About Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary · Walla Walla, Washington
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Spokane located in Walla Walla, southeastern Washington, serving the community at 2098 E. Alder Street. Founded in 1953 by Bishop Charles D. White, the parish grew rapidly through the 1950s and early 1960s, erecting a grade school, convent, rectory, and its spacious modern church building in successive phases. Today it operates as part of the tri-parish Walla Walla Catholic community alongside St. Patrick and St. Francis of Assisi, sharing clergy, a school system, and an active calendar of weekend Masses, weekday services, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1953
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (under her title of the Assumption)
- Rector
- Rev. Curtis Seidel (Pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Francis of Assisi parishes; also President of Walla Walla Catholic Schools and Administrator of St. Mark, Waitsburg, and St. Joseph, Dayton)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Spokane (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
Assumption offers a welcoming, English-language sacramental home on the east side of Walla Walla, with Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Masses, a Tuesday evening weekday Mass, and Tri-Parish Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the Assumption Chapel (Thursday noon through Saturday noon, with drop-in hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and a sign-up option for a committed holy hour). A full family of ministries — Assumption Catholic Church Women, Prayer Chain, Baby Basket, Parish Library, Sunshine Committee, Faith Formation, Vacation Bible School, and active Pastoral and Finance Councils — gives newcomers plenty of ways to plug in. Families also benefit from integration with Walla Walla Catholic Schools, including the planned rebuild of the Assumption Grade School on the DeSales High School campus.
Mass times at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays — 2:00 PM (Assumption)
Adoration times
- Tuesdays — 4:00–5:00 PM (Assumption)
- Perpetual Adoration in the Assumption Chapel — Thursday 12:00 PM through Saturday 12:00 PM (drop in 7:00 AM–6:00 PM or sign up for an hour)
Parish History & Identity
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was established in 1953 by Bishop Charles D. White of the Diocese of Spokane to meet the spiritual needs of Catholics on the east side of Walla Walla. The new community quickly moved from vision to bricks and mortar: a grade school, a convent, a rectory, and finally a spacious modern church were added over the next decade. The parish describes itself as one that, 'following the example of our Patroness, strives to live a sacramental life, witnessing the Gospel, in our service to others.' A formal 2023–2026 Pastoral Plan, unanimously recommended by the Pastoral Council on March 13, 2023, guides the parish's current priorities.
- Founded 1953 by Bishop Charles D. White, Diocese of Spokane
- Phase 1: Assumption Grade School built (1952)
- Phase 2: Convent and rectory added over the next decade
- Phase 3: Spacious modern church completed
- 2023–2026 Pastoral Plan recommended unanimously March 13, 2023
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Leadership
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Curtis Seidel, who simultaneously pastors St. Francis of Assisi in Walla Walla, serves as Administrator of St. Mark (Waitsburg) and St. Joseph (Dayton), and is President of Walla Walla Catholic Schools. Fr. Andrew O'Leary serves as Parochial Vicar for the tri-parish community. The deacon team includes Deacon Jim Barrow, Deacon Maclobio Robles, and retired Deacon Olegario Reyes. The parish office is managed by Mary White ([email protected]). The elected Pastoral Council currently includes Sally Buchanan-Rojo, Rod Fazzari, Trevor Hanzeli, Patty Konen, Mike Levens, Michelle Moramarco, and Patrick Perez.
- Pastor: Fr. Curtis Seidel (also St. Francis, Walla Walla Catholic Schools president)
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Andrew O'Leary
- Deacons: Jim Barrow; Maclobio Robles; Olegario Reyes (Retired)
- Office Manager: Mary White
- Pastoral Council: Buchanan-Rojo, Fazzari, Hanzeli, Konen, Levens, Moramarco, Perez
Ministries & Parish Life
Parishioners at Assumption serve through a constellation of lay-led ministries. The Assumption Catholic Church Women unites women's service across the parish; the Prayer Chain lifts up specific intentions through a phone/text network; the Baby Basket Ministry supports new and expectant parents; the Parish Library maintains a lending collection; and the Sunshine Committee reaches out to parishioners in need of encouragement. Pastoral and Finance Councils provide governance and planning. Fellowship after the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass includes coffee and donuts in the parish hall.
- Assumption Catholic Church Women
- Prayer Chain (coordinator: Kathy Owsley, 509-540-2684)
- Baby Basket Ministry (Barbara Hair, 425-503-8537)
- Parish Library (Patricia Guzman, 509-386-1910)
- Sunshine Committee (Christine, [email protected])
- Pastoral Council
- Sunday fellowship: coffee & donuts after 10:30 AM Mass
Faith Formation & Catholic Schools
Faith formation is organized at the Tri-Parish level, with Martha Jimenez serving as Faith Formation coordinator for the Walla Walla Catholic community. A Vacation Bible School is offered each summer (the parish office is closed on scheduled VBS days). The parish is closely tied to Walla Walla Catholic Schools, the umbrella system that operates DeSales Catholic High School on East Sumach Street and Assumption Grade School. In June 2024 the system announced plans to rebuild Assumption Grade School on the same campus as DeSales High School, after receiving an anonymous $3.8 million donation; construction was set to begin in spring 2025 with completion expected by fall 2026.
- Tri-Parish Faith Formation led by Martha Jimenez
- Annual Vacation Bible School (VBS)
- Walla Walla Catholic Schools system
- DeSales Catholic High School — 919 E. Sumach St.
- Assumption Grade School rebuild on DeSales campus, planned completion fall 2026
Sacraments & Devotions
Assumption offers the full range of Catholic sacraments in collaboration with the tri-parish team. Baptisms and Marriages are arranged through the parish office; Anointing of the Sick is available on request. First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation are prepared through the Tri-Parish Faith Formation program. The parish is especially proud of its Tri-Parish Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the Assumption Chapel, where committed adorers keep a continuous watch from Thursday noon through Saturday noon each week.
- Baptism — register through the parish office
- Marriage — arrange through the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — by request
- First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation — Tri-Parish Faith Formation
- Perpetual Adoration — Assumption Chapel, Thu 12 PM – Sat 12 PM
Visiting, Location & Contact
The parish church is located at 2098 E. Alder Street, Walla Walla, WA 99362. Visitors arriving for Mass are warmly welcomed and invited to fill out a Welcome Card from the pew racks. The parish office is open Monday 9:00 AM–3:00 PM, Wednesday 2:00 PM–5:00 PM, Thursday 2:00 PM–5:00 PM, and Friday by appointment. The Tri-Parish mailing address is 408 W. Poplar, Walla Walla, WA 99362. The Tri-Parish phone number is (509) 525-3310, with Assumption on extension 2, St. Francis on extension 1, and St. Patrick on extension 3.
- Address: 2098 E. Alder St., Walla Walla, WA 99362
- Tri-Parish mailing: 408 W. Poplar, Walla Walla, WA 99362
- Phone: (509) 525-3310 Ext. 2
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon 9–3, Wed 2–5, Thu 2–5, Fri by appointment
- Website: wwcatholic.org/parishes/assumption
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Bishop Charles D. White (Diocese of Spokane)1953
Founded Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish on the east side of Walla Walla; oversaw the construction of the grade school, convent, rectory and the spacious modern church over the next decade.
- Fr. Matthew Nicks
Assumption Pastor in recent years (still listed on bulletins as of 2023); led the parish through the 2023–2026 Pastoral Plan process including listening sessions and a unanimous Pastoral Council recommendation on March 13, 2023.
- Rev. Curtis Seidel2024–present
Reappointed Pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Francis of Assisi in Walla Walla in the 2025 diocesan assignments; also serves as President of Walla Walla Catholic Schools and Administrator of St. Mark (Waitsburg) and St. Joseph (Dayton).