About Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary · Belmont, Michigan
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Catholic parish in Belmont, Michigan, just north of Grand Rapids in Kent County. Founded in 1914 as a mission to rural Catholic families, it has grown into a parish of more than 1,200 families served by a pastor, two deacons, and a parish school staffed with the Consolata Missionary Sisters. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Grand Rapids (North Deanery) and offers daily and Sunday Masses, regular confession, and a long stretch of Eucharistic Adoration from Thursday morning through Friday morning. The parish also runs a K-8 Catholic school, a faith formation program, a youth ministry, and a wide range of community groups for men, women, families, and young adults.
- Established
- 1914
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (Assumption)
- Rector
- Rev. Charles J. Schwartz (Fr. Chuck Schwartz)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids North Deanery)
Why belong here
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary offers a full Catholic life in a small-town setting just north of Grand Rapids: three Sunday Masses, a daily Mass schedule with a long block of Eucharistic Adoration from Thursday morning through Friday morning, regular Reconciliation, and both a parish school (with the Consolata Sisters) and a faith formation program for children and youth. Parishioners of every age and stage — from Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, to a women's volleyball group, men's basketball and softball leagues, a Single Fellowship Group, a Young Adults Group (ages 18-35), and the long-running Fatima Rosary Society (established 1949) — find ways to serve, socialize, and grow together. It is a parish with deep roots in the Belmont community and an active calendar of fellowship, outreach, and devotions.
Mass times at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:00 PM
- Saturday 4:00 PM
Adoration times
- Thursday after the 9:00 AM Mass through Friday at 8:00 AM
Parish History
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was organized in 1913 when Father Casimir Skory gathered Catholic families in the Belmont area and they voted to move the structure of St. Adalbert's Church from Grand Rapids to Belmont. The parish was formally dedicated on May 31, 1914, and Father Casimir Szyper became its first resident pastor under Bishop Edward D. Kelly.
- Founded May 31, 1914
- Organizing priest: Father Casimir Skory (meeting of July 13, 1913)
- First pastor: Father Casimir Szyper, appointed by Bishop Edward D. Kelly
- Original structure relocated from St. Adalbert's Parish, Grand Rapids
Growth and the Parish School
After years of fundraisers — festivals, raffles, dinners — the parish built its school during the pastorate of Msgr. Joseph Podhajski (1953–1970). The Consolata Missionary Sisters from Italy moved into a new convent on the parish grounds and opened the school in September 1959, alongside four classrooms and a multi-purpose room.
- School opened September 1959
- Staffed by Consolata Missionary Sisters from Italy
- Pastor during school construction: Msgr. Joseph Podhajski (1953–1970)
- Includes attached convent still on parish grounds (Consolata House)
Building the New Church
By the 1980s the old wooden church was structurally unsound. Under Father John Porter, a capital campaign funded a new church; groundbreaking was November 27, 1986. Father Porter held a parish mission to help members say goodbye to the old church. The last Mass there was celebrated October 30, 1987; the first Mass in the new building was October 31, 1987 (lower level) and December 12, 1987 (church proper). Bishop Joseph M. Breitenbeck dedicated the new church on February 2, 1988, with Father James Bozung as pastor.
- Groundbreaking: November 27, 1986
- Last Mass in old church: October 30, 1987
- First Mass in new church: October 31, 1987 (lower level) / December 12, 1987 (upper)
- Dedication: February 2, 1988 by Bishop Joseph M. Breitenbeck
Family Life Center and Modern Era
The Family Life Center was dedicated on Sunday, May 23, 2004, expanding the parish's ability to host parish life, athletics, and school events. The parish has continued to invest in the school and parish facilities. As of 2024, Assumption is home to over 1,200 families and is served by Father Chuck Schwartz and two deacons.
- Family Life Center dedicated May 23, 2004
- More than 1,200 families as of 2024
- Current pastor: Rev. Charles J. Schwartz (ordained June 1, 2013)
Devotions and Prayer Life
Beyond Mass and Adoration, Assumption supports a regular rhythm of Marian and devotional prayer. The Rosary is prayed several times each week, the Divine Mercy Chaplet is offered Sunday afternoons, and the long-running Fatima Rosary Society circulates a statue of Our Lady of Fatima to parishioner homes for a nine-day novena.
- Rosary — Friday 8:30 AM, Sunday 8:30 AM, Tuesday 5:00 PM, Sunday 5:00 PM
- Divine Mercy Chaplet — Sunday 3:00 PM
- Fatima Rosary Society nine-day traveling novena (est. 1949)
Parish Staff
The parish is served by a pastor, two deacons, an office team, a director of music and worship, faith formation staff, a youth minister, a family outreach coordinator, and a custodial and maintenance team.
- Pastor: Rev. Charles J. Schwartz (Fr. Chuck Schwartz)
- Deacon Paul Antor
- Deacon Mike Mauer
- Office Manager: Michelle Scarlavai
- Bookkeeper: Barb Sheler
- Administrative Assistant: Sarah MacLeod
- Director of Music & Worship: Fred Vipond
- Youth Minister: Beth Baltruczak
- Family Outreach Coordinator: Rose Shanaver
- Faith Formation Administrative Assistant: Renee Smith
- Faith Formation Director: Open Position
- Maintenance Manager: Bill Fix
- Custodians: Mike Wohlfert, Kathy Kaleta
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners are invited to serve the liturgy through roles such as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, who distribute the Body and Blood of Christ during the Communion Rite after completing diocesan and parish training and receiving the pastor's approval.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Faith Formation & School
Assumption operates an associated parish school (6393 Belmont Ave NE, 616-361-5483) with roots going back to 1959, when the Consolata Missionary Sisters opened it with four classrooms and a multi-purpose room. The parish also runs a faith formation program for children and youth, supported by a Youth Minister, a Family Outreach Coordinator, and a Faith Formation Administrative Assistant.
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic School (K-8)
- School staffed by Consolata Missionary Sisters (since 1959)
- Faith Formation program (parish religious education)
- Youth Ministry
- Family Outreach
Community Ministries
A wide range of parish groups serve both members and the broader Belmont community, from gardening and groundskeeping to scouting, athletics, and fundraising for the diocesan Catholic Services Appeal.
- Garden Club (Wednesdays 9:00–11:00 AM)
- Young Adults Group (ages 18–35)
- Single Fellowship Group
- Cemetery Mowing volunteers
- Cub Scouts Pack 3283 (grades 1–5)
- Boy Scouts Troop 283 (grades 6–12)
- Women's Volleyball (Monday evenings, ages 16+)
- Men's Basketball (35+, Thursday evenings in the Family Life Center)
- Men's Softball (30+, summer Sundays)
- Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) volunteers
Sacramental Preparation
Parishioners can prepare for the sacraments through dedicated parish preparation ministries. The parish welcomes inquiries about Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage preparation through the parish office.
- Baptism preparation
- First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Marriage preparation
Visiting & Contact
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is located at 6390 Belmont Ave. NE in Belmont, Michigan, in Kent County, just north of Grand Rapids. All parish buildings are handicapped accessible. Inquiries and bulletin submissions can be directed to [email protected].
- Address: 6390 Belmont Ave. NE, Belmont, MI 49306
- Phone: 616-361-5126
- Fax: 616-361-5503
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: assumptionbvm.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/assumptionbvmchurch
- All buildings handicapped accessible
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Casimir Skory1913
Met with Belmont-area Catholic families on July 13, 1913 to organize the new parish.
- Father Casimir Szyper
First resident pastor, appointed by Bishop Edward D. Kelly.
- Msgr. Joseph Podhajski1953-1970
Led the major building boom; launched the 1958 campaign that built the school classrooms, multi-purpose room, and convent.
- Father John Porter
Led the capital campaign and groundbreaking (Nov 27, 1986) for the new church; removed the Blessed Sacrament from the old church at its last Mass on Oct 30, 1987.
- Father James Bozung
Pastor when the new church was dedicated on Feb 2, 1988, serving 790 households at that time.
- Rev. Charles J. Schwartz2018-present
Current pastor; ordained June 1, 2013.