St. Mary of the Assumption
Catholic Church
601 Jennings Road
Van Wert, Ohio 45891
419-238-3979
Eucharistic Adoration
Confessions
Mission Statement
Why Do Christians Celebrate
the Day of Rest and Worship
of God on Sunday?
Jesus was born, lived, and died a Jew. The first Christians still considered themselves to be Jewish. In fact, they believed that they were followers of the Messiah, the long-awaited savior of the Jewish people. These Jewish Christians participated in the Friday, after sunset--spilling joyfully into the Saturday, Sabbath services in their homes and synagogues right along with their Jewish brothers and sisters. Since Scripture recognized certain other holy days, besides Saturdays, as days of Sabbath, and the most important holy days were celebrated for more than one day, the Christians saw no conflict with celebrating the Breaking of the Bread on Sunday mornings.
The Sabbath recalls the blessing of Creation and the passing over from physical and religious slavery in Egypt to freedom, especially the freedom to worship God. The Jewish Christians also recalled redemption made complete by the life, passion, death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus (the Paschal Mystery) and the new life of this Easter event that extended to the world for all time. As God blessed the work of Creation from the first day of the week, God restored the blessing of Creation from the first day of the week. Sunday was the Lord's Day.
It was impossible for Christianity to remain as a Jewish sect for long. Christians made a bigger noise than other Jews. They had been given the directive by Jesus to go out into the whole world and make disciples of all nations, and they did this very actively. St. Paul was also everywhere evangelizing the Gentiles--non-Jews. There was disturbing talk in Rome about the Christians; and the Jews knew that if it appeared to the Roman government that Judaism was splintering to pieces, it would be only a matter of time before the Romans would destroy the Temple and destroy the people as it established the religion of idol gods.
The Christian Jews were forbade from worshiping in the Temple and synagogues. Many Christians were devastated by this. As the Christians met on Sunday morning for the Breaking of the Bread, or Eucharist, as the sacrament was later called, they incorporated the synagogue readings into their celebration. The Mass--the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist--came into being.
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8:00 AM to 5:30 PM Tuesday
8:00 PM to 8:00 AM First Fridays
When there is a Holy Day, the times will change. Adoration will take place after Mass.
6:30 PM Tuesday
3:00-3:30 PM Saturday
By Appointment
Mass Schedule
We, as a parish family, commit ourselves to grow in our faith, to share what we know, and to be an everlasting light, drawing others to Christ by living His gospel.
We Believe In
God, the Father Almighty, creator of Heaven and Earth.
Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.
The Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Founded on the Rock
[Jesus said to Simon] "And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)
The Bulwark of Truth
The church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth. (1 Timothy 3:15b)
Guided by the Holy Spirit
[Jesus said to his disciples] "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth," (John 14: 16-17a)
To Learn More
Enroll in our Catholic Inquiry Program. Contact the Church Office at (419) 238-3979 or the Religious Ed. Office at (419) 238-3079.
Weekend Masses
4:00 PM Saturday
8:30 AM Sunday
10:30 AM Sunday
Weekday Masses
6:00 PM Tuesday
8:45 AM Wednesday
8:45 AM Thursday
8:45 AM Friday