About Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary · Osceola, Wisconsin
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a small, rural Roman Catholic parish located on State Highway 35 in the East Farmington area of Osceola, Wisconsin, in northwestern Wisconsin's St. Croix/Polk County farm country. It is one of three parishes in the Somerset Cluster — together with St. Anne in Somerset and St. Joseph in Osceola — under the Diocese of Superior. The parish offers a single weekly Sunday Mass at 9:00 AM in English, along with monthly Eucharistic Adoration on the first Wednesday, and shares clergy, faith formation, and parish life staff with its sister parishes in the cluster.
- Established
- 1869
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (under her title of the Assumption)
- Rector
- Very Rev. John Gerritts (Supervising Pastor of the Somerset Cluster)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Superior
Why belong here
Assumption of the BVM offers a quiet, close-knit Catholic home for families in the Farmington/Osceola countryside, with a single Sunday Mass each week that lets a small community worship together in their own local church. As part of the Somerset Cluster with St. Anne and St. Joseph, parishioners also benefit from a fuller sacramental life — daily Mass, Confession, a monthly First-Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction, shared faith formation for children and youth, Confirmation preparation, and adult formation programs including Bible studies, lecture series, and small-group discussions.
Mass times at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Available by appointment — call Fr. Joseph at 715-371-1235
- Saturday 9:00–9:30 AM at St. Anne (cluster)
- Saturday 3:00–3:30 PM at St. Joseph (cluster)
Adoration times
- First Wednesday of each month, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM, concluding with Benediction (at Assumption of the BVM; sign-up sheets in the St. Mary Center and on Flocknote)
Parish Identity & History
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a small rural Catholic parish in the East Farmington area of Osceola, Wisconsin. The parish was established in 1869, making it one of the older Catholic communities in the St. Croix Valley. In September 2021 the parish marked its 150th anniversary with a sesquicentennial celebration; a poetic recounting of the parish history composed by parishioner Phyllis Rahe in 2006 was part of the anniversary program. Today the parish shares its sacramental and pastoral life with neighboring parishes in the Somerset Cluster.
- Founded 1869
- 150th anniversary celebrated September 18, 2021
- Patron: The Blessed Virgin Mary (feast: August 15)
- Diocese of Superior
Cluster of Parishes (Somerset Cluster)
Assumption of the BVM is one of three parishes in the Somerset Cluster, which combines resources across the Somerset, Farmington, and Osceola area. The three parishes are St. Anne (Somerset), St. Joseph (Osceola), and Assumption of the BVM (Farmington/Osceola). The cluster shares clergy, sacramental ministry, faith formation, and a single Flocknote-driven communications system, allowing each small parish to retain its own identity and worship space while benefiting from a fuller Catholic life together.
- St. Anne, Somerset — 141 Church Hill Rd., Somerset, WI 54025
- St. Joseph, Osceola — 255 10th Ave., Osceola, WI 54020
- Assumption of the BVM, Farmington — 265 State Hwy 35, Osceola, WI 54020
- Cluster mailing address: PO Box 9, Somerset, WI 54025
- Cluster website: https://stannesomerset.org
Clergy & Staff
The cluster is led by Very Rev. John Gerritts as Supervising Pastor, with Fr. John Drummy serving as Resident Priest and Rev. Jojappa Madanu as Sacramental Minister. Deacon Larry Amell serves as Parish Life Coordinator and is a primary point of contact for Assumption of the BVM. The cluster is also served by several other deacons supporting the three parishes.
- Very Rev. John Gerritts — Supervising Pastor
- Fr. John Drummy — Resident Priest
- Rev. Jojappa Madanu — Sacramental Minister
- Dcn. Larry Amell — Parish Life Coordinator ([email protected])
- Dcn. Tom Rausch — Deacon
- Dcn. Robin Major — Deacon
- Dcn. Jeff Mason — Deacon
- Dcn. Edward Colosky — Deacon, Somerset Cluster
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation across the cluster is consolidated through a single registration form covering all three parishes. Programs include the Montessori-based Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) for preschoolers through 2nd grade, traditional Faith Formation for Grades 1–5, Sacramental Preparation for First Reconciliation and First Holy Eucharist (begun in 1st grade, celebrated in 2nd grade), Confirmation preparation for 11th graders on Wednesday evenings, and a Youth Group. Assumption families participate alongside the St. Anne and St. Joseph communities, with leaders assigned by site.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) — preschool through 2nd grade; $80/child, $240 max per family
- Faith Formation Grades 1–5 — Karoline Thompson (St. Anne location)
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Eucharist — Rachel McGurran (St. Anne location); $25 materials fee
- Confirmation (Grade 11) — Austin & Susie Anderson (St. Anne location); Wed 7:00–8:30 PM
- Youth Group — Ben & Rachel Schmitt (St. Anne location)
- Bernadette Gockowski — Adult Formation contact for St. Anne & Assumption of the BVM
Adult Formation & Community Life
Adults across the three parishes are invited to grow in faith through a variety of programs coordinated cluster-wide. Offerings typically include a lecture series, Bible studies, small-group discussions, and adult/youth gatherings; details are posted on the parish Facebook pages and website. Bernadette Gockowski serves as the Adult Formation contact for St. Anne and Assumption of the BVM.
- Lecture series
- Bible studies
- Small-group discussions
- Adult/Youth gatherings
- Adult Formation contact (St. Anne & Assumption): Bernadette Gockowski — [email protected]
Sacraments
The cluster prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation and the other rites of the Church. First Reconciliation and First Holy Eucharist are prepared in 1st and 2nd grade with a $25 materials fee; Confirmation is prepared in 11th grade with Wednesday-evening classes and a parent meeting in August. Baptisms, marriages, and Anointing of the Sick are arranged through the parish office.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Eucharist — 1st–2nd grade preparation
- Confirmation — 11th grade, Wednesday 7:00–8:30 PM at St. Anne
- Marriage — contact the parish office for preparation
- Anointing of the Sick — by request through the parish office
Visit, Contact & Location
Assumption of the BVM sits on State Highway 35 in the East Farmington area just outside the village of Osceola. The parish shares a cluster office with St. Anne in Somerset; mail for the parish can be sent to the cluster mailing address (PO Box 9, Somerset, WI 54025). The cluster website at stannesomerset.org carries the unified schedule of Masses, Confessions, and Adoration across all three parishes, along with parish news and Flocknote sign-ups.
- Address: 265 State Hwy 35 (East Farmington), Osceola, WI 54020
- Cluster office phone: 715-247-3310
- Email (Parish Life Coordinator): [email protected]
- Cluster mailing address: PO Box 9, Somerset, WI 54025
- Cluster website: https://stannesomerset.org
- Fr. Joseph (Confession appointments): 715-371-1235