About Assumption · Keyser, West Virginia
Assumption Catholic Church is a Roman-Latin rite parish in Keyser, West Virginia, serving the Catholic faithful of Mineral County in the state's Eastern Panhandle, just across the border from Maryland. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston (Martinsburg Vicariate) and traces its origins to 1874, making it one of the oldest Catholic communities in this corner of the Mountain State. Today the parish is led by Fr. Thomas A. Sebastian, CST, with a small staff, a Knights of Columbus council, OCIA/OCIC formation programs, and a vibrant liturgical life centered on weekly Mass, the sacraments, and outreach to the local community.
- Established
- 1874
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Thomas A. Sebastian, CST
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston (Martinsburg Vicariate)
Why belong here
Assumption is a welcoming Catholic home for the Eastern Panhandle, with weekend and weekday Masses, Saturday and weekday confession, OCIA and OCIC programs for adults and children joining the Church, a religious education program for parish youth, and a Communion-to-the-Homebound ministry that reaches parishioners who cannot attend Mass. The parish also supports the Knights of Columbus (Assumption Council #10545), runs an annual baby-bottle fundraiser benefiting the James Isaac House pregnancy resource center in Keyser, and invites parishioners into full participation through ministries, outreach, education, and social activities — all in a small, personal Mineral County community.
Mass times at Assumption
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays, 3:00–3:45 p.m.
- Weekdays, 30 minutes prior to Mass
- By appointment
About Assumption Catholic Church
Assumption Catholic Church is a Roman-Latin rite parish serving the Catholic community of Mineral County in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, near the Maryland border. The parish was established in 1874 and is part of the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston (Martinsburg Vicariate). The parish's motto — "May you find Christ here… May you take Christ to the world" — frames its mission of welcome, sacramental life, and outreach.
- Parish established: 1874
- Diocese: Wheeling–Charleston (Martinsburg Vicariate)
- Parish tagline: 'May You Find Christ Here… May You Bring Christ to the World'
Parish Staff and Leadership
The parish is led by a small, dedicated staff and lay leadership team. Fr. Thomas A. Sebastian, CST, serves as pastor; Deacon Larry Hammel assists in ministry. Lay staff and council leaders handle parish operations, faith formation, and governance.
- Fr. Thomas A. Sebastian, CST — Pastor
- Deacon Larry Hammel
- Kelli Wittman — Office Manager
- Kelley Kuhn — Director of Religious Education and Finance Committee Chair
- Geoff Newlin — Parish Pastoral Council Chair
History of the Parish
The parish was established in 1874, when the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia was still ecclesiastically attached to the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia. In 1974, Pope Paul VI realigned diocesan boundaries to match the State of West Virginia; Assumption in Keyser was one of five Eastern Panhandle parishes (alongside St. Vincent de Paul in Berkeley Springs, St. James in Charles Town, St. Joseph in Martinsburg, and St. Anthony in Ridgeley) transferred into the Diocese of Wheeling. At that time the diocese was renamed the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston, with the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Charleston designated alongside St. Joseph Cathedral in Wheeling.
- 1874 — Parish established under the Diocese of Richmond.
- 1878 — Rev. Peter Fitzsimmons appointed pastor.
- 1880 — Fr. Fitzsimmons dies of typhoid in Keyser at age 33.
- 1974 — Parish incorporated into the (renamed) Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston.
Faith Formation and OCIA/OCIC
Religious Education at Assumption is directed by Kelley Kuhn and supports parishioners of all ages. The parish runs both the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) and the Order of Christian Initiation of Children (OCIC), which are open year-round to anyone interested in becoming Catholic. New members can begin their faith journey at any time.
- OCIA Coordinator: Nancy Starcher (304-813-0313)
- Director of Religious Education: Kelley Kuhn
- Ongoing enrollment — start at any time
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the liturgy as Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Altar Servers, Cantors, and Greeters. A published liturgical minister schedule assigns servers, lectors, EMs, cantors and greeters to each Mass, as well as designated EMs who bring Communion to residents of the Keyser Healthcare Center.
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (incl. Keyser Healthcare Center assignments)
- Altar Servers
- Cantors
- Greeters
Parish Life and Outreach
Beyond the Mass, Assumption nurtures community through its ministries, social activities, and concrete outreach to neighbors in Mineral County. The Knights of Columbus Assumption Council #10545 — in continuous existence since October 1940 — is a backbone of parish life.
- Knights of Columbus — Assumption Council #10545
- Annual Baby Bottle Fundraiser benefiting the James Isaac House pregnancy resource center in Keyser
- Parish Prayer List ministry
- Communion to Homebound Parishioners
Contact and Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person during office hours. The parish welcomes both longtime parishioners and visitors to its Masses and sacramental life.
- Physical Address: 34 James Street, Keyser, WV 26726
- Mailing Address: 50 James Street, Keyser, WV 26726
- Phone: (304) 788-2488
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Website: www.assumptionkeyserwv.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Peter Fitzsimmons1878–1880
Appointed pastor of the Church of the Assumption in Keyser in 1878; remembered as much loved by his parishioners. Died of typhoid fever in Keyser in 1880 at the age of thirty-three.