About Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary · Denver, Colorado
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a historic Roman Catholic parish in the small community of Welby, an unincorporated enclave within Adams County just north of Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1912 by Italian immigrant farming families who pooled their own money and labor, the parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Denver and today describes its mission as being "a Eucharistic Refuge where the Precious Blood is poured out under the watchful gaze of Mary." It is a strongly pro-life, Marian-devout community that runs Assumption Catholic School (Pre-K through 8) right next to the church and sustains daily Mass, multi-day Eucharistic Adoration, and a long tradition of parish events including an annual summer bazaar and the fall spaghetti dinner that started in the 1920s.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (under her title of the Assumption)
- Rector
- Father Nick Larkin (ordained 2017 by Archbishop Samuel Aquila; named pastor of Assumption in 2019)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Denver (Roman Catholic, Roman-Latin Rite)
Why belong here
Assumption is a tightly knit, multi-generational parish where many families still descend from the original 1912 Italian immigrant founders — a rare continuity in the Archdiocese. It offers the full rhythm of Catholic life: daily noon Mass on weekdays, Saturday morning and vigil Masses, three Sunday Masses, plentiful confession times, and Eucharistic Adoration four days a week. A parish school (Pre-K through 8) sits right beside the church with daily school Mass during the Eucharistic Revival, and the parish runs ministries for families, life advocacy, food pantry work, and devotional groups such as Lauds and a faithful-sharing book club with the pastor.
Mass times at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
- Saturday 8:00 am – 9:00 am
- Sunday 9:45 am – 10:15 am (Second Sunday of the month)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 1:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Wednesday 1:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Thursday 1:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Friday 1:00 pm – 10:00 pm
History of the Parish
Assumption was founded in 1912 by Italian immigrant farming families in Welby who purchased an acre of land from the Denver-Laramie Railroad in 1911 and completed the church the following year. The parish was entrusted to the Servite Fathers; the Servite Sisters arrived in 1920 and opened the school with an initial enrollment of 250 students. Father John Giambastiani launched religious education in the same decade, laying the foundation for a century of Catholic formation on the site. Physical modifications began in the 1940s with the addition of the western bell tower and a new entrance; a gymnasium, updated school facilities, and stained-glass windows followed in later decades. The parish marked its centennial in 2020–2021, celebrated publicly in 2021 after being postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 1911 — Italian farming families purchase 1 acre from the Denver-Laramie Railroad
- May 12, 1912 — original church completed and dedicated
- 1920 — Servite Sisters found the school with 250 students
- 1920s — Father John Giambastiani launches religious education program and the fall spaghetti dinner tradition begins
- 1940s — bell tower on the west side and new entrance added
- 1958 — Assumption High School closes; elementary/middle school continues
- 2017 — Father Nick Larkin ordained by Archbishop Samuel Aquila
- 2019 — Father Larkin named pastor
- 2020–2021 — Centennial of parish and school celebrated
Mission and Identity
The parish's self-description — "We exist to be a Eucharistic Refuge where the Precious Blood is poured out under the watchful gaze of Mary" — points to two defining characteristics: a strong Eucharistic devotion and a pronounced Marian identity. Visitor accounts describe it as a strongly pro-life parish with a traditional interior: statues, paintings, an altar rail, stained glass, and a traditional sanctuary.
- Eucharistic Refuge identity
- Marian devotion centered on the patroness
- Strongly pro-life parish culture
- Traditional interior with altar rail, statues, paintings, stained glass
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Father Nick Larkin, ordained in 2017 by Archbishop Samuel Aquila and named pastor of Assumption in 2019. He is assisted by Deacon Derrick Johnson and a lay staff including Stephanie McCarthy (Director of Business Operations and Assistant to the Pastor) and Megan Matthew (Director of Evangelization and Communication).
- Father Nick Larkin — Pastor (since 2019)
- Deacon Derrick Johnson — Parish Deacon
- Stephanie McCarthy — Director of Business Operations & Assistant to the Pastor
- Megan Matthew — Director of Evangelization & Communication
Assumption Catholic School
The parish school, Assumption Catholic School, sits adjacent to the church at 2341 E. 78th Ave., Denver, CO 80229 (phone 303-288-2159). It serves roughly 130–140 students in Pre-K through Grade 8 with a student-teacher ratio of about 11:1, and traces its origin to the Servite Sisters who founded it in 1920. The school has implemented daily Mass as part of the Eucharistic Revival.
- Founded in 1920 by the Servite Sisters (with 250 students)
- Pre-K through Grade 8
- Approximately 130–140 students; ~11:1 student-teacher ratio
- Located alongside the church at 2341 E. 78th Ave.
- Daily Mass integrated into school life
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at Assumption goes back to the 1920s religious education program launched by Father John Giambastiani for the young parishioners. The parish continues to offer sacramental preparation, RCIA inquiry through the parish office, and devotional formation through groups such as the faith-sharing/book club with the pastor, morning Lauds, and Eucharistic Adoration hours.
- Religious Education program (continuous since the 1920s)
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (contact parish office)
- Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation
- Faith-sharing/book club with the pastor
- Lauds (Morning Prayer)
Parish Ministries and Groups
Beyond the sacraments and the school, the parish runs a wide array of ministries serving families, the unborn, the poor, and the parish community. The Hook and Net Family Ministries provides family programming, while Advocates for Life reflects the parish's strong pro-life identity. A parish food bank extends outreach to those in need, and bingo nights, parish movie nights, and a parish choir (with piano and cantors) round out community life.
- Hook and Net Family Ministries
- Advocates for Life
- Parish Food Bank
- Faith Sharing / Book Club with the Pastor
- Bingo
- Parish Movie Night
- Parish Choir / Cantor Program (piano-led)
- Ushering and Hospitality
Parish Devotions and Traditions
Long-running parish traditions are a defining feature of Assumption's community life. The fall spaghetti dinner dates to the 1920s and remains an annual event. The Summer Bazaar, Thanksgiving Lunch, St. Nicholas celebration, and Welby Days continue to anchor the parish calendar alongside liturgical devotions such as solemn vespers and Lauds.
- Annual Summer Bazaar
- Fall Spaghetti Dinner (since the 1920s)
- Annual Thanksgiving Lunch
- St. Nicholas celebration
- Welby Days community event
- Solemn Vespers (Saturday)
- Lauds (Morning Prayer)
Visiting the Parish
The parish office is open Tuesday through Friday, 8:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:00 pm–4:00 pm, and is closed on Mondays. Visitors can park behind the church or by the school. The church sits at 78th Avenue and York Street in Welby — locals simply call it "The Church," even though its formal title is the much-longer Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Community.
- Parish Office: Tuesday–Friday, 8:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:00 pm–4:00 pm (closed Mondays)
- Parking behind the church and by the school
- Located at 78th Avenue and York Street, Welby
- Locally known as "The Church" or simply "Assumption"
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Brian Morrow
Listed as pastor of the parish in the Archdiocese of Denver parish roster prior to Father Larkin's appointment.
- Father Nick Larkin2019–present
Ordained by Archbishop Samuel Aquila in 2017; installed as pastor of Assumption in 2019; oversaw the 100th anniversary of the parish and school.