Parish History
Farm houses and the Mire School were the settings for the earliest masses in the community which was to become Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church of Marais Bouleur. The church was established as a mission of St. Joseph Parish of Rayne in 1922. The old St. Joseph Church building was dismantled and moved to the newly purchased property in Marais Bouleur. The mission of Assumption later became a mission of Coulee Croche (Cankton) and, finally, a mission of St. Theresa, Duson in 1929. The community's name was changed to Bosco , and the church's name was changed to Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church of Bosco.
The Parishioners worked diligently to raise money during the mission years. The goal was to be established as a parish. That was reached on June 22, 1954, when Assumption was made a parish and Rev. Edgar Bissonnette was named pastor. The first baptism at the newly formed Assumption Church parish was recorded to be Carter Wayne Credeur, son of Delton Credeur and Norma Lee Roy, dated July 3, 1954. The first confirmation at Assumption Church was held in January 1956. Seventy-two young people were confirmed.
A rectory was built, and the parishioners' goal then was to build a church. On August 10, 1958, the first mass was celebrated in the new church. The cost to build the new church was $40,000.00. The old church building was converted into a hall for CCD and parish use. The name of the parish location was changed from Bosco to Mire in 1964.
In March of 1972, a contract was signed for the construction of the first of several mausoleums. Also in this year, a new crucifix for the cemetery was donated. In 1975, First Friday adoration began which continues to this day. The first meeting of Assumption Parish Council was on April 21, 1976. Today, the Parish Council meets quarterly during the year. In 1977, communion in the hand was given for the first time. In 1979 the old bell tower was removed from the roof. (The current bell tower was constructed in 1980). Also in 1979, the Assumption Knights of Columbus#7411 was founded. In 1980, a chapter of the Catholic Daughters of America Court #2214 was founded.
On May 15, 1988, the founding pastor of Assumption Church, Fr. Edgar Bissonnette, celebrated his fiftieth anniversary of ordination. In that same year, 225 students were enrolled in the school of religion.
In 1990 the Parish Life Center was constructed to provide a comfortable place for religious education, children’s programs, parish retreats, and receptions. On December 22-23, the art glass windows were dedicated. They were designed to depict the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In 2010, the current rectory was designed and constructed, replacing the original rectory which was built in 1954.
As the number of buildings on the campus of Assumption Church grew, so did the number of the faithful. As of December 2024, our church maintains a weekend average attendance of over 550 souls.
Assumption Parish Priests
1954-1965 -- Rev. Edgar Bissonnette
1965-1973 -- Rev. Raphael Gautier
1973-1974 -- Msgr. Michael Benedict
1974-1975 -- Rev. Ovila Forget
1975-1980 -- Rev. Angus Beaton, CJM
1980-1986 -- Rev. Henri-Paul Chiasson, CJM
1986-1988 -- Rev. Edwin Bourg
1988-1989 -- Rev. Eugene LaFleur
1989-2000 -- Rev. Donald J. Hebert
2000-2012 -- Msgr. Russell Harrington
2012-2021 -- Rev. Michael Arnaud
2021-2024 -- Msgr. Russell Harrington
2024- -- Rev. Edward Duhon
Farm houses and the Mire School were the settings for the earliest masses in the community which was to become Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church of Marais Bouleur. The church was established as a mission of St. Joseph Parish of Rayne in 1922. The old St. Joseph Church building was dismantled and moved to the newly purchased property in Marais Bouleur. The mission of Assumption later became a mission of Coulee Croche (Cankton) and, finally, a mission of St. Theresa, Duson in 1929. The community's name was changed to Bosco , and the church's name was changed to Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church of Bosco.
The Parishioners worked diligently to raise money during the mission years. The goal was to be established as a parish. That was reached on June 22, 1954, when Assumption was made a parish and Rev. Edgar Bissonnette was named pastor. The first baptism at the newly formed Assumption Church parish was recorded to be Carter Wayne Credeur, son of Delton Credeur and Norma Lee Roy, dated July 3, 1954. The first confirmation at Assumption Church was held in January 1956. Seventy-two young people were confirmed.
A rectory was built, and the parishioners' goal then was to build a church. On August 10, 1958, the first mass was celebrated in the new church. The cost to build the new church was $40,000.00. The old church building was converted into a hall for CCD and parish use. The name of the parish location was changed from Bosco to Mire in 1964.
In March of 1972, a contract was signed for the construction of the first of several mausoleums. Also in this year, a new crucifix for the cemetery was donated. In 1975, First Friday adoration began which continues to this day. The first meeting of Assumption Parish Council was on April 21, 1976. Today, the Parish Council meets quarterly during the year. In 1977, communion in the hand was given for the first time. In 1979 the old bell tower was removed from the roof. (The current bell tower was constructed in 1980). Also in 1979, the Assumption Knights of Columbus#7411 was founded. In 1980, a chapter of the Catholic Daughters of America Court #2214 was founded.
On May 15, 1988, the founding pastor of Assumption Church, Fr. Edgar Bissonnette, celebrated his fiftieth anniversary of ordination. In that same year, 225 students were enrolled in the school of religion.
In 1990 the Parish Life Center was constructed to provide a comfortable place for religious education, children’s programs, parish retreats, and receptions. On December 22-23, the art glass windows were dedicated. They were designed to depict the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In 2010, the current rectory was designed and constructed, replacing the original rectory which was built in 1954.
As the number of buildings on the campus of Assumption Church grew, so did the number of the faithful. As of December 2024, our church maintains a weekend average attendance of over 550 souls.
Assumption Parish Priests
1954-1965 -- Rev. Edgar Bissonnette
1965-1973 -- Rev. Raphael Gautier
1973-1974 -- Msgr. Michael Benedict
1974-1975 -- Rev. Ovila Forget
1975-1980 -- Rev. Angus Beaton, CJM
1980-1986 -- Rev. Henri-Paul Chiasson, CJM
1986-1988 -- Rev. Edwin Bourg
1988-1989 -- Rev. Eugene LaFleur
1989-2000 -- Rev. Donald J. Hebert
2000-2012 -- Msgr. Russell Harrington
2012-2021 -- Rev. Michael Arnaud
2021-2024 -- Msgr. Russell Harrington
2024- -- Rev. Edward Duhon