A Franciscan Parish on First Street
The Church of the Assumption of Our Blessed Lady sits at 143 First Street in Wood-Ridge, a small borough in Bergen County, New Jersey. It is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Newark, and its identity is shaped by a long Franciscan heritage: the parish belongs to the network of communities served by the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province, the largest of the seven Order of Friars Minor (OFM) provinces in the United States. That province traces its beginnings to Italian missionaries who arrived in Western New York in 1855 and to German friars who, fleeing persecution, settled in Paterson, New Jersey, twenty years later. In 1901 those early foundations were consolidated into Holy Name Province, headquartered in New York City and reaching today across more than a dozen states. Assumption Parish is one of the communities those friars continue to shepherd.
The parish describes itself as a welcoming community of believers in Jesus Christ, located in the Archdiocese of Newark, living and celebrating the sacredness of all life, nourished in the Eucharist as the source of its strength and unity. Its mission statement names specific places of concern: "Where there is hunger and loneliness, where there is prejudice and injustice, where there is strife and division, this is where we, as a parish, are to concentrate our efforts." Outreach to neighbors in need, especially through its long-running food pantry, is therefore not an afterthought but a central expression of parish life.
Mass Schedule and Livestream
Sunday Mass is offered four times each weekend. The Saturday Vigil Mass begins at 5:30 PM, and three Sunday Masses follow at 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, and 11:00 AM. The 11:00 AM Sunday Mass is livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube, making the parish accessible to those who cannot attend in person.
Weekday Mass is celebrated Monday through Saturday at 7:30 AM. During Lent an additional 12:10 PM Mass is added to the weekday schedule, giving parishioners a second opportunity to attend daily. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard every Saturday from 4:00 to 5:00 PM in the church, with appointments available through the Rectory for those who need another time. A Holy Hour takes place in the church on the first Friday of each month, following the morning Mass.
The Rectory Office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and on Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and again from 3:00 to 4:00 PM. The office can be reached at (201) 438-5555 or by email at parishoffice@assumptionparishwr.org.
The Sacraments
Like every Catholic parish, Assumption celebrates the seven sacraments.
Baptism. Baptisms are celebrated on the second Sunday of the month at 12:30 PM. Parents must be registered in the parish, attend a one-time preparation class the week before (required for first-time parents), and commit to raising their child as a Catholic. Private baptisms can be arranged for special circumstances, depending on church and clergy availability, by calling the Rectory.
Reconciliation. The parish encourages frequent celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, framing it as a great source of grace. Confessions are heard every Saturday from 4:00 to 5:00 PM, or by appointment.
Eucharist. First Eucharist is prepared for during a spring program and is celebrated during Masses in the Easter Season. Children must be registered parishioners, have completed at least one year of faith formation, and have a baptismal certificate on file; parents attend required meetings as part of the process.
Confirmation. The parish prepares candidates from eighth grade and above, expecting them to have attended faith formation classes from grades 1 through 8 (at Assumption, another parish, or a Catholic school), to know the basic beliefs and doctrines of the Church, and to attend classes, retreats, and family events during the preparation period.
Matrimony. Engaged couples are asked to contact the parish office at least one year before their wedding to speak with a priest, reserve the date on the parish calendar, and complete marriage preparation, including meeting with the Pre-Cana Ministry.
Anointing of the Sick. Available to anyone facing illness, injury, impending surgery, or weakness due to age. The parish also gathers annually for a Mass of Healing for all who wish to experience God's love through this sacrament. Arrangements are made through the Rectory.
RCIA. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults welcomes those who want to become Catholic and those already baptized Christians preparing for full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. The journey of conversion, preparation, and formation leads to reception of the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. Deacon Francis Materia coordinates the program.
Faith Formation for Children and Youth
The Office of Faith Formation understands its work as more than religious education classes for children. It frames faith formation as a lifelong process of equipping disciples, beginning at baptism and continuing through prayers at bedtime, recognizing Jesus in books and pictures, and the regular practice of bringing children to Mass. By the time a child reaches school age, an impression of faith has already begun to form, and the parish aims to nourish and support that impression through every stage.
Formal instruction runs from grades 1 through 8, with primary materials and a series of online assessments reviewed weekly by the Office of Faith Formation. Throughout the year, family catechetical events gather parents and children together around themes such as the Ten Commandments, the lives of the saints, stories of faith, and Pentecost.
Sacramental preparation is woven into this rhythm. First Reconciliation preparation begins in the fall, with the sacrament celebrated on a Saturday in January or February. First Eucharist preparation begins in February, with celebration during the Easter Season. Confirmation preparation, beginning in eighth grade and above, culminates in the conferral of the sacrament for those who have met the parish's requirements. Nancy Joy serves as Director of Faith Formation and Local Safe Environment Coordinator, and can be reached at faithformation@assumptionparishwr.org or (201) 438-5555, extension 16.
The Food Pantry: A Long Parish Tradition
The parish food pantry is one of the oldest ministries at Assumption. It is generally open on Wednesdays at 10:00 AM at the Hayes Parish Center.
The pantry is sustained by donations. Suggested non-perishable items include cereal and oatmeal, jarred pasta sauce, Parmalat, boxed pasta, coffee and tea, canned pasta, canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter and jelly, canned soup, paper towels, tuna, and toilet paper. Individual donations can be dropped off in the vestibule of the church; larger donations can be coordinated through Tony Sartori, the Food Pantry Coordinator, at 201-507-1458 (call or text). Monetary donations, made payable to Assumption Parish Food Pantry at 143 First Street, Wood-Ridge, NJ 07075, are also welcome.
Volunteers are encouraged to speak with Fr. Ronnie Nombre or Tony Sartori about serving. The pantry is supported alongside other service ministries, including Meals with a Mission, Advent Giving Tree, Turkey and Ham Drives, AIDS Ministry, and Bereavement Support.
A Wide Range of Ministries
The parish organizes its ministries around four pillars drawn from 1 Corinthians 12: "There are different gifts but the same Spirit."
Ministries of Worship. Adult and Children's Choir, Altar Servers, Altar Linens, Church Decorating, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Lectors, Liturgy of the Word for Children, Ministry to the Sick and Homebound, and Ushers. Gabriel Valle serves as Director of Sacred Music and Youth Minister, leading the music program and working with the parish's young people.
Ministries of the Word. Christian Family Movement, Faith Formation, and Pre-Cana.
Ministries of Community Building. Parish Festival and Youth Ministry.
Ministries of Service. AIDS Ministry, Advent Giving Tree, Bereavement Support, Collection Counters, Fiber Arts, Food Pantry, Meals with a Mission, and Turkey and Ham Drives.
Opportunities range from one-time to ongoing service, in person, online, or at home. Anyone with an idea for a new way to serve is invited to contact the Parish Office at (201) 438-5555 or speak with one of the priests.
Knights of Columbus, St. Anthony Council #11585
Assumption Parish hosts St. Anthony Council #11585 of the Knights of Columbus, the world's largest Catholic family fraternal service organization. Membership is open to practicing Catholic men in union with the Holy See who are at least 18 years old. The Knights provide volunteer opportunities in service to the Catholic Church, communities, families, and young people, and offer members benefits such as Columbia magazine and access to the order's life insurance program. Application blanks are available from any current member.
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Fr. Ronnie Nombre, Pastor. Fr. George Gillen serves as a retired priest in residence. Deacon Francis Materia assists at Mass and coordinates the RCIA program. Deacon Jorge Ochoa serves as Deacon and Parish Finance.
Rose Lepore serves as Parish Administrative Assistant and Bulletin Editor. Annette Azzolina and Lynn Schreiber complete the office staff. Gabriel Valle is Director of Sacred Music and Youth Minister. Nancy Joy is Director of Faith Formation and Local Safe Environment Coordinator. James Schultz serves as Maintenance Technician.
The parish can be reached at (201) 438-5555 or parishoffice@assumptionparishwr.org. Online giving is available through OSV Hub, and the parish bulletin is published online. The community is also active on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Joining the Parish
Becoming a parishioner is as simple as calling the Rectory Office at (201) 438-5555. From there, the parish will guide new members through registration. With daily Mass, a robust sacramental life, a food pantry that has served the borough for years, a thriving faith formation program, and a Franciscan heritage that stretches back more than a century, the Church of the Assumption of Our Blessed Lady continues to welcome those who come through its doors on First Street.