About Assumption of the BVM · Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary — commonly known as St. Mary's Catholic Church — is a historic Roman Catholic parish at 119 S Prince Street in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1741, it holds the distinction of being the fourth-oldest Catholic church in the original thirteen colonies and has served as the mother church for early Catholic missions across south-central Pennsylvania. Today the parish, part of the Diocese of Harrisburg, offers daily and Sunday Masses in English, a robust sacramental life, and an unusually broad network of ministries ranging from liturgical service and OCIA to St. Vincent de Paul and a Mental Health Ministry.
- Established
- 1741
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary of the Assumption
- Rector
- Rev. Brian T.C. Olkowski
- Diocese
- Diocese of Harrisburg
Why belong here
St. Mary's is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in the country, with more than 280 years of continuous worship in the same downtown Lancaster neighborhood — a heritage it lives out with daily Mass, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Fridays, and a vibrant sung Mass ad orientem on Saturday mornings. A parish this old still feels deeply personal: ministries are organized around real people and real needs, from Marriage Preparation and That Man Is You to Exodus 90, the Cenacle Young Adult Group, a Mental Health Ministry, Homebound Ministry, and a St. Vincent de Paul committee serving neighbors in need. Add in the parish's spiritual bond with the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, granting a Plenary Indulgence to pilgrims, and you have a community that is at once historic and very much alive.
Mass times at Assumption of the BVM
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 12:30–1:30 PM
- Saturday 3:30–4:15 PM (parishioners may also ask Fr. Olkowski for Confession following Mass)
Adoration times
- Friday 12:30–1:30 PM (Eucharistic Adoration, following the 12:05 PM daily Mass)
History of St. Mary's Catholic Church
St. Mary's is one of the oldest continuously operating Catholic parishes in the United States. Founded in 1741 by two German-speaking Jesuits from Maryland, the original log chapel of St. John Nepomucene was destroyed by arson in December 1760. The parishioners built a stone replacement whose cornerstone was laid in 1762; on completion the chapel was renamed the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and raised to a parish — the mother church for Catholic missions across south-central Pennsylvania. The present Gothic Revival brick church, the parish's third building, was completed in March 1854, with its cornerstone laid by Bishop (now St.) John Neumann. A 1867 fire prompted a reconstruction by architect Edwin Forrest Durang, and an 1885–1887 expansion added the Gothic arches and side chapels. Italian painter Filippo Costaggini, then at work on the U.S. Capitol rotunda, was invited to decorate the interior, and the stained glass windows and statue of St. Mary were installed between 1888 and 1897. In 2009, the parish was granted a special bond with the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.
- 1741 — Log chapel of St. John Nepomucene built by German-speaking Jesuits
- 1760 — Log chapel destroyed by arson
- 1762 — Stone church built; parish renamed Assumption of the BVM
- 1854 — Present Gothic Revival brick church consecrated; cornerstone laid by Bishop John Neumann
- 1867 — Fire damages interior; architect Edwin Forrest Durang directs the reconstruction (1868)
- 1885–1887 — Gothic arches and side chapels added
- 1888–1897 — Costaggini interior decoration, stained glass, and statue of St. Mary installed
- February 5, 2009 — Bond with the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major, Rome, with Plenary Indulgence privilege
Pastoral Staff and Parish Leadership
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Brian T.C. Olkowski and Deacon Brian G. Fabian. A lay team supports the liturgical, educational, family-life, and administrative life of the parish, and the Parish Pastoral Council is chaired by Joel Young.
- Rev. Brian T.C. Olkowski — Pastor
- Deacon Brian G. Fabian
- Don Peris Jr. — Director of Liturgy and Music
- Joe Clupp — Director of Family Life
- Keri Kiefer — Religious Education Coordinator
- Irma Do — Youth Ministry Coordinator
- Amy Patton — Finance Coordinator; St. Vincent de Paul Committee
- Emma Kuchinski — Administrative Assistant
- Mike Bitts — Head Organist and Choir Director
- Clement Filippelli — Maintenance
- Joel Young — Parish Pastoral Council Chair
- Yvonne Devosa — Parish Advocate for People with Disabilities
- Jennifer Santiago — Prayer Chain
Education, Faith Formation, and O.C.I.A.
Faith formation at St. Mary's takes place through Religious Education classes (held Sunday after the 8:30 AM Mass, coordinated by Keri Kiefer), Youth Ministry under Irma Do, and Adult Formation under Joe Clupp. The parish also partners with the regional Catholic high school and offers Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for younger children. Those exploring the Catholic faith are invited into O.C.I.A. (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), coordinated by Brian Eltz.
- Religious Education — Keri Kiefer, classes on Sunday after 8:30 AM Mass (office: 717-341-5291)
- Youth Ministry — Irma Do
- Adult Formation — Joe Clupp
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — Anne Barnes and Elizabeth Masciale-Walmer
- O.C.I.A. — Brian Eltz, 215-805-5335, [email protected]
- Lancaster Catholic High School — Main Office 717-509-0313; Admissions, Angela Baumler; lchsyes.org
Family Life Ministries
Family Life is chaired by Joe Clupp and aims to strengthen marriages and families through programs that support vocation and faith at every stage of life — from marriage preparation and men's groups to young adults, mothers, and welcoming newcomers.
- Family Life — Joe Clupp
- Marriage Preparation — Marika and Andrew Ellis
- Respect Life — Joe McCafferty
- The Cenacle Young Adult Group — Mary Amidon and Mary Grace Soper (thecenaclelancaster.org)
- That Man Is You — Joe Clupp
- Well Read Mom's Group — Hannah Couch
- Men's Gospel Reflection Group — Joe Clupp
- Exodus 90
- Women's Bible Study — Robyn Visniski
- Church Social Group — Phil and Teresa Neff
- Adore and More — Clarissa
- Welcoming Committee — Derek Nowak
- Youth Ministry — Irma Do
Liturgical Ministries and Music
Liturgical life is led by Director of Liturgy and Music Don Peris Jr., with Mike Bitts serving as Head Organist and Choir Director. A wide range of volunteer roles support Mass and prayer — from cantors and altar servers to lectors, sacristans, ushers, and the St. Michael's Guard.
- Music and Cantors
- Video Broadcast
- Altar Serving
- Decorating
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Lectors
- Sacristans
- Ushers
- St. Michael's Guard
- Altar Linens
Pastoral Care, Outreach, and Social Justice
The Pastoral mission area cultivates community life and care for members of every age and circumstance — from homebound visits and bereavement meals to gardening, archives, and a funeral luncheon committee. St. Mary's also reaches outward through St. Vincent de Paul, Prison Ministry, an Addiction Resources Ministry, and a Mental Health Ministry, and participates in the Lancaster County Food Hub and Downtown Ministerium through its Ecumenism mission.
- Archives — Betty Anne O'Brien
- Bereavement — Darlene Labezius-Driscoll
- Buildings and Grounds — Ron Medlock
- Church Cleaning — Maria Mandros
- Funeral Luncheon Committee — Angie Lead
- Gardening — Janet Purcell
- Homebound Ministry — Fran Sescilla
- Hospitality Ministry — Jeanne Claus
- Office Support — Mary Lynn Devine
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — Joan Valentin
- Prayer Chain — Jennifer Santiago
- Food Bank Committee (quarterly) — Mary Lynn Devine
- St. Vincent de Paul Committee — Amy Patton
- Prison Ministry — Fr. Olkowski
- Addiction Resources Ministry
- Mental Health Ministry
- Ecumenism (Lancaster County Food Hub & Downtown Ministerium)
- Social Justice
Parish Pastoral Council
The Parish Pastoral Council shares responsibility for the life and welfare of the parish in union with the pastor. Its role is to focus on the Church's mission of evangelization and spiritual renewal, to support the parish–diocese relationship, and to draw forth the talents and insights of parishioners. Council meetings are typically held the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM in Assumption Hall, except during the summer.
- Chair: Joel Young
- Ex-Officio: Fr. Brian Olkowski, Don Peris, Joe Clupp
- Members: Cheryl Mills, Susanne Scott, Rick Camden, Rick Kiefer, Phil Neff, Amy Soper, John Spiziri, Rebecca Zuber, David Zuber, Elaine Allen, Sean Couch, Barb D'Ercole, Andrew Ellis
- Meetings: 1st Wednesday of the month, 7:00 PM, Assumption Hall (no summer meetings)
Sacraments at St. Mary's
Information on the sacraments is published in the weekly parish bulletin and on the parish website. Baptisms are scheduled on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month and require parish membership and a baptism class. Couples are asked to begin marriage preparation at least nine months in advance. Confession is offered weekly on Friday and Saturday, and those considering Catholicism are invited into the O.C.I.A. process.
- Baptism — 1st and 3rd Sundays; membership and class required
- Marriage — 9-month minimum preparation; stmaryslancaster.org/weddings
- Reconciliation — Fri 12:30–1:30 PM; Sat 3:30–4:15 PM
- Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office
- O.C.I.A. — Brian Eltz, 215-805-5335, [email protected]
Pilgrimage and the Bond with St. Mary Major, Rome
On February 5, 2009, St. Mary's was granted a special spiritual bond with the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. With it comes the privilege of a Plenary Indulgence for each member of the faithful who makes a pilgrimage to the church under the conditions prescribed by the Church — making a visit to 119 S Prince Street both a local act of devotion and an ecclesial pilgrimage.
- Affiliation granted February 5, 2009 with the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major, Rome
- Plenary Indulgence available to the faithful who make a pilgrimage under the prescribed conditions
Visiting St. Mary's — Practical Information
St. Mary's is located at 119 S Prince Street in downtown Lancaster, PA 17603, with parking, restrooms, and a social hall on site. The parish office can be reached at (717) 392-2578, Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–noon and 12:30–4:00 PM, and Friday 9:00 AM–noon and 12:30–2:00 PM. For those unable to attend in person, daily and Sunday Masses are live-streamed on the website and the Sunday Mass is televised on LCTV Channel 66.
- Address: 119 S Prince Street, Lancaster, PA 17603
- Phone: (717) 392-2578
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–12:00 noon and 12:30–4:00 PM; Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 noon and 12:30–2:00 PM
- Live-streamed Mass via stmaryslancaster.org
- Sunday Mass televised on LCTV Channel 66
- On-site parking, restrooms, and social hall