About Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary · Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic parish located at 4101 Old Bethlehem Pike in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Allentown. Tracing its roots to a 1927 mission chapel of St. Ursula Parish, the parish was officially established on October 16, 1952, when Father William Drobel was appointed its first pastor. Today the parish describes itself as 'a gracious community journeying in faith to Christ Jesus,' serving the Lower Nazareth Pike / Bethlehem Township area with daily and Sunday Masses, a Catholic elementary school shared with neighboring parishes (St. Michael the Archangel), Assumption Preschool, parish religious education (PREP), and a wide range of lay ministries and outreach programs.
- Established
- 1927 (mission chapel); 1952 (parish erected)
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (under her title of the Assumption)
- Rector
- Monsignor John B. McCann, S.T.L., M.S.W.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Allentown
Why belong here
Assumption BVM is a long-established Bethlehem-area parish with a strong sacramental life — multiple weekend Masses, daily Mass Monday through Friday, and Saturday confessions — supported by an engaged pastoral team of a monsignor, three deacons, a pastoral associate and a religious education director. Families appreciate the parish's Assumption Preschool, its Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) for grades 1–8, and its connection to Saint Michael the Archangel School. With a wide slate of liturgical, service and outreach ministries, Monsignor McCann and the parish leadership invite anyone seeking a 'gracious community journeying in faith to Christ Jesus' to register and join in the parish's mission.
Mass times at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 – 4:45 PM
- By private appointment
About Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Located at 4101 Old Bethlehem Pike in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the parish belongs to the Diocese of Allentown and worships under the patronage of Our Lady assumed into heaven. Its mission statement commits the community to becoming 'a community of disciples of Jesus Christ,' making Christ 'a living reality in the lives of the members of our parish family' through discipleship, faith formation and active parish life.
- Mission: to be a community of disciples of Jesus Christ
- Part of the Diocese of Allentown
- Established 1927 as a mission; erected as a parish October 16, 1952
Parish Staff and Pastoral Team
The Assumption pastoral team is led by Monsignor John B. McCann (Pastor since June 17, 2025) and is supported by three deacons, a pastoral associate, a parish secretary, a director of religious education, the principal of St. Michael the Archangel School, the leader of Assumption Preschool and a director of music. Monsignor Nevin J. Klinger, the previous pastor, was named Pastor Emeritus in recognition of his long service to the parish.
- Monsignor John B. McCann, S.T.L., M.S.W. — Pastor
- Monsignor Nevin J. Klinger — Pastor Emeritus
- Deacon Don Elliott
- Deacon Stu Herman
- Deacon Maurice Kelly
- Mary Williams — Pastoral Associate
- Christina Durback, M.Ed. — Director of Religious Education
- Marianne Gano — Principal, St. Michael the Archangel School
- Bethany Stempert — Assumption Preschool
- Michael Horvath — Director of Music
- Jillian Rossi — Parish Secretary
Sacraments
Information for each sacrament is made available through the parish office and the Sacramental Information page of the website. Couples preparing for marriage are asked to begin at least a year in advance.
- Baptism — contact the parish office to arrange preparation
- Marriage Preparation — at least one year before the wedding date; Diocesan Marriage Prep program covers Communication, Sexuality, Natural Family Planning, Finance, Potential Problems and Spirituality
- First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation — coordinated through PREP and the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — arranged through the parish office
Faith Formation & PREP
Faith formation at Assumption BVM is led by Christina Durback, M.Ed., Director of Religious Education. The Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) is open to any children of the parish in school grades 1–8 and meets during the school year. The program is designed to model a strong Catholic life while forming children in the life and love of Jesus Christ and his teachings. The parish also offers Vacation Bible Camp and welcomes adult faith formation, including OCIA (formerly RCIA), for those discerning entry into the Catholic Church or seeking to deepen their faith.
- PREP for grades 1–8 (Christina Durback, DRE)
- Vacation Bible Camp
- Adult OCIA / RCIA
- Adult faith courses offered during the year
Assumption Preschool
Assumption Preschool is the parish's early-childhood program for three- and four-year-olds, located on the parish grounds. It uses a Reggio Emilia-inspired approach with emergent curriculum and interdisciplinary projects to give children meaningful, play-based learning experiences. The program maintains small class sizes to build strong relationships between teachers, students and families.
- Reggio Emilia approach and emergent curriculum
- Small class sizes for strong family-teacher relationships
- Registration is tiered (current families, alumni families, parish members, then open registration) for each school year
- Wait-list available for the 2025–2026 school year; tours scheduled via [email protected]
Saint Michael the Archangel School
Assumption BVM shares in regional Catholic elementary education through St. Michael the Archangel Elementary and Middle School, located in nearby Limeport. The school was formed in 1977 by merging the parish's own grade school with St. Joseph's School in Limeport. It continues to serve families of the parish and surrounding communities with a Catholic elementary and middle school curriculum.
- Regional Catholic K–8 school formed in 1977
- Principal: Marianne Gano
- Phone: 610-867-8422
Music and Liturgy
The parish's liturgical music is directed by Michael Horvath, Director of Music. Assisting at the liturgical celebrations are lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers and other lay liturgical volunteers listed under the parish's ministries page.
- Director of Music: Michael Horvath ([email protected])
- Lay liturgical ministries for weekday and Sunday Masses
Ministries and Outreach
The parish website lists more than twenty ministries spanning liturgical, formation, social and outreach service, under the leadership of the Pastor and Pastoral Associate. Volunteers are invited to prayerfully consider sharing their time and talent; the parish office fields questions about each ministry.
- Liturgical ministries (lectors, Extraordinary Ministers, altar servers, music, hospitality)
- Religious education and youth formation ministries
- Baptismal ministry
- Outreach and parish service ministries
- OCIA / adult faith formation
Planned Giving and Parish Endowment
Monsignor McCann invites parishioners and friends to consider a planned gift to the parish's endowment with the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania, a 501(c)(3) independent of the Diocese. Endowment earnings support pastoral programs, liturgical ministries, facilities and capital improvements, religious education (PREP, youth ministry, adult faith formation), teacher excellence and student scholarships at St. Michael the Archangel School.
- Endowment held with the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania
- Supports parish pastoral, liturgical, formation and capital needs
- Supports scholarships and activities at St. Michael the Archangel School
Contact and Registration
Parishioners and visitors can contact the parish office by phone or email, register online through the parish website, or stop by the office in person. Registration helps the parish connect families to ministries, formation programs and sacramental preparation.
- Address: 4101 Old Bethlehem Pike, Bethlehem, PA 18015
- Phone: 610-867-7424
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Parish secretary email: [email protected]
- Online registration form available on the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. William Drobel1952 –
First pastor; appointed when the Archdiocese of Philadelphia erected Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary as an independent parish on October 16, 1952.
- Fr. James Hanlon1962 –
Second pastor; oversaw the founding of the parish elementary school and a convent for the Sisters of Saint Joseph.
- Monsignor Nevin J. Klinger
Long-serving pastor; named Pastor Emeritus by Bishop Alfred A. Schlert in May 2025, effective June 17, 2025.
- Monsignor John B. McCann, S.T.L., M.S.W.June 17, 2025 – present
Moved from Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Douglassville to become the current pastor effective June 17, 2025.