About Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary · Duncan, Oklahoma
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic parish in Duncan, Oklahoma, part of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Located at 711 W. Hickory Avenue, the parish serves the Duncan area and extends its ministry through missions at Immaculate Conception Church in Marlow, Saint Patrick Church in Walters, San Jose Church in Ryan, and Saint Thomas Aquinas Church in Waurika. It offers Mass in both English and Spanish, runs a religious education program, hosts a Divine Mercy and Saint John Paul II Chapel with a relic of the saint's blood, and welcomes adults into the Catholic faith through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (O.C.I.A.). Founded in 1909 and now over a century old, the parish has grown through waves of immigration — including Mexican and Vietnamese Catholic families — and remains a diverse community celebrating the sacraments and serving others.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (under her title of the Assumption)
- Rector
- Rev. Oby J. Zunmas
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Why belong here
Parishioners at Assumption find a diverse, welcoming Catholic community that lives out its mission to celebrate the sacraments, serve others, and walk together on a journey of faith. Mass is offered in both English and Spanish, with a strong Mexican-American community whose annual Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration is a beloved highlight, alongside a vibrant Vietnamese heritage from those who arrived as refugees in 1975. The parish grounds include a Divine Mercy and Saint John Paul II Chapel (open daily with a relic of St. John Paul II's blood), a religious education program for all ages, the O.C.I.A. process for adults joining the Church, and a pastoral and finance council structure for lay involvement — all under the pastoral care of Father Oby Zunmas.
Mass times at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Marlow: Wednesday 5:00–5:45 PM
- Duncan: Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM
- Or by appointment, call the office
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday, 30 minutes before each daily Mass (Blessed Sacrament exposed)
- Chapel open daily 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Parish History
The Catholic story in Duncan began December 12, 1902, when Belgian priest Father Urban d'Hasque celebrated Mass in John Weaver's home. After years of monthly worship in private homes, Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Wade donated half a city block in 1908, and a small church was built at the southeast corner of 8th and Hickory. Bishop Theophilus Meerschaert dedicated it as Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on April 20, 1909. The current building at the northwest corner of 8th & Hickory was first used on Easter Sunday 1960, and the parish was placed under the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales in 1963. Vietnamese refugees who began arriving in 1975 and Mexican Catholic families in the 1970s turned the parish into the multicultural community it is today.
- First Mass in Duncan: December 12, 1902 (home of John Weaver)
- First church built 1908–1909 at SE corner of 8th & Hickory
- Officially dedicated April 20, 1909 by Bishop Theophilus Meerschaert
- First resident pastor: Father Michael McManus (1909)
- First parish school opened in 1921 by Father James Garvey
- Oblates of St. Francis de Sales arrive — Father George Fangauer in 1939
- Current church first used Easter Sunday 1960
- Vietnamese refugees welcomed beginning 1975
- Mexican Catholic community grows in the 1970s; bilingual Mass begins in the early 1990s
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is led by Rev. Oby J. Zunmas as Pastor and is assisted by two permanent deacons and a small lay staff.
- Rev. Oby J. Zunmas — Pastor
- Deacon James M. Conway — [email protected]
- Deacon Manuel Garcia
- Maria Martinez — Religious Education Director (580.560.5609)
- Patricia Neal — Parish Secretary (Ext. 101), [email protected]
Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (O.C.I.A.)
Adults (18 years and older) interested in learning about and joining the Catholic faith are invited to O.C.I.A. classes held Sundays after the 10:00 AM Mass in the Parish Hall Room at the Religious Education Building. The new session typically begins on the Sunday after September 14. For more information, contact Mike Radtke at 580-606-0283.
Religious Education
Religious Education for children and youth is coordinated through the parish's Religious Education program under Director Maria Martinez (580.560.5609), building on a parish tradition of Catholic schooling that stretches back to St. Joan of Arc School, founded in 1921 by Father James Garvey and staffed for two years by the Sisters of Divine Providence from Texas.
Gregorian Mass for the Faithful Departed
A Gregorian Mass is a series of daily Masses celebrated for thirty consecutive days for a particular deceased person or intention. Call the parish office at 580.255.0590 for more information about scheduling one.
Holy Week & Easter
The parish publishes its Holy Week and Easter schedule annually on its homepage, with services offered at both Duncan and the Marlow mission.
- Holy Thursday: 5:00 PM Marlow / 7:00 PM Duncan
- Good Friday: 3:00 PM Marlow / 7:00 PM Duncan
- Holy Saturday: 8:00 PM Duncan (Bilingual)
- Easter Sunday: 8:00 AM Marlow / 10:00 AM Duncan
Hispanic Ministry & Our Lady of Guadalupe
A bilingual Mass began in the early 1990s and has continued ever since, in response to the growth of Mexican Catholic families in Duncan since the 1970s. The annual celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the highlights of the parish's liturgical year, and Hispanic parishioners are also an integral part of the music ministry. A Saturday evening Mass in Spanish and Monday/Tuesday evening Masses in Spanish are offered regularly.
Vietnamese Catholic Community
Beginning in 1975, Assumption welcomed refugees from Laos and Vietnam. Their deep Catholic devotion, family-centered values, and determination to obtain education for their children have left a permanent mark on the parish and on the wider Duncan community.
Mission Parishes & Outreach
Under its current pastorate, Assumption serves as the center of a small cluster of Catholic communities in southwest Oklahoma. GCatholic lists missions at Immaculate Conception in Marlow, St. Patrick in Walters, and San Jose in Ryan. The parish website also references Saint Thomas Aquinas Church in Waurika, which joined the Duncan parish family in August 1964.
- Immaculate Conception Church, Marlow
- Saint Patrick Church, Walters
- San Jose Church, Ryan
- Saint Thomas Aquinas Church, Waurika (joined 1964)
Pastoral & Finance Councils
Parishioners are invited into lay leadership through the Pastoral Council and Finance Council, both linked from the parish website. These bodies support the pastor in setting direction, overseeing resources, and sustaining Assumption's mission of forming one Body of Christ that serves others.
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at 580.255.0590 (with extension numbers for individual staff) or by email at [email protected]. Office hours are Monday–Thursday 10:00 AM–11:30 AM and 1:00 PM–3:00 PM; the office is closed Fridays. The church is located at 711 W. Hickory Ave., Duncan, OK 73533.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Urban d'Hasque1902–1908 (mission priest)
Belgian priest out of Chickasha; celebrated the first Catholic Mass in Duncan on Dec. 12, 1902 in the home of John Weaver.
- Father Michael McManus1909–
First resident pastor of Duncan.
- Father James Garvey1918–1925
Established the first parish school in 1921; oversaw construction of St. Joan of Arc School and the arrival of the Sisters of Divine Providence.
- Father Arnold N. LaRoque1927–1934
Served during the difficult early years of the Great Depression.
- Father Michael McNamee1934–1938
Served as pastor during the Depression years.
- Father George Fangauer, OSFS1939–1959
Austrian Oblate of St. Francis de Sales; former confessor to Chancellor Dollfuss of Austria; fled the Nazis and remained at the parish until his death in 1959.
- Father Ferdinand Strasser, OSFS
Austrian Oblate who joined Father Fangauer in Duncan.
- Rev. Timothy M. Fuller
Listed in Archdiocese of Oklahoma City Wave 3 assignment list as pastor of the parish.
- Rev. Peter Jandaczekthrough ~2024
Predecessor pastor; followed by a sabbatical assignment for his successor.
- Rev. Oby J. Zunmas2024–
Assigned in 2024 (after sabbatical July–December 2024) as pastor of Assumption Duncan and Immaculate Conception, Marlow (effective January 2025).