Three Churches on One Foundation
On a quiet stretch of East Monroe Road in Midland's Larkin Township, the current church of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish rises above a remarkable piece of ground. The building's foundation touches the foundations of the two previous church buildings that preceded it, tying together more than a century of Catholic life in this corner of Midland County. The community that gathers here still counts families who are fourth, fifth, and sixth generation members of the parish.
The first church, a small white building, was dedicated on October 8, 1916, by Bishop Michael Gallagher of the Grand Rapids Diocese. Polish and Slovak families had prayed, planned, and saved for years to make that day possible. In the early years, Mass was offered only on the fifth Sunday and on Holy Days, and the mission was served by priests from neighboring parishes, including St. Anthony of Fisherville, St. Brigid, and Blessed Sacrament of Midland.
By the early 1960s, the original church had become too small for the growing Catholic population of Larkin Township. A second church was blessed in 1966 by Bishop Stephen Woznicki of the newly established Diocese of Saginaw, and the first resident pastor was assigned that year, making Assumption a parish in its own right. A parish hall with a kitchen and classrooms followed in 1979, and the present church, the third on the property, was dedicated in 2000 by Bishop Kenneth Untener. A coffee area called Holy Grounds was added in 2017, giving parishioners a place to gather, read, and host small functions between services.
Weekend and Weekday Mass
Mass is the rhythm of parish life at Assumption, and the schedule is built to welcome both weekend visitors and weekday regulars. Saturday evening Mass is celebrated at 4:30 pm, and Sunday morning Mass is offered at 9:30 am. The Sunday Mass is livestreamed on YouTube for those who are sick, homebound, or simply unable to attend in person; the livestream includes the words to the hymns and the congregation's responses so that viewers at home can pray along.
Weekday Mass is offered three mornings and one evening. Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday Masses are all celebrated at 8:00 am, followed by the Rosary. Wednesday brings a different shape to the day, with Mass at 6:30 pm, followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and the opportunity for Reconciliation. On the second Saturday of each month, an 8:00 am Mass is offered, followed by the Rosary.
Visitors are welcome to step into the church itself during the day. The doors are open weekdays from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm as a quiet place to pray or meditate.
Reconciliation, Adoration, and the Reconciliation Room
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered every Wednesday evening from 7:15 to 8:15 pm in the Reconciliation Room, a dedicated space on the left side of the church between the baptismal font and the tabernacle. The same hour also includes Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for those who want to sit in silent prayer before the Eucharist. Reconciliation is also available by appointment through John Graveline, the Director of Parish Life.
For anyone homebound or hospitalized, Eucharistic Ministers are available to bring Communion. The parish asks anyone in need of a visit, or anyone who knows of a parishioner in that situation, to call the parish office so that a minister can be arranged.
Children: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Children's Faith Formation at Assumption is built around Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a child-directed approach rooted in sacred Scripture and the liturgical life of the Church. Rather than present information to memorize, catechists invite children to choose their own work in response to presentations from Scripture and liturgy, growing quietly with the Spirit of God in a peaceful space called the atrium.
The atrium program is divided into three levels: Level I for children who are age 3 through kindergarten, Level II for grades 1 through 3, and Level III for grades 4 and 5. The program is run by Wendy Graveline, the parish's Coordinator of Children's Faith Formation.
For children in second through fifth grade, Sacramental Preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist is offered as a discernment process that involves both the child and the parents. Parents are asked to participate in regular Sunday Mass with their child and to attend parent retreats along the way.
During the Sunday 9:30 am Mass, children ages 4 through 7, and seven year olds who have not yet received their First Eucharist, are invited to take part in the Children's Liturgy of the Word. After the Introductory Rite, the children are dismissed to hear and reflect on the Sunday readings at their own level, pray a simple Profession of Faith, and pray for the needs of the Church, the community, and the world before rejoining their families at the Preparation of the Gifts.
For families with younger children who are still learning to sit through Mass, Children's Worship Bags are available on the shelves just inside the doors of the worship space. Each bag contains easy-to-read books, colorful prayer cards, and simple hands-on activities like lacing cards or felt boards, changed with the seasons. Families are asked to borrow one bag per family and return it to the shelf when Mass is over.
Middle School and High School Youth Ministry
Middle School Youth Ministry (grades 6 through 8) meets Sunday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Blessed Sacrament Parish, where the program shares space with the high schoolers. The year's theme is Catholic Social Teaching and the Corporal Works of Mercy, explored through lessons, games, food, and fellowship. Friends who are not parish members are welcome to attend. The kickoff for the year is held at Blessed Sacrament, and several special gatherings, including a Christmas party and a service event, happen at the Assumption campus throughout the year.
High School Youth Ministry (grades 9 through 12) follows the same Sunday evening rhythm at Blessed Sacrament. The year's program, called "Game Day," runs through twelve dynamic sessions that introduce teens to a variety of catechetical topics and the example of different saints, leading toward a deeper relationship with God and one another. The program also opens doors to larger experiences, including the Y2Y Retreat, the National Catholic Youth Conference, March for Life, and Y.E.S. (Youth Encounter Service) at the diocesan level.
Confirmation preparation at Assumption is rooted in the Life Teen Purpose Program, a two-year discernment process used across the Diocese of Saginaw. Youth typically begin the process between ages 12 and 14 and can be confirmed between ages 13 and 18.
Adult Faith Formation
The parish's adult faith offerings cover Scripture, prayer, video study, and the Catholic tradition itself. A Scripture small group meets on Thursday mornings, following the 8:00 am Mass and Rosary (about 9:15 to 10:30 am), in Holy Grounds. The group studies the upcoming weekend's readings, exploring Bible history, context, and spirituality.
On Tuesday mornings, after the 8:00 am Mass and Rosary, a 20-minute guided meditation on a recording written by Mother Teresa is offered in the church, using the method of sacred imagination in which the listener hears Jesus speaking words of comfort directly.
Millions of Monicas, a prayer group for mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, confirmation sponsors, and aunts, meets on Tuesday afternoons from 3:00 to 4:00 pm in the parish classroom wing. The members pray together for loved ones who have drifted from the Catholic faith, supporting one another in a structured way of intercession.
The Men's Faith Study, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Fr. Henry P. DuRussel Council 2141, gathers on the second and fourth Saturday mornings of the month. Participants often attend the 8:00 am Mass and 8:30 am Rosary before breaking into discussion, with the readings of the upcoming Sunday as the focus. The group is open to all men, not only Knights.
Catholic Inquiry is offered on Sunday mornings at 11:00 am for anyone curious about the Catholic faith, anyone returning after a long absence, anyone married to a Catholic, or anyone who simply wants to refresh their understanding. Sessions focus on the teachings and experience of the Catholic faith in a small-group setting.
The parish also hosts a periodic video series called The Wild Goose, a 14-part program featuring Fr. Dave Pivonka that explores the work of the Holy Spirit. The series is shown in two time slots a week in the Holy Grounds area, with discussion built into each session.
Music Ministry and the Sacred Concert Series
Music is a defining part of life at Assumption. The Music Ministry, led by Jim Renfer, brings together singers and instrumentalists of all ages and experience levels to present a repertoire that blends the best of traditional and contemporary sacred music. The parish choir rehearses on Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 pm and provides music for the Sunday liturgies, with a call time of 8:30 am on Sunday mornings. Two times a year, the choir presents a large choral work, an opportunity for the ensemble to grow through more advanced repertoire.
Beyond the weekly schedule, the Music Ministry runs a Sacred Concert Series that has become a destination event for the wider Tri-City area. Recent performances have included Mendelssohn's "Elijah," Handel's "Messiah," Dubois' "Seven Last Words of Christ," Vivaldi's "Gloria," and Faure's "Requiem." The concerts bring together professional and amateur musicians from across the region, including collaborators from the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption in Saginaw. Recordings of past concerts are available on the parish's YouTube channel.
Christian Service and Outreach
Service to those in need is one of the four pillars of the parish's mission, and the Christian Service Commission helps organize the parish's outreach efforts. The parish runs a Food Pantry and is a regular presence at Open Door, a community meal served in the Midland area. Assumption parishioners prepare food before each meal and serve the meal in person, typically on Wednesday evenings or Saturday mornings depending on the week.
The parish's BeFriender ministry offers a confidential listening presence to anyone going through a difficult time. Other service efforts, organized through the Christian Service Commission, touch local, regional, and worldwide needs, with a particular emphasis on meeting the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, and heat in the immediate community.
Knights of Columbus
The Fr. Henry P. DuRussel Council 2141 of the Knights of Columbus hosts fundraisers for local charities, sponsors blood drives, and supports the parish's Tootsie Roll drives and other initiatives. Council meetings are held on Wednesday evenings after Mass and Exposition, and the council is a familiar presence at parish events and observances throughout the year.
Accessibility and Welcome
Assumption Parish is committed to making the worship space accessible to everyone. All main entrances are ramped for wheelchairs, walkers, and those who have difficulty with steps, and the entire parish facility sits on a single level under one roof, making it easy to move between the church, gathering space, and parish hall. The worship space includes sections of short pews with extra space between and behind them for those who use mobility devices, and Eucharistic Ministers are available to bring Communion to anyone with limited mobility. Handicap-accessible restrooms are available in the church gathering space and near the entrance to the parish hall, and a large private family restroom sits at the back of church next to the media room.
For those who use Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids, the ListenWIFI app can be downloaded to a phone to bring the Mass audio directly to the hearing aids. Personal hearing assistance devices and earphones are also available from the greeters and ushers.
Greeters and ushers are on hand at every Mass to answer questions, help with seating, and assist with anything that comes up. A greeter can also help arrange for a Eucharistic Minister to bring Communion to those who are unable to come forward.
Pastoral Leadership
Father Rick Filary serves as Sacramental Minister. Ordained in 1982, Father Filary is a native of Bay City, holds a canon law degree, and has worked in the diocesan Tribunal for forty years. He previously pastored Assumption from 2001 to 2010 and returned to the parish in his current role. His favorite saint is St. Joseph, and he is a self-described Notre Dame, Moody Blues, and golf fanatic.
John Graveline is the Director of Parish Life. He brings more than thirty years of ministry experience to the role, including work as a parish catechist, director of religious education, and ministry coordinator in the Archdiocese of Washington and the dioceses of Grand Rapids, Lansing, Kalamazoo, and Saginaw. He holds a Master of Theological Studies from the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in Washington, D.C. He and his wife Wendy Graveline, the Coordinator of Children's Faith Formation, are a familiar team in parish life.
Kathy Russell is the Director of Youth Ministry and oversees the middle school, high school, and Confirmation programs. Jim Renfer, a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, leads the Music Ministry as Director of Music and Liturgy. Anna Martin, an Aquinas College graduate, serves as the parish's Evangelization Liaison, helping the community communicate its life to newcomers through social media, photography, and design.
Visiting and Connecting
Anyone interested in learning more is warmly invited to stop in for a visit, whether to attend a Mass, tour the atrium, or simply sit with a cup of coffee in Holy Grounds. Coffee and Donuts are offered in the gathering space on many Sunday mornings. The parish keeps in touch with parishioners and friends through a weekly Flocknote email and through the bulletin, which is available in printed form and online each week.
Newcomers who would like to register as parishioners can do so online or by picking up a paper registration form at the parish office. Those who would like a welcome visit from the parish, or a conversation with Father Filary or John Graveline, can request one through the same registration process.
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish is a member of the Midland Area Catholic Community, alongside Blessed Sacrament and St. Brigid of Kildare parishes in Midland and Our Lady of Grace parish in Sanford. Together with its sister parishes and the Diocese of Saginaw, the community continues to live out its four pillars of Christian discipleship: Community, Message, Worship, and Service.