About Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary · Sykesville, Pennsylvania
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a small Roman Catholic parish in the borough of Sykesville, Pennsylvania (Jefferson County), in the Diocese of Erie. The Catholic community in Sykesville first organized in 1923, and the parish's brick church on Shaffer Street was dedicated on November 16, 1952, at a cost of about $200,000. For decades Assumption also cared for the mission church of St. George in nearby Soldier, PA. In December 2023, following several years of pastoral planning, the Diocese of Erie merged Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Saint Catherine of Siena and Saint Michael (DuBois), Saint Bernard (Falls Creek), and Saint Mary (Reynoldsville) into the new Holy Spirit Parish, with Saint Catherine of Siena as the parish church; Assumption was designated a secondary mission church of the merged parish. It continues to host its historic Saturday vigil and Sunday Mass schedule under the unified Holy Spirit Parish umbrella.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (under her title of the Assumption)
- Rector
- Rev. John Malthaner (Pastor of Holy Spirit Parish, of which Assumption is a designated mission church, per the December 2023 merger). Prior to the merger, the pastor of record at Assumption was Father William R. Barron (2017–2023).
- Diocese
- Diocese of Erie
Why belong here
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary offers a deeply rooted small-town Catholic community in the heart of Sykesville, with a Saturday vigil and Sunday Mass schedule maintained even after the parish joined the new Holy Spirit Parish in December 2023. The parish has a long tradition of care ministries—Samaritan (visiting the sick), Zacchaeus (helping the poor), and Lazarus Outreach (comforting the bereaved)—along with religious education, youth programs, an active Ecumenical Ministry, and beloved seasonal events like the Lenten Fish Frys and the Assumption Summer Golf Tournament. For Catholics in the Sykesville area, Assumption is a place where generations of families have worshipped since 1924 and where the historic 1952 church remains a familiar landmark.
Mass times at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30–5:00 p.m. (or by appointment)
Parish History
The Catholic community in Sykesville organized in 1923 and built a basement church dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, completed in March 1924. Bishop John Mark Gannon appointed Father Charles A. Abt as the first pastor. Twenty-three laymen were instrumental in planning and completing the early church project. The current church was constructed and dedicated on November 16, 1952, at a cost of $200,000 under Father John Piatkowski. The parish also cared for the mission church of St. George in Soldier, PA, until 1972. In December 2023, after several years of pastoral planning, Assumption merged with four other DuBois-area parishes to form Holy Spirit Parish.
- Organized 1923; basement church completed March 1924
- Current church dedicated November 16, 1952 (cost $200,000)
- Cared for St. George Mission in Soldier until 1972
- Merged into Holy Spirit Parish in December 2023
Key Moments in Parish Life
Several dramatic and formative events shaped Assumption's identity. In August 1967 the church was gutted by fire; Mass was held in the basement until renovation was completed in 1968. The old rectory was razed in 1969 and a new one built at a cost of $60,000. Under later pastors the church basement was remodeled, a new steeple was erected, and a large parking lot was added. A handicapped-ramp entry was built in the 1990s.
- 1967 fire gutted the church; rebuilt by 1968
- 1969 new rectory built ($60,000)
- New steeple and large parking lot added under Father McCullough (1970s)
- Handicapped-ramp entry added under Father Pressley (1990s)
Clergy and Staff
Following the December 2023 merger into Holy Spirit Parish, Assumption is served by the pastor and staff of Holy Spirit Parish, whose offices are in DuBois. The current pastor is Rev. John Malthaner, with Deacon Stephen Rowan serving as Permanent Deacon. Parish support staff includes Debra Steiner, Elaine Fike, and Lynn Luther, with Mary Jo Yebernetsky as Religious Education Leader.
- Rev. John Malthaner — Pastor, Holy Spirit Parish
- Deacon Stephen Rowan — Permanent Deacon
- Debra Steiner — Support Staff
- Elaine Fike — Support Staff
- Lynn Luther — Support Staff
- Mary Jo Yebernetsky — Religious Education Leader
Parish Ministries
Assumption has long been known for its ministries of care. Father William F. Pressley launched three major outreach programs: Samaritan Ministry (to the sick), Zacchaeus Ministry (to the poor), and Lazarus Outreach (to the bereaved). A new Eucharistic Ministry program was also implemented during his tenure. Religious Education has been a staple of the parish since at least Father George Groucutt's remodeling of the rectory basement for classroom use in 1979.
- Samaritan Ministry (care of the sick)
- Zacchaeus Ministry (care of the poor)
- Lazarus Outreach (care of the bereaved)
- Eucharistic Ministry
- Religious Education (CCD)
- Ecumenical Ministry (Sykesville churches, since 1980)
Youth and Family Life
Father Mark J. Mastrian, appointed pastor in 2000, was especially active with the parish youth. He started various programs for young people and accompanied a group from the parish to World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto, Canada, where they encountered Pope St. John Paul II. Father Mastrian also founded the Assumption Summer Golf Tournament as a community fundraiser and gathering.
- Youth ministry programs begun under Father Mark J. Mastrian (2000)
- World Youth Day 2002 trip to Toronto with Pope St. John Paul II
- Assumption Summer Golf Tournament (founded by Father Mastrian)
Parish Events and Fundraisers
Two long-running parish events are especially beloved: the Lenten Fish Frys, started by Father William F. Pressley, and the Assumption Summer Golf Tournament, founded by Father Mark J. Mastrian. These events have helped knit the parish community together and have provided important fundraising support.
- Lenten Fish Frys (started by Father Pressley)
- Assumption Summer Golf Tournament (started by Father Mastrian)
Becoming Part of Holy Spirit Parish
On December 2023, the Diocese of Erie formally merged five DuBois-area parishes—including Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary—into the new Holy Spirit Parish by extinctive union under canon 121. Saint Catherine of Siena in DuBois became the parish church; Assumption was designated a secondary mission church. The merger followed several years of local pastoral planning, prompted by a roughly 40% decline in Mass attendance over twelve years and a declining number of priests in the diocese. The shared parish office for Holy Spirit Parish is at 118 S. State St., DuBois, PA 15801, phone (814) 371-8556.
- Merged December 2023 into Holy Spirit Parish
- Parish church: Saint Catherine of Siena (DuBois); Assumption is a mission church
- Holy Spirit Parish office: 118 S. State St., DuBois, PA 15801
- Shared parish phone: (814) 371-8556
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Charles A. Abt1924–
First pastor appointed by Bishop John Mark Gannon after the basement church was completed in March 1924.
- Father Pete Dembenskiuntil 1948
Pastor of the basement church and the mission of St. George in Soldier, PA.
- Father John PiatkowskiMay 1948 – November 1970
Oversaw construction and dedication of the new church on November 16, 1952 (cost $200,000); church gutted by fire in August 1967 and rebuilt; new rectory built 1969. Died while pastor in November 1970.
- Father Francis McCulloughDecember 1970 – May 1979
Remodeled the church basement, erected a new steeple, and added a large parking lot.
- Father George GroucuttJune 1979 –
Remodeled the rectory basement for Religious Education; helped introduce the Ecumenical Ministry to Sykesville churches in 1980.
- Father William F. PressleyApril 1990 (installed August 1992) –
Built handicapped-ramp entry; launched Eucharistic Ministry program and three care ministries (Samaritan, Zacchaeus, Lazarus Outreach); started the parish Lenten Fish Frys.
- Father Mark J. Mastrian2000 –
Very active with parish youth; accompanied them to World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto with Pope St. John Paul II; founded the Assumption Summer Golf Tournament.
- Father Marc Solomon2009 –
First pastor of the partnered parishes of Assumption and St. Mary's, Reynoldsville.
- Father Richard Allen2010–2013
Pastor of the partnered Assumption and St. Mary's parishes.
- Father Richard Tomasone2013–2017
Pastor of the partnered Assumption and St. Mary's parishes.
- Father William Barron2017–2023
Began sharing resources between Assumption and St. Mary's for revitalization; led parish into the 2023 Holy Spirit Parish merger.
- Rev. John Malthaner2023–present
Pastor of the newly erected Holy Spirit Parish, of which Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is now a mission church.