A brief history of our congregation

After World War I many Slovaks immigrated to Canada, especially to the large urban areas where opportunities for work seemed greatest. With them, they carried their deeply rooted Lutheran tradition. The need for a Slovak Lutheran congregation was soon evident, not only for the immigrants to hear the Word and participate in the Sacraments, but also to obtain counsel and guidance, to be married, and bury the dead in their own language. The Slovak Evangelical Mission Board in the United States recognized this and sent missionaries to Montreal. These pastors suffered hardships because the new immigrants, having little money and sometimes no work, could hardly provide for themselves and their families, much less the pastors. Indeed, what remuneration the missionaries did receive came from the Mission Board. None the less these urban pioneers served not only spiritual needs, but with their knowledge of English, also performed important social service functions, such as finding lodging and jobs for newly arrived Slovaks.

In 1928, Ascension received their first pastor and on May 12,1929, the first Sunday after Ascension Day, the Church was founded. Since then, the Church has changed locations, English has replaced the Slovak language, people of various ethnic groups have entered the church family as the older Slovak people are gathered to be with the Lord, and many pastors have come and gone. Yet God's presence at Ascension Montreal has not. The Lord blessed Ascension with many people in the early days, young and old alike. Although North American society has changed i.e. false teaching abounds, laziness and apathy concerning church participation increases etc., and our membership is not as high as in the beginning, Christ Jesus continues to use Ascension as a light in the darkness of the surrounding Montreal community.

Today, Ascension worships in two locations, Park Extension and in the West Island as well as to many of our members outside of the city. She is constantly looking for ways of ministering to the needs of those nonbelievers and lost believers around her in both word and deed. We pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to maintain us in the one true Faith and continue to increase the size of our family. Would you join us in this prayer?