About Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption · Marietta, Ohio
The Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption is a Roman Catholic minor basilica located at 506 4th Street in Marietta, Ohio, in the Diocese of Steubenville. Founded in 1838 and elevated to basilica status by Pope Francis on June 13, 2013, it became the 76th basilica in the United States and only the second in Ohio. The parish worships in a grand Spanish Colonial Revival church designed by Cleveland architect Emile M. Uhlrich, completed in 1909, and renowned for its Munich-made stained glass, Bottochino and Carrara marble furnishings, and a soaring dome over the transept crossing. The parish is paired with St. Mary Catholic School (founded 1896) and maintains a cemetery in Lawrence Township.
- Established
- 1838
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title of the Assumption
- Rector
- Very Rev. Edward Maxfield Jr. (Rector)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Steubenville
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a rare combination: a small-city parish with the spiritual privileges of a basilica and the artistic heritage of a major European church. Daily and Sunday Masses are celebrated in a Spanish Colonial Revival landmark adorned with Munich stained glass, Italian marble furnishings, and German transept paintings, and every visit can include Eucharistic Adoration (Wednesdays and Fridays in the Chapel of the English Martyrs), the Monday Mother of Perpetual Help novena and Benediction, a weekday Rosary, Lenten Stations of the Cross, and the annual candlelit Assumption Rosary Procession through St. Mary Cemetery on August 15 — a feast on which the basilica grants a plenary indulgence to pilgrims. Families are served by St. Mary Catholic School (Pre-K through 8th grade, founded 1896), a parish school foundation, religious education (CCD), OCIA, a Culture of Life Rosary, Knights of Columbus, Council of Catholic Women, Hibernians, Helping Hands, St. Vincent de Paul outreach, and a Daily Bread Kitchen ministry, all under the pastoral care of a rector, parochial vicars, and a permanent deacon.
Mass times at Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM in the basilica (both anonymous behind-the-screen and face-to-face options available)
- By appointment any time — contact the rectory
- Parish Penance Services during Advent and Lent with several visiting priests
Adoration times
- Wednesdays 8:15 AM (or 8:30 AM) – 7:00 PM in the Chapel of the English Martyrs
- Fridays 8:15 AM – 7:00 PM in the Chapel of the English Martyrs
History of the Basilica
Catholic worship at the site of Marietta reaches back to 1749, when Jesuit Father Joseph de Bonnecamp celebrated Mass at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers. Bishop John B. Purcell of Cincinnati bought two lots on South Fourth Street in 1837 and appointed Father James McGaffrey the first resident priest in 1838. The parish's first church was built in 1853, condemned and repaired in the 1860s, and repeatedly flooded in 1884, 1891, 1895, and 1898. After unanimously voting in 1900 to relocate to higher ground, the parish moved a former women's college (Putnam Hall) on the new lot to serve as its rectory — a building still in use today — and built the present Spanish Colonial Revival church between 1903 and 1909 for just under $129,000, funded almost entirely by parish subscriptions.
- 1749 — First Mass at the Muskingum/Ohio confluence by Fr. Joseph de Bonnecamp, S.J.
- 1837 — Bishop Purcell purchases lots on South Fourth Street
- 1838 — Father James McGaffrey appointed first resident priest; parish founded
- 1853 — First church building constructed on adjacent lot
- 1862–1870 — Pastorate of Father J.D. Ryan; walls condemned and repaired; church frescoed and stained-glass installed in the 1870s
- 1884, 1891, 1895, 1898 — Major floods inundate the church
- 1900 — Parish votes to move to higher ground at 4th and Wooster Streets
- 1903 (July 1) — Groundbreaking under Father Francis M. Woesman
- 1904 (June 12) — Cornerstone laid by Bishop James J. Hartley of Columbus
- 1905 — Building enclosed; construction halts for two years
- 1909 (December 12) — Bishop Hartley consecrates the new St. Mary's; first Pontifical High Mass in Marietta
- 1916 — Parish debt-free
- 1945 — Parish becomes part of the new Diocese of Steubenville
- 2008–2009 — Major restoration under Msgr. John Michael Campbell
- 2013 (June 13) — Pope Francis elevates the church to minor basilica (76th in the U.S.)
- 2013 (November 5) — Solemn Inaugural Mass with Bishop Monforton
- 2014 (March 1) — Inaugural Mass broadcast nationally on EWTN
Architecture and Art
Cleveland architect Emile M. Uhlrich designed the present church in what he called 'Spanish Renaissance' — now generally classified as Spanish Colonial Revival — a blend of Romanesque and Baroque. The building rises about ten feet above Fourth Street to more than 100 feet tall and stretches more than 150 feet along Wooster Street. A long nave with massive pillars leads the eye upward to a great dome at the crossing of the transept and forward to a representation of the Assumption on the apse wall. The exterior is finished in stucco with mosaic and decorative work, and a spire with three bells (which still intone the Angelus) tops the tower.
- Architect: Emile M. Uhlrich of Cleveland
- Style: Spanish Colonial Revival ('Spanish Renaissance,' Romanesque-Baroque blend)
- Groundbreaking: July 1, 1903; consecrated December 12, 1909
- Construction cost: just under $129,000 (≈$100,000 from parish subscriptions)
- Stained glass: ordered from Munich, Germany, c. 1914–1918, said to have passed through the British blockade
- Transept paintings: by German artists
- Interior simplified in the 1970s (removal of high altar, altar rail, much of the sanctuary)
- 2008–2009 restoration: new altar, ambo, baldachin, and baptismal font in Bottochino and white Carrara marble; mosaic of the Madonna and Child from Italy; Stations of Light oil paintings; refurbished historic art
- Nearly 140 angel images throughout the church (sanctuary torchbearers, nave angels, cherub capitals, stained-glass angels)
Sacraments
The basilica prepares parishioners for the full sacramental life of the Church. Baptism is arranged through the Parish Office; children typically make First Reconciliation and receive First Communion in 2nd grade, and Confirmation is celebrated in 5th grade (with older students and adults prepared through OCIA). Confessions are heard every Saturday afternoon, with the option of anonymous behind-the-screen or face-to-face confession, and by appointment. Couples are asked to contact the parish at least six months before a wedding for Pre-Cana or Engaged Encounter, a priest meeting, and a wedding-preparation meeting with the music director.
- Baptism — contact Parish Office
- First Reconciliation and First Communion — 2nd grade
- Confirmation — 5th grade; older students/adults via OCIA
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:30–5:00 PM, by appointment, and Advent/Lent Penance Services
- Marriage — six months' notice; Pre-Cana or Engaged Encounter required
- Anointing of the Sick and Funeral Masses — guidelines available
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — begins in September, Monday evenings through May
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Sacramental preparation for children follows a traditional grade-level structure, while adults and older students seeking initiation or completion of sacraments enter the OCIA program. Weekly CCD classes for parish children are held Sunday mornings from 8:30 to 9:45 AM at St. Mary Catholic School.
- CCD (Sunday morning, 8:30–9:45 AM, at St. Mary Catholic School)
- First Reconciliation and First Communion — 2nd grade
- Confirmation — 5th grade (with regular religious education, monthly candidate/sponsor sessions, Christian service, and journal reflections)
- OCIA — Mondays from September through May
St. Mary Catholic School
St. Mary Catholic School has provided Catholic education in Washington County, Ohio since September 6, 1896, when Bishop Watterson blessed and dedicated the first St. Mary's School building on lower Fourth Street. The school family has since outgrown six locations and directed the education of more than 5,000 students. Today it offers a fully accredited preschool through eighth-grade curriculum rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ. The St. Mary School Foundation was established in 1992 by the Diocese of Steubenville to ensure the school's long-term financial stability. The school principal is Elizabeth Tokodi; the school office is at 320 Marion Street, phone (740) 374-8181.
- Founded: September 6, 1896 (blessed by Bishop Watterson)
- Grades: Preschool through 8th
- Principal: Elizabeth Tokodi
- Address: 320 Marion Street, Marietta, Ohio
- Phone: (740) 374-8181
- Website: https://stmarys.k12.oh.us
- St. Mary School Foundation — established 1992 by the Diocese of Steubenville
- Six locations over the school's history; more than 5,000 alumni
Parish Ministries and Outreach
A wide range of lay ministries, service organizations, and outreach efforts are active at St. Mary's. Liturgical roles (lectors, extraordinary ministers, altar servers, ushers, music) are coordinated from the parish office; music is directed by John Ontko. Pastoral councils and welcoming committees support parish life, while service organizations — the Knights of Columbus, Council of Catholic Women, and Ancient Order of Hibernians — provide fellowship and fundraising. Outreach to those in need is carried out through the Helping Hands Ministry, St. Vincent de Paul (help line 740-376-1334), and the Daily Bread Kitchen, supported by the parish's Culture of Life Ministry and Prayer Line.
- Welcoming Committee (Jim Naylor)
- Parish Council (President: Mike Huffman)
- Knights of Columbus — Grand Knight Dan Rose
- Council of Catholic Women — President Debbie Lazorik
- Ancient Order of Hibernians
- Helping Hands Ministry (Debbie Murray)
- St. Vincent de Paul Outreach — Help Line (740) 376-1334
- Daily Bread Kitchen (Carol Henshaw)
- Culture of Life Ministry (Thursday Rosary)
- Prayer Line & Eucharistic Adoration (Shelly Medley)
- Music Ministry — Director John Ontko
- Divine Mercy Gift Shop (Barb Ritchie)
St. Mary Cemetery
St. Mary's maintains a cemetery in Lawrence Township, Washington County, Ohio (the 'New St. Marys Cemetery'), located at the north end of St. Marys Avenue at its intersection with Cullen Road. The cemetery is the setting for the parish's most distinctive annual devotion — the Assumption Rosary Procession on the evening of August 15 — when the Holy Eucharist is carried in a candlelit procession, the Rosary is prayed in several languages, and Benediction is given.
- Cemetery location: north end of St. Marys Avenue at Cullen Road, Lawrence Township, Washington County
- Coordinates: 39.43315, -81.45621
- Find a Grave ID: 42396
- Annual Assumption Rosary Procession — candlelit procession, multilingual Rosary, Benediction
Clergy and Staff
The basilica is currently served by Very Rev. Edward Maxfield Jr. as Rector, with Rev. Msgr. John Michael Campbell retired (he was appointed the first Proto-Rector when the basilica was established in 2013). Rev. Emmanuel Nwosu serves as Parochial Vicar, and Rev. Mr. Lee Weisend serves as Permanent Deacon. Parish staff include the parish secretary, music director, gift shop manager, and ministry leaders listed in the parish bulletin.
- Rector: Very Rev. Edward Maxfield Jr. ([email protected])
- Rector Emeritus: Rev. Msgr. John Michael Campbell (first Proto-Rector, appointed 2013)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Emmanuel Nwosu ([email protected])
- Permanent Deacon: Rev. Mr. Lee Weisend
- Parish Secretary: Mary ([email protected])
- Music Director: John Ontko ([email protected])
- Divine Mercy Gift Shop: Barb Ritchie (740-538-4733)
Basilica Status and Papal Symbols
St. Mary's was designated the 76th minor basilica in the United States by decree of Pope Francis on June 13, 2013, through the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The designation was solemnized by Bishop Jeffrey M. Monforton at a Mass on November 5, 2013. As a basilica, St. Mary's shares a special relationship with the See of Rome and is entitled to display the Papal Keys, the Umbrellino (a yellow-and-red silk canopy symbolizing papal authority), and the Tintinnabulum (a small bell on a pole beneath the Papal Tiara, used in the Middle Ages to alert Romans of the Pope's approach). All three symbols were blessed and solemnly placed in the sanctuary during the Inaugural Mass.
- Decree of elevation: June 13, 2013 (Pope Francis)
- Solemn Inaugural Mass: November 5, 2013 (Bishop Jeffrey M. Monforton)
- EWTN broadcast: March 1, 2014
- First Proto-Rector: Msgr. John Michael Campbell
- Plenary indulgence granted on seven feast days each year for pilgrims
- Papal Keys, Umbrellino, and Tintinnabulum displayed in the sanctuary
- Jubilee Churches in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016) and the Holy Year 2025
Visiting, Pilgrimage, and Contact
The parish office can be reached at (740) 373-3643 or [email protected]. Visitors are welcome at any public Mass or during Eucharistic Adoration hours. Pilgrims are especially encouraged on August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption and the basilica's patronal feast, when the annual candlelit Rosary Procession takes place at St. Mary Cemetery and a plenary indulgence is available.
- Parish Office: (740) 373-3643
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stmarysmarietta.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/stmarysmarietta
- Address: 506 4th Street, Marietta, Ohio 45750
- Live-streamed Sunday Masses: 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM (also on YouTube)
- Annual Assumption pilgrimage: August 15 (plenary indulgence available)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father James McGaffrey1838–
First resident priest in Washington County, appointed by Bishop Purcell of Cincinnati
- Father J.D. Ryan1862–1870
Pastorate in which the original 1853 church walls were condemned as unsafe; church repaired and decorated
- Father Francis M. Woesmanc. 1900–
Led the move to higher ground; oversaw moving the rectory house and groundbreaking (July 1, 1903) for the present church; largest single subscriber at over $4,000
- Fr. Joseph J. Herman1922–
Listed in the parish's pastor succession
- Msgr. William Robben1931–
Listed in the parish's pastor succession
- Msgr. Edwin Murphy1948–
First pastorate after 1945 transfer into the new Diocese of Steubenville
- Msgr. Robert H. Punke1968–
Listed in the parish's pastor succession
- Msgr. Edward J. Kakascik1987–
Listed in the parish's pastor succession
- Fr. Mark Moore2003
Pastoral administrator
- Msgr. John Michael Campbell2004–
Led the 2008–2009 restoration; appointed first Proto-Rector when the parish was elevated to minor basilica on June 13, 2013; now retired
- Very Rev. Edward Maxfield Jr.after 2013
Succeeded as Rector; current rector of the basilica
