Rev. Thomas G. Elsasser - Pastor 

Fr. Tom was born and raised in Parma, Ohio and grew up in and received all his sacraments at St. Charles Borromeo Church.  Fr. Tom is the son of LaVerne Elsasser and is brother to two sisters and three brothers.  Fr. Tom was ordained to priesthood for the Diocese of Cleveland on May 28, 1988.  He served as an associate pastor at St. Bernadette - Westlake, St. Bartholomew - Middleburg Heights, and St. Richard - North Olmsted.  Fr. Tom was installed at pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption on December 8, 2002.  Fr. Tom came to St. Mary of the Assumption with a great sense of passion, enthusiasm and joy.  This "adventure" has been most rewarding and spirit filled.  Fr. Tom's strength in faith draws us all closer in our common mission to proclaim and the the Gospel by our actions.

 Deacon William Brys - Pastoral Associate

Joe & Sylvia Brys had five children; Bill was the second son along with three daughters. He grew up in Mentor and went to St. Mary School from kindergarten through eighth grade.  He was a server, a safety patrol guard and played football, basketball and baseball for St. Mary’s.  He went to St. Joseph High School and joined the band when his knees wouldn’t let him try out for football.  He learned to play bassoon, which got him a scholarship to Cleveland State University.  As a college student, he loved teaching PSR classes and decided to become a teacher.  He taught sixth, seventh or eighth grade in the Beachwood City Schools for thirty-five years.  During college, he also met his beautiful wife, Pam, who became a registered nurse.  They were married, lived in Willoughby and Mentor, and had three children, all of whom went here to St. Mary School. Their first child, Therese, is married to Mark (Ivor). Therese trains horses professionally.  They send their son, Jakob, to St. Mary School. Tim is Pam & Bill’s only son.  He and his wife, Jamie, live in Virginia with their new-born son, Henry. They both work for the U. S. State Department.  Mary is the youngest of the three and is finishing her master’s degree in outdoor leadership and sustainable tourism at West Virginia University.  Before applying to be a deacon, Bill & Pam were involved in many parish organizations and activities, such as choir, PSR, Baptism and Confirmation classes, coaching at SMS, Pre-Cana days, being a lector and Eucharistic ministers and being on the Men’s Club/Holy Name Society board.  Deacon Bill went through the four years of schooling and formation with Pam and his four classmates, and was ordained a deacon for the Diocese of Cleveland in May, 2006.  A month later, he retired from teaching in Beachwood and has been busy here at the parish and school ever since.  He enjoys playing and watching most sports but most enjoys time spent with his family.

Deacon Joseph Kovitch - Pastoral Associate

Deacon Joe was born in Cleveland, Ohio and grew up in Euclid. He attended St. William’s grade school and graduated from St. Joe’s High School in 1959. He married his wife Angie some 44 years ago.  During that time they were blessed with four children, Joe, Michael, Kevin and Jeanne.  And those four children have given them 7 beautiful grandchildren.  Kevin and Jeanne are members here at St. Mary’s, son Joe is the pastor of Advent Lutheran Church here in Mentor and Michael lives in San Francisco.  Deacon Joe received his Associate degree from Lakeland Community College in 1993 and in 1998 was ordained a permanent deacon for the Cleveland diocese.  In January of 2000, after working 18 years at Bailey Controls Company in Wickliffe, Ohio, he was hired here at St. Mary’s as a Pastoral Associate,  and has been here every since.  He and his wife Angie have been members here at St. Mary’s for the last 30 years and are currently living in Concord, Ohio.