Assumption Parish
Southside Jacksonville’s “Mother Church” remains a vibrant center of faith

by Shannon Scruby Henderson
 

Founded in 1913, Assumption Catholic Church was first located off of Hendricks Avenue and Gary Street in Jacksonville. The current church was built on Atlantic Blvd. and dedicated by Archbishop Joseph Hurley in 1955.

For Father Fred Parke, pastor of Assumption Parish since 2002, the community on Atlantic Blvd. felt like home right from the beginning. “It’s partly the older, picturesque neighborhoods like St. Nicholas that remind me of my hometown (Binghamton, N.Y.),” he remarks. “But more than that, it’s the spirit of the parish itself. This is a remarkably committed group of people. They really live their faith.”
 

The chapel is where the practice of perpetual adoration occurs. Parishioners are expected to assure that there are always some members present in prayer before the exposed Blessed Sacrament.

Shortly after his arrival, Father Fred introduced two things that have been instrumental in renewing the spiritual life of Assumption Parish. He describes the first, perpetual adoration, as the community’s “powerhouse.” “No pastor can take responsibility for the presence of the Holy Spirit in a parish,” he notes. “But he can pour gas on the fire. That’s what perpetual adoration has done here.” Longtime parishioner Jane Dupont agrees. “This has always been a wonderful parish, but perpetual adoration has awakened us as a community,” she says. “It’s just a wonderful experience to have our Lord present at all times in our midst.”

Shortly after 24-hour adoration was established, Father Fred added the ministry: Christ Renews His Parish (CHRP). He describes this retreat-based program for all segments of the parish as instrumental in “nourishing the fire” started by perpetual adoration. Brought together through their participation, parishioners feel a sense of belonging. “The unique thing here at Assumption is that we’re getting back to a fundamental vision for Catholic parishes,” comments Justin Biance, who, with his wife Angela, leads the parish’s high school youth ministry. “People are invested in our ministries here and the ministries are interconnected. Instead of finding ministries outside to meet our needs, we’re working here to create what we need.”

New arrivals have big impact
Assumption Parish has found a special kind of glue to help bind ministries and activities. In October of 2006, four nuns came to live and work in the community. Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother, an order founded in Spain in 1982 by Father Rafael Reymundo, these young women – three from Spain and one from Ireland – were recruited by Father Fred to work with the youth of the parish. At the school, they assist with religious education classes, help in faculty formation, and develop programs for children in the after-school program. They are also involved in the parish religious education program and the junior high and high school youth ministries. On Sunday afternoons, they welcome adult parishioners to join them in prayer and formation. In a short time, the sisters have had an impact on almost every segment of the parish. “They’re re-seeding us with holiness,” comments Father Fred. “The sisters give in so many ways,” adds Justin. “They participate in retreats, work with kids, with adults, and with leaders. They’ve been a key factor in tying us together.”

Building for a new era
After a period of relative slow growth, the parish is experiencing a surge in numbers. With new high-rise developments under construction on the Southbank, San Marco and elsewhere on the Southside, Father Fred anticipates that parish numbers will continue to climb. “Urban inflow will inevitably change things here,” he says. “After all, it’s a wonderful place for people of all ages. For children, it’s an exceptional opportunity, really a one-stop campus where they can start school at age three (at Assumption’s pre-school) and remain virtually on the same campus through 12th grade (at Bishop Kenny).

The main sanctuary of Assumption Catholic Church in Jacksonville.

Older members of the parish are also catered to at Assumption. An example, says organizer Helen Myers, is the Seniors Luncheon, which is attended by as many as 100 parishioners, older than 62, each month. To accommodate the activities of so many groups, the parish has committed to an ambitious expansion project. The new parish family center will break ground soon, adding a modern gymnasium and four large meeting rooms to the parish complex. “People have been very generous,” says Father Fred. “It’s a sign of their faith and commitment to a parish that has been a leading light in this area for going on a century.”

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Assumption Parish at a glance

Assumption Parish 2403 Atlantic Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32207 (904) 398-1963 www.assumptioncatholicchurch.org Pastor: Rev. Frederick Parke Parochial Vicar: Rev. Jhon Guarnizo Deacons: Deacon John Bretz Deacon Fallon Lorenz Parishioners: 2,200 registered families School: 523 students in grades Pre-K thru 8 Principal: Mrs. Jo Ann Leskanic The faith community that would eventually seed seven more Catholic parishes on Jacksonville’s Southside began officially in 1913. Founded by Father Patrick Barry, later the fifth bishop of Saint Augustine, the parish was originally located one block off Hendricks Avenue on Gary Street. Parishioner William Byrne contributed more than half the funds to build the first church. Called South Jacksonville Catholic Church, it was later renamed The Church of the Assumption of Our Lady. By the early 1940s, the parish had outgrown its property. A new home along the river near St. Nicholas (now the site of both Assumption Parish and Bishop Kenny High School) was purchased in 1945. Assumption School moved from Gary Street to the new site in 1949. Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley dedicated the present church in 1955.