About Assumption · Saint Paul, Minnesota
Church of the Assumption is a historic Catholic parish in the heart of downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota, founded in 1856 by Bishop Joseph Crétin to serve newly arrived German immigrants. The parish worships today in a striking 1874 Romanesque church of Lake Superior limestone with twin spires modeled after the Ludwigskirche in Munich, and it remains the oldest existing church in Saint Paul. Beyond its landmark architecture, Assumption is known as the birthplace of Catholic Charities Twin Cities, and the parish now houses the Center for Catholic Social Thought. Father Paul Treacy currently serves as pastor, with a vibrant downtown schedule of daily and Sunday Masses and the recent Archdiocesan-wide 'Lord, Renew Your Church' capital campaign.
- Established
- 1856
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Assumption
- Rector
- Father Paul Treacy
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
Assumption is one of the most historically significant parishes in the Twin Cities — the oldest existing church in Saint Paul, the birthplace of Catholic Charities Twin Cities, and a landmark in the heart of downtown. Parishioners join a community that combines deep Catholic heritage with active downtown ministry: weekday and Sunday Masses, regular Confession, devotions to Our Lady and the Sacred Heart, a robust faith-formation program for children, youth, and adults, and the Center for Catholic Social Thought that reaches across the Archdiocese. It is also a parish committed to those on the margins, sitting steps from Catholic Charities and the Dorothy Day Center.
Mass times at Assumption
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
- Tuesday 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
- Wednesday 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
- Thursday 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
- Friday 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
History of the Parish
Assumption was founded in 1856 by Bishop Joseph Crétin to serve the wave of German immigrants arriving in Saint Paul, when the city's only existing Catholic parish was already straining to serve French and Irish settlers. Father George Keller was the founding pastor; after his 1858 transfer, the parish was staffed by Benedictine priests and brothers from Saint John's Abbey in Collegeville. The current church was ordered by Archbishop John Ireland and built 1869–1874 by German Catholics of the parish in neo-Romanesque style.
- 1856 — Parish founded by Bishop Joseph Crétin; first stone chapel with wooden steeple on West Ninth Street.
- 1858 — Father Keller transferred; Benedictines from St. John's Abbey, Collegeville, take over staffing.
- 1869 — Construction begins on the present church, ordered by Archbishop John Ireland.
- 1874 — Church dedicated; oldest existing church in Saint Paul.
- Late 1800s–early 1900s — Parish operates an orphanage, later known as St. Joseph's Home for Children.
- February 10, 1975 — Added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Architecture and the Historic Church
The Assumption church is a landmark of downtown Saint Paul: a neo-Romanesque structure of washed Lake Superior limestone, with twin spires, rounded arches, and an apse over the altar, modeled on Munich's Ludwigskirche. The Bavarian court architect Joseph Reidel (with Erd Schlick and Bahnholzer) designed it, and German Catholic parishioners and tradesmen built it. The interior has been preserved largely unchanged since the late 19th century, and the statue of Mary at the center of the high altar comes from the original 1856 chapel.
- Style: Neo-Romanesque, twin spires, rounded arches, apse over the altar.
- Materials: Washed Lake Superior limestone.
- Design source: Ludwigskirche in Munich.
- Architects: Joseph Reidel (Bavarian court architect), Erd Schlick, Bahnholzer.
- Four bells in the east tower, including the original Angelus Bell from the first chapel.
- Bells became electrically controlled in 1975 (previously rung with 200-foot ropes).
- Shrines to Thérèse of Lisieux and Maria-Hilf; altars for the Blessed Mother, St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph, and St. Lawrence.
- Tapestries of the Good Samaritan and the Saints Peter and Clemens Society.
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP #75001008).
Clergy and Parish Staff
Father Paul Treacy serves as pastor of the Church of the Assumption. The parish staff also includes Colin Miller as Director of Pastoral Care and Outreach and founder of the Center for Catholic Social Thought, and Gioia Socha as Parish Business Administrator. A full-time Director of Faith Formation is currently being recruited through the Archdiocesan careers portal to lead children's, youth, and adult faith formation and sacramental preparation.
- Father Paul Treacy — Pastor
- Colin Miller — Director of Pastoral Care and Outreach; founder of the Center for Catholic Social Thought
- Gioia Socha — Parish Business Administrator ([email protected])
- Director of Faith Formation — open position, listed via Archdiocese careers
Faith Formation and Sacraments
The parish describes itself as 'a large, vibrant parish in downtown St. Paul serving families from St. Paul and surrounding communities.' Faith formation covers children, youth, and adults, with sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation aligned with Archdiocesan standards. The Archdiocesan careers portal shows the parish actively hiring a full-time Director of Faith Formation to strengthen youth formation and sacramental preparation in the coming year.
- Family faith formation program
- Sacramental preparation: First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation
- Adult faith formation opportunities (catechetical, evangelization, discipleship)
- Catechist recruitment, training, and supervision
- Safe Environment compliance and background checks per Archdiocesan policy
Center for Catholic Social Thought
Assumption is home to the Center for Catholic Social Thought, an initiative of the parish founded by Colin Miller, the parish's Director of Pastoral Care and Outreach. The center exists 'to spread the thought and practice of Catholic social teaching in the archdiocese, and specifically to the ordinary layman in the pew who has not encountered it before.' Father Paul Treacy has guided the effort, which includes a monthly roundtable and short talks after weekday noon Mass.
- Roundtable discussion group: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 5:30–7:00 PM at Assumption
- Short talks by Colin Miller or guest speakers after weekday noon Mass
- Free events open across the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
- Director: Colin Miller (Director of Pastoral Care and Outreach, Assumption)
Outreach and Social Mission
Outreach is in the parish's DNA: Assumption is the historic birthplace of Catholic Charities Twin Cities. The parish sits close to the Dorothy Day Center and Catholic Charities, places that 'care for society's overlooked,' and current ministries continue that tradition — including collecting diaper essentials for new parents in need on the third Thursday of every month.
- Historic birthplace of Catholic Charities Twin Cities (parish orphanage → St. Joseph's Home for Children → Catholic Charities).
- Adjacent to Dorothy Day Center and Catholic Charities in downtown Saint Paul.
- Monthly diaper-essentials collection for new parents in need (third Thursday).
- Parish volunteer ministries.
Lord, Renew Your Church Campaign
Assumption is participating in the Archdiocese-wide 'Lord, Renew Your Church' initiative. The parish reports a goal of $3,005,000 and pledges received of $2,291,525 — putting the parish at roughly 76% of its campaign target. Father Treacy has preached a homily on the capital campaign, and the parish website features a dedicated video to help parishioners learn more.
- Campaign goal: $3,005,000
- Pledges received: $2,291,525 (~76% of goal)
- Pledges can be returned via the collection basket, dropped at the parish office, or mailed
- Make checks payable to 'Lord, Renew Your Church'
Plan Your Visit
The Church of the Assumption is at 51 West 7th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102, in the heart of downtown — the same downtown that hears its four historic bells from the east tower. Mass is celebrated in English throughout the week, with multiple Sunday options for downtown workers and visitors. The parish office can be reached at (651) 224-7536.
- Address: 51 West 7th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102
- Phone: (651) 224-7536
- Website: https://assumptionsp.org/
- Email: [email protected] (Parish Business Administrator)
- Located steps from Catholic Charities and the Dorothy Day Center
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father George Keller1856–1858
Founding pastor; after his transfer to Faribault in 1858 the parish was staffed by Benedictine priests and brothers from Saint John's Abbey, Collegeville.