Assumption Parish (Edmonton, Alta.)

St. Rene church was founded in October 1913 as a mission of St. Anthony’s church, South Edmonton. The church was built by the Oblate Brothers and the generosity of Rene Lemarchand. It was ready for use in March 1914. The church was named after Rev. Rene Remas, OMI, a devoted missionary in Alberta (1853-1901). The mass was said every 3rd Sunday of the month by rev. Charles Devic, OMI, assistant at St. Anthony’s. The church was closed in Oct. or Nov. 1919.

The church was re-opened in May 24, 1925 under the name of “Our Lady of the Assumption”. The parish of the Bonnie Doon area used the church building until mid-April 1954. In the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, the need was felt for a larger church. An architect from Europe was commissioned to draw the plans. Forest construction was hired for the work. The new church building was blessed on Holy Thursday evening by Rt. Rev. William Burke Carleton, V.G. on April 15, 1954. And the first Mass was celebrated on April 18, 1954 on Easter Sunday by Rev. Richard O'Neill, the Pastor. The new church building was officially open on August 15, 1954.

The original church building, “White Church on the Hill” (St. Rene church), was moved to Uncas in October 1954. The Uncas church was closed around 1962 by Rev. Kenneth Kearns of Sherwood Park. The property was sold to a fundamentalist group around 1978; it was neglected and later it was dismantled.

List of parish priests:

1925-1931: Rev. John Ingoldsby, Pastor
1931-1934: Rev. Mark Murphy,Pastor
1934-1944: Rev. Michael Leamy, Pastor
1944-1946: Rev. Georges Tetreault, OMI, Pastor
1946-1953: Rev. Daniel Martin, Pastor
1953-1953: Rev. Emmet Doyle, Pastor
1953-1958: Rev. Richard O’Neill, Pastor
1958-1965: Rt. Rev. Wm. B. Carleton, Pastor
1965-1969: Rev. Joseph m.Malone, PD, Pastor
1969-1970: Rev. Lawrence Bonner, Pastor
1970-1975: Rev. Donald Stein, Pastor
1975-1977: Rev. John Mcneil, Pastor
1977-1985: Rev. Francis Stempfle, Pastor
1985-1988: Rev. Basil Butts, Pastor
1988-1989: Rev. John Hamilton, Pastor
1989-1995: Rev. Martin Carroll, Pastor
1995-2002: Rev. Archibald MacKenzie, Pastor
2002-2007: Rev. Clement Gauthier, Pastor
2007-2013: Rev. Leonard Cadieux, Pastor
Aug 14. 2013-Present: Rev. Mitchell Fidyka, Pastor