On the weekend of Dec. 8-9, 2018, Mr. Paul Mullins published his second report on Assumption Church in Windsor.
 

Background Information:

In 2017, Windsor’s Assumption Parish celebrated its 250 ^th anniversary.  In October of that year, the Most Rev. Ronald P. Fabbro, CSB, with the support of parish pastor, Fr. Maurice Restivo, CSB, announced that he had accepted an offer from Paul Mullins that would enable him to take a fresh look at the status of Assumption Church.
 
The church building, which dates back to 1842, has been closed from active use since 2004.  Two fundraising campaigns were unable to raise the millions needed to restore the historic building.
 
As a gift to the Catholic community, Mullins would undertake a comprehensive, independent analysis.  Over the next ten months, he meticulously studied the history of the past fundraising campaigns, the state of the building, and possible outcomes.
 
In August, 2018, Mr. Paul Mullins published his first of two reports, called the “Our Lady of the Assumption Among the Hurons Interim Report.”  In it he highlighted the misunderstandings and missteps that stymied both fundraising campaigns.  The report also placed emphasis on the support that the Bishop had demonstrated for Windsor’s Assumption Parish over the years.
 
Two months later, the second and final report is complete.  The document, called the “Our Lady of the Assumption Among the Hurons Second Report,” will be posted on the parish website this Saturday evening, at www.assumption.dol.ca.
 
As he did in August, Mr. Mullins will once again will make a brief verbal presentation after each Mass this weekend.  On Sunday morning, shortly after 10 am, Mr. Mullins will give an overview of the report and hold a community Question and Answer session.  This community meeting will be held in the Rooney Lounge on the lower level of Holy Name of Mary church, 681 McEwan Avenue, Windsor.
 
The Second Report includes key information for the Bishop in his discernment of the next steps for Assumption church.  In addition to offering some clarifications of the initial document, this new report outlines the sustainability of Assumption Parish, area demographics, weekly Mass attendance, and parish finances.  The report summarizes expert opinions on the costs to restore the church and offers a host of possible options for the Bishop’s consideration.
 
Bishop Fabbro has sent the parish his written greetings and acknowledgement of the Second Report.  In his letter, the Bishop says, “In light of the offer made by Mr. Al Quesnel—a gift of $5-million of matching funding—I pledge $1-million from the Diocese of London as part of the challenge to match Mr. Al Quesnel’s generous gift, and as an incentive for other gifts and pledges toward the goal of $20-million.  The Diocese would commit these funds when Assumption Parish has secured the funding necessary for a restoration to begin.” 
 
His Excellency adds, “I am open to an examination of ways Assumption Church and Rosary Chapel could be made available to serve the entire community.”
 

About Assumption Parish:

The roots of Assumption began in 1728, when Father Armand de la Richardie came from Quebec to establish “The Mission of Our Lady of the Assumption among the Hurons of Detroit.” In 1765, French families living on the south shore of the Detroit River petitioned for a Catholic parish of their own.  Instead of erecting a second religious centre at the same location, it was decided that the Mission of the Assumption among the Hurons should become Our Lady of the Assumption Parish.  The parish was established on October 3, 1767.  Two-hundred and fifty-one years later, Assumption remains the oldest continuous Catholic parish in the Province of Ontario, and the oldest continuous Catholic parish in Canada, west of Montreal.
 
As the population grew, so did the need for additional parishes to spring from Assumption Parish.  In 1917, the parish of Our Lady of Prompt Succour was carved out of Assumption — it was later renamed Holy Name of Mary Parish. At the west end of Assumption Parish the mission chapel of The Blessed Sacrament was established as a parish in 1937.  In 1956, Holy Name of Mary Parish was divided and St. Patrick’s Parish was established.
 
Population shifts and declining numbers of priests led to the reunification of Assumption Parish in recent years. The sestercentennial celebrated the history of each of the four parishes. Today, Assumption Parish maintains two locations for worship: Rosary Chapel continues to be used daily at the Parish's historical site on the corner of University Avenue and Huron Church; the historic church is open annually on its namesake feast day; and parishioners celebrate weekend Masses and other sacraments at the McEwan Campus of Assumption Parish at Holy Name of Mary Church, located at 711 McEwan Avenue.
 

Read the Reports Online: