In the early 50’s, Petaling Jaya was a new township off the Old Klang Road. At that time, the handful of Catholic families who lived there came under the care of the Holy Rosary Church in Brickfields, the parish priest of which was a certain Fr. Edouard Giraud, MEP. When the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary arrived in 1954 - with more faith than material resources no less - they brought life to this town, especially to its Catholic community. One that opened its hearts and homes to each other and on Sundays for the next two years, its members joined the Sisters for Mass in the Convent chapel which was celebrated by its chaplain, Fr. Noel Maury, MEP. It was the beginning of a parish community even without a church building.

Two years later, a committee headed by the Town Engineer, Frank McWilliams, raised funds and helped build the Petaling Jaya Catholic Chapel where the parish house now stands. For certain, a parish was beginning to take shape. There was daily mass at the chapel. It had a sacritan and altar servers who were retired men volunteering their services. The parish was beginning to take shape.

The first church organisation, a presidium of the Legion of Mary was formed. Called "Queen of the Assumption", it provided a much-needed avenue for reaching out to the people. Bishop Vendargon foresaw that life was moving fast and the Catholic community would soon outgrow the chapel.

It needed a proper church.

God provided the land and Bishop Vendargon bought it. To Fr. Giraud, the Bishop entrusted the responsibility of raising funds for a new building on the half-acre plot beside the Assunta Foundation. It was Fr. Giraud's first building fund experience and his enthusiasm was infectious. He assembled a committee and they quickly set to work on this mission. "It was still the period of the pioneering spirit, " Fr. Giraud wrote 25 years later, "and what pioneers we had!…as for me it was one of the best times of my life." A census of the Catholic community was taken, a lottery organised and monthly contributions, pledged by Catholic families. R.B Pereira, the architect for St. John's Cathedral, and (the later) SFX Church in PJ, was commissioned to design the Church.

On 15 August, 1959, Bishop Vendargon laid the foundation stone and on 24 January, 1960, he blessed the church, dedicated it to Mary and called it the "Church of the Assumption". Fr John Wang was appointed the parish priest. He had the early task of gathering God’s people. The Legion of Mary got started by setting up a girls’ junior praesidium. Sweeping the church on Saturdays was one of their duties. Some older ladies initiated the Altar Ladies Society. Meanwhile, not to be left behind, the men served as wardens in the SVDP and in any way they could. All this time, the FMM’s and the La Salle Brothers Schools provided for the secular and faith education of children. The Daughters of St Paul also set up a convent in the town.After Fr. Wang, came other priests, each with his own charisma, to help the people blossom in faith and community. Among these are Fr. Leon Diffon, MEP and Frs. Brian Kelly, Patrick Grogan and Harris, gifted priests who have brought with them and strengthened the traditions of the Faith. We acknowledge the dedication and quality of thee “foundation fathers”; it is not easy to emulate their spirit and zeal.

A Blessed Growth