About Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary · Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, commonly known as Saint Mary's, is the mother church of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, a historic Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Harrisburg whose roots reach back to a Jesuit mission formed between 1710 and 1719 — one of the earliest Catholic missions in the colony. The current parish serves the city of Lebanon from its location at 2 North 8th Street and shares ministry with its mission church, Our Lady of Fatima, in Jonestown (about ten miles north on US 22). The present church building was dedicated in 1974 after the second (1880) gothic church was demolished due to structural problems. Its marble altar enshrines relics of the first three American saints: Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Saint John Neumann, and Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini.
- Established
- 1810
- Patron
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Reverend Robert M. Gillelan, Jr.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
Why belong here
Assumption BVM offers the oldest Catholic community in Lebanon County, with the spiritual and sacramental life of a large parish combined with the warm familiarity of a smaller one. Weekday and Sunday Masses are celebrated in the historic Eighth Street church, while the Our Lady of Fatima mission in Jonestown gives northern Lebanon County Catholics a close-to-home Sunday Mass and devotional life. Parishioners can worship at Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday, walk the Stations of the Cross together in Lent, join the Fatima Rosary each Wednesday afternoon, sing with the adult or children's choir, serve as lectors or altar servers, and reach out through the Food Bank, Free Lunch Committee, Bereavement Luncheons, Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, Council of Catholic Women, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts — a remarkable range of ministries rooted in two and a half centuries of faith in this corner of Pennsylvania.
Mass times at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–5:00 pm at St. Mary's (Assumption BVM Church)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, immediately following the 8:00 am Mass, with the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and Benediction at 10:30 am
Parish History
The parish's roots reach back to a Catholic mission formed between 1710 and 1719, making Assumption BVM the mother church of Lebanon County. The first St. Mary's Church was built on the present Eighth Street site beginning with the laying of the cornerstone on October 25, 1810, by Father John W. Beschter, S.J. A second, larger gothic church was dedicated in 1880 under the title of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary after Father Aloysius Kuhlman launched a fundraising drive in 1875. That second church was closed in 1971 due to major structural problems, and the present third church on the same site was dedicated in 1974. The parish celebrated its Bicentennial from 2010 through 2012.
- 1710–1719: first Catholic mission in Lebanon County formed
- 1735–1752: log mission chapel in North Lebanon Township near Kimmerling's Church
- 1810 (Oct 25): cornerstone of first St. Mary's Church laid by Father Beschter, S.J.
- 1812 (spring): first church consecrated at 2 N 8th Street
- 1846: first church enlarged; burials moved to cemetery at South Second and Chestnut
- 1875: fundraising drive launched by Father Aloysius Kuhlman
- 1876: cornerstone of second (gothic) church laid
- 1880: gothic church completed and dedicated under the title of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- 1953: Our Lady of Fatima Mission founded near Jonestown on US 22
- 1971: Bishop closes the 1880 church due to structural problems
- 1974: present (third) church dedicated; relics of first three American saints enshrined in the altar
- 1997: former People's National Bank building purchased and renovated
- 2010–2012: parish Bicentennial celebrated
- June 1, 2013: Deacon Daniel Richards, a parish native, ordained a priest
Architecture & Sacred Furnishings
The present church, the parish's third, was dedicated in 1974 and built on the same Eighth Street site that has anchored Catholic worship in Lebanon since 1810. Its marble altar is a particular point of pride: it enshrines the holy relics of Saints Elizabeth Ann Seton, John Neumann, and Francis Xavier Cabrini — the first three saints of the United States.
- Third church on the Eighth Street site, dedicated 1974
- Marble altar with relics of Saints Elizabeth Ann Seton, John Neumann, and Frances Xavier Cabrini
- Sanctuary candles in main church, chapel, and mission church
- Saint Mary's Chapel on parish grounds
Devotions and Prayer Life
Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish maintains a rich devotional life centered on the Blessed Virgin Mary and Eucharistic adoration, with opportunities for praise and worship, the Legion of Mary, and the seasonal Stations of the Cross.
- Fatima Rosary — every Wednesday at 3:00 pm in Saint Mary's Chapel
- Stations of the Cross — Fridays in Lent at 7:00 pm (main church and Fatima); Noon on Good Friday (main church)
- Praise and Worship Group — first and third Tuesday, 6:30–7:30 pm
- Legion of Mary — weekly Wednesdays at 9:45 am
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Reverend Robert M. Gillelan, Jr., pastor, supported by Deacon Richard W. Wentzel (Pastoral Associate), a Coordinator of Religious Education, financial and administrative staff, and maintenance and custodial staff.
- Pastor — Reverend Robert M. Gillelan, Jr.
- Pastoral Associate — Deacon Richard W. Wentzel
- Coordinator of Religious Education — AnneMarie Boltz
- Financial Secretary / Bookkeeper — Charles Neubauer
- Secretary — Diane Whitehead
- Maintenance — Timothy Kanode
- Custodian — Patricia Anderson
- Music Director — Mr. Rashko Nutaitis
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners of all ages are invited to take an active role in the sacred liturgy as lectors, altar servers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, ushers, greeters, or musicians. Youth in grades 4–12 may serve as altar servers, and adults assist at holy day and funeral Masses.
- Lectors — proclaim the Word of God
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — distribute Communion and bring it to the sick and homebound
- Altar Servers — youth grades 4–12, plus adults for holy day and funeral Masses
- Ushers & Greeters — seating, collection, assistive devices, gift procession, bulletins
- Contact: Deacon Wentzel, 717-272-5674
Music Ministries
Music ministry at Assumption BVM is led by Music Director Mr. Rashko Nutaitis and includes choirs for children and adults, a cantor program, and instrumentalists of all kinds. No prior training or experience is required — only a desire to serve the liturgy in song.
- Children's Choir — grades 2–8; rehearses Sundays at 3:00 pm in St. Mary's Church
- Adult Choir — mixed ages; rehearses Wednesdays at 7:00 pm
- Cantors — lead the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and assembly singing
- Instrumentalists — organ/piano, guitar, drums; solo and group opportunities
- Contact: Music Director, 717-272-5674 ext. 3106, [email protected]
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Faith formation is coordinated by AnneMarie Boltz ([email protected], extension 3207) and includes sacramental preparation and ongoing catechesis. Assumption BVM also feeds into Lebanon Catholic School, formed in 2001 when the parish's junior-senior high school merged with other Lebanon parochial schools to become Our Lady of the Valley School.
- Coordinator of Religious Education: AnneMarie Boltz
- Sacramental preparation for Eucharist and other sacraments
- Connection to Lebanon Catholic School (formed 2001) and Our Lady of the Valley School
Pastoral Care & Outreach
A wide network of pastoral care ministries feeds the hungry, comforts the bereaved, evangelizes, and serves the homebound. The parish partners with Lebanon County Christian Ministries and Jonestown Outreach (JOY) for food distribution and meal service.
- Bereavement Luncheons — provided at families' request; contact Margie Fava, 717-274-2216
- Free Lunch Committee — works with Lebanon County Christian Ministries; contact Melody Reigh, 717-273-4776
- Food Bank — non-perishables collected the third Sunday of each month; distributed through Lebanon County Christian Ministries (ABVM) and Jonestown Outreach/JOY (Fatima); contact Robert Reigh, 717-273-4776
- Legion of Mary — weekly evangelization outreach, Wednesdays 9:45 am
- Poor Boxes — in church; funds used for the needy in the area
- Saint Mary's Library — religious books, tapes, and movies open after weekend Masses
Parish Life & Community
Parish life is supported by lay councils and service organizations that guide the parish's spiritual, financial, and social mission.
- Pastoral Council
- Finance Council
- Council of Catholic Women
- Knights of Columbus
- Festival Committee
- Boy Scouts
- Girl Scouts / Brownies
Our Lady of Fatima Mission (Jonestown)
Our Lady of Fatima is a mission church of Assumption BVM serving the Catholics of northern Lebanon County. It was founded in 1953 by the pastor of St. Mary's on land purchased on US Highway 22 near Jonestown, and shares Assumption BVM's pastoral staff. Mass is celebrated each Sunday at 9:00 am, with a 7:00 pm Vigil Mass on Holy Days. The mission also hosts Stations of the Cross on Friday evenings during Lent, and food distributed through its collection goes to Jonestown Outreach (JOY).
- Address: US 22 & 560 N. Mill Street, Jonestown, PA 17038
- Phone: 717-865-7439
- Sunday Mass: 9:00 am
- Holy Day Vigil Mass: 7:00 pm
- Founded 1953
- Outreach partner: Jonestown Outreach (JOY)
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are welcomed at the parish office throughout the week. The church complex includes parking, restrooms, and a social hall, and the parish maintains an after-hours emergency line for pastoral needs.
- Parish office: 2 North 8th Street, Lebanon, PA 17046
- Phone: 717-272-5674; Fax: 717-270-2734
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 am–3:00 pm (closed 11:30 am–12:15 pm); Fri 9:00 am–12:00 pm
- After-hours emergency: 717-708-6698
- Email: [email protected]
- Religious Education: [email protected], ext. 3207
- Web: abvmlebpa.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/saintmarys98
- Amenities on site: church, parking, restrooms, social hall
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John W. Beschter, S.J.1810–1812
Jesuit missionary from Luxembourg; laid the cornerstone of the first St. Mary's Church on October 25, 1810 at the present Eighth Street site.
- Father Aloysius Kuhlmanfrom 1869
Launched the fundraising drive for the second (gothic) church, dedicated in 1880 under the title of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Monsignor Weaveruntil 1962
Founded Our Lady of Fatima Mission in 1953 on US 22 near Jonestown; oversaw growth to ~6,000 parishioners in the 1950s; acquired Assumption Hill for a new high school.
- Father Cletus Wagmanfrom 1962
Succeeded Monsignor Weaver as pastor.
- Monsignor George Rostten years after Wagman
Served approximately ten years.
- Father Francis Bachlate 20th century
Shepherded the parish during the last 25 years of the 20th century.
- Father David McAndrewlate 20th century / early 21st
Purchased and renovated the former People's National Bank building (1997) for parish and education use; oversaw 2001 Lebanon Catholic School formation.