Missione Maria Ausiliatrice was founded by Fr. Romano Venturelli, sdb (Salesians of St. John Bosco).
Fr. Romano began some pastoral work with 200 Italian families in Rivière-des-Prairies in 1972, founded the CSRDP, today known as Club Soccer of RDP. The needs of a growing community saw the construction a new church, with the breaking of the ground on October 1983, thanks to his charism he was able to raise the enthusiasm of many families to work closely with him to realize this dream. The first mass was celebrated on August 5th 1983, in a nearly completed church. It was blessed by Mgr Paul Gregoire, Archbishop of the Diocese of Montreal on December 22nd 1984.
Fr. Romano remained pastor of the parish until the year 2000. Under his leadership, in partnership with his fellow priests, Salesian Sisters (FMA) and lay people, the community of Missione Maria Ausiliatrice thrived, becoming one of the largest parishes in Montreal. The focus of the works of the community centred on young people, developing them as leaders in the church, using the preventive system of St. John Bosco.
