute of Chicago).
- Altarpiece reproduction of Da Vinci's Last Supper.
- Newer saints honored in statuary: St. Oscar Romero, St. Josephine Bakhita, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Blessed Stanley Rother.
Parish Staff and Clergy
Assumption is pastored by the Servites. The parish staff includes the pastor, a permanent deacon, a business manager / parish administrator, an office assistant, and a maintenance associate. The full ministries contact list also names Beth Schuman as the parish office contact. The current pastor, Fr. Joseph Chamblain, OSM, was ordained in 1984, grew up in Memphis, was a librarian before joining the Servites, and previously served parishes in New Jersey and St. Louis, was assistant provincial, served as shrine director at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica, directed the National Shrine of St. Peregrine, and worked in Zululand, rural South Africa.
- Rev. Joseph Chamblain, OSM — Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon Kevin Zajdel ([email protected])
- Beth Schuman — Business Manager / Parish Administrator ([email protected])
- Cathy Cahill — Office Assistant (Mondays, Tuesdays)
- Rudy Correa — Maintenance Associate
Sacraments and Worship
The parish celebrates the full sacramental life of the Church and offers daily and Sunday Masses, with the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass livestreamed online. Confessions are heard every Friday morning and by request after every Mass; communal Reconciliation Services are held during Lent and Advent. Eucharistic Adoration is hosted monthly by the Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament, and the parish is the home of the National Shrine of St. Peregrine, with a regular St. Peregrin Devotion. Weddings, funerals, baptisms, anointing of the sick, adult confirmation, and OCIA are all available (see the Sacraments area of the website for booking).
- Infant Baptisms ([email protected])
- Adult Baptisms ([email protected])
- Weddings — book via parishoffice@
- OCIA (Becoming Catholic) — ocia@
- Adult Confirmation
- Reconciliation / Confession — Fri 11:35–12:05, after any Mass by request
- Anointing of the Sick
- Funerals
- Eucharistic Adoration — third Monday, 5:00–7:00 PM
- St. Peregrin Devotion (National Shrine of St. Peregrine)
Growing in Faith — Adult Faith Formation
An Adult Faith Board plans and implements adult programming throughout the year, including the popular Lenten Evenings of Faith — a Wednesday-evening series of Mass, simple meal, and a presentation that has featured Servite, Franciscan, and lay speakers on topics from spirituality and evangelization to 'Faith and Religion in the Age of A.I.' Faith-formation offerings extend across the year for seekers, returning Catholics, and lifelong learners.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) — also for ages 8–17
- Adult Catechism Group
- Alpha
- Bible Study (day and evening sessions)
- Lenten Evenings of Faith (Wednesdays of Lent)
- Parish retreats and Advent calendar
Getting Involved — Service, Liturgy, Leadership
The parish's 'Opportunities to Serve' page frames ministry simply: 'Jesus called his followers not only to believe but also to serve.' Assumption has more than forty active ministries in three broad streams — liturgical service, outreach to those in need, and leadership / faith formation — and publishes a tri-fold brochure with details on each.
- Liturgical: Altar Servers, Art & Environment, Eucharistic Ministers, Greeters, Lectors, Music Ministry, Ushers, Wedding Coordinators / Greeters
- Outreach: Assumption Ambassadors, SHARES, Creation Care Committee, Evangelization Team, Ministers of Care, Refugee Assistance, Social Justice Committee, Chicago HELP Initiative
- Affiliated Groups: Knights of Columbus, Servite Secular Order
- Faith & Fellowship: Adult Faith Board, Alpha, Bible Study, Catechism, OCIA, Assumption Young Adults, Childcare, Garden Club, Hospitality Committee, Men's Group, Rosary Group, Special Events Team
Music Ministry
Singers and instrumentalists serve the parish through the Choir and a contemporary music program that leads the Sunday evening Mass. Volunteers of all experience levels are invited to share their talents.
- Choir (Sunday Masses)
- Contemporary music group (Sunday 5:00 PM)
- Contact: [email protected]
Assumption Young Adults (AYA)
AYA serves parishioners in their twenties and thirties — married, single, or coupled — with spiritual, social, and service activities, including preparing bag lunches for the homeless. Mailing list sign-ups are run through assumptionaya@ (Gmail).
- For those in their 20s and 30s
- Spiritual, social, and service activities
- Contact: [email protected]
Devotions and Special Observances
Alongside the regular Mass and confession schedule, Assumption hosts distinctive devotions tied to its Servite heritage and parish garden. The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows is prayed on the first and third Sundays at 11:40 AM; Stations of the Cross follows the 12:10 PM Mass on Fridays of Lent; Eucharistic Adoration gathers on the third Monday evening of the month; and the St. Peregrin Devotion serves Assumption's role as the National Shrine of St. Peregrine — especially highlighted in 2026, the 300th anniversary of the saint's canonization.
- Rosary of the Seven Sorrows — 1st & 3rd Sundays, 11:40 AM
- Stations of the Cross — Fridays of Lent after the 12:10 PM Mass
- Eucharistic Adoration — 3rd Monday, 5:00–7:00 PM
- St. Peregrin Devotion (National Shrine of St. Peregrine)
- Plenary Indulgence opportunity, Jubilee 2026 (300th anniversary of St. Peregrine's canonization)
Visit and Contact
The parish office is open at 323 West Illinois Street and reachable at (312) 644-0036 (fax 312-644-1838) or [email protected]. Night emergencies are handled through a separate line listed on the bulletin. Church Tours can be arranged by emailing the parish office — a reflection of how often Assumption welcomes visitors to its art-filled interior.
- Address: 323 West Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60654
- Phone: (312) 644-0036
- Fax: (312) 644-1838
- Email: [email protected]
- Church Tours: parishoffice@
- General ministry inquiries: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Chamblain, OSMcurrent pastor (Ordained 1984; grew up in Memphis, TN; previously served parishes in New Jersey and St. Louis, was assistant provincial, shrine director at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica, and director at the National Shrine of St. Peregrine; also served in Zululand, rural South Africa)
He joined the Servites after college and time working as a librarian.