About Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary · Middlebury, Vermont
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (commonly called St. Mary's) is a Roman Catholic parish serving Middlebury, Vermont, in the heart of Addison County. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington and is currently administered by Fr. Brandon Schneider, S.T.L., J.C.L., the diocesan Judicial Vicar. The parish celebrates Mass on Sundays at 9:00 am and on weekdays, with weekly Confession, Monday Eucharistic Adoration, and a tradition of sacramental and community life rooted in its long Addison County history.
- Established
- 1837
- Patron
- The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Fr. Brandon Schneider, S.T.L., J.C.L. (Administrator; also diocesan Judicial Vicar)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington
Why belong here
St. Mary's offers a full traditional Catholic schedule — Sunday and weekday Masses, weekly Confession, and a dedicated hour of Eucharistic Adoration on Mondays — in a beautifully appointed early-20th-century marble church with rare Estey pipe organ and American opalescent stained glass. As part of the Addison Deanery, the parish ties Middlebury Catholics into a wider network of Addison County mission churches under one pastor. It is a small, rooted community that welcomes visitors for Mass, the sacrament of Reconciliation by appointment, and sacramental preparation.
Mass times at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:45 pm – 6:15 pm (in the sacristy)
- Saturday 4:30 pm – 5:00 pm (Parish Hall / Knights of Columbus Council Room)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Monday 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Parish Identity & Patron
The parish takes its name from the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a defining Marian doctrine celebrated each year on August 15. Members and visitors commonly refer to the parish as 'St. Mary's.' The church sits at 326 College Street in Middlebury, the county seat of Addison County, and serves as a hub for Catholic life in the surrounding rural region of western Vermont.
History of the Parish
The Catholic community in Middlebury traces its origin to the late 1830s, when Rev. John B. Daly served as missionary across the Castleton, Middlebury and Rutland area between 1837 and 1854. The diocese lists the parish's foundation year as 1837. An earlier brick church served the parish until the last Mass was celebrated there in 1903, after the cornerstone of the present marble church had been blessed in 1896 by Coadjutor Bishop John Michaud.
- 1837 — Parish founded under missionary priest Rev. John B. Daly
- 1855 — Listed among Addison County parishes in diocesan records
- 1896 — Cornerstone of the present marble church blessed by Bishop John Michaud
- 1903 — Last Mass celebrated in the old brick Catholic church
- 1907 — Upper church completed; first Mass celebrated in the new building
- 1909 — American opalescent drapery stained-glass windows installed
- 1910 — Estey pipe organ dedicated
- 1911 — Stations of the Cross installed
- 1912 — Church formally dedicated on September 15 by Bishop Joseph Rice
Architecture & Sacred Art
The present church is built in marble and features some of the finest surviving American opalescent 'drapery glass' windows in Vermont. The windows depict a rich scriptural and Marian program — the Resurrection, the Annunciation, the Assumption, Christ Calling St. Peter, the four Evangelists, and the four great Doctors of the Western Church (St. Gregory the Great, St. Ambrose, St. Augustine and St. Jerome).
- Marble construction, cornerstone 1896, dedicated 1912
- American opalescent drapery stained glass (1909)
- Stations of the Cross (1911)
- Estey pipe organ, Opus 755, dedicated 1910
Estey Pipe Organ
The Estey organ is a notable artifact of Vermont musical heritage. The Estey Organ Company, based in Brattleboro, was one of the largest organ builders in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their Opus 755 was installed at the Church of the Assumption and dedicated in 1910.
Clergy & Administration
The parish is currently administered by Fr. Brandon Schneider, S.T.L., J.C.L., who also serves as Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Burlington. He was appointed by Bishop-elect John McDermott effective August 12. In addition to Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Middlebury, Fr. Schneider administers St. Bernadette Parish in Bridport and St. Genevieve in Shoreham, reflecting the Addison Deanery model of clustered pastoral care across rural Addison County.
- Fr. Brandon Schneider, S.T.L., J.C.L. — Administrator; Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Burlington
Diocese of Burlington
The parish belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, which was established in 1853 with Bishop Louis DeGoesbriand as its first shepherd. The diocese covers the entire state of Vermont. The parish is part of the Addison Deanery, which also includes Otter Valley Catholic Community (Brandon, Pittsford), St. Ambrose & St. Peter Catholic Community (Bristol, Vergennes), and St. Bernadette (Bridport).
Contact & Visit
The parish office and church are located together at 326 College Street, Middlebury, VT 05753. Visitors are warmly welcomed to weekend and weekday Masses. The current website is hosted at vermontcatholic.org, the online home of parishes across the Diocese of Burlington.
- Address: 326 College Street, Middlebury, VT 05753
- Phone: (802) 388-2943
- Website: https://stmary.vermontcatholic.org/
- Directions: US Route 7 to Route 125 West to College Street
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Brandon Schneider, S.T.L., J.C.L.effective Aug. 12 (appointed by Bishop-elect John McDermott)
Appointed Administrator of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Middlebury and St. Bernadette Parish in Bridport; also serves as diocesan Judicial Vicar.