About Assumption · Roseland, Nebraska
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (also called the Juniata church) is a small Catholic mission church located in rural Adams County, Nebraska, a few miles north of the village of Roseland. Founded in 1883 by settlers of Luxembourg and Prussian descent, it is the older of the two Roseland-area parishes and has been served as a mission of Sacred Heart Parish, Roseland, since 1963. The church sits at 12630 W Assumption Road and shares its weekend Mass schedule and website with Sacred Heart, with Sunday Mass celebrated on a rotating 8:00 a.m. / 10:00 a.m. schedule that flips between odd and even months.
- Established
- 1883
- Patron
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Corey Harrison (parish priest of Sacred Heart, Roseland, which serves Assumption as a mission)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln
Why belong here
Assumption is one of Nebraska's oldest rural Catholic congregations, with more than 140 years of unbroken worship on the same site and a pioneer cemetery where many of the founding families still rest. Visitors can attend Sunday Mass in a quiet country church that has been continually rebuilt by its members since 1883, served today through a shared ministry with Sacred Heart, Roseland, and supported by an active Knights of Columbus council (Council 10155, founded 1989) and a parish Altar Society that volunteers for Catholic Social Services, the Crisis Pregnancy Center, St. Gianna Home, and the Marian Sisters.
Mass times at Assumption
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday — 20 minutes before Mass
Parish History
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was founded in 1883 by Catholic settlers of Luxembourg and Prussian descent who had taken farms in Adams County under the Homestead Act. The first frame church, school (1900), and brick church (1903, dedicated by Bishop Bonacum) grew up around an active farming community of more than 600 members. Two successive fires in 1919 and 1945 destroyed the brick churches; the current, fourth church was dedicated in 1951. The parish was split in 1920 by Bishop O'Reilly, with the southern portion becoming Sacred Heart, Roseland. In 1963 Assumption ceased to have a resident priest and has since been served as a mission of Sacred Heart.
- 1883 — Frame church built and parish named Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- 1884 — Assumption Cemetery established
- 1887 — First rectory built
- 1900 — Assumption School completed (German and English instruction)
- 1903 — Brick church dedicated Oct. 28 by Bishop Thomas Bonacum; 500 seats, 100-ft tower
- 1910 — Two-story frame rectory built
- 1919 — Brick church destroyed by fire Nov. 20
- 1920 — Mar. 17, Bishop O'Reilly divided Assumption Parish; southern part becomes Sacred Heart
- 1922 — Third church structure dedicated June 15
- 1939 — Assumption Parish Hall constructed by members
- 1945 — Brick church destroyed by fire Oct. 19; Masses moved to Parish Hall
- 1951 — Current (fourth) church completed and dedicated
- 1955 — Brick convent built for the school teaching Sisters
- 1963 — Becomes mission of Sacred Heart, Roseland (Msgr. Collins departs)
- 1983 — Centennial celebrated with 165 members
- 1989 — Knights of Columbus Council 10155 organized Oct. 10
- 2004 — Sanctuary remodeled; Msgr. Ivan Vap makes the altar
- 2008 — Cemetery Arch and Prayer Garden completed
- 2013 — New heating and air conditioning added to church
Diocese and Pastoral Relationship with Sacred Heart, Roseland
Assumption belongs to the Diocese of Lincoln (Hastings Deanery) and has been served as a mission of Sacred Heart Parish, Roseland, since 1963. The two parishes share a single parish office (PO Box 67, Roseland, NE 68973), one phone number (402-756-6251), and the website sacredheartassumption.com. Sunday Masses rotate between the two churches on an odd/even month schedule, and Sacramental records are maintained through the Sacred Heart parish office.
- Diocese: Diocese of Lincoln
- Deanery: Hastings
- Status: Mission to Sacred Heart, Roseland
- Pastoral care shared with Sacred Heart, Roseland
- Mailing address shared: PO Box 67, Roseland, NE 68973
Altar Society (Parish Council of Catholic Women)
The parish Altar Society — affiliated with the Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (LDCCW) — is led by President Kathy Parr, Vice President Michelle Hoffman, Secretary Betty Trausch, and Treasurer Rhonda Kolbet. Members support parish liturgical life by paying for altar wine and bread, performing seasonal cleaning of the church and hall, and serving receptions for First Communion, Confirmation, high school graduates, and funeral dinners. They also volunteer at Catholic Social Services, collect diapers and food for the Crisis Pregnancy Center, and assist St. Gianna Home, the Marian Sisters, and other LDCCW projects.
- President: Kathy Parr
- Vice President: Michelle Hoffman
- Secretary: Betty Trausch
- Treasurer: Rhonda Kolbet
- Volunteers at Catholic Social Services
- Collects diapers and food for Crisis Pregnancy Center
- Supports St. Gianna Home and Marian Sisters
- Pays for altar wine and bread
- Seasonal cleaning of church and hall
- Receptions for First Communion, Confirmation, HS graduates, and funerals
Knights of Columbus Council 10155
The parish is home to Knights of Columbus Council 10155, organized at Assumption on October 10, 1989. The council supports the parish's spiritual and charitable life alongside the Altar Society.
- Council #10155
- Chartered at Assumption on October 10, 1989
Assumption School (Historical)
A Catholic school has been part of Assumption parish life since 1900, when a two-story frame school building was opened to provide religious education and instruction in both German and English. In 1955 a separate brick convent was built so the teaching Sisters no longer had to live on the first floor of the school. The Diocese of Lincoln records the Sisters of the Precious Blood of Jesus of O'Fallon, Missouri, as having devoted their services to the school and parish from 1978 onward.
- 1900 — Two-story frame school opens with German and English instruction
- 1955 — Brick convent built for the teaching Sisters
- 1978 — Sisters of the Precious Blood of Jesus (O'Fallon, Missouri) staff the school
Assumption Cemetery and Prayer Garden
The Assumption Cemetery, established in 1884, holds the remains of six or more generations of some pioneer founding families. A Cemetery Arch and Prayer Garden were completed in May 2008 to mark the parish's continuing care for this historic burial ground.
- 1884 — Cemetery established
- 2008 — Cemetery Arch and Prayer Garden completed
Visiting and Contact
Visitors and parishioners can reach the church at 12630 W Assumption Road in rural Roseland, about three miles north of the village of Roseland in Adams County, Nebraska. The shared parish office (with Sacred Heart, Roseland) is reached at 402-756-6251, and the parishes maintain a joint website at sacredheartassumption.com. Mail should be addressed to PO Box 67, Roseland, NE 68973.
- Street address: 12630 W Assumption Road, Roseland, NE 68973
- Mailing address: PO Box 67, Roseland, NE 68973
- Phone: 402-756-6251
- Website: sacredheartassumption.com
- County: Adams County, Nebraska
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Engelbert Bollcirca 1903
Pastor at the peak of the parish; oversaw the dedication of the 1903 brick church with 600 members.
- Msgr. Collins
The last resident priest at Assumption; left in June 1963 when Assumption became a mission of Sacred Heart, Roseland.