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Assumption Parish HistoryThe Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary stands on the hilltop in northeast Seattle’s Bryant-Assumption area, with a view of the Olympic Mountains to the west and the Cascade Range to the east.
For over 100 years it has been a house for the Church: the People of God and the Body of Christ under the Holy Spirit’s guidance.Bishop Edward John O’Dea founded Assumption parish in territory, which had been part of Blessed Sacrament Parish.
The site for the new church was chosen on May 26, 1923, and named for Mary, Assumed into Heaven, a tribute to the Mother of God in her final glorification. Bishop O’Dea chose monks of the Order of Saint Benedict of Lacey, Washington, to take charge of the parish.
Father Joseph Golob, OSB, became our first pastor on February 12, 1924.
At that time the population was sparse and streets were unpaved in the area. Trees, low brush, ferns, and old-growth stumps covered the site for the church. Orchards and woods grew in much of the parish’s geographical area, and pioneers remember berry farms and a few Japanese truck farms in the lower part of what is today known as Hawthorne Hills. They sold their produce at the Pike Place Market.
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In March 1924, a temporary building was constructed that served as both a church and a hall.
The structure measured 28 x 60 feet. First, parishioners used folding chairs, and they curtained the sanctuary at the altar rail when they used the room as a social hall. The sacristy, a lean-to measuring about 18 X 32 feet off the side of the church, also contained kitchen equipment and a stove for preparing church dinners, which usually cost fifty cents. The original building was located at the present main entrance to the school. The fledgling community of sixty-six members celebrated its first Mass on April 6, 1924.
Our parish obtained a social hall in 1926 by purchasing “the little brown church” formerly used by Ravenna Methodist Church.
The parish raised the $125 price at a church dinner. This 32 X 62-foot structure served the parish until 1932, when it was taken down
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Our present church building was constructed in 1931 under the pastorate of Father Louis Carey, OSB.
Architect Paul Thiry designed a Romanesque edifice of solid brick, tile, and reinforced concrete. The original plan was to use this permanent, fireproof structure later as a parish hall. However, it remained a church, with a seating capacity of 450 at the time. Two club rooms complete with French doors and fireplaces stood off the vestibule. In these rooms, early parishioners remember attending catechism lessons taught by the Dominican Sisters from Blessed Sacrament School.
We celebrated the solemn opening of our new church building on March 15, 1931.
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The present school building, designed by Roger Gotteland, was blessed on September 11, 1949, by Bishop Thomas A. Connolly.
The first eighth-grade graduation took place on May 28, 1951. The school is now known as Assumption-St. Bridget, reflecting the two parishes which it serves. A junior-high wing was added to the school in 1986. In November 1996, four new classrooms were added and seismic upgrading was done in the original building.
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Post-World War II growth in the area made planning for adequate religious education of parish children a necessity.
The sixth pastor, Father Alcuin Lawrence, OSB, arranged to remodel the club rooms and church hall to provide temporary classrooms for the first four elementary grades. Sisters of St. Dominic of the Congregation of St. Thomas Aquinas of Tacoma came to teach at the school, which opened in September 1947.
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Bishop Thomas A. Connolly blessed the present school building, designed by Roger Gotteland, on September 11, 1949.
The first eighth-grade graduation took place on May 28, 1951. The school is now known as Assumption-St. Bridget, reflecting the two parishes which it serves. The school added a junior-high wing in 1986. In November 1996, the school added four new classrooms and completed seismic upgrades to the original building.
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Father Philip Bagan, OSB, the seventh pastor, oversaw the building of a large convent across the street from the church.
The Sisters used it for many years to teach at the school, and the Edmonds Adrian/Dominican Sisters later owned it. Today, Assumption - St. Bridget School owns it. Father Philip also negotiated the purchase of other properties, which enabled the parish to own the entire block from NE 62nd Street to NE 65th Street and 32nd NE to 33rd NE.
These purchases made possible the completion of the parish plant in the golden jubilee year of 1973, when a large gymnasium/meeting hall named for Father Arnold Fox, OSB, the eighth pastor, was added.
Prior to Father Arnold’s appointment in 1968, St. Bridget’s Parish was created from the Laurelhurst, Windermere, and parts of the Hawthorne Hills areas of Assumption Parish.
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Father Joseph Petosa (1982-1988) was the first Diocesan Priest to lead Assumption.
During his tenure, the church was remodeled, adding a northern transept, moving the choir to a space behind the altar, and raising the altar, ambo and baptismal station on a dais of native stone. Assumption Parish celebrated the 65th Anniversary of our founding in 1988.
Sister Kay Lewis, O.P., joined Assumption as the Parish Administrator in 1988 leading the parish until 1997.
Rev. Michael Angelovic acted as Pastoral Vicar from 1989 through 1997.
In this period, Assumption-St. Bridget School was retrofitted to withstand earthquakes and two new classrooms were added to accommodate the anticipated growth of students.
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Deacon John LaRussa and Deacon Dave Warmuth acted as Pastoral Vicars from 1997- 2000 and 1997 – 2001, respectively.
In 1998 Assumption parish celebrated its 75th Anniversary. That year, a Lenten Fish-Fry was inaugurated, a community-building event that is held every Lent. In 1998, Father Emil Andersen celebrated Masses at Assumption, remaining until 2000.
Assumption over the years has supported an orphanage, Nosotros Pequanos Mermanos, in Haiti.
The Jubilee Year of 2000 Assumption became a member of the Washington State Catholic Conference.
Rev. Oliver Duggan came as Pastor of Assumption in 2001.
He initiated the Prayer of Terce before weekday Masses shortly after his arrival.
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Early in the millennium, under Father Oliver’s leadership, the community developed a master plan, followed by a major project, “Remembering our Past; Building our Future.”
The successful project expanded the narthex of the church, eliminated the former rectory, and replaced it with a newsocial hall facility adjacent to and connected to the church. The facility and the church are now wheelchair accessible. We also built a pair of classrooms for Assumption-Saint Bridget School. The new Blessed Sacrament Chapel provides a sanctuary where all can pray and meditate. Our connection to God in Nature is enhanced by removing the old asphalt and planting a beautiful Garden of Remembrance, located on the west side of the church.
In 2003, we expanded our Advent celebrations to include the Filipino tradition of Simbang Gabi, a novena of Masses that precede the Christmas Feast.
Assumption joins eight other Seattle parishes, each hosting one Mass. Assumption is decorated with bright parols to remind us of the Nativity of Jesus and the joy we feel in its anticipation. While Simbang Gabi is traditionally held in the pre-dawn hours, we celebrate in the evening so working people can participate. After Mass, everyone enjoys a feast of Filipino food.
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With the Holy Spirit's guidance, adult education sessions take place both during the day and in the evening.
Scripture study is held weekly on Wednesday mornings; we have also held evening sessions on prayer, the history of the Church, the morality of stem-cell research, and plans to reduce homelessness. The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults follows a deep, annual cycle. The Spirit guides groups of adults and children to join the church at every Easter Vigil.
The middle of the first decade of the Millennium marked the resumption of the work of a Chapter of the Knights of Columbus at Assumption.
The Chapter supports seminarians through a variety of projects, including excellent breakfasts held 5-6 times a year after Sunday Mass.
Benedictine Fathers staffed and served Assumption church for 58 ½ years.
Pastors not mentioned above include Fathers Anthony Hack, Albert Erkens, Paul Keera, Peter Sand, and Justin McCreedy.
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Through the years, many priests of the Order of Saint Benedict have served the Assumption Parish Family.
Years Served Rev. Joseph Golob, OSB 1924-1926 Rev. Anthony Hack, OSB 1926-1929 Rev. Louis Carey, OSB 1929-1935 Rev. Albert Erkens, OSB 1935-1937 Rev. Paul Kucera, OSB 1937-1945 Rev. Alcuin Lawrence, OSB 1945-1960 Rev. Philip Bagan, OSB 1960-1968 Rev. Arnold J. Fox 1968 -1982 Rev. Joseph Petosa 1982-1988 Sister Kay Lewis, OP, Parocial Minister/ Pastoral Life Director 1988-1997 Deacon John LaRussa, Pastoral Life Director 1997-2000 Deacon Dave Warmuth 1997-2001 Rev. Michael Angelovic 1989-2000 Rev. Emil Anderson 2000-2001 Rev. Oliver Duggan 2001-2024 Rev. William Herric 2024-present Rev. Duc Nguyen 2024-present Serving as Associate Pastors, weekend Associates, or in-residence at Assumption have been:
Rev. Fabian Sexton, OSB, the first assistant pastor Rev. Francis O’Driscoll, OSB, Rev. Gabriel Donohue, OSB, Rev. John Raymond, OSB, Rev. Martin Toner, OSB, Rev. Michael Feeney, OSB, Rev. Dunstan Curtis, OSB Other Benedictines serving were:
Rev. Marcel Berthon, OSB Rev. Dominic Hahn, OSB Rev. Placidus Reischman, OSB Rev. Arnold Fox, OSB Rev. Thaddaeus Arledge, OSB Rev. Alfred Hulscher, OSB The Rt. Rev. Raphael Heider, OSB—lived at Assumption for some years after his retirement as Abbot of St. Martin’s We salute our forebears—priests, religious, and laity—for their generosity, vision, sacrifice, and commitment. Our church and entire parish complex belong to each of us and bear witness to the vitality of faith in our Catholic community in this part of Seattle.
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