About Assumption · Richfield, Minnesota
The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a bilingual Catholic parish in Richfield, Minnesota, part of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Founded by German farmers in 1876, Assumption is the oldest Catholic parish in the city and one of three Richfield parishes — together with St. Peter and St. Richard — that have shared a single pastor, staff, and bilingual ministries since 2020. The parish worships in both English and Spanish, supports Blessed Trinity Catholic School, maintains a historic 19th-century cemetery, and proclaims itself 'a diverse community united as disciples of Christ.'
- Established
- 1876
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary of the Assumption
- Rector
- Fr. Jim Liekhus
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
Assumption welcomes anyone seeking a historic, diverse Catholic community in the heart of Richfield. The parish offers bilingual Mass in English and Spanish each Sunday, a school partnership with Blessed Trinity, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation before daily Mass, and a 19th-century cemetery that links the present congregation to its German farming founders. Since 2020 it has shared a pastor and ministries with neighboring St. Peter and St. Richard, giving parishioners the resources of three parishes while keeping the warmth of a single neighborhood church.
Mass times at Assumption
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 7:30–8:00 AM (before 8:00 AM Mass at Assumption)
- Wednesday 5:00–5:30 PM (before 5:30 PM Mass at Assumption)
- Friday 7:30–8:00 AM (before 8:00 AM Mass at Assumption)
- Friday 5:00–5:30 PM (before 5:30 PM Mass at Assumption)
- Or by appointment with Fr. Liekhus (bilingual)
Adoration times
- Friday 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM at Assumption (Non-Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration; not held on holy days or holidays — see weekend bulletin)
Parish History
Assumption traces its roots to 1876, when German farming families — including the Haegs, Adelmanns, and Doerflers — built a chapel on the Richfield–Bloomington border that they diplomatically named 'Bloomfield.' They first dedicated it to St. Valentine, the patron of one of the founding families. Benedictine Fathers rode out from the city to celebrate Mass twice a month for the next 14 years; later the Oblates of Mary Immaculate assumed care of the mission. Lightning destroyed the wooden church in 1886, and the parish rebuilt it the following year, rededicating it to the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Assumption. Many of those pioneer surnames — Haeg, Adelmann, Doerfler, Link, Friendshuh, Gruer, Steg, Blatz, Houser, Duell, Alt, Christian, Hausler, Boeser, Yetzer, Pahl, Kraemer — are still familiar in the parish more than 130 years later. After World War II the community outgrew its building; a new church and expanded campus were completed in 1954 and enlarged again in 1963. The parish school, in continuous operation since 1887, was consolidated in 1994 with the schools of St. Richard and St. Peter to form Blessed Trinity Catholic School. In 2001 Assumption added bilingual ministries in English and Spanish, and in 2020 the three Richfield parishes began sharing a single pastor, staff, and set of ministries.
- 1876: Mission founded by German farmers as 'Bloomfield' chapel of St. Valentine
- Served by Benedictine Fathers (twice-monthly Mass for ~14 years) then Oblates of Mary Immaculate
- 1886: Lightning destroys the first church
- 1887: Rebuilt and rededicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Assumption
- 1954: New church and expanded campus completed
- 1963: Campus expanded again
- 1994: Parish school consolidates with St. Richard and St. Peter to form Blessed Trinity Catholic School
- 2001: Ministries expanded bilingually in English and Spanish
- 2020: Three Richfield parishes share one pastor, staff, and bilingual ministries
Stained Glass & Historic Cemetery
The 1954 church houses a long narrative stained-glass window on the west side that depicts the parish's history in pictures — from the log chapel in West St. Paul, to the first St. Valentine church, to the old and new Assumption buildings. The panels also honor Bishop Grace (who blessed the first church), the Benedictine and Oblate Fathers, and early missionaries such as Father Marquette, along with scenes of Native American Catholics (including St. Kateri Tekakwitha) and the original land purchase by Lt. Zebulon Pike of the U.S. Army. The windows were partly donated by Mr. Conway, then president of Universal Studios, with the remaining panels costing about $40,000 in total. Just a short distance from the church sits the parish cemetery, formally incorporated in 1876 and still in its original location; it remains an active burial ground with plots available for purchase.
- Cemetery incorporated in 1876, still in its original location
- Stained-glass windows donated in part by Mr. Conway of Universal Studios
- Cemetery contact: Maria Lara, 612-866-5019
Clergy & Staff
Assumption is pastored as part of the three-parish Richfield Catholic collaboration. Fr. Jim Liekhus was named pastor of St. Richard and Assumption in 2020 and of St. Peter in 2021; he was ordained in 2005 and was raised at St. Olaf parish in downtown Minneapolis, where his parents met in the choir. Fr. David Shaw joined the parishes of Assumption, St. Peter, and St. Richard as Parochial Vicar in July 2022; he was ordained in 2006 and previously served in the Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon, both as a parish priest and as a teacher/chaplain at a Catholic high school. He is originally from South Bend, Indiana, and is a member of the Brotherhood of the People of Praise. Beth Schorle joined as Parish Administrator in December 2020, bringing experience in financial leadership from the commercial real estate and construction industries and most recently from St. Edward in Bloomington. Anne Marie Strabala serves as Director of Faith Formation (English).
- Fr. Jim Liekhus — Pastor (named 2020)
- Fr. David Shaw — Parochial Vicar (joined July 2022)
- Beth Schorle — Parish Administrator (joined December 2020)
- Anne Marie Strabala — Director of Faith Formation (English)
Blessed Trinity Catholic School
Blessed Trinity Catholic School, located at 6720 Nicollet Ave in Richfield, is the joint parish school of Assumption, St. Peter, and St. Richard. It was formed in 1994 when the three parish schools — including Assumption's school, which had been in continuous operation since 1887 — consolidated to form a single stronger Catholic school serving the community. The school welcomes students from across the three parishes and beyond and is supported through tuition, parish subsidies, and the generosity of donors and grantors including the Aim Higher Foundation, Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota, Catholic Schools Center of Excellence, Catholic Services Appeal Foundation, GHR Foundation, Pax Christi Catholic Community, and the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation.
- Formed 1994 from Assumption (1887), St. Richard, and St. Peter parish schools
- Located at 6720 Nicollet Ave, Richfield, MN 55423
- Website: btcsmn.org
Faith Formation & Bilingual Ministries
Assumption's faith-formation ministry is led by Anne Marie Strabala as Director of Faith Formation (English), and offers classes and sacramental preparation in both English and Spanish. The parish first expanded into bilingual ministry in 2001, and that commitment deepened when Assumption began sharing bilingual ministries with St. Peter and St. Richard in 2020. The parish also runs 'La Mission,' a social and pastoral outreach supporting new-to-the-U.S. Latino families. Faith-formation registration, sacramental preparation, and family ministry inquiries can be directed to the parish office.
- Director of Faith Formation (English): Anne Marie Strabala
- Bilingual sacramental preparation in English and Spanish
- La Mission — outreach to new Latino immigrant families
Taizé Prayer
Since 2010, Christians from any tradition have gathered quarterly for candlelit Taizé Evening Prayer, held at 7:30 PM on selected Fridays during the liturgical seasons. Using the meditative music composed for the monastic community of Taizé in France, the service is almost entirely sung, led by a multi-voice choir, soloists, and an instrumental ensemble. The centerpiece of the evening is several minutes of holy silence. Upcoming dates listed on the parish site include the first Friday of December (Advent), the first Friday of Lent, the first Friday of June (Easter), and the first Friday of September (Ordinary Time).
- Quarterly at 7:30 PM on selected Fridays
- Multi-voice choir, soloists, and instrumental ensemble
- Centerpiece: extended holy silence
Three-Parish Collaboration: Assumption, St. Peter & St. Richard
Since 2020, the three Catholic parishes of Richfield — Assumption (305 E 77th St), St. Peter (6730 Nicollet Ave), and St. Richard (7540 Penn Ave S) — have shared a single pastor, a single parish staff, and one set of bilingual ministries, even though each parish remains canonically distinct. The shared mission statement reads: 'As disciples of Christ, called into community by the Holy Spirit for the glory of God, we, the parishes of Assumption, St. Peter and St. Richard, joyfully share the gospel of Jesus and serve those we meet for the building up of the kingdom of God.' Together they publish a unified bulletin, host a joint parish app, and rotate the celebration of weekday Masses, reconciliation, adoration, and Triduum liturgies among the three church buildings.
- Assumption — 305 E 77th St, 612-866-5019
- St. Peter — 6730 Nicollet Ave, 612-866-5089
- St. Richard — 7540 Penn Ave S, 612-869-2426
- Joint pastor: Fr. Jim Liekhus
- Joint parochial vicar: Fr. David Shaw
- Office hours Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Visit, Contact & Practical Information
Visitors and parishioners are warmly welcomed. The parish office at 305 East 77th Street is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (phone 612-866-5019). A free parish app is available for download from the parish website for news, bulletins, and giving. Online giving and stewardship options are published on the website, and the parish offers fellowship after each Mass on the first Sunday of every month. Burial plots at the historic 1876 parish cemetery may be purchased through Maria Lara in the church office.
- Parish Office: 305 East 77th Street, Richfield, MN 55423
- Phone: 612-866-5019
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Free parish app available
- First-Sunday fellowship after each Mass
- Cemetery plots: contact Maria Lara, 612-866-5019
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Benedictine Fathersc. 1876–c. 1890s
Celebrated Mass at the original St. Valentine chapel twice a month for the first 14 years after the parish's founding.
- Oblates of Mary ImmaculateAfter the Benedictines
Took over care of the parish after the Benedictine Fathers.
- Fr. Jim Liekhus2020–present (named pastor of St. Richard and Assumption in 2020; St. Peter added in 2021)
Ordained in 2005; raised at St. Olaf in downtown Minneapolis.