About Assumption · Washington, District of Columbia
The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a small, faith-filled Catholic parish in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington, D.C., canonically established in 1916 and serving the Ward 8 community for more than a century. The current church building on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue was dedicated in 1933 and is known for its original stained-glass windows and devotional artwork on the back wall depicting saints such as St. Martin de Porres, St. Josephine Bakhita, Mother Teresa, and St. John Paul II. The parish is home to the Pope Francis Outreach Center, which grew out of the 1967 Helping Hand Program and now serves over 5,000 families a year through a food pantry and clothing closet. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Washington and celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish.
- Established
- 1916
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Cezary Kozubek
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
Assumption offers the warmth of a small, family-like Catholic community in Congress Heights that worships in both English and Spanish and takes seriously its call to serve. Parishioners can attend daily Mass five days a week, spend time in Eucharistic Adoration on Mondays and Fridays, and be welcomed into a strong sacramental life through RCIA, baptism preparation, and accessible confession. Above all, joining the parish means joining the work of the Pope Francis Outreach Center, which feeds and clothes thousands of Ward 8 families every year — a tangible expression of Catholic social teaching lived out right next door to where you worship.
Mass times at Assumption
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM (parish website); Archdiocese of Washington lists 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM
- During Eucharistic Adoration on Mondays and Fridays, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Thirty minutes prior to all Masses, or anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- Monday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (main church; confessions also heard)
- Friday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (main church; confessions also heard)
History of the Parish
The parish traces its roots to 1916, when Father John E. Horstkamp said the first Mass at the Church of the Incarnation on Alabama Avenue and acquired property on what was then Nichols Avenue — today's Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. The cornerstone of the present church was laid in March 1933 by Auxiliary Bishop John M. McNamara of Baltimore, and the building was dedicated that fall. Cornerstones for an Assumption School, convent, and new rectory followed in 1950, expanding the parish plant significantly over the decades.
- First Mass: 1916 (Church of the Incarnation, 600 Alabama Avenue)
- Founding pastor: Rev. John E. Horstkamp (1916–1922)
- Current church building cornerstone: March 1933; dedicated fall 1933
- School / Convent / Rectory cornerstones laid: 1950
Architecture and Art
The church was designed by architect Donald S. Johnson, Sr., and retains its original 1933 stained-glass windows. A later pastor, Rev. Mark Ivany, commissioned devotional paintings on the back wall of the church featuring modern saints of social justice — St. Martin de Porres, St. Josephine Bakhita, Mother Teresa, and Pope St. John Paul II — connecting the parish's 1930s-built structure with twentieth-century Catholic heroes.
- Architect: Donald S. Johnson, Sr.
- Stained-glass windows: original, 1933
- Back-wall paintings: St. Martin de Porres, St. Josephine Bakhita, Mother Teresa, Pope St. John Paul II (commissioned by Pastor Ivany)
Pope Francis Outreach Center
The parish's signature ministry, the Pope Francis Outreach Center, grew directly out of the Helping Hand Program that Pastor George V. Joyce established in 1967 amid racial and economic upheaval. Expanded under successive pastors and now housed in the converted convent, the center feeds the hungry and distributes clothing through a food pantry and clothing closet, serving more than 5,000 families each year in Ward 8. The center is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and welcomes donations and volunteers.
- Founded as the Helping Hand Program in 1967 by Rev. George V. Joyce
- Current name: Pope Francis Outreach Center
- Service: food pantry and clothing closet
- Reach: over 5,000 families per year
- Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Missionaries of Charity in Congress Heights
Since the late 1970s, when Pastor Thomas A. Kane invited the Missionaries of Charity (the religious order founded by St. Teresa of Calcutta) to the parish, Mother Teresa's sisters have maintained a presence in Congress Heights from Assumption. They operate a house serving homeless single mothers and a nearby soup kitchen, carrying out the corporal works of mercy right alongside the parish's own Outreach Center.
- Missionaries of Charity welcomed to parish: late 1970s under Rev. Thomas A. Kane
- Service: house for homeless single mothers, neighborhood soup kitchen
- Mother Teresa herself visited the parish when traveling in Washington, D.C.
- 2005 abduction: a sister was briefly taken from the convent and released the same day with minor injuries
Sacramental Preparation and Faith Formation
Assumption prepares Catholics of all ages for the sacraments. The Parish Office helps families schedule infant baptism and explains the requirements for godparents (one Catholic man and one woman, with at least one practicing Catholic in good standing). The parish also runs an RCIA program for unbaptized adults, for Christians from other traditions seeking full communion, and for baptized Catholics needing First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and/or Confirmation. RCIA is available for children age seven and older as well.
- Baptism preparation: call 202-561-4178
- Godparent requirements: one Catholic man and one woman; Catholic must be confirmed and in union with the Church
- RCIA: adults and children age 7+; offered for three groups: unbaptized, baptized in another tradition, baptized Catholic missing sacraments
Vocations and Parish Life
The parish web pages describe a culture of vocations grounded in prayer. Parishioners are invited to join the Mother Teresa Vocation Society to pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life and to encourage perseverance among those already discerning. As a small community, Assumption emphasizes family-like bonds and looks to live out Catholic social teaching through its worship, faith formation, and outreach arms together.
- Mother Teresa Vocation Society (parish vocation prayer group)
- Three pillars described on the website: liturgy/worship, faith formation, outreach/evangelization
Parish Staff and Contact
Day-to-day parish life is coordinated by a small team led by the pastor. The Archdiocese of Washington directory lists the parish secretary and administrative assistant, along with the lead coordinators of the Pope Francis Outreach Center who manage the food pantry and clothing closet operations.
- Pastor / Administrator: Rev. Cezary Kozubek
- Secretary / Administrative Assistant: Cheryl Hamlin-Williams
- Outreach Center: Mildred Brown, Brenda Hare
- Phone: 202-561-4178
- Fax: 202-561-0336
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John E. Horstkamp1916–1922
Founded the parish; said first Mass in 1916 at Church of the Incarnation on Alabama Avenue.
- Rev. William Carroll1922–1931
- Rev. Francis X. Cavanaugh1931–1933
- Rev. Joseph M. Moran1934–1936
- Rev. Charles E. Roach1936–1966
- Rev. George V. Joyce1967–1969
Established the Helping Hand Program in 1967 to serve neighbors in need.
- Rev. Raymond P. Cahill1969–1972
Expanded the Helping Hand Program into the broader Outreach Program.
- Rev. Thomas A. Kane1972–1979
Welcomed the Missionaries of Charity to the parish; Mother Teresa visited under his pastorship.
- Rev. Thomas P. Kelly1979–1986
- Rev. Francis Walsh1986–1991
- Rev. Brian Vaughn1991–1992
- Rev. Roy Campbell1992 (approx.)
- Rev. Ansgar Laczko1992–2004
- Rev. Charles Green2004–2008
Rev. Scott Woods served as administrator during a period of his hospitalization.
- Rev. William Montgomery2010–2012
- Rev. Mark Ivany2012–2015
Commissioned the paintings of saints on the back wall of the church.
- Rev. Greg Shaffer2016–
Per Wikipedia listing of pastors.
- Rev. Cezary Kozubekpresent
Current pastor and parish administrator per the Archdiocese of Washington listing.