When St. Aloysius of Indian Orchard became a parish in 1874, Chicopee became one of its missions, and its pastor. Rev. H. Landry, built a church on Academy St. and cared for the spiritual needs of the Catholics of French extraction of Chicopee and Chicopee Falls until the parish was canonically erected in 1885.

The first pastor of Assumption Parish was Rev. Evariste Pelletier. At his death, in 1893, St. Joachim's Parish (now St. George) of Chicopee Falls was formed, and the new pastor of the Assumption became the beloved Fr. Frederick Bonneville. During the 35 years of his administration, many important events took place in this parish. In 1903, the first school and convent were built on the beautiful property at the corner of Center and Cabot Streets, the present location of the Chicopee Post Office.

After fire destroyed the church on Academy St., services were held in Union Canadian Hall, until the present church was built in 1925. The home of ex-governor George D. Robinson was purchased next to the church to serve as the parish rectory. In 1933, on the other corner of Howard St., the home of the late Dr. E.P. Kimball was obtained by the parish to house the teaching Sisters, and a four-classroom wooden school was built next to it. This school was supplemented by two classrooms in the basement of the church, and two in the Union Canadian Hall. The generosity of the parishioners of Assumption made it possible to replace these makeshift educational facilities with a new school in 1954.

Today the plant of Assumption Parish is worth well over a million and a half dollars, with adequate facilities for Catholic worship and education. All the preceding pastors, with the magnificent cooperation of their assistants and their dedicated people, have handed down to us a legacy of beauty and civic pride.

High praise and prayerful thanks have been richly deserved by these dedicated priests who have served as Pastors of Assumption Parish:

Rev. Evariste Pelletier 1885—1893

Rev. Frederick Bonneville 1893 — 1928

Rev. Louis T. Rodier 1928—1933

Rev. Pierre H. Gauthier 1 933 — 1 938

Rev. Jean B. Messier 1938 — 1946

Rev. Augustin B. Auge 1946 — 1954

Rev. Msgr. Roy E. Leroux 1954—1969

Rev. Richard J. Faucher 1969 —

We, of the present generation, appreciate the sacrifices, loyalty and charity of the Priests and parishioners of the past, and pledge our sustained efforts to continue the spiritual and material progress of our beloved parish.