About Assumption Mission · Amado, Arizona
Assumption Mission (also called Assumption Chapel) is a small Roman Catholic mission chapel in the unincorporated community of Amado, Arizona, situated in the Santa Cruz River valley along the historic corridor between Tucson and Nogales near the U.S.–Mexico border. It is administered as a mission of St. Ann's Parish in nearby Tubac and falls under the Diocese of Tucson. The chapel serves local Catholic families and visitors with a single Sunday Mass at 11:00 AM, sharing a pastor (currently Rev. Joseph Esson) and a parish office with St. Ann's Parish and its other missions. As one of four worship sites shepherded by St. Ann's Parish & Its Missions, it is a quiet, faith-centered outpost in southern Arizona's high desert.
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Assumption (the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Esson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tucson
Why belong here
Assumption Mission offers a small, intimate Catholic community for families and travelers in the Amado area of southern Arizona, with a single, well-attended Sunday Mass that brings local parishioners together. As part of St. Ann's Parish & Its Missions, the chapel is connected to a wider network of ministries, sacraments, faith formation, and community life administered from the parish office in Tubac. The parish's mission statement commits to spreading the word of God, promoting peace, love, and unity, and keeping its doors open to everyone who wishes to enter — including newcomers and seekers along the Old Tucson–Nogales corridor.
Mass times at Assumption Mission
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Half hour before Mass
- By appointment
Assumption Mission — Catholic Chapel in Amado, Arizona
Assumption Mission (also referred to as Assumption Chapel) is a small Roman Catholic mission chapel serving the unincorporated community of Amado in the Santa Cruz River valley of southern Arizona. As a mission of St. Ann's Parish in nearby Tubac, it is one of four worship sites under the care of a single pastor. The chapel's patron is the Blessed Virgin Mary, honored on the Feast of the Assumption on August 15.
- Mission of St. Ann's Parish, Tubac
- Diocese of Tucson
- Sunday Mass at 11:00 AM
- Holy Day Mass at 7:00 PM
- Address: 17 Amado Montosa Road, Amado, AZ 85645
History & Catholic Heritage in the Santa Cruz Valley
The Catholic presence in the Amado–Tubac corridor is among the oldest in what is now Arizona, stretching back to the Spanish missionary era. According to local archives, the Tubac parish site traces its history to a cruciform church named Santa Gertrudis, completed in 1767 under Franciscan friars and built on foundations laid by earlier missionaries. Padre Eusebio Kino traveled the region from 1691 to 1711, and Padre Augustine Campos followed from 1726 to 1751, recording baptisms in Tubac as early as 1741. A new church on the original Tubac site was completed in 1912, the current adobe walls were constructed and stuccoed in 1929, and the present St. Ann's Church was completed in 1930.
- 1767: Franciscans complete the Church of Santa Gertrudis on the Tubac site
- 1877: Area becomes a vicarate apostolic under Bishop Salpointe
- 1912: New church completed on the original Tubac site
- 1929: Current adobe walls constructed and stuccoed
- 1930: Present St. Ann's Church in Tubac completed
- Today: St. Ann's Parish supervises Assumption Chapel (Amado) and St. Ferdinand Mission (Arivaca)
Parish Staff & Clergy
Assumption Mission is shepherded by Rev. Joseph Esson, who also serves as pastor of the parent parish St. Ann's in Tubac and St. Ferdinand Mission in Arivaca. Father Esson is originally from the Catholic Diocese of Lafia in Nigeria and was ordained a priest in December 1994. Before his assignment to St. Ann's, he served for three years as pastor of St. Bartholomew in San Manuel. He is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity and lists watching movies, exercising, and walking among his hobbies. His favorite prayer is Psalm 91.
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph Esson
- Ordained: December 1994
- Origin: Catholic Diocese of Lafia, Nigeria
- Previous assignment: Pastor of St. Bartholomew, San Manuel (3 years)
- Favorite prayer: Psalm 91
- Currently studying for Master of Divinity
St. Ann's Parish & Its Missions (Parent Community)
Assumption Chapel belongs to St. Ann's Parish & Its Missions, a four-site Roman Catholic community in the Diocese of Tucson that spans the Tubac–Amado–Arivaca corridor along the Santa Cruz River. The parish office is located at 2231 East Frontage Road, Tubac, with a mailing address of PO Box 2911, Tubac, AZ 85646. Office hours run Monday through Friday mornings, with Saturday and Sunday closed. The parish's mission statement is to spread the word of God and to promote peace, love, and unity in the community, with doors open to everyone who wishes to enter.
- St. Ann's Parish — 11 Calle Iglesia, Tubac (Saturday 5 PM, Sunday 9 AM)
- Assumption Chapel — 17 Amado Montosa Road, Amado (Sunday 11 AM)
- St. Ferdinand's Mission — 17140 W Arivaca Road, Arivaca (Sunday 1 PM)
- Parish Office — 2231 East Frontage Road, Tubac, AZ 85646
- Mailing Address — PO Box 2911, Tubac, AZ 85646
- Phone — (520) 398-2646
- Email — [email protected]
- Office Hours — Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 9:00 AM–1:00 PM; Wed 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
Parish Life, Sacraments & Faith Formation
Faith formation, sacramental preparation, and parish life for Assumption Mission are coordinated through the parent St. Ann's Parish office in Tubac. The parish website lists dedicated pages for Sacraments and Forms, Religious Education, Parish Life, the parish bulletin, the Annual Catholic Appeal, Safe Environment (in compliance with the Diocese of Tucson's Call to Protect program), and the Parish Gift Shop. Inquiries about baptisms, weddings, First Communion, Confirmation, and adult initiation (RCIA) should be directed to the parish office.
- Baptism, Marriage, and Funeral Liturgies
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation
- RCIA / Adult Initiation
- Religious Education for children and youth
- Parish Bulletin (weekly)
- Annual Catholic Appeal
- Diocese of Tucson Safe Environment / Call to Protect
St. Ann's Community Hall — Event Venue
Although operated from the Tubac campus, St. Ann's Community Hall is a parish resource that supports fundraising and community life that ultimately benefits the wider parish family, including the missions. Originally built in 1960 and recently remodeled, the hall accommodates 160–200 guests and is available for wedding receptions, quinceañeras, anniversaries, graduations, corporate meetings, fundraisers, and community gatherings. Amenities include tables and chairs, a caterer's kitchen, AV setup with stage and 75" TV monitors, and on-site parking.
- Capacity: up to 160 seated, up to 200 auditorium-style
- Amenities: tables, chairs, caterer's kitchen, AV system, two 75" TVs, wireless mics
- Bookings: phone (520) 659-6756 or email [email protected]
- Address: 18 Calle Baca, Tubac, AZ
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office Monday through Friday mornings by phone or email, and the parish website (stannsparishtubacaz.org) hosts the weekly bulletin, parish calendar, Mass intention requests, donation links, the Annual Catholic Appeal page, and the parish gift shop. The mission chapel itself is open for the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass and for the 7:00 PM Holy Day Mass, with confessions heard a half-hour before each Mass and by appointment.
- Parish Office Phone: (520) 398-2646
- Parish Office Email: [email protected]
- Parish Website: http://stannsparishtubacaz.org
- Mailing Address: PO Box 2911, Tubac, AZ 85646
- Office Hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9:00 AM–1:00 PM; Wed 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Esson
Current pastor of St. Ann's Parish & Its Missions, which includes Assumption Chapel in Amado and St. Ferdinand Mission in Arivaca. Ordained a priest in December 1994; originally from the Catholic Diocese of Lafia in Nigeria; served as pastor of St. Bartholomew in San Manuel for three years before transfer to Tubac; pursuing a Master of Divinity.