History of Assumption Parish

The history of Assumption Parish is a story of perseverance, faith, sacrifice, and growth. What began as a small mission serving only a few Catholic families developed over time into a thriving parish community devoted to worship, education, and service.



In 1903, Reverend George Houck, Chancellor of the Diocese of Cleveland, published a two volume study titled A History of Catholicity in Northern Ohio and in the Diocese of Cleveland. In this extensive work, only one half page was devoted to “Assumption Mission Church” in Royalton, Cuyahoga County. After describing the modest beginnings of the mission, Father Houck concluded by explaining that it was not attached to Independence as a weekday mission and at that time numbered only about eight families.

Ninety five years later, this struggling mission had grown into a vibrant parish community of more than 1,500 families under the pastoral care of the Benedictine monks of Saint Andrew Abbey in Cleveland. The one hundred fortieth anniversary of the first Catholic community in Broadview Heights provides a fitting occasion to reflect upon the interesting and sometimes difficult history of Assumption Parish.

The Founding Years 1857 to 1892

In 1857, four years before Abraham Lincoln was elected President, Bishop Amadeus Rappe, the first bishop of the ten year old Diocese of Cleveland, organized the mission of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Royalton District of Cuyahoga County.

Bishop Rappe met with the small number of Catholic families in the area and celebrated the Eucharist in the home of James Morrow. During the homily he revealed his plans to establish a permanent Catholic parish in Royalton. He instructed the faithful to obtain land and build a small church and promised that priests from the cathedral would visit regularly to celebrate the sacraments until a resident pastor could be appointed.

For the next three years Mass was celebrated approximately once each month without the benefit of a church building. Visiting priests traveled from the cathedral and from the established Catholic parish in Liverpool, now known as Valley City.

In 1862, Bishop Rappe appointed Father T. J. Halley of Grafton to care for Assumption mission, a responsibility he would carry for six years. Within a year of his appointment, Father Halley purchased a house and lot for five hundred dollars and remodeled the home into the first church of the mission. This building stood at the corner of present day Royalton Road and Ridge Road.

The location soon proved inconvenient. Father Halley exchanged the property for land at the intersection of Broadview Road and Royalton Road which included a frame building that was remodeled into a church. This structure served Assumption until 1905.

After 1868, priests from several nearby parishes traveled to minister to the faithful of the mission. These included Saint Augustine Parish in Cleveland from 1869 to 1870, Saint Martin Parish in Valley City from 1870 to 1872, Saint Mary Parish in Rockport, now Assumption Parish in Brook Park, from 1873 to 1877, Saint Adalbert Parish in Berea from 1877 to 1879, and the parish of Olmsted from 1879 to 1880.

For ten years, from 1882 until 1892, Father J. A. TePas of Saint Mary Seminary in Cleveland regularly journeyed to the mission to care for the spiritual needs of the small congregation. Population shifts eventually reduced the mission to only five families. In April of 1892 the diocese stopped assigning priests for periodic visits and the mission was essentially closed.

Reopening of the Mission and Jesuit Ministry 1900 to 1913

Assumption mission nearly disappeared following eight years of abandonment. In September of 1900, Bishop Ignatius Horstmann reopened the mission and placed it under the care of Saint Michael Parish in Independence.

In 1905, Father Michael Aust of Saint Michael moved the mission one mile south of Route 82 on Broadview Road. A house located on Behal’s farm was remodeled into a church, after which administration of the mission was entrusted to Father Joseph Novak of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Cleveland.

Within three months, however, the church was closed once again. Two years later Bishop Horstmann found a way to reopen Assumption by inviting the Jesuit priests from Saint Stanislaus Novitiate, presently located in Parma, to provide priestly service. From 1907 until 1913 the Jesuits faithfully traveled the eight mile journey from Parma twice each month to celebrate Sunday Mass, hear confessions, conduct baptisms, and minister to approximately thirty families.

Parish records indicate that Father R. Meschenmoser, S.J., celebrated his first Mass at Assumption on Sunday, August 18, 1907. On November 2 of that year twelve children received their First Holy Communion at a beautiful liturgy during which Jesuit seminarians sang and served at the altar. The children had prepared by making a two day retreat.

A number of Bohemian immigrants had settled in the area, making bilingual confessions common, often in Polish as well. On March 5, 1908, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Koudelka, a native of Czechoslovakia, heard twenty eight Easter confessions in Bohemian, conducted Marian devotions, preached a sermon, and officiated at Benediction.

Statistics from the close of 1908 show that the Jesuits traveled to the mission twenty nine times, heard three hundred three confessions, baptized seven individuals, gave eleven children First Communion, buried three parishioners, and witnessed one wedding.

Financial records from the year ending December 31, 1907 illustrate the simplicity of the mission. Total cash receipts were two hundred sixty one dollars and ninety nine cents, including fifty dollars and forty eight cents from Sunday collections and sixty one dollars and thirty three cents from the mission picnic. Expenses totaled one hundred sixty five dollars and two cents, including twenty dollars for a horse and buggy and fifteen dollars for a Christmas crib.

The six years of Jesuit ministry revitalized Assumption mission and led to steady growth.

Establishment as a Parish and Continued Growth 1913 to 1966

Recognizing this progress, Bishop John Farrelly appointed Father Michael F. Shannon as the first resident pastor of the newly declared parish in 1913. Father Shannon faithfully served Assumption until his retirement in 1938, completing twenty five years of pastoral leadership.

As the parish expanded, Father Shannon saw the need for a larger church. In 1929 he purchased the present parish property on Broadview Road and constructed a stone trimmed brick church in the Romanesque style with seating for three hundred twenty five worshippers. This fourth house of worship remained in use for forty years and was later converted into the parish social hall in 1969.

In 1938, Bishop Joseph Schrembs appointed Father Thomas Gaffney as the second pastor. At that time the parish consisted of about one hundred families. Over the next twenty years the Broadview Heights area experienced rapid growth. In 1958 Father Gaffney added wings to the church to accommodate the increasing number of Sunday worshippers. That same year he built an eleven classroom school and invited the Sisters of the Incarnate Word to staff it. The sisters have faithfully served Assumption School ever since.

Father Gaffney died in 1962 after twenty four years as pastor.

Mass attendance continued to grow, requiring additional liturgies in the lower hall beneath the church. Father Schneider undertook a major interior renovation that included new lighting fixtures, fresh paint, new windows, and refinished pews. Recognizing that these improvements were temporary solutions, he began plans for a new church. Tragically, a serious illness led to repeated hospitalizations and ultimately his death on August 28, 1966 at the age of fifty seven. His devotion to the parish was evident when, just seven days before his death, he insisted on attending the parish picnic, his final public appearance.

Construction of the Present Church 1966 to 1977

On September 29, 1966, Father George Lawrence became the fourth pastor of Assumption. Bishop Clarence Issenmann specifically entrusted him with the responsibility of building the long needed new church.

After a year and a half of planning and design, the project was approved. Groundbreaking ceremonies took place on February 11, 1968 with three hundred parishioners in attendance. Bishop Issenmann dedicated the impressive new structure on August 17, 1969.

The modern, bell shaped church seats eleven hundred worshippers and features a striking forty four foot stained glass window depicting Mary’s Assumption into heaven.

Father Lawrence continued to guide the parish until February of 1977, when Bishop James Hickey appointed him pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Lorain, Ohio.

Benedictine Leadership and Parish Renewal Beginning in 1977

With parish membership continuing to grow due to new housing developments in the late 1960s and 1970s, strong pastoral leadership was essential. At the same time, the Diocese of Cleveland faced a shortage of clergy. Concerned for the spiritual welfare of the faithful, Bishop James A. Hickey invited the Benedictine monks of Saint Andrew Abbey in Cleveland to assume administration of Assumption Parish in March of 1977.

The monastic community accepted this responsibility. On March 16, 1977, Abbot Jerome Koval and Bishop Hickey announced the appointment of Father Augustine Yurko, O.S.B., prior of the abbey, as pastor. He was installed on Palm Sunday, April 3, during a parish liturgy. Father Ronald Mahnke, O.S.B., arrived on June 9 as associate pastor. Father William Matyas, O.S.B., who had served as a weekend assistant since 1970, had already introduced parishioners to Benedictine pastoral ministry.

The Benedictine family spirit quickly took hold. On August 28, 1977, nearly one thousand people attended the revived annual parish picnic. Father Augustine restored the Holy Name Society, supported publication of a monthly newsletter titled The Namer, increased salaries for teaching sisters and lay teachers, revived scouting programs, and formed a Hi Club for young adults.

Sister Fabian Quigley, S.I.W., who had arrived the previous year, served as principal of Assumption School for twelve years until her transfer in 1988, the longest tenure of any Incarnate Word sister in that role.

Parish spiritual life was enriched by the introduction of the Christ Renews His Parish program in 1979. Lay Eucharistic ministers were commissioned on September 18 of that year, allowing greater participation by the laity in the liturgy. Music flourished under choir director Dick Thonnings, who served from 1974 until 1995, and organist Phil Herout, who joined the parish in 1977.

In June of 1982, Robert Bubnick was ordained as the first permanent deacon from the parish.

Father Joachim Pastirik, O.S.B., served as weekend assistant from 1978 until 1991, sharing his humor and artistic gifts with the community.

Under Father Augustine’s direction a second Saturday evening vigil Mass was added, pamphlet racks were installed at all church entrances, and a yearly Day of Recollection was organized for the Altar and Rosary Society.

In September of 1980 the parish was divided for the fifth time when the Diocese established Saint Matthias Parish. Two hundred twenty seven families from Assumption became members of the new parish, and the two communities shared certain programs including Pre Cana marriage preparation.

Staff additions included longtime secretary Jane Melinis and parish cook and housekeeper Almeda Butler, whose joyful service supported the Benedictines for more than twenty years.

The parish campus also saw many improvements. The parking lot was resurfaced, drainage added, a new public address system installed, and both a pulpit and tabernacle were replaced. The kitchen in the former church hall was completely renovated. In 1980 a football field with spectator stands and concession booths was constructed. A major renovation of the parish house in 1981 created additional offices, bedroom suites, and a multipurpose meeting hall seating one hundred people. Kindergarten and preschool programs were added between 1980 and 1982.

On June 1, 1981, Abbot Jerome Koval resigned as administrator of Saint Andrew Abbey and became associate pastor at Assumption. For twelve years, until his death on September 18, 1993, his energy, compassion, humor, and deep faith touched parishioners of every age.

When Father Augustine reached the retirement age of seventy in 1983, Father David Vizsolyi, O.S.B., was appointed pastor. Recognizing continued growth, he began planning for a parish family center and an addition to the school. In May of 1990 the Assumption Family Center was dedicated, featuring a full gymnasium, social hall, fellowship room, and additional office space. Prestige Catering assumed responsibility for directing rentals of the hall.

Father William Matyas returned in 1985 as associate pastor and remained a beloved member of the parish staff for twelve years.

Declining health forced Father David into early retirement in 1991. He died on May 25, 1994 at the age of sixty eight.

He was succeeded by Father Christopher Schwartz, O.S.B., former history teacher at Benedictine High School and prior of the abbey. With a parish of more than 1,900 households, Father Christopher focused on listening to parishioners and strengthening outreach.

In 1990 Sister Carol Tobler, S.I.W., was named principal and guided the school through the diocesan Futuring process, an extensive self evaluation designed to ensure continued excellence in Catholic education. The school served nearly three hundred students in grades one through eight.

In 1995 the Altar and Rosary Society launched a fundraising effort for a statue of the Holy Family to be placed in front of the Parish Family Center in memory of Abbot Jerome Koval. Sculptor Sandro Bonaiuto, who had family ties to the parish, created the statue, which was dedicated in the summer of 1996 by Abbot Roger Gries in the presence of Abbot Jerome’s sister, Anne Zak.

Following the retirement of Dick Thonnings in 1995, Laura Salasek and Barbara Szabo were named co directors of the choir.

That same period saw the introduction of the Life Teen program in cooperation with Saint Matthias Parish. Youth Masses and service projects soon became an important part of parish life.

In August of 1996, Father Christopher hired Mrs. Lisa Radey as Director of Religious Education for preschool through grade eight, serving nearly four hundred children enrolled in the Parish School of Religion.

Parish staffing continued to evolve. In 1997 Father Clement Zeleznik, O.S.B., was appointed associate pastor, succeeding Father Ronald Mahnke, whose combined service to Assumption totaled twelve years.

Sister Therese Horan, O.S.U., joined the staff as pastoral associate in September of 1997. With special concern for the homebound and elderly, she established a Ministry of Praise that invited those unable to leave their homes to participate in a prayer ministry for the parish. She also helped develop the bereavement support group Hands of Hope, coordinated by Debbie Boyle.

That same year construction began on an addition to the social hall kitchen, allowing it to serve larger events such as Lenten fish fries, pierogi sales, catered gatherings, and the annual parish picnic. A new roof was installed on the church and the parking lot was resurfaced. Assumption School celebrated its fortieth anniversary in 1997 with the hiring of a full time librarian, Elaine Kopniske, and the computerization of the library.

Small Faith Communities continued to grow as part of a diocesan wide initiative, and Life in the Spirit renewal weekends began in 1996.

As the parish concluded its one hundred fortieth anniversary year on April 18, 1998, perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was established in a special chapel, offering parishioners a profound opportunity for prayer and devotion.

Current efforts included the transformation of the Parish Council into a Pastoral Council in accordance with diocesan guidelines, along with the creation of commissions dedicated to worship, social concerns, and evangelization.

A Living Faith

The same Holy Spirit who gathered the first families for Mass with Bishop Rappe in 1857 continues to unite the people of Assumption Parish. From a humble gathering in a private home to a strong and active faith community, the parish remains committed to proclaiming the Gospel and serving future generations.

As participants in the enduring life of the Church, the faithful of Assumption move forward with confidence, renewed in the power of the Holy Spirit and dedicated to bringing the world ever more fully under the saving love of Jesus Christ.