Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Parish at 3530 Illinois St, Hobart, IN 46342 US - About Our Family of Faith
About Our Family of Faith
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church began in 1917 when a group of Polish settlers in New Chicago met to see how to establish a parish in their neighborhood. Then-Bishop Herman Alerding of the Diocese of Fort Wayne, gave the group permission to establish a parish under the patronage of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
He appointed the Rev. Peter H. Kahellek of neighboring St. Hedwig Parish in Gary to celebrate the first Mass on the First Sunday of Advent, 1917 in an old abandoned school building. He continued to administer the sacraments to the faithful of the parish until the Rev. Ignatius Gapczynski was appointed pastor in May, 1918. Gapczynski also served as pastor of Sacred Heart Church in the Tolleston section of Gary. Then, seven months later, in December, 1918, the Rev. Anthony Gorek was appointed the first permanent pastor.
In September, 1918, The Franciscan Sisters of Chicago began teaching in Assumption School and the land on which now stand the Assumption Parish buildings was purchased. The first church building was built and blessed in May, 1919.
In April, 1921, the Rev. Michael Gadacz was appointed pastor. Under his pastorate more land was purchased to build a rectory and a hall, which later was remodeled into classrooms.
In September, 1926, the Rev. Michael Petzold was appointed pastor of Assumption BVM, replacing Gadacz who left to establish another Polish parish, Holy Family, in the Glen Park section of Gary.
In August, 1929, the Rev. Francis Libert became pastor and served until July, 1939.
In March of 1939, a committee from the Women's Rosary Society petitioned and received permission from Bishop John F. Noll, of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend to build a new church. The Rev. Valerian Karcz, an associate at St. Hedwig Parish in Gary, was appointed pastor on July 8, 1939. He built the present church building, which was consecrated on August 6, 1940. The new church building also contained classrooms for the growing parish school. In 1959, Villa Rose Hall in Hobart was purchased and renovated for use as a parish hall. The Rev. Valerian Karcz retired on Sept. 30, 1975 after 36 years of service to the people of God in New Chicago and the Rev. John Murzyn was appointed pastor on Oct. 1, 1975.
Following the closure of the parish school, in September, 1976, a Pre-School and Early Learning Center was opened for 3 and 4 year old children, and served the community for the next 25 years.
At a parish meeting on April 5, 1978, it was decided to build a new parish hall. Permission from the Diocese of Gary was given. The firm of PTGR of Hobart was chosen as the Architect. In order to accomandate the construction of the Hall, the Convent was torn down in May of 1979. Blake Construction of Hobart was chosen as the Contractor. Ground breaking ceremonies took place on Sunday, July 8, 1979 with the Rev. Monsignor Ralph Hoffmann, Vicar General of the Diocese of Gary and pastor of neighboring St. Mary of the Lake in Miller Beach presiding. Assumption Hall was completed in December, 1979 and inaugurated with a New Year's Eve Party on December 31, 1979.
On May 12, 1985, the Rev. David Nowak, a native son of the parish, celebrated his first mass at Assumption BVM, after being ordained a priest for the Diocese of Gary.
An addition to our Educational Center of three classrooms, an office and lavatory facilities were completed in May, 1989 and a new Allen Organ was purchased for the Church in December of that year.
In September of 1990, approval to renovate the Church and Sanctuary was given from the Diocese of Gary. Ton and Blank Architects were employed. The renovation began on May 13, 1990 and on Nov. 3, 1991, Bishop Norbert F. Gaughan blesed our new Altar and renovated Church.
The Rev. John Murzyn retired in 1994 and was succeeded by the Rev. Martin J. Dobrzynski. During his pastorate, the first in his priestly ministry, Dobrzynski installed a new baptismal font near the altar and in the late-1990s, Assumption Hall would also undergo major renovations, making it one of the premier banquet facilities in Northwest Indiana.
The Rev. Jon J. Plavcan, administrative assistant to Bishop Dale J. Melczek, was appointed to Assumption BVM in 2001. In 2005, the Rev. Plavcan established the first Pastoral Council at Assumption BVM in its 88 year history. Plavcan was named Rector of Gary's Cathedral of the Holy Angels in 2007 and was succeeded by the Rev. Lou Pasala, who also serves in the bishop's marriage tribunal.
The Pastors of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
1918-1918 Msgr. Ignatius Gapczynski
1918-1921 Rev. Anthony Gorek
1921-1926 Rev. Michael Gadacz
1926-1929 Msgr. Michael Petzold
1929-1939 Rev. Francis Libert
1939-1975 Rev. Valerian S. Karcz
1975-1994 Rev. John A. Murzyn
1994-2001 Rev. Martin J. Dobrzynski
2001-2007 Rev. Jon J. Plavcan
2007- Rev. Lourdu Pasala
The Historic Polish Parishes of the Diocese of Gary
1873 St. Mary of Czestochowa, Otis
1889 St. John Kanty, Rolling Prairie
1890 St. Casimir, Hammond*
1892 St. Stanislaus Kostka, Michigan City*
1896 St. Stanislaus, East Chicago*
1902 St. Adalbert, Whiting*
1905-2009 St. John Cantius, Indiana Harbor
1909 St. Hedwig, Gary*
1912-2009 St. Mary of Czestochowa, Hammond
1912 Sacred Heart, LaPorte
1916-1986 St. Joseph, East Chicago
1917 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, New Chicago
1918-1986 Sacred Heart, Tolleston
1926-2002 Holy Family, Glen Park
1947-2009 Blessed Sacrament, Gary
* indicates weekly mass currently celebrated in the Polish language.
