It was not until 1905 that a Catholic presence on the Kenai Peninsula began with Fathers Tunnel and Handley ministering to Alaska Railroad workers in Seward.  In 1910, following the construction of the first Sacred Heart Church, a succession of priests to include Father Arnold Custer, staffed the church and newly constructed hospital.  Father Custer became known as the “Trap Line Priest,” and was responsible for missions across the ten thousand square mile Kenai Peninsula.
 
The Kenai area grew dramatically in the 1950’s, leading Father Custer to decide that Kenai needed a permanent place for the Catholic community to worship.  The first services were held in the Old Territorial School, and later in a shed on Louisa Miller’s property.  As the parish grew, a more fitting church was needed.  A donation from the Seaman family in memory of their son, David, and supplemental donations from Anchorage benefactors allowed the parish to purchase three lots on Willow Street in December 1952.  It was at this site, that parishioners labored between 1954 and 1955 to erect the log church.  In the spring of 1955, Father Thompson celebrated the first mass in the new church.
 
In 1953, Our Lady of The Angels (OLA) was officially named, and was the only Catholic Church on the western Kenai.  OLA served parishioners from Kenai, Soldotna, Sterling, and Nikiski, as well as summer fishing industry workers and visitors.  Between 1952 and 1961, there were 45 baptisms, 8 marriages, and 4 funerals officiated at OLA.  The log church on Willow Street was a fine home for the parish, but parking became a problem, prompting the move of the church to a more spacious location.  In 1966, the church was moved to Forest Drive in Kenai.  The new location alleviated the parking problems, but the parish had experienced a large growth spurt, due in part to the newly relocated families of the Unocal/Collier complex in Nikiski.  The need for a larger church was made clear when part of the congregation was forced to stand outside to attend services. During the summer months this was inconvenient, but in the winter months it was unbearable.  Through pledges from parishioners, a grant from the Extension Society, and a loan from the Diocese, funding was secured and lots were purchased on South Spruce Street, where Our Lady of The Angels is currently located.
 
Archbishop Ryan broke ground for the current church building on September 27^th, 1967.  A house trailer was located adjacent to the church and Kenai’s first resident pastor, Father Daniel Buckley, over saw the administration needs of the parish. In 1969, with the arrival of Father O’Neill, the first parish council was organized and was comprised of parishioners: Leon Quesnel, Leonard Efta, Elsie Seaman, Louise Mika, John McCarthy, Jim O’Conner, and Chester Davis.  On the 15^th day of September, 1970 Our Lady of the Angels became a parish in the Archdiocese of Anchorage.  The decree was signed by Archbishop Joseph T. Ryan. The dedication Mass for the completed church was on May 24^th, 1971.  
 
In 1974, Father Wells arrived at OLA, fresh from Thailand.  While Father Wells was the permanent pastor, there were many changes.  One of the biggest changes was the addition of a rectory building adjacent to the church.  In 1980, Father Wells and a group of parishioners served as a medical relief team in Thailand.
 
In 1979, Sister Joyce Ross of the Sisters of Mercy and Sister Joan Barina of the Medical Mission Sisters were assigned to the Kenai Peninsula to act as catechists and adult religion instructors.  In 1984, Sister Joan in conjunction with Father Strauss, and several local Protestant Ministers organized what is now the Clothes Quarters. 
 
In 1988, Father Wells was reassigned to the Seward Parish leaving the Kenai Parish without a priest. As a result, Sister Joyce was appointed Parish Administrator and Sister Joan as Assistant Administrator of Our Lady of the Angels. Sister Joyce was given permission to officiate at baptisms, marriages, funerals, and to conduct Liturgy of the Word with Communion in the absence of a priest. This was augmented with traveling priests dubbed, “Circuit Riders.”
 
Fundraisers helped pay for new additions such as, the arctic entry, the handicapped elevator, memorial gardens, and youth mission trips. The parishioners at Our Lady of the Angels have always shown strong dedication to stewardship.  This pledge of stewardship has allowed the parish, though small in numbers, to meet and exceed our goals consistently. An example of this was the burning of the mortgage in June of 1989.
 
In 2002, a new chapter was added to the history of Our Lady of the Angels, when the parish was able to reclaim the original log church from the Salvation Army.  A committee was formed and on April 12, 2002, the church was moved, and renovation began to return the log church to as close to its original condition as possible. In the spring of 2004, renovation was completed, and it is now being used for a variety of purposes.
 
2007 marked the arrival of three Oblates of Mary Immaculate priests to the Kenai Peninsula to serve as canonical pastors for the Soldotna, Kenai, Ninilchik, and Homer parishes.  Fathers Tony Drummer, Andrew Sensenig, and Joe Dowling were joined by Brother Craig Bonham.  Since 2007 numerous OMIs have served the parishes of the western Kenai Peninsula.
 
In 2009, one of OLA’s own parishioners, Rick Ernst, was ordained a Deacon for the Archdiocese of Anchorage.  Deacon Ernst was assigned to serve Our Lady of the Angels parish.   Shortly afterward Deacon Ernst was ordained, Sisters Joyce and Joan announced their retirement and plan to move to the East Coast.  When the sisters departed OLA, the parish adopted the model of a Parish Life Coordinator working with the OMI community to lead the parish. Margaret Menting and Pako Whannell served as Parish Life Coordinators. Kevin Woodvine was ordained a Deacon for the Archdiocese of Anchorage in 2015.  Deacon Kevin was assigned to Kenai and assists the OMIs taking care of the pastoral needs of the various parishes of the western Kenai Peninsula.
 
In summer 2019 the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate left the Kenai Peninsula and the State of Alaska, having served here since 2007.   Fr. Michael Ko, priest of the Korean Missionary Society, was appointed pastor in July of that year as the parish was briefly closed down to the Covid epidemic.

In October of 2020, the newly formed Archdiocese of Anchorage/Juneau recommitted itself to sending priests to serve the parishes of the Kenai Peninsula. Fr. Patrick Brosamer, a lifelong Alaskan, was assigned as pastor of Our Lady of the Angels, with Fr. Robert Whitney, also a lifelong Alaskan, assigned as parochial vicar.

The parish and the wider community face many challenges as the Kenai Peninsula changes economically and demographically, but we look forward with confidence, knowing that our God is always with us.”