About Assumption of Mary · Morris, Minnesota
The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic parish in Morris, Minnesota, part of the Diocese of Saint Cloud. The parish traces its origins to 1870, when the first Mass was celebrated in a railroad section house in Morris by Fathers Hurley and McDermott, and it was formally established as a parish in 1876. Today it serves the Morris community with weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, weekday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, a K-6 Catholic school (St. Mary's), faith formation, a Knights of Columbus council, and outreach to the University of Minnesota Morris through a Newman Center.
- Established
- 1876
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Father Todd Schneider
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saint Cloud
Why belong here
Assumption of Mary is a small-town parish with a remarkably full life: bilingual weekend Masses (English and Spanish), a weekly Spanish Misa on Saturday evening, Tuesday Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and a Saturday evening Rosary before Sunday Mass welcome Catholics from across western Minnesota. The parish is paired with St. Mary's Catholic School (Pre-K through Grade 6), an active Faith Formation program for elementary students, a Knights of Columbus council, a Social Concerns Ministry, a Newman Center serving University of Minnesota Morris students, and parish-wide fundraisers like September-Fest — making it both a historic and a living community of faith.
Mass times at Assumption of Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM (or by appointment — please call the parish office)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by Benediction and Mass at 5:45 PM
Parish Identity & Mission
The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic parish in Morris, Minnesota, in the Diocese of Saint Cloud. Its published mission statement reads: 'We, the parishioners of the Church of the Assumption of Mary are a family of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ who, guided by the Holy Spirit, are called to deepen our faith, reach out to spread the good news, and serve those in need.' The parish has been serving Morris continuously since 1876 and currently ministers to its members through weekend and daily Masses, the sacraments, Catholic schooling, faith formation and outreach.
- Patron: Blessed Virgin Mary (Assumption)
- Diocese: Saint Cloud
- Mission: deepen faith, spread the Gospel, serve those in need
A 150-Year Story: From Railroad Section House to 1906 Church
Catholic life in Morris began in 1870 when Fathers Hurley and McDermott — visiting from St. Paul as an outlying mission — said the first Mass in a railroad section house. The scattered families of the area were served from a distance until 1876, when Father Walsh became the first resident priest, with a territory stretching across what are now Stevens, Pope, Traverse, Wilkin, Big Stone and Swift counties. Over the next three decades the parish built its first church (1877), a parish house and school under Father Watry, and a brick-veneered church in 1892 under the beloved Rev. George Gaskell, who served until his death in 1900. That church burned in July 1905, and the present 'Old English Church' style building was completed in 1906 under Rev. Edward Jones, designed by architect Clarence Johnson of St. Paul at a cost of about $40,000.
- 1870 — First Mass in a railroad section house (Fathers Hurley and McDermott)
- 1876 — Parish established; Father Walsh becomes first resident priest
- 1877 — First Assumption church built on a railroad-donated lot
- 1880s — Father Watry builds parish house and school
- 1892 — Brick-veneered church built under Father Gaskell; dedicated by Bishop Zardette
- 1905 — Fire destroys the 1892 church
- 1906 — Present church completed under Father Edward Jones (architect Clarence Johnson)
150th Anniversary & the Parish Eucharistic Holy Year
On August 15, 2019, the Solemnity of the Assumption, Father Todd Schneider inaugurated a 'Parish Eucharistic Holy Year' to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the 1870 first Mass in Morris. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic that closed churches from March 17 to May 26, 2020, parishioners kept the Holy Year going — the Knights of Columbus encouraged 150 minutes of Adoration during Lent, and Dr. Scott Hahn's online talks on the Eucharist were promoted. The Holy Year concluded with a special 10:00 AM Mass on September 20, 2020, at which Bishop Donald Kettler was the main celebrant, coinciding with the parish's annual September-Fest festival. A statue of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, donated by Jane Lesmeister in memory of her husband Jerry, was blessed at the August 14-15, 2020 Masses and now adorns the tabernacle.
- Holy Year: August 15, 2019 – October 7, 2020 (Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary)
- Bishop Donald Kettler presided at closing Mass on September 20, 2020
- 150 minutes of Eucharistic Adoration encouraged during Lent 2020
- New statue of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary blessed August 14-15, 2020
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Team
Father Todd Schneider has served as pastor since 2013 and is the public face of the parish's liturgical and pastoral life. He is assisted by a parish administrative assistant, bookkeeper, faith formation coordinator, the principal and staff of St. Mary's School, and a Newman Center director for University of Minnesota Morris students. The parish also lists a Natural Family Planning instructor and custodial staff. The parish office is open Tuesday–Thursday and Friday mornings.
- Pastor: Fr. Todd Schneider ([email protected])
- Parish Administrative Assistant: Guadalupe Salguero
- Parish Bookkeeper: Teresa Gahm
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Nicole Berlinger
- Newman Center Director: Scott Orgeman-Crumb
- St. Mary's School Principal: Joseph Ferriero
- NFP Instructor: Joan Jay (320-589-4865)
- Office hours: Tue–Thu 9am–12pm / 12:30–4pm; Fri 9am–12pm / 12:30–3pm
St. Mary's Catholic School
St. Mary's Catholic School, located on or near the parish campus in Morris, serves students from Pre-K through Grade 6. It is the parish's partner in faith formation and education, with its own principal (Joseph Ferriero) and administrative assistant (Darla Loher). The school community joins the parish for Wednesday morning Masses and supports the parish through fundraisers such as a school dinner and auction and pancake breakfasts after Mass.
- Grades: Pre-K through 6
- Principal: Joseph Ferriero ([email protected])
- School phone: (320) 589-1704
- School website: stmarysmorris.org
- Children's Mass each Wednesday morning during the school year
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs an elementary Faith Formation program coordinated by Nicole Berlinger. The program supplements the Catholic school by reaching parish children who do not attend St. Mary's and supports family catechesis, sacramental preparation, and youth involvement in parish life. Parish bulletin announcements regularly invite parents expecting a first child to contact the office for Baptism preparation, and Father Todd personally meets with families to walk through the rite.
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Nicole Berlinger ([email protected])
- Baptism preparation with Fr. Todd — call (320) 589-3003
- Confirmation celebrated with Bishop Kettler at the parish
Newman Center — University of Minnesota Morris
Because Morris is home to the University of Minnesota Morris, the parish hosts a Newman Center to minister to Catholic college students. The Newman Center offers campus-based spiritual programming and a connection between students and the Assumption parish community. The Newman Center Director is Scott Orgeman-Crumb.
- Newman Center Director: Scott Orgeman-Crumb ([email protected])
- Phone: (320) 589-1947
- Website: ummnewman.weebly.com
- Serves University of Minnesota Morris (UMM) students
Parish Ministries, Groups & Outreach
Beyond Mass and sacraments, the parish supports a wide range of ministries. The Knights of Columbus (Saint Edward's Council) host parish breakfasts and led the Lenten Adoration initiative during the Holy Year. The Social Concerns Ministry organizes collections such as Rosaries for Fr. Lucho's people in Peru and a February breakfast fundraiser. A parish Music ministry enlists liturgical volunteers, and groups like the Men's Prayer Group, Bible Study, and the September-Fest festival build community life. The parish also partners with Bridges of Hope and Options for Women for local outreach and pregnancy support.
- Knights of Columbus (Saint Edward's Council)
- Social Concerns Ministry — Rosaries for Peru, parish breakfasts
- Music ministry (online sign-up: bit.ly/AssumpMusic)
- Men's Prayer Group (Saturdays 7:00 AM)
- Bible Study (Tuesdays 1:30 PM)
- September-Fest annual parish festival
- Bridges of Hope (community support)
- Options for Women (pregnancy, post-abortion support — 589-0300)
- Safe Haven Sunday programming
Cemetery, Columbarium & Parish Campus
The parish operates a cemetery/columbarium on or near its campus. A Columbarium Landscaping Project has been an active fundraising effort, with a $10,000 goal; parishioners can make checks payable to Assumption Church marked 'Columbarium Landscaping Project' and place them in the collection or mail them to the parish office.
- Columbarium Landscaping Project (parish fundraiser)
- Donations: payable to 'Assumption Church', memo 'Columbarium Landscaping Project'
- Mail to: P.O. Box 287, Morris, MN 56267
Sacraments at Assumption
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments typical of a Roman Catholic parish. Baptism is prepared with Father Todd, Reconciliation is heard Saturday afternoons or by appointment, Anointing of the Sick and Communion to the homebound are arranged through the parish office, and weddings are scheduled by contacting the office. Confirmation is celebrated with the Bishop, and the parish supports vocation discernment through the Diocese of Saint Cloud.
- Baptism — by appointment with Fr. Todd
- Reconciliation — Saturday 4:30 PM or by appointment
- Eucharist — daily/Sunday Mass; Communion to homebound by request
- Confirmation — celebrated with the Bishop
- Anointing of the Sick — by request to the office
- Marriage — contact the parish office
Visiting & Contact Information
The parish church is located in central Morris at 207 East 3rd Street, two and a half blocks east of MN-9 (Atlantic Avenue). The parish office is open Tuesday through Thursday and Friday mornings. Bulletins are published regularly and archived on the parish website; the most recent bulletin referenced in the source materials is dated February 24, 2019.
- Address: 207 E 3rd Street, Morris, MN 56267
- Mailing: P.O. Box 287, Morris, MN 56267
- Phone: (320) 589-3003
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: assumptionofmorris.org
- Office hours: Tue–Thu 9am–12pm / 12:30–4pm; Fri 9am–12pm / 12:30–3pm
- Sunday fellowship in church basement after Mass (except summer)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Walsh1876–1877
First resident priest of Morris; territory covered what became Stevens, Pope, Traverse, Wilkin, Big Stone and Swift counties.
- Rev. Charles Wensieki1877–1879
Built the original Assumption church in 1877 on a lot donated by the railroad company.
- Rev. A. V. Pellison1879–1880
Succeeded Father Wensieki.
- Rev. F. W. Watry1880–c.1886
Built the original parish house and established a school.
- Rev. William Langeuntil 1886
Administered the parish until 1886.
- Rev. George Gaskell1886–1900
Pastor for fourteen years until his death in November 1900; built the 1892 brick-veneered church dedicated by Bishop Zardette.
- Rev. G. J. Goebelc.1900–1905
Succeeded Father Gaskell after his death.
- Rev. Edward Jones1905–
Took charge in March 1905; rebuilt the parish after the 1905 fire, completing the current church in 1906.
- Father Todd Schneider2013–present
Led the parish's 150th-anniversary Eucharistic Holy Year (2019–2020) and invited Bishop Donald Kettler for the closing Mass.