ft ""f'l **• L %h Smtier de&vt aw. by Reverend Art O Shea Dioceie of Charlottetown ■ ' ■ ' u E- University of Prince Edward Island A Gift to the Robertson Library From jJL Qu-rt C^fr/N'3______ A Faith Walk DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTETOWN Un Sender de Foi by Reverend Art O'Shea RE J. COLLECTION U.PE.!.ROS:: ON LIBRARY LIBRARY USE ONLY t'EI BX 1423 -C53 064 2002 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simony and asked bimi out a little way from the shore. (Luke 5,3) r'i Text by: Reverend Art O'Shea Photos by: Wayne Crouse Layout: Juliette Roussel Publishing Director: Christian Riehl Director of Publications: Dr. Claude-Bernard Costecalde Publishing Assistant Joelle Bernhard Publisher: Editions du Signe 1. rue Alfred Kastler 67038 Strasbourg. Cedex 2 - France Tel: (33) 3 88 78 91 91/Fax (33) 3 88 78 91 99 Printed in Italy by Arti Grafiche ISBN 2-7468-0659-2 N UBHAHY USE ONLY Table of Contents PART ONE DIOCESAN HISTORY Foreword Preface Beginnings and Beyond Who Came? Educational Institutions Health Care Institutions Religious Orders Our Bishops p4 p5 p8 p8 P 15 i'20 p25 p 33 PART TWO OUR PARISHES Alberton p44 Baie Egmont p45 Bloomfield i> 46 Brae p47 Burton p 48 Cardigan i>49 Charlotcetown P 50 Holy Redeemer p 50 St. Dunstan's P51 St. PiusX p53 Cornwall p 54 Corran Ban p 55 Covehead p56 Cumberland p 57 Emyvale p 58 Fairfield i' 59 Fort Augustus p 60 Foxley River P61 Georgetown p62 Grand River p 63 Green Meadows p 64 Hope River P 65 Indian River p 66 lona p 67 Kelly's Cross P68 Kinkora p69 Afterword Lennox Island Little Pond Miscouche Mont Carmel Montague Morell Mount Stewart North Rustico Palmer Road Rollo Bay St. Charles St. George's St. Margaret's St. Peter's Bay St. Teresa's Seven Mile Bay Souris South Rustico Stratford Sturgeon Summerfield Summerside Tignish Tracadie Vernon River Wellington 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 p 96 Foreword I trust that this history of the Diocese ofCharlottetown will provide our readers with an understanding of the lives of the early settlers who wor¬ shipped God, often in very humble settings. The faith of these people cannot be measured in mere words or pictures - it is simply unfathom¬ able. I am deeply indebted to Father Art O 'Shea, our Diocesan Historian, whose tremendous amount of research and work has made this project a reality. It is my hope that you will gather from these pages a reasonable understanding of the Lord's promise to abide with us forever. Pope John Paul II, in Novo Millenio Ineunte, tells us that this promise has sustained the Church for two thousand years. This promise has definitely been evident in the Diocese of Charlottetown since its foundation. The future will undoubtedly present many challenges for the people of the Diocese of Charlottetown. Faced with these challenges we must continue to remember the Lord's promise, "I am with you always to the end of the age ". (Mt 28:20) The Roman Catholic Church, through the work of our ancestors, has be instrumental in the establishment of many of the social services now available to the people of Prince Edward Island. We must preserve their vision, especially their struggle to keep safe the deposit of the faith. I take this opportunity to thank very sincerely all of our Catholic people who have been part of our rich histoiy and those who are presently making history. All have been tireless in passing on the faith that they received from their forefathers and foremothers. They are the unsung saints, the pillars upon which our diocesan Church was built and upon which it now stands. CORONAT IUS CLEMENTI, g----------- Je tiens a remercier tons ces fideles catholiques, pretres et religieuses qui se sont don- nes au service de I'eglise et de nos freres et soeurs dans le Christ. Leurfoi inebranlable a contribuegrandement a I'epanouissement d'une eglise qui est communion. Inviting you to continue to pray for God's blessings on our Church, I remain, Sincerely in our Lord, ^C^f. Most Reverend Vernon Fougere, D.D. B is hop of Cha rlottetown Preface Originally a part of the Diocese of Quebec, Charlottetown became a diocese in 1829 which makes us just shy of our 175'1' anniversary. From working on these pages over the past six months 1 am much surprised by the extent of our history and by the sacrifices made by our Catholic people in bringing us to this present day. I am also fully aware that much historical data had to be excluded from this brief overview. This pictorial history of the diocese is intended for the coffee table, to be looked at again and again. It is a reflection on the people whose faith in action has shaped much of Island life through the parishes and other institutions they built and maintained. It also shows that we are a diocese formed of many cultures. May this book, through word and picture, be of special interest to all who explore it. May it connect us with those many people now long gone and help us feel part of the wider diocesan faith community. Above all, may its contents turn out to be a faith walk, a true sentierdefoi. Reverend Art O'Shea Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path. (Psalm 27,11) % * ■■># PART ONE DIOCESAN HISTORY BEGINNINGS AND BEYOND / am the first and the last, the beginning and the end. (Revelation 22,13) Maybe as far back as 1 00,000 years ago present-day Canada, including P.E.I., was covered with thick ice. Around 13,000 years ago this island was ice free with greenery beginning to grow. Confederation Bridge is not the first one between present-day New Brunswick and P.E.I. A land bridge between the two existed until at least 7,000 years ago. In the Bible's creation story the picture was not complete without the appearance of human beings. Only then could God proclaim that all creation was very good. Who, then, were those humans who came to this Island which eventually became as well the Diocese of Charlottetown? WHO CAME? Many nations shall come to you from afar. (Tobit 13,11) Micmacs About 2,000 years ago a group of Eastern Algonquin Indians moved out of Central Canada into the Maritimes. These were the first Micmacs who gradually became a distinct people. Knowledge of these early Micmac people is derived from archaeological sites, from accounts of explorers and missionaries from the early 1600s and from the stories that have survived over the centuries. In the 1600s the Micmac population over the whole Maritime region is put at 3,000 to 4,000. This small population resulted from the many new diseases which brought death to thousands of Micmacs. How many died? Estimates range from 50% to as high as 90%. For over 1,500 years the Micmacs lived, hunted and fished all over this Island undisturbed by other people. They were a highly skilled people, excellent hunters and fishers, athletic and handsome. Feasts, singing and dancing were a natural part of their lives and spirituality. 8 ♦ Beginnings and Beyond In the mid 1800s the PE! Micmac population was estimated at 200 to 500. At the present time there are two Mi'Kmaq bands on PEI: Lennox Island, with a registered population of 701 and Abegweit, with a registered population of 292. The Micmacs did not have a method of writing. They preserved their history and wisdom in songs and stories. Gifted story tellers were always near at hand. Little is known of their religion except that it centred around the sun, the provider of light and warmth. The coming of the "white man" changed forever the ancient pattern of Micmac life. By 1758 there were almost 5,000 Acadians here. The Micmacs were generous and kind with these new strangers, acted as their guides and taught them many things. The French from Europe also got along well with the Micmac people. Beaver pelts, bear hides and exquisite handicrafts were exchanged for guns, copper utensils, knives, axes, cloth, brandy, tobacco, flour and blankets. These trading partners also became military allies against the British and through the French missionaries in the late 1600s many Micmacs became Roman Catholic. After the Conquest of 1758 the British government was not as friendly toward the Micmacs as the French and Acadians had been. Many Micmacs were now Roman Catholic and had fought against the British. In addition, all the Island land was given away to wealthy people living in Great Britain. As the European settlers increased, more forests were cleared and most of the wild animals were killed and the Micmacs were no longer able to move their camps from place to place. Gradually they began to locate around the curves of Malpeque Bay, but it was only in 1870 that a British charitable organization finally bought Lennox Island for the Micmacs. Benediction des bateaux a Mont-Carmel en 1926. The French and Acadians Although Jacques Cartier visited St. John's Island (later P.E.I.) in 1 534 and claimed it for the King of France, nothing was done by way of settlement for nearly two hundred years. The Island's name would probably have come from Champlain as early as 1 604. An attempt by France in 1720 to colonize the Island brought a small group to the site of Port lajoie (near Rocky Point). In this group were two Sulpician priests, the first to set foot on the Island. Soon a modest church was built and dedicated to St. John the Evangelist. After two years here these priests left the Island and for the next thirty years Franciscan priests, one by one, looked after the spiritual needs of the small population. In general the settlers from France left the Island by the mid 1720s and the French- speaking colonists after that were the Acadians from present-day Nova Scotia, from an area known as Acadia. Who Came? ♦ 9 Gaudet Family ofTignish. L'immigration acadienne commenca serieusement sur I'ile aux environs de 1 730. Dix ans plus tard, un recensement indiquait une population de 450 personnes, situees a Port-la-Joye, a Havre-Saint-Pierre, a Pisquid, a Havre-aux-Sauvages, a Tracadie et a Malpeque. En 1751, la population acadienne comptait 2 072 habitants. In 1752 the French government sent four priests here to establish four new parishes, in addition to the older one at Port lajoie. These were: Point Prim (St. Paul's), Scotchfort (St. Louis), St. Peter's Harbour (St. Peter's) and Malpeque (Holy Family). A I'epoque de la deportation des Acadiens de Nouvelle-Ecosse, en 1755, au moins 2 000 d'entre eux reussirent a se rendre a I'ile. La croissance exponentielle de la population par suite de cette emigration rajouta encore aux miseres des Acadiens d'ici qui, de surcroit, venaient de subir une serie de pietres recoltes. Leur denuement etait tel qu'ils vivaient dans la misere noire. In the summer of1758 Louisbourg in Cape Breton fell to the British and with it went St. John's Island too. In October that year a contingent of 500 men under Lord Rollo came to this Island to deport its 3,000 inhabitants and to destroy AM. Arsenault, Premier Ministre de I'lie 1917-1919. their settlements. They were put on ships for France with 700 of them perishing when two of these ships sank. A la suite de la deportation de 1758, une poignee d'Acadiens — la plupart de la paroisse de Malpeque — reussirent a rester sur I'ile Saint-Jean, et furent bientot rejoints par quelques autres qui revinrent a I'ile depuis le continent. L'arpenteur Samuel Holland, rapporta la presence d'une trentaine de families acadiennes sur I'ile en 1764. Durant nombre de ces annees toutefois, les acadiens ne disposaient pas de pretre. Henri Blanchard, illustre historien acadien. 10 ♦ Who Came? The Scottish A new day dawned for the Catholic Church on the Island in 1772. That year 210 Scottish immigrants arrived under the sponsorship of Captain John MacDonald and settled on his lands in the Scotchfort-Tracadie Bay area. Accompanying the new settlers was Father James MacDonald, aged 36. His "parish" extended over the whole Island which had not seen a priest for nearly fifteen years. The Acadians were particularly happy to have him here. More Scottish immigrants came in succeeding years and eventually extended their presence over much of Kings County and beyond. After only thirteen years here, Father James MacDonald died. Worn out by his years of exemplary missionary zeal as the only priest here, he left his beloved people greatly saddened and without a priest for the next five years. Since this Island then formed a part of the scattered Diocese of Quebec, Father MacEachern was soon called upon to exercise his ministry in Cape Breton and in New Brunswick as well. In 1821 he became auxiliary Bishop of Quebec and in 1829 the first Bishop of Charlottetown. During all his years here he maintained his headquarters at St. Andrew's. From these early Scottish immigrants came the first Island- born priest, Father Bernard MacDonald, who was ordained in 1822. After serving as pioneer missionary priest he became the second Bishop of Charlottetown. James Morrison, Bishop of Antigonish 1912-1950 In 1922 a grand monument, topped by an immense Celtic Cross, was erected at Scotchfort to commemorate the arrival in P.E.I, of the first Scottish Catholic immigrants in 1772. The year 1790 is an immensely important one for the Island's Catholics. That year another band of Scottish immigrants arrived on the Island and this time, too, they were accompanied by a young priest, Father Angus MacEachern, aged 31 and filled with the missionary zeal of his recent predecessor. The Island Catholic population at this time was listed at approximately 600, half Acadian, half Scottish. The descendants of these early Scottish immigrants are pretty well spread all across PEI, especially in Kings County. Bishop Angus MacEachern's boat Memorial to Scottish settlers, 1922 Who Came? ♦ 11 The Irish By the year 1 800, and even slightly before, there were small numbers of Irish immigrants on this Island. However, from 1810 and continuing for the next forty years immigrants from Ireland kept coming to P.E.I, in significant numbers. From 1810 to 1830 these Irish settlers came mainly from the southeastern counties of Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford and Tipperary. Once here, they put down roots in various parts of the Island. In 1830 a group of some 200 immigrants arrived together, accompanied by Fatherjohn MacDonald, a native ofTracadie and son of landlord Captainjohn MacDonald. Memorial to Irish Settlers, 2001 Mainly from County Monaghan, these new arrivals established homesteads on Father John's lands in the Fort Augustus area. Over the next twenty years many more Irish immigrants arrived on P.E.I. Most of these were from County Monaghan, as well as from the other northern counties of Armagh and Tyrone. Some of these settled on the remaining lands of Fatherjohn while others moved to different areas, particularly to Kelly's Cross, Lot 65 and Kinkora. By 1850 the Irish influx effectively ended. In all it was a large immigration with a census of 1848 showing nearly 6,500 Irish-born settlers living on P.E.I. Two thirds of these were in Queens County with the other one third equally spread out into Prince and Kings Counties. There were good reasons for leaving Ireland: poor economic conditions, some crop failures, dispossession of their land, penal laws against Catholics and deprivation of many rights and opportunities. Most of those who came here could be classed as poor but none were destitute. Almost all came out before the Great Famine and although they came from every county in Ireland, the Monaghans were the largest single county group. In 2001, roughly 200 years after the arrival of the first Irish immigrants, a beautiful Irish Settlers Memorial was erected on the Charlottetown waterfront facing the harbour mouth through which most of the immigrants landed. The Memorial's main attraction is the Celtic Cross, as well as a set of 32 flagstones, one from each county of Ireland. Cardinal McGuigan 12 ♦ Who Came? The Lebanese Elias Basha was probably the first Lebanese (Syrian) immigrant to this Island, arriving in 1 888. Other early immigrants included the Shelfoons who put down their first roots in Tignish, the Solomans who settled in Georgetown and the Sharbells who made their home in Portage. More immigrants arrived gradually, such as the Zakems who came here in 1936, while others have come almost to the present day. Most by far chose to settle in Charlottetown. For those who came to the Island, peddling became a favourite business venture and most of the older people today have vivid memories of these interesting men who peddled throughout the rural areas on foot. From peddling, the next move was usually to the corner store in Charlottetown and many of these good places of business dotted the city's landscape. When they first came here these immigrants were known as Syrians and only later as Lebanese due to boundary changes in their native land. In general these early immigrants came here with few work skills, little education and not knowing any English. They succeeded extremely well and their descendants have launched out into various occupations. Most of the earlier Lebanese immigrants were of the Orthodox faith. Maybe half of the present-day Lebanese-Canadians here are Maronite Catholics and belong to local parishes. From time to time they have Mass celebrated in Arabic according to the Maronite Rite. In 1988 the Lebanese community proudly celebrated the 100th anniversary of its presence on P.E.I. The Dutch The Zakem Family 1940s. Most of the Dutch immigrants came here after World War II. Holland after 1945 was recovering from five years of German occupation and war. The whole country was in considerable chaos and nearly bankrupt. There was an immense housing shortage, a scarcity of farm land and a surplus of young farmers, all in a population of nine million people. In 1947 the first immigrant ship sailed from Rotterdam with some of these passengers destined for P.E.I. Others followed at intervals. Most of them ended up on farms, their most favoured location. In fact, the wide expanse of farm land here was a pleasant surprise and helped to soothe the culture shock which they no doubt felt at first. After 1975 another wave of Dutch immigrants came to P.E.I. In 1958 the Dutch bishops sent Father Van de Ven as permanent chaplain and spiritual adviser to the Dutch immigrants in the Maritimes. He set out immediately to get to know his scattered flock and proved to be a great blessing for his people. Among other things he helped organize the annual Dutch Day, a major get together for the Roman Catholic immigrants here. He was also instrumental in Who Came? ♦ 13 •Vfjr ■'; . ■■■•■■ ■• ■* the formation of the Dutch Canadian Association of P.E.I. In 1968 Father Van de Ven was named pastor at Tracadie and in 1975 parish priest at Hope River. He died in the parochial house there in 1985 and is buried in Hope River. There were probably slightly over 200 Dutch families who immigrated to P.E.I., of which approximately half would be Roman Catholic. thousands. A fair number, at least a hundred, made their way to P.E.I. Despite pangs of homesickness and the weight of culture shock they were gradually absorbed into and helped broaden the Island way of life. Most Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Charlottetown have had some of these good women who have blessed us by their presence and helped to expand somewhat our view of Church and community. Other In addition, there are many living on the Island today who have come from other countries, such as those from the Philippines and Latin America. Others have joined us from various parts of Canada. Many from these groups are members of our parishes and all are most welcome. War Brides Only a few women came to Canada during the two wars but soon afterward ships brought women and children across the Atlantic in Besides those who came from "away" we salute all those who were born here, who are PE Islanders through and through, without whom our "Island way of life" would be seriously weakened. 14 ♦ Who Came? EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS She will feed him with the bread of learning and give him the water of wisdom to drink. (SlRACH 15,3) St. Andrew's College In 1829 PEI became a diocese of its own with Father Angus MacEachern as its first bishop. He soon realized that getting priests from Europe or Upper Canada would be slow and difficult. Accordingly in 1 831 he turned his own house at St. Andrew's into a small college which he fittingly named St. Andrew's College. The little college was intended to educate not only for the Church but also for any other secular employment. Strangely enough, it was open to all religious denominations but in reality it is likely that only Catholics attended. Father Edward Walsh, a priest from Ireland, was its first rector, assisted by one other professor. Other rectors were Fathers Charles McDonnell, James Brady and Pius MacPhee. Financial support came from student's fees, a small annual government grant and from the resources of the splendid St. Andrew's farm. A mix between a high school and an early college institution, St. Andrew's likely never had more than twenty students at one time. Student lists have not been preserved although it is known that some twenty priests, of whom two became bishops, studied there. It is probable that a number of laity did as well. In 1844 St. Andrew's College closed. Why? The rectors always had parish duties to perform and were thereby away much of the time. Lack of discipline became a problem near the end. The overall cause was that Bishop MacDonald had his heart set on founding a new college close to Charlottetown for which land had already been purchased. In 1845 tenders were called for the new college which would be called St. Dunstan's. ^ftz . iK-irrt 775: ■»-. -*&3> _*&*? Jem i s%. St. Andrew's College, 1831-1844 Cathedral School When the new cathedral opened in 1848 the old church was then fitted up for a two-room school, one for boys, the other for girls and at its beginning the classrooms were crowded. As always, the maintenance of this school soon became a burden for the Catholic community. A petition to the Legislature in 1851 resulted in the school's receiving a government grant at least for a time. By 1855 the Cathedral School had 75 girls registered and 140 boys. The male teacher was Edward Roche, a native of Ireland, and Miss Catherine MacDonald taught in the girls' section. From the school visitor's reports, both were excellent teachers and the school received high praise. It is not clear how long the Cathedral School remained in operation. It is possible that it continued until the opening of St. Patrick's School in 1870. -jPf^m^. Educational Institutions ♦ 15 St. Dunstan's College/ University The small St. Andrew's College which operated from 1831 to 1844 paved the way for the new and larger St. Dunstan's College close to Charlottetown. The location chosen was a mile and a half from Charlottetown on a nicely elevated terrain then called Mount St. Bernard (site of today's UPEI). The building of the new college moved along more slowly than expected because of financial constraints. On January 17, 1855 the great day finally arrived and St. Dunstan's College opened with eighteen students t. Dunstan's College and a faculty of two. The four storey coatofarms structure, today's main building at UPEI, was considered to be one of the most imposing buildings on the Island. During the year 1880 to 1881 the college was under the direction of thejesuits with two priests and four scholastics on staff. After that one year, however, thejesuits chose to withdraw their services and the college went back under the management of the diocesan clergy. An interesting turning point occurred in 1882 when St. Dunstan's became affiliated with Laval University, making it possible for the graduates here to receive bachelors degrees from that renowned Quebec university. In 1910 the "Red and White" college magazine began publication and continued as long as the institution itself. Dalton Hall was built in 1919 mainly through the financial generosity of Sir Charles Dalton ofTignish. In 1934 the Adult Education program began through radio broadcasts, study clubs, credit unions and short courses of various types for farmers and fishermen. Five years later a new science building added greatly to the campus program. St. Dunstan 's University Campus 1950 16 ♦ Educational Institutions In 1917 St. Dunstan's officially became a university by an act of the Prince Edward Island Legislature. However, it chose to delay the granting of its own degrees until 1941 when the staff was properly prepared and suitable scientific laboratories were available. Arts degrees were conferred first and science degrees came on stream in 1944. Business administration or Commerce degrees eventually followed. In 1942 St. Dunstan's University became a co-educational institution with women being accepted as students. Prior to that, however, a few Sisters of Saint Martha had been full-time students there. Post-war construction included Memorial Hall, built in 1946, and a new dining hall-chapel-convent complex, as well as the Alumni Gymnasium in 1 950. Over the next two decades a whole spread of new buildings appeared on campus: rink, Marian Hall and Bernadine Hall, the Duffy Science Building and the Kelley Memorial Library. Athletics became a part of St. Dunstan's from the beginning. In later years it was football, basketball and hockey that put the university on the sports map with great competitions with outside teams. Beginning in the late 1930s debating with outside universities became common, with St. Dunstan's several times winning championship trophies, even national ones. In the 1880s St. Dunstan's came up with its cherished motto which in English reads "From the same source faith and knowledge". It remained faithful to that motto in the college/university as well as in its excellent high school with much good knowledge, tempered by a faith often tested by fire. The bishops and priests were always a deep inspiration to the success of old St. Dunstan's. The students, their parents and loyal supporters were a steady and stalwart force as well. But much credit also has to Maritime 2t)tcrco\lspiaU J/7 go to a long list of dedicated religious sisters who through their efficient domestic services contributed immensely to the running and dignity of the institution. These sisters were: Daughters of Jesus, Sisters of the Holy Family and our own Sisters of Saint Martha. Some of the Martha Sisters also served as teachers there. In 1954 the university's centennial year was fittingly celebrated, culminating in August with a gala three-day commemoration of the first hundred years of the "college on the hill". Present was one of St. Dunstan's most illustrious graduates, Cardinal McGuigan, Archbishop of Toronto. Many other dignitaries and great numbers of people graced the occasion to acclaim the accomplishments of old St. Dunstan's. In 1969 St. Dunstan's University ceased to operate. A major shortfall in government funding, especially after Prince of Wales College in Charlottetown was raised to the status of a university in 1967, was a principal cause. In St. Dunstan's final year nearly 1,100 students were enrolled and its last graduating class of 1 75 was the largest in its 11 5-year history. The campus was sold to the provincial government in 1969 and the same year it became the site of the newly established University of Prince Edward Island. Educational Institutions ♦ 17 Notre Dame Academy 'hiirMS ii t.»»>• -»Ig«»w(/1h »>»g«■■ DHUN!«"« ilKi jVofre D^jwe Academy, grades 1-12. extras besides. Music was a special feature of this great institution and its choirs were renowned for their accomplishments. At its heart were committed sisters whose lives inspired it all. In 1971 Notre Dame Academy gracefully phased itself out as an educational institution. Since then it has remained a convent for large numbers of sisters, many of whom are still active in a variety of services and missions. In 1857 Bishop Bernard MacDonaid issued an invitation to the Congregation of Notre Dame in Montreal for sisters to conduct a school for girls in Charlottetown. The invitation was quickly accepted and that same year the first of the Congregation's private schools in the diocese began in a small building on Sydney Street. In 1870 the magnificent new four-storey brick Notre Dame Academy opened next door. Because of its great size and ideal location in the city it welcomed large numbers of boarders and day students alike and for over a century was an educational gem of highest standing. Notre Dame Academy remained a school for girls throughout its long existence. Within its walls it eventually offered a complete academic and moral education from first grade through high school with many Other Notre Dame Sisters' Schools Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame began conducting private schools in the following locations: Charlottetown, Notre Dame (1857) and St. Joseph's (1863); Miscouche (1864); Summerside and Tignish (1868); Souris (1881) and South Rustico (1882). Being excellent teachers they conducted equally excellent schools. In those early years times were generally poor and keeping these schools open meant many sacrifices by the sisters and parents alike. Eventually the burden became too great and decisions were made to move these private schools into the public school system. Notre Dame Academy St. Mary's Convent Chapel, Summerside 18 ♦ Educational Institutions Former Sisters' Convent School, Rustico (now Belcourt Centre) These private schools became public in the following years: Miscouche (1 902); Souris (1906); St. Joseph's in Charlottetown (1916); South Rustico (1916), Tignish (1922) and Summerside (1966). After these private sisters' schools became part of the public school system, great numbers of sisters continued to teach in these locations until recent times. In this way they have provided over the years the expertise and dedication for which they were well known. St. Patrick's School In 1868, under the watchful eye of Bishop Maclntyre, construction of St. Patrick's School for boys got underway on the corner of Richmond and Great George Streets. This new school was an impressive brick building, three storeys high, the top storey having a nicely finished assembly area, called St. Patrick's Hall, to be used by the cathedral parish. In 1870 St. Patrick's School opened under the administration of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, an order founded in France in 1 682 by St. Jean Baptist de la Salle. Four brothers formed their first religious community in Charlottetown, three as teachers. Enrollment that first year was over St. Patrick's School one hundred boys and the curriculum was essentially that used in Quebec schools. Living quarters for the brothers, as well as a chapel, were contained within the school. In 1877 the brothers left Charlottetown and returned to postings in Quebec and elsewhere. That year a new School Act was passed that weighed heavily on Catholic schools in general and on St. Patrick's School in particular. The Brothers' superiors in Montreal had their fill of government opposition and other related obstacles in Charlottetown. As educational professionals the brothers were excellent teachers and conducted a good school at which at least a dozen brothers had taught. Upon their departure the building was renamed Queen Square School and operated as a public school. Queen Square School Boys' Retreat 1930s. Educational Institutions ♦ 19 HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS / was hungry and you gave me food, I was sick and you took care of me. (Matthew 25,35) The Charlottetown Hospital In 1879 a major event brought a new light to the diocese and Island. That year saw the opening of the Charlottetown Hospital, a vision of Bishop Maclntyre and made possible by the arrival of six Grey Nuns from Quebec to administer it. Located in the former bishop's residence on Dorchester Street, roughly where the basilica sacristy now stands, it was the first hospital on the Island which the sisters named "Sacred Heart Hospital". At its beginning the hospital had twelve beds. It was open to patients of any religion and almost all the staff doctors at first were not Roman Catholic. This is a good example of ecumenical co-operation long before this spirit became more common in recent times. Because of overcrowding, a new hospital opened on Haviland Street in 1892. Ten years later a new wing was added. In 1918 the maternity department opened and two years after that came the launching of the school of nursing there which became one of the hospital's brightest gems. In 1925 a bright new brick hospital opened its doors and a local newspaper article of the day referred to it as "one of the best east of Montreal". Meanwhile the old hospital was turned into an institution for the elderly and named "Sacred Heart Home". A significant change in the management of the hospital occurred in 1925 when the Grey Nuns terminated their services here and returned to various postings in Quebec. First Charlottetown Hospital At that time as many as twenty of their sisters were active here. With the departure of the Grey Nuns the Sisters of Saint Martha became the new administrators of the hospital. This sudden new responsibility was difficult for them at first. Despite this, the Sisters of Saint Martha were soon able to handle their new duties at the hospital with true dedication and expertise and did so for more than half a century. In 1 950 a large new addition to the hospital made it truly a health care facility of which to be justifiably proud. Fundraising for an institution of this magnitude is never ending. One of the most dedicated groups for this was the St. Charles Auxiliary, a group of Charlottetown women, which remained in existence for almost as long as the hospital tself and raised hugh amounts of financial aid. Another successful fund raiser was the annual mammoth hospital bazaar. Nursing graduates' ring and pin. 20 ♦ Health Care Institutions The Charlottetown Hospital 1940. For a full century the Charlottetown Hospital, operating from three locations, more than fulfilled the vision of its founders. The two orders of sisters who served as its administrators deserve special commendation for excellence and professionalism. As well, the dedicated staff and faithful supporters across the years merit great praise. In 1981 the Charlottetown Hospital closed its doors. That year the opening of the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital brought an end to the two existing city hospitals. As it was in 1879, this new move was also seen as an example of ecumenical co-operation in our day. St. Vincent's Orphanage In 1910 a committee of five priests purchased the Morris farm across from St. Dunstan's College with money that had been contributed by the priests of the diocese. The large old farm house then became the first Catholic orphanage, named after that great lover of homeless children, St. Vincent de Paul. Four Sisters of Charity of Quebec, commonly called the Grey Nuns, came in 1910 to administer the orphanage and already the first year saw sixteen children in their care. In 1914a large new brick building was constructed, but the hardship of providing for the one hundred or more children was always present. Many people helped, including organizations and service clubs. The most consistent help came from the St. Elizabeth's Aid Society of Charlottetown, a group of Charlottetown ladies, who remained with the orphanage until its end. Over more than fifty years they contributed thousands of dollars. Charlottetown Hospital Nurses 1959. Health Care Institutions ♦ 21 ^ -4" '^s^;^.* St. Vincent's Orphanage In 1925 the Grey Nuns were recalled to Quebec after fifteen years of faithful service here. Over that period at least forty of their sisters had been on the orphanage staff. The Sisters of Saint Martha immediately took over the administration of the orphanage upon the departure of the Grey Nuns at a time when more than a hundred children were living there. Although support from the farm was substantial, much more assistance was needed still. The weekly collection of "St. Anthony's Bread" from city contributors helped greatly. Later the sisters had monthly door to door collections in the city parishes and also collected in country parishes as the needs increased. Beginning in the 1950s these young people were gradually placed in good homes with the assistance of the Catholic Family Services Bureau. This being completed, the orphanage closed in 1963. Over nearly a forty year period more than a hundred Saint Martha Sisters had served there. The orphanage was another success story. The contribution of so many people to this worthy cause cannot be measured, but the two orders of sisters deserve special credit for their perseverance and steady hands. One of the high points of the children's care was the excellent school on the premises and former orphanage children frequently testify to the good formation they received in the values taught there. St. Francis Hostel In the early 1920s, with hospital space taxed to the limit, the dozen elderly ladies housed in the hospital were transferred to the Kelly House next to the cathedral. This became known as "St. Francis Hostel" and three Sisters of Saint Martha were placed in charge of it. St. Francis Hostel. When the new brick hospital opened in 1925 these twelve residents of the hostel, along with many others, moved into the old wooden hospital which then became known as "Sacred Heart Home". Before long this Kelly House next to the cathedral became the first monastery of the Precious Blood upon the arrival of these sisters in 1929. 22 ♦ Health Care Institutions Sacred Heart Home When the new brick hospital was opened in 1925 the old wooden one was converted into a residence for the elderly named "Sacred Heart Home" and staffed by the Sisters of Saint Martha. Within a short time a hundred elderly people were living there. By the late 1950s the Fire Department ordered the closing of the third or top floor. Gradually it became evident that a new building was needed. In 1962, because of a successful diocesan financial campaign, a new four- storey brick structure was erected across the street, next door to the Charlottetown Hospital from which it got its heat and hot water. The new home had space for some 130 residents and its occupancy was almost always a hundred percent. From 1962 the financial operation of the Home was greatly supported by government assistance given to individual residents. Five years later the Sacred Heart Home was incorporated as a non-profit organization and came under the management of a Board of Governors. In February, 1995 the Board of Governors announced that the Sacred Heart Home was closing its doors in June of that year. A number of factors led to the Board's decision, the main one being financial due to extensive and very costly renovations required for the building. In addition there was a substantial reduction in government funding. About a hundred residents had to be relocated by the closure and this was done with a minimum of hardship although sadness was felt by many at the shutting down of this fine institution. The Sisters of Saint Martha deserve enormous credit for their 70 years of devoted service at the Sacred Heart Home. Much volunteer service was provided as well by the lay staff and by many others in providing a final home for large numbers of elderly people from across the Island. The Bureau In 1931 the Sisters of Saint Martha opened a Social Services Department at the Charlottetown Hospital to address the needs of the poor. One of the Department's first rate services was home care nursing, especially for mothers and infants, but also for the elderly. The Social Services Department moved to larger quarters on Pownal Street in 1943. Five years later it became known officially as the Catholic Social Welfare Bureau with a constitution and Board of Directors. Professional Health Care Institutions ♦ 23 The Bureau. counselling soon became the Bureau's additional thrust, particularly in the area of alcoholism. This added service, along with an alcoholic rehabilitation centre and a half-way house, had an impressive success rate among great numbers of alcohol victims. In 1965 the Bureau established St. Gerard's Home for single mothers. By the time of its closure in 1 987 as many as 1,700 women used the home. During this period adoptive homes had to be sought in other provinces and in the United States. Outreach through foster homes was another of the Bureau's ways of assisting children. By 1 970 the government assumed control of social assistance, addiction and nursing services. This brought a period of transition for the Bureau and in 1973 it became known as the Catholic Family Services Bureau, a professional family agency with counselling services as its major thrust. Since 1998 this institution is known as Pownal House, Home of Catholic Family Services Bureau. All of the above has been a great success story and the Sisters of Saint Martha in particular are to be commended for their vision and perseverance in this pioneer venture. Western Hospital In 1944 Sacred Heart Parish purchased the vacant Albion Terrace Hotel in Alberton and opened there a 1 5-bed hospital under the management of the Sisters of Saint Martha. Additions in 1948 and 1960 made the Western Hospital an excellent rural health care facility. In the mid 1950s the parish deeded the property to the Sisters. Many people had a hand in making this hospital a great success story, all in a real spirit of ecumenism. Gradually the government contributed its share as well. However, the Sisters of Saint Martha deserve special praise for their pioneering spirit and deep perseverance. In 1991 the Sisters of Saint Martha turned the hospital over to the Western Hospital Corporation. During that nearly half century more than sixty sisters served there. Western Hospital 1950s RELIGIOUS ORDERS All those who are called by God to the practice of the evangelical counsels, and who make faithful profession of them, bind themselves to the Lord in a special way. (Decree On the Up-To-Date Renewal of Religious Life) Women Religious Congregation of Notre Dame The Congregation of Notre Dame was founded in Montreal, then Ville Marie, in 1658 by Marguerite Bourgeoys, a native of France who had come to this country a few years earlier. The civil charter of the Congregation, signed by King Louis XIV in 1 671, refers especially to its "instruction of young girls in piety to enable them to practice the Christian and moral virtues according to their state". When Bishop Bernard MacDonald invited the Congregation here in 1857 he had the following ideas in mind: "For a long time I have wanted a house of education in this diocese directed by religious in order to provide young girls of the parish of Charlottetown, and those of country parishes when possible, the advantages of a polite education coupled with both moral and religious training". In 1857 four sisters of Notre Dame arrived in Charlottetown and opened a school in a donated building on Sydney Street. This was the first of the Congregation's schools on P.E.I., with the St. Joseph's Convent School on Pownal Street opening in 1863. The following year brought sisters of Notre Dame to Miscouche and in 1868 sisters' schools opened in Tignish and Summerside. This was followed by the establishment of convent schools at Souris in 1881 and in South Rustico in 1882. Notre Dame Sisters, 100'' Anniversary. In 1870 the new Notre Dame Academy opened its doors on Sydney Street, replacing the much overcrowded former school there. Although Notre Dame Academy and St. Joseph's in Charlottetown remained as schools for girls, with a couple of brief exceptions, the other Island sisters' schools admitted boys, in some cases right from the beginning. From 1902 to 1922 these private convent schools, with the exception of Summerside and Notre Dame Academy in Charlottetown, gradually gave way to becoming public schools, administered by the provincial Department of Education, with large numbers of sisters continuing to teach within the school system. This step was taken mainly because the cost of operating these private schools became too great a burden on the Catholic people. The Summerside convent Religious Orders ♦ 25 Grey Nuns SwJot, 1990. school became a public school only in 1966, while Notre Dame Academy remained a private school until it closed in 1971. Although mainly retired, the sisters continue to use their long standing educational skills in working with women, counselling, parish ministry, pastoral care, home visiting, catechizing, assisting the poor and needy, in retreats and in other diverse areas. The contribution made by the Sisters of Notre Dame in this diocese for a century and a half is a marvellous one. In addition to being teachers par excellence, the sisters also made catechetical instruction their special concern. The arts and crafts, adult education and pre-school programs, counselling and other academic specializations have been their standard giftedness. Above all, music was one of the marks of every Notre Dame convent on P.E.I. More than 300 Island women became sisters of Notre Dame, with a goodly number of these serving or having served on P.E.I. The Congregation of Notre Dame has immeasurably enhanced the life of this Island and it can be easily said of these sisters that the good they have done will live long after them. Marguerite Bourgeoys, the foundress of the Congregation, was canonized in 1982. Her feast day is celebrated each year on January 1 2. Grey Nuns and nurses This religious order, more correctly called the Sisters of Charity of Quebec, was founded by Mother Marcelle Mallet at Quebec City in 1849. In 1879 six Grey Nuns came from Quebec to open the Charlottetown Hospital in the former bishop's residence on Dorchester Street where the sacristy/sanctuary of today's basilica stands. This was the first hospital on P.E.I, and was named "Sacred Heart Hospital". In 1890 the sisters and hospital moved to new quarters on Haviland Street where a new wing was added in 1 903. For many years the hospital had on staff at least twenty of these sisters. In 1910 four Grey Nuns came from Quebec to take up the management of St. Vincent's Orphanage which had just been established opposite St. Dunstan's College. Four years later they moved into the new brick orphanage erected on the same site. At times there were nine sisters on staff there. In 1925 all the Grey Nuns returned to Quebec after many years of illustrious service here. 26 ♦ Religious Orders Why did chey leave Charlottetown? Continuing demands for these sisters in French-speaking institutions in Quebec and elsewhere was one major reason. Another was that by 1925 they felt that the Sisters of Saint Martha of Prince Edward Island, founded in 191 6, could now assume these health care duties. Daughters of Jesus (Filles de Jesus) This religious order was founded in France in 1834, its main apostolate being schools and hospitals. From 1903 to 1 909 eight of these sisters lived at St. Dunstan's College and were faithfully engaged in domestic services there. With more areas opening up for French- speaking teachers and nurses, especially in Quebec, New Brunswick and Cape Breton, the Daughters of Jesus left the Island for those parts. St. Dunstans' College 1903. Little Sisters of the Holy Family Founded in Memramcook, N.B. in 1880 by Sister Marie-Leonie Paradis, the motherhouse and novitiate moved to Sherbrooke, Quebec in 1895. A number of these sisters were engaged in domestic work at St. Dunstan's College from 1909 until 1916 and contributed greatly to the life and spirit of the place. Sisters of Saint Martha In 1916 a bright new period began in the Diocese of Charlottetown with the birth of a new religious order of women, the Sisters of Saint Martha. This brought to fulfilment the dream of Bishop Henry O'Leary. As a beginning, four Island women entered the novitiate of the Sisters of Saint Martha of Antigonish in 1915. The following year they returned to the Island, accompanied by Antigonish Sister Mary Stanislaus who was to serve as Island superior for an interim period. Their first Saint Martha's Convent was located at St. Dunstan's College. In 1 920 the sisters moved to the newly-purchased farm house and land on Mount Edward Road, the site of the present Mount St. Mary's. Sister Ellen Mary Cullen (Mother Loyola) became the new superior in 1 921 and two years later, under the guidance of Bishop Louis O'Leary, the Sisters of Saint Martha of Prince Edward Island became by formal decree a congregation in the Diocese of Charlottetown. First Mount St. Mai~y 's Religious Orders ♦ 27 Chapel, Mount St. Mary's. The year 1 925 presented a great challenge for this young but growing religious community. That year the Sisters of Saint Martha had to quickly assume the management of the Charlottetown Hospital, St. Vincent's Orphanage and the newly- opened Sacred Heart Home. In 1 944 the Sisters of Saint Martha branched out in their health-care commitment by opening the Western Hospital in Alberton and by assuming the administration of Van Buren Community Hospital in Maine from 1961 to 1980. The Congregation of Saint Martha was also active in the teaching profession, their first mission being Kinkora as early as 1921. Other Island teaching locations and their opening years include Tracadie (1 942), St. Teresa's and Lennox Island (1948), Fort Augustus and Grand Tracadie (1954), Corran Ban (1959) and Morell (1960). One of the most effective services provided by the sisters since the late 1 970s has been the operation of Belcourt Centre, the diocesan retreat house in Rustico. In addition to wise management, the sisters by living there have brought to that old house a feeling of warmth and hominess for all who enter there. Other involvements of the sisters on the Island include domestic works and parish ministries. Sisters have also for many years held prominent positions at the diocesan level. One was Chancellor of the diocese, two were co¬ ordinators of religious education and several have been employed in the Marriage Tribunal. Out of province fields of service for the sisters include prison ministry at Springhill, Nova Scotia, a missionary team in the Dominican Republic during the 1 970s and teaching positions in schools at several locations in Ontario over the past forty years. Changing times have led to a gradual withdrawal of sisters from many of the above- mentioned apostolates. At the same time this period of transition brought many sisters into new fields of service too numerous to mention here. The present motherhouse of Mount St. Mary's opened in 1964 and remains today a place of quiet as well as the hub of many activities. The Spirituality Centre in particular is an accessible and much appreciated oasis for people in the city and across the diocese. Retreat I960 Chapter 1985 28 ♦ Religious Orders General Superiors of the Congregation of Saint Martha Sister Ellen Mary Cullen 1921-1933 Sister Mary Irene McKinnon 1973-1981 Sister M. Paula McPhee 1933-1945 Sister Stella MacDonald 1981-1989 Sister M.Teresa Walsh 1945-1951 Sister Kathleen Bolger 1989-1997 Sister Ellen Mary Cullen 1951 -1963 Sister Lauretta White 1997- Sister Mary Angela Keefe 1963-1973 Sisters of the Precious Blood Founded in 1861 at St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, by Aurelia Caouette and Bishop LaRocque of St. Hyacinthe, this order from the beginning was a contemplative community rather than one directed to a more active style of life. In 1929 the Diocese of Charlottetown was celebrating its centennial and Bishop Louis O'Leary was anxious to have a contemplative community established in the diocese in thanksgiving for the many blessings bestowed on the diocese during these 1 00 years. The Sisters' Administration agreed on a Charlottetown Foundation. On June 6, 1929 seven Sisters of the Precious Blood arrived by train in Charlottetown and were met at the station by Bishop O'Leary and taken directly to their new home, a reasonably sized brick house, at 1 26 Sydney Street, next door to the cathedral. Some years later a major extension was added to the monastery there. After thirty-three years on Sydney Street, and having accepted a number of Island young women as members of the community, the Sisters in 1962 moved into their new and spacious monastery on University Avenue, just opposite St. Dunstan's University. At the same time the Sisters ceased being an independent Religious House and joined the other houses of their religious family to form a Generalate, the mother house of which is in London, Ontario. ■ -m After another thirty years the sisters in 1992 moved to a new but more compact monastery attached to the motherhouse of Mount St. Mary's on Mt. Edward Road where they continue their quiet and prayerful presence to this day. It is interesting to note that one of the original seven sisters to arrive in 1929 is still a member of the Precious Blood community here. Sister Elizabeth Ann was just a postulant when she came 73 years ago. Today at age 92 she remains very active and still as jovial. Sisters of the Precious Blood Chapel. Religious Orders ♦ 29 Religieuses de Notre-Dame-du Sacre-Coeur Servantes du Saint-Cceur de Marie Cet ordre religieux vit le jour a Memramcook, au N.-B. en 1924. Cinquante-deux soeurs appartenant a la congregation des Soeurs de la Charite de Saintjohn, au N.-B., fonderent ce nouvel ordre de religieuses acadiennes. L'objet principal de leur apostolat fut I'enseignement. En 1959, trois religieuses de cet ordre se rendirent a Mont-Carmel, principalement pour enseigner a I'ecole regionale Evangeline. La congregation garda des religieuses a Mont-Carmel jusqu'en 1979 et, au cours de leurvingt annees de presence, au moins vingt-cinq religieuses prirent part a cet excellent apostolat aupres du peuple acadien. Cet ordre religieux fut fonde a Paris en 1860 et eut tot fait de s'etendre jusqu'a Quebec en 1 892. L'objet principal de son apostolat fut egalement I'enseignement. En 1977, trois des soeurs de cette congregation vinrent a Mont-Carmel, principalement pour y animer des sessions au centre d'education chretienne Le Goeland, situe a Cap-Egmont. La musique et la liturgle etaient aussi en tete de leurs priorites. Lorsqu'elles quitterent la region en 1989, au moins une douzaine de religieuses avaient pris part a cette noble mission aupres du peuple acadien. Drapeau Acadien. Men Religious 33313 St. Patrick's School Brothers of the Christian Schools Founded in France in 1682 by Saint Jean Baptist de la Salle, their main apostolate was educational and charitable works. In 1870 four of these brothers came to Charlottetown to conduct St. Patrick's School, a new three-storey brick building on the corner of Richmond and Great George Streets just across from the cathedral. In Charlottetown the Brothers followed essentially the same curriculum as was used in their Quebec schools. They had their own living quarters within the school and were supported by tuition fees, donations, by the parish itself, as well as by a government salary for a brief time. They were considered excellent teachers and ran a good school. 30 ♦ Religious Orders The Brothers left Charlottetown in 1877 and moved to other teaching assignments in central Canada. Why did they leave? There was much sectarianism here, especially with the government; the Brothers were not that willing to follow the new School Act of P.E.I.; financial support at times was tenuous; there was a general unease with regard to the Charlottetown scene by the Brothers' superiors in Montreal. In 1878 St. Patrick's School became Queen Square School. Agreement was reached and in September, 1880 the college opened with Father Kenny, S.J. as rector and Father Racicot, S.J. as vice rector. With them there was a staff of four scholastics and a number of lay brothers. In 1881, after one year at St. Dunstan's College, thejesuits left and returned to Upper Canada. Why did they leave? Changes at the college which they saw as necessary apparently did not meet the approval of the bishop and so in June, 1881 the Jesuit presence here was over. Redemptorists Jesuits Founded in 1 534 at Paris by Saint Ignatius of Loyola, thejesuits (Society of Jesus) have been noted for their educational, missionary and charitable works. During a visit to Rome in 1880 Bishop Maclntyre met with the Superior General of thejesuits with the hope of negotiating the services of thejesuits as teaching staff for St. Dunstan's College. In the bishop's eyes the condition of the college was far from satisfactory at this time and he was seeking a change in its administration. ;•■" * A , dUBIL££ fflt5S '954 Holy Redeemer Parish Mission, Redemptorists, 1954. St. Dunstan 's College c 1885. The Redemptorists (Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer) were founded in 1732 in Italy by Saint Alphonsus Ligouri. Their special concern was preaching the Word of God, especially to the poor through various means, particularly by parish missions and retreats. In 1 929, the centennial year of the Diocese of Charlottetown, the Redemptorists accepted the invitation of Bishop Louis O'Leary and came to Charlottetown to staff the new Holy Redeemer Parish on the city's Religious Orders ♦ 31 Laying of Cornerstone, Holy Redeemer, Redemptorists, 1929. north side. A new basement brick church opened the same year on Upper Queen Street, the site of today's St. Jean's School, and a rectory on Euston Street was purchased. From its beginning Holy Redeemer was an active parish with never less than three priests on staff at all times. Frequent parish missions, in grand Redemptorist style, were held there regularly and each week's Mother of Perpetual Help devotions were very popular. Sports and a range of cultural activities were an ordinary part of life. Due to overcrowding at the first church, the present church-rectory complex was built in 1 964. In 1975 the Redemptorists left Charlottetown. Why did they leave? A drop in vocations and a necessary redistribution of their priests was the main reason. As well, they saw that Holy Redeemer was a well functioning parish, one which the diocese could easily assume without hardship. Over their nearly a half century here at least eighty of their men were stationed at Holy Redeemer. During most of their years here, the Redemptorists also ministered to the parishioners of St. Martin's on the South Shore. 32 ♦ Religious Orders OUR BISHOPS I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. (Jeremiah 3,15) Bishop Angus MacEachern (1829 - 1835) Angus was born in Scotland in 1759. He studied in Spain for ten years and was ordained there in 1 787. After serving for three years in Scotland he came to this Island in 1790. There were then 1500 Catholics here and only two small churches. At times Father MacEachern was the only priest in this region which was then part of the vast Diocese of Quebec. Over great distances he travelled in true pioneer fashion in the service of God and of a people in need. In 1819 Father MacEachern was named auxiliary bishop of Quebec and was consecrated in Quebec City. His mission field continued to be across much of the Maritime region. In 1829 Bishop MacEachern was appointed the first Bishop of Charlottetown which included New Brunswick and the Magdalen Islands. In 1831 he happily established St. Andrew's College at St. Andrew's mainly to prepare students for the seminary. After 45 years of exemplary missionary life Bishop MacEachern died at his residence near St. Andrew's on April 22, 1835. Only two priests were present for his funeral. His remains were interred in St. Andrew's Church basement but in the 1970s they were transferred to a new crypt chapel nearby. Bishop Bernard MacDonald (1837 - 1859) Bernard was born at St. Andrew's in 1 797. He studied for ten years at the Seminary of Quebec and was ordained there in 1822, the first native Islander to become a priest. Father MacDonald ministered over most of the Island and in 1835 he was named Vicar General. The same year he celebrated the funeral Mass for Bishop MacEachern. In 1837 Father MacDonald was appointed second Bishop of Charlottetown and was consecrated in Quebec City. He resided at Rustico during his entire episcopacy and supervised the building of the present church there which served as his pro- cathedral. For his first five years as bishop he also had jurisdiction over the whole New Brunswick territory. Bishop MacDonald closed St. Andrew's College in 1844 and before long arranged for the building of St. Dunstan's College which opened in 1855. In his time a new wooden cathedral was built and the first Notre Dame Convent School opened. As well, many new parishes were founded and twenty additional priests were at work in the diocese. Bishop MacDonald died at St. Dunstan's College on December 30, 1859. His remains were interred in the cathedral basement crypt and recently re-interred at St. Andrew's, next to those of Bishop MacEachern. ■ Tignish where he supervised the building of the present beautiful church there. In 1860 Father Maclntyre was appointed third Bishop of Charlottetown and was consecrated in St. Dunstan's Cathedral. He was particularly involved in the cause of education through St. Dunstan's College and in the establishment of the two Notre Dame Sisters' schools and St. Patrick's School, all in Charlottetown, as well as other convent schools throughout the diocese. Bishop Peter Maclntyre (1860- 1891) Peter was a native of St. Peter's Bay Parish, born in 1818. He studied at St. Andrew's College, at St. Hyacinthe College and at the Seminary of Quebec. He was ordained in the Quebec cathedral in 1843. Father Maclntyre served all his priestly years in west Prince County and resided at In 1875 he arranged the building of the new bishop's residence (the Palace) and deserves much credit for the founding of the Charlottetown Hospital in 1879. A highlight of his years as bishop was his participation at the Vatican Council in Rome from 1869 to 1870. Bishop Maclntyre died at the bishop's residence in Antigonish on April 30, 1891 after a long episcopal term of thirty-one years. Following the funeral Mass at St. Dunstan's Cathedral his remains were interred at St. Peter's Bay, in the church basement crypt. 34 ♦ Our Bishops Bishop Charles MacDonald (1891 - 1912)_______________ Charles was a native of St. Andrew's Parish, born in 1840. He attended the Central Academy and taught school awhile. Then he studied at St. Dunstan's College and at the Grand Seminary of Montreal and was ordained at St. Dunstan's Cathedral in 1873. Father MacDonald was pastor of Georgetown and Cardigan for nine years and taught at St. Dunstan's College of which he was rector for seven years. In 1890 Father MacDonald was named coadjutor Bishop of Charlottetown and was consecrated at St. Dunstan's Cathedral. The following year upon the death of Bishop Maclntyre he assumed the office of diocesan bishop. During his years as bishop there was a steady increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life, in the building of churches and in the founding of new parishes. One of the significant events of his episcopacy was the construction of the magnificent stone cathedral During the last four years of his life Bishop MacDonald was effectively an invalid and on December 1, 1912 he died at his residence. Funeral Mass was celebrated in the new cathedral and his remains were interred in the cathedral crypt. Recently they were re-interred at St. Andrew's, next to those of Bishop MacEachern. Bishop Henry O'Leary (1913-1920) Henry was born at Richibucto, New Brunswick in 1879. After graduating from St. Joseph's College, Memramcook, he studied at the Grand Seminary of Montreal and was ordained in his home parish in 1901 for the Diocese of Chatham. Following ordination Father O'Leary was sent to Rome where he remained four years, obtaining doctorates in theology, philosophy and canon law. He then was pastor at Jacquet River and at Sacred Heart, Our Bishops ♦ 35 Bathurst and in 1 908 he was named Vicar General of che Chatham Diocese. In 1913 Father O'Leary was appointed Bishop of Charlottetown and was consecrated at Sacred Heart Church, Bathurst. He was just 34. Among his involvements here were the rebuilding of the burned cathedral, the construction of a new orphanage, the founding of the Sisters of Saint Martha, improvements at the Charlottetown Hospital and updating at St. Dunstan's College, including its becoming a university. In 1920 Bishop O'Leary was appointed Archbishop of Edmonton. In helping to build up the pioneer West he attracted twenty-three Prince Edward Islanders to become priests of that archdiocese. Archbishop O'Leary died in Victoria, B.C. on March 5, 1938. His funeral took place in the yet unfinished St. Joseph's Cathedral, Edmonton with burial in St. Joachim's Cemetery there. Bishop Louis O'Leary (1920-1930)_______________ Louis was born at Richibucto in 1877. After graduating from St. Joseph's College, Memramcook he studied at the Grand Seminary of Montreal and then in Rome where he was ordained in 1900 for the Diocese of Chatham. He continued his studies there and received doctorates in theology and canon law. Back home, Father O'Leary was secretary to the bishop and chancellor of the diocese. In 1914 he was named auxiliary bishop of Chatham and was consecrated in St. Michael's Cathedral there. On the death ofthe Bishop of Chatham in 1920, Bishop O'Leary became administrator ofthe diocese. In 1 920 Bishop O'Leary was appointed Bishop of Charlottetown to succeed his brother, Bishop Henry. On the Island he supervised the gradual expansion of St. Dunstan's University and assisted the Sisters of Saint Martha in becoming officially a congregation by a formal decree in 1923. The diocese celebrated its centennial in 1929, a year which welcomed to Charlottetown the Sisters ofthe Precious Blood and the Redemptorist Fathers. In that year, too, the cathedral was raised to the dignity of a basilica. Bishop O'Leary died in Dayton, Ohio on July 8, 1 930. Funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Dunstan's Basilica with burial in the Catholic Cemetery, Parkdale. 36 * Our Bishops Bishop Joseph O 'Sullivan (1931 - 1944) Joseph was a native of Hamilton, Ontario, bom in 1886. He graduated from St. Jerome's College in Kitchener and studied at the Grand Seminary of Montreal. In 1911 he was ordained in St. Mary's Cathedral, Hamilton for that diocese. Father O'Sullivan was curate at the cathedral, then pastor there, as well as Chancellor of the diocese. In 1925 he became rector of St. Augustine's Seminary, Toronto and six years later he was named Bishop of Charlottetown and was consecrated at St. Mary's Cathedral, Hamilton in 1 931. On P.E.I. Bishop O'Sullivan inaugurated the Eucharistic Congresses and began the Christian Doctrine examinations throughout the diocese. St. Dunstan's University grew in stature and in 1941 began granting its own degrees. Vocations to the priesthood and religious life blossomed during his years here which also coincided with the Great Depression and the dreadful Second World War. In 1944 Bishop O'Sullivan was appointed Archbishop of Kingston, Ontario and was installed there on April 25. A highlight of his Kingston years was his participation in the sessions of the Second Vatican Council in the mid 1960s. Archbishop O'Sullivan retired in 1966 and died in Kingston on June 6, 1972. Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Mary's Cathedral there with burial in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Hamilton. Bishop James Boyle (1944 - 1954) James was born at Merland (Tracadie Parish), Nova Scotia in 1885. After graduating from St. F.X. University, Antigonish, he studied for a year at Louvain University in Belgium, then for three years in Rome where he was ordained in 1913. Our Bishops ♦ 37 Father Boyle was a faculty member of St. F.X. University for eight years, parish priest at Havre Boucher for sixteen and pastor at Holy Redeemer in Sydney for six years. For much of this time he was a pioneer in the co¬ operative movement. In 1944 Father Boyle was named Bishop of Charlottetown and was consecrated at St. Dunstan's Basilica on June 6 that year. His years here were times of significant expansion. The Charlottetown Hospital was much enlarged and a new one opened in Alberton. Major construction took place at St. Dunstan's University and in 1 954 its centennial was proudly celebrated. Vocations to the priesthood and sisterhood abounded. In 1946 the Magdalen Islands, a part of this diocese since 1829, were detached from here and added to the Diocese of Gaspe. Bishop Boyle died in London, England on June 3, 1 954 while on his way to Rome. His funeral took place at St. Dunstan's Basilica, with burial in the Catholic Cemetery, Parkdale. Bishop Malcolm MacEachern (1955-1970)________________ Malcolm was born at Broad Cove, Cape Breton in 1901. After graduating from St. F.X. University in Antigonish he studied at the Grand Seminary of Montreal and was ordained at the cathedral there in 1927. After short terms as parish curate and St. F.X. professor, Father MacEachern studied for three years at Louvain University in Belgium where he received his PhD in 1935. He returned to the faculty of St. F.X. and in 1951 he was appointed pastor of Mount Carmel Parish in New Waterford. In 1954 he was named Bishop of Charlottetown and was consecrated at St. Ninian's Cathedral, Antigonish in January, 1 955. During Bishop MacEachern's years here two new parishes were established, a new Sacred Heart Home and bishop's residence - chancery were constructed, along with five new buildings at the university. The year 1 969, however, marked the closing of St. Dunstan's University and the sale of its campus. In the mid 1960s the bishop participated in all sessions of the Second Vatican Council. In 1970 Bishop MacEachern retired and moved to Antigonish. He died at St. Martha's Hospital there on March 28, 1982. Funeral Bishop MacEachern with Pope John XXIII. 38 ♦ Our Bishops Mass was celebrated at St. Ninian's Cathedral, with burial in St. Margaret's Church Cemetery, Broad Cove. Bishop Francis Spence (1970 - 1982) Francis was born at Perth, Ontario in 1926. After graduating from St. Michael's College, Toronto, he studied at St. Augustine's Seminary, Toronto and was ordained in 1 950 for the Archdiocese of Kingston. Father Spence did further study in Rome for three years and received his doctorate in Canon Law in 1955. He held various appointments in the archdiocese including parish curate, secretary to the archbishop, marriage tribunal and pastor at Marmora. In 1967 he was named auxiliary bishop to the military vicar and was consecrated at St. Mary's Cathedral, Kingston. In 1970 he became Bishop of Charlottetown while still retaining his commitments to the military. On P.E.I. Bishop Spence was much involved in setting up many new committees, commissions and structures in the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council. In 1975 the Redemptorists withdrew from the diocese due to more pressing needs elsewhere. In 1979 the Diocese of Charlottetown celebrated in a fitting way its 1 50lh anniversary and the following year one of its priests, Father Faber MacDonald, became Bishop of Grand Falls, Newfoundland. In March, 1 982 Bishop Spence was appointed bishop for the Military Vicariate of Canada and one month later he was named Archbishop of Kingston. From 1995 to 1997 he served as president of the CCCB. Bishop James MacDonald,C.S.C. (1982 - 1991)________________ ' i ■ i( James was born at Whycocomagh, Cape Breton in 1925. He studied at St. Joseph's College in Memramcook and joined the Congregation of the Holy Cross. Following studies at Holy Cross Seminary in Montreal he was ordained in 1 953 at Woodstock, Ontario. After serving awhile on the mission band Father MacDonald was superior of the Holy Cross Seminary at Memramcook and of the Holy Cross House of Studies in Fredericton. He then was pastor for a number of years at St. Michael's in Waterloo, Ontario. In 1978 Father MacDonald was named Auxiliary Bishop of Hamilton, Ontario and four years later was appointed Bishop of Charlottetown, being installed here in October, 1982. On the Island he followed a brisk pace of pastoral activities, including the introduction of the RCIA process to the diocese. He also launched GIFT (giving in faith together), a very successful six million dollar financial campaign for the diocese. During his time here, a bishop's residence was purchased at York Point, leaving the former one on North River Road to become a diocesan office complex. In 1991 Bishop MacDonald was appointed Archbishop of St. John's, Newfoundland and after a busy ten years there he retired in 2001 and now lives in Windsor, Ontario. at the Grand Seminary of Montreal and was ordained in 1969 at Antigonish. Father Fougere served his first three years as parish assistant at Mount Carmel parish, New Waterford and the next three as pastor at Louisdale. From 1 975 to 1 982 he was a member of the Antigonish diocesan missionary team in Honduras. Bishop Vernon Fougere (1992- )__________________ Vernon is a native of Petit de Grat, Cape Breton and was born in 1943. After graduating from St. F.X. University he studied Following the missions he took further theological studies at the University of California. In 1984 he became parish priest at Bras d'Or and in 1 988 he was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of Antigonish, Director of Pastoral Services for the diocese and pastor of St. Augustine's Parish, Sydney. In December, 1991 Father Fougere was appointed Bishop of Charlottetown, being 40 ♦ Our Bishops consecrated and installed at St. Dunstan's Basilica on March 19, 1992. One of Bishop Fougere's goals has been the establishment of a Pastoral Planning process involving many regional meetings and the ongoing implementation of their findings. Other initiatives include the beginning of a diocesan Lay Formation Program, the bringing of RENEW 2000 to the diocese and renewed efforts at promoting vocations to the priesthood. Seven Mile Bay Our Bishops ♦ 41 Due in altum Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch. (Luke 5,4) 'IIBfckj**. PART TWO OUR PARISHES ALBERTON (Sacred Heart) First Alberton Church, burned 1968. NAMED AFTER PRINCE ALBERT, later King Edward VII, Alberton grew up from its excellent harbor and railway facilities. It became a parish in 1879, composed of Scottish and Irish settlers. That year they built a beautiful church, later enlarged, dedicated to the Sacred Heart. That same year also the parishioners moved the rectory across the ice from Cascumpec and from then until now the parish has had a resident pastor. In 1894 the pastor, father A.E. Burke, supervised the construction of the stately rectory still in use today. Father Burke involved himself in a whole array of Church and secular pursuits, particularly in the area of agriculture. In 1908 he became founder and president of the Catholic Church Extension Society of Canada, based in Toronto. In 1944 the parish purchased the town's Albion Terrace Hotel for use as a hospital, staffed by the Sisters of Saint Martha. Additions in 1948 and 1960 made this Western Hospital a distinguished health care facility. Today's modern government hospital on the same site bears strong witness to those early years of hard work by many people, especially by the Sisters of Saint Martha. Fire in 1968 completely destroyed the parish church. Liturgical services took place in the parish's Alberton Social Centre until 1972 when the present attractive church opened its doors. With its spacious full basement it is truly a community gem and real parish centre for the 350 families there. Excellent farm land lies within Sacred Heart Parish. Fishing also thrives out of the fine harbor at Northport. Great water scenery is provided by the vast reaches of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and by the lovely Kildare River. BAIE-EGMONT (St. Philippe et St. Jacques) Q Deux otTs UELQUES FAMILLES ACADIENNES s'etablirent dans cette region des 1812, afin de recommencer a zero. DeuxlftTs plus card, ils construisirent une petite eglise dediee a Saint-Philippe et Saint-Jacques. La petite eglise fut detruite par un incendie en 1819, ce qui ne decouragea pas les gens de l'endroit qui en erigerent une nouvelle la meme annee. La population augmentant, les paroissiens deciderent d'eriger une nouvelle eglise plus grande en 1835, qui servit bien les besoins de la paroisse pendant presque quatre-vingt-dix ans. On construisit et reconstruisit egalement des presbyteres. Le premier fut erige en 1820, le deuxieme en 1834 et I'actuel presbytere fut construit en 1885. Les pretres residerenr dans la paroisse a partir de 1865. Le Pere Sylvain Perrey, le premier pretre acadien ne a l'lle, servit la paroisse pendant de nombreuses annees. 11 y est d'ailleurs enterre. En 1923, les paroissiens construisirent L'eglise actuelle, une imposante et magnifique eglise de brique dont on couvrit par la suite les murs de stuc. Un magnifique grand orgue de marque Casavant construit en 1895 y trone. En 1962, on inaugura une nouvelle salle paroissiale plus spacieuse, contribuant a enrichir la vie sociale des paroissiens. Un nombre d'institutions d'importance sont situees a l'interieur des limites de la paroisse, bien qu'elles servent l'ensemble de la region Evangeline. Parmi celle-ci, notons la Cooperative des pecheurs acadiens, l'Exposition agricole et Festival acadien, l'ecole Evangeline, le Centre de recreation Evangeline, et la Cooperative Funeraire Evangeline. Cette paroisse nous a donne plus de 70 soeurs religieuses. Un autre personnage natif de la paroisse, Aubin Arsenault, fut premier ministre de l'lle-du-Prince-Edouard entre 1917 et 1919 et devint plus tard juge de la Cour supreme de la province. De nos jours, il y a environ 300 families dans la paroisse de Saint-Philippe et Saint- Jacques, dont la partie ouest contemple les vastes eaux bleues du detroit de Northumberland. Our Parishes ♦ 45 BLOOMFIELD (St. Anthony's) For its FIRST 75 YEARS this parish had irs centre at Cascumpec where as early as 1803 eight Acadian families lived and soon built a log chapel. In 1839 the people erected a larger church and twenty years later they had a new rectory as well. With a shift of population more to the west, the parishioners in the mid 1870s built the present day St. Anthony's Church at Bloomfield (Woodstock). Enlargements and fine finishing, especially the superb interior woodwork, continued for the next quarter century. The old Cascumpec church served as a parish hall until 1959 when the parishioners proudly opened their new parish centre. In 1878 the present rectory was constructed and from then until now all their pastors have lived there. In 1927 the parish purchased a small vacant Protestant church and moved it to O'Leary where it served as a mission church until the late 1980s. With few exceptions the St. Anthony's Parish picnics have been an annual event of 46 Our Parishes social significance and of economic advantage since the 1870s. These picnics, especially the excellent meals prepared by the ladies of the parish, attract a wide circulation of people, especially former parishioners who view them as a true homecoming. In 1982 the Sisters of Saint Martha opened a house in Woodstock where at least two sisters have been serving in the ministry of hospitality and in the wider needs of nearby parishes. Today there are 325 families in St. Anthony's Parish. Rich farm lands flourish within its boundaries and its eastern edges overflow with the scenic waters of Cascumpec Bay and Mill River. The name Bloomfield appears to be ; wfl called after its namesake in t i BRAE (Immaculate Conception) the 1930s until 1967 but recently it was sold. The present church was constructed in 1903 and completed over the next few years. The interior woodwork finish and design are very striking. Over the years the priests serving the Brae usually had another parish as well, such as today when their spiritual leader is also pastor at Bloomfield where he resides. Immaculate Conception DERIVED FROM THE SCOTTISH WORD for "hillside", the Brae parish community was settled by Scottish Catholic families around 1828. Occasionally a priest would celebrate Mass at some convenient place in the settlement. In 1848 the people built their first church there, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, under the supervision of Father Peter Maclntyre who had spiritual care of all West Prince County. In 1856 the parishioners erected the parish rectory which always added a pleasant balance to the pretty church. Resident pastors occupied the house from Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, Clenwood Although the Brae was always a small parish, the parishioners saw fit to build a neat little mission church at Glenwood near West Point which opened in 1913 under dedication to "Corpus Christi". These years, the Eucharist is celebrated in each church on alternate Sundays. Today some 80 families comprise the Brae Parish. Farming has provided the livelihood for many generations of parishioners and fishing has, too, out of the great ports of Brae Harbour and West Point. From the south side of the parish may be seen the lush waters of Egmont Bay and beyond that those of the Northumberland Strait. Our Parishes 47 BURTON (St. Mark's) Irish IMMIGRANTS settled this area in the mid 1820s and in 1844 they built their first little church, dedicated to St. Mark. Here the priest would celebrate Mass three or four times a year. In 1879 the parishioners erected a new and much larger church, the present one, and around the same time a neat and practical rector}' which still stands beside the church. Parish priests lived in this rectory from 1909 until the early 1990s. At other times their pastor usually lived at Alberton, as he does today, with responsibility for both parishes. St. Bernadette's, Brockton In 1902 a new hall was erected to round out the usual arrangement of parish buildings. This hall was a project of the St. Mark's branch of the C.M.B.A. which was active across the diocese at that time. Around 1915 diocesan authorities extended the parish boundaries to the north which made necessary the building of wings to the church for extra seating. Down in that northern end of the parish at Brockton the parishioners in 1929 built the mission church, dedicated to St. Bernadette. The Bloomfield Station corner of the parish was once a thriving little centre due mainly to the railway and its station. Three stores and other shops operated there, but now like the railway itself they are gone. The name Burton is considered to be a short form of Haliburton, a district within the parish. Approximately 120 families comprise the paiish today, with farming and fishing among the various occupations of the people. The scenery on the west side of St. Mark's Parish is one of the finest on the Island with the fertile waters of Northumberland . * * Strait lapping its edges. Sunsets there are truly extraordinary. 48 Our Parishes CARDIGAN (All Saints) IN THE EARLY 1800s a few Scottish immigrant families settled this area and eventually other Scottish and some Irish families joined them. In 1874 they built the present beautiful church which they dedicated to All Saints. Of French Gothic design, one of its special features was the main altar of Italian marble constructed by parishioner William Lewis. The rectory is undated but is said to have been moved to its present site before 1900 after which the two towers were added. Father John MacMillan was the first resident pastor and served from 1894 until 1916. One of his magnificent accomplishments while in Cardigan was his writing of a two-volume history of the Catholic Church in Prince Edward Island covering the years 1720 to 1891. J.J. Bowlen, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta in the 1950s, was a native of Cardigan Parish. 1 lis brother, Father William Bowlen, while pastor at High River, Alberta baptized former Prime Minister Joe Clark. In 1954 the parishioners constructed a Marian archway at the entrance of the church to commemorate that year's well celebrated Marian Year throughout the world. In recent years the church has received extensive renovations, including a splendid new basement with facilities for its parish functions. One of its sections is named the "MacMillan Room" after the above- mentioned pastor and in which parish wakes are held. Named after one of the earls of Cardigan, the village area where the church is located offers a picturesque view, touched off by the beauty of its river of the same name which winds through the centre of the parish. Today there are 160 families in All Saints Parish. CHARLOTTETOWN (Holy Redeemer) In 1929 the northwest section of the cathedral parish was canonically erected as the new parish of Holy Redeemer and placed under the direction of the Redemptorist Fathers whose formal title is "Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer". Beginning with 250 families, the first pastor was Father Joseph McGreel, CSsR, who moved into a newly-purchased rectory at 73 Huston Street. At Midnight Mass, 1929 the new church was formally opened by Monsignor MacLean, V.G. This was a basement church, located on Queen Street where St. Jean's School stands today. In 1951 a new Holy Redeemer community centre opened on Stewart Street. A number of Redemptorist priests always lived at Holy Redeemer, forming a religious community there. Frequent parish missions were well attended as were the weekly Mother of Perpetual Help devotions. The Island's first Credit Union, the Liguorian, was established there in 1936. These, along with a wide range of cultural activities, made Holy Redeemer from its beginning until now an active parish community. Overcrowding at the first church led to the building of the present church-rectory complex on Spring Park Road and Pond Street which was blessed by Bishop MacEachern in 1964. Due to a redistribution of their priests, the Redemptorists left Holy Redeemer in 1975 after nearly a half century of faithful ministry in Charlottetown. Over that period more than eighty of their members had served at Holy Redeemer Parish. Diocesan clerw have ministered at Holv Redeemer for the past quarter century and during the late 1970s the parish hall opened next door to the church. The parish today numbers 1500 families, making it one of the largest in the diocese. The present Chief Justice of P.E.I., Gerard Mitchell, is a parishioner here. Another long-time parishioner was St. Clair Trainor, Chief Justice of P.E.I, from 1970 to 1976. 50 Our Parishes CHARLOTTETOWN (St Dunstan's Cathedral) As a Catholic community the Charlotcetown core developed slowly. When Bishop Plessis of Quebec visited here in 1812 there was no church. He ordered that one be built and dedicated to St. Dunstan of Canterbury. This first church, on the site of today's basilica, was erected in 1816 and twice enlarged. After the Island became a diocese in 1829 the St. Dunstan's churches became cathedrals. In 1843 construction of the second wooden cathedral began on the same lot. It was a beautiful church for its day with its front entrance facing the water. jiii IP In 1896 the building of a large imposing cathedral in stone got underway. Taking a few years to complete, it was considered one of the most magnificent churches east of Quebec. However, in the winter of 1913 all was lost when fire reduced it to ashes. Before long the present cathedral, an even larger one, rose in its place and had a great solemn opening in 1919. Ten years later, the centennial year of the diocese, this great church was raised to the dignity of a basilica. The first rectory dates to 1825 and the second to 1862. The present one, formerly referred to as "the palace", was built in 1875 with a west wing added around 1915. Here the bishops lived until 1963 when a new bishop's residence was built on North River Road. Since the mid 1980s this latter building has been the Diocesan Pastoral Centre with the bishop's residence since then being at York Point. In the early days the parish burial ground was the front part of today's Anglican Cemetery on St. Peter's Road. In 1843 a new one was begun almost next door to today's Birchwood School. In 1883 the present Catholic Cemetery opened. Cathedral boys' choir 1960 Second cathedral and palace Our Parishes 51 .i; | A flurry of high class educational institutions opened in the parish within a short time frame. First came St. Dunstan's College in 1855 and two years later a convent school in the city's east end conducted by the Sisters of Notre Dame. St. Joseph's Convent school on Pownal Street opened in 1863, again conducted by the Notre Dame Sisters. In 1870 a new three- storey St. Patrick's School for boys (later Queen Square) began classes and the same year the new four-storey Notre Dame Academy on Sydney Street commenced its long and illustrious career. In the same time period efforts to combat the evils of liquor resulted in the founding of the St. Dunstan's Total Abstinence Society (1841), St. Patrick's Temperance Society (1874), the Catholic Total Abstinence Union (1877) and the League of the Cross (1888). One of the bright lights of the cathedral parish was the Charlottetown Hospital. Founded in 1879 in the former bishop's residence on Dorchester Street, where the basilica sacristy now stands, it began under the direction of the Grey Nuns of Quebec. By 1890 it had moved to new quarters on Haviland Street (Dundas Esplanade) where a new wing was added in 1903. A new hospital in 1925, plus a major addition in 1950, served the people admirably until its closure in 1981. In 1925 the old hospital was reassigned to become a residence for elderly people under the name of "Sacred Heart Home". In 1962 this gave way to a new brick Sacred Heart Home across Haviland Street which continued its dedicated service until its closure in the mid 1990s. Another institution within the parish was St. Vincent's Orphanage which began in 1910 and operated until the 1960s, for most of these 52 Our Parishes years under the management of the Sisters or Saint Martha. In 1962 the parish constructed the Basilica Recreation Centre which continues its operation on Richmond Street. Interior of first stone cathedral The cathedral parish has been a real mother in giving birth to four new parishes: Holy Redeemer (1929), St. Pius X (1956), Southport/Stratford (1963) and Cornwall (1978). St. Dunstan's Parish has had a long line of truly dedicated lay men and women who worked hand in hand with competent religious sisters and an impressive group of dedicated priests. The bishops have certainly added their own special presence. One parishioner, Dr. W. J. P. MacMillan, was premier of P.F.I, from 1933 to 1935. Another was William (Billy Archie) MacDonald who was Lieutenant Governor from 1963 to 1969. The cathedral parish today counts 1,000 families, despite having had its boundaries gradually reduced over the years. The long tradition of devoted ministry continues. First stone cathedral, burned 1913 CHARLOTTETOWN (St. Pius X) DUE TO AN INCREASING CATHOLIC POPULATION on the cathedral parish's east side, the new parish of St. Pius X was canonically constituted in 1956. Monsignor R.V. MacKenzie, rector of St. Dunstan's University, was the founding pastor and the basement section of the present church is fittingly named the "MacKenzie Room". By the end of 1956 a modest church with basement hall opened its doors and three years later a new parochial house was added. Ongoing parish growth made larger quarters necessary and in 1973 the present- day church was completed with the former one becoming a parish centre. Mount St. Mary's, the mother house of the Sisters of Saint Martha, lies within the parish and the sisters over the years have contributed substantially to the life of the church community. With 2300 families, St. Pius X Parish is the largest in the diocese. Due to a large number of young families, children and youth form a major part of the parish focus. In 1980 the pastor of the day. Father Faber MacDonald, became Bishop of Grand Falls, Newfoundland. In 1999 he became Brunswick where he is actively engaged in the many ministries of that larger diocese. For many years and while premier of P.E.I, from 1981 to 1986, Jim Lee was a member of this parish. St. Pius X was canonized in 1954, just two years before the founding of this parish. A reform pope (1903-1914), he called for greater participation in the liturgy and restored the high place of liturgical music. In particular he issued a call to the laity to a greater share in the renewal of the Church. All of these are valid present-day Church objectives, especially in this Charlottetown parish that bears his name. Our Parishes > 53 -»-■»-! -' CORNWALL (St. Francis ofAssisi) This new Catholic: community was formerly parr of the cathedral parish. By the late 1960s the numbers of Catholics settling in the area warranted having Sunday Mass there. At first they celebrated the Eucharist in the facilities of the Cornwall United Church and later in Eliot River School and the Cornwall Civic Centre. In 1978 Cornwall officially became a parish and two years later the parishioners moved into their new church complex which also includes a parish centre and rectory. Or unique shape by P.E.I, standards, the church has a pyramid roof, the south side of which contains solar heating glass units intended to reduce heating costs. The North and West rivers pretty well define the eastern and southern boundaries of the parish, situated close to Charlottetown but separate enough to have a distinct rural appearance. Cornwall, whose name probably comes from its namesake in England, is a busy and growing town. The parish has 600 families, most of whom find employment in Charlottetown and its wider urban area. The parishioners selected St. Francis of Assisi as their patron and outside the church stands a seven-foot wooden statue of the saint ofAssisi. Since 1978 the Sisters of Notre Dame have maintained an active presence in the parish. This parish has a close affiliation with the Catholic community of St. Martin's at South Shore where the St. Francis Cemetery is now located. The first pastor here was Father Clare Macdonald who, with the parishioners, worked dutifully to build the parish into a real community of faith. His name is fittingly remembered by calling the parish wake room the "Father Clare Macdonald Lounge". 54 Our Parishes CORRAN BAN (St. Michael's) s cottish SETTLERS arrived in this area as early as 1772, most of them taking up land close to Tracadie Bay. In 1882 the parishioners built a church at Corran Ban, on the east side of the highway facing Winter Bay, and dedicated it to St. Michael. The present parish hall was constructed in 1905 and the present rectory in 1922. In 1932 the parishioners erected the present-day church on the west side of the highway facing the charming Winter River. This is the only basement church in the diocese. No doubt it was intended to be a temporary arrangement until a main church would be built on top. As it stands it is a cosy and pleasant liturgical space for this small parish of some 65 families. Parish priests lived there from 1947 until the mid 1980s. The Sisters of Saint Martha came to the parish in 1954 and have remained to this day. Among their commitments, two of these sisters r have served as administrators of St. Michael's Parish for a number of years. Corran Ban is the Gaelic for "white sickle", referring either to the shape of Winter River there or to a white froth at the changing of the waters. The parish community enjoys a favourable location ten miles from Charlottetown and close by the National Park. Fine farmland surrounds the area and good fishing facilities are within easv reach. Our Parishes 55 COVEHEAD (St. Eugene's) Covehead never had a rectory. In the early years it was served by the priests living in Tracadie. Later, priests from St. Dunstan's University were its administrators. At times the priest Living at Corran Ban had spiritual care for the people at Covehead as well. One of St. Eugene's most illustrious natives was Monsignor James Reardon who for 65 years served in the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis, U.S.A. Professor, pastor and historian, he was a well known and energetic Church figure across the Mid-West and died while still at work at the age of 91. Some of the very best farmland in the province lies all around the Covehead area and much fishing takes place out of the local harbour. The parish's short distance from Charlottetown has encouraged many lamihes to settle there and its proximity to the lavish waters of the North Shore and to the National Park brings large numbers of visitors there each summer. Today St. Eugene's has 200 families within its boundaries. As EARLY as 1772 a number of Scottish Catholics formed settlements at Covehead and some fifty years later a group of Irish immigrants began making homesteads there. In 1832 the parishioners built their first little church, a log structure, dedicated to St. Eugene. With the Catholic population increasing, the people erected their second church in 1853 and this place of worship continues to serve the parish to this day. In the 1960s two side wings were added to the church due to ongoing parish growth. 56 Our Parishes -^3- CUMBERLAND (St. Martin's) With much pride the people in 1872 erected a beautiful little church of dressed Island sandstone which they dedicated to St. Martin of Tours and which continues to serve the parishioners to this day. A rectory, dating from 1932, has been used mainly for meetings and small gatherings. The priests from the cathedral parish served the people here until 1929. From then until the 1970s, the Redemptorists from Holy Redeemer Parish carried on this ministry. Since the erection of the parish of Cornwall in the late 1970s the people of St. Martin's, numbering some forty families, have a close association with that parish. This area, commonly known as South Shore, is one of the most beautiful on the whole Island. With most of it washed by the peaceful waters of the Northumberland Strait and by the spectacular West River, it attracts a flood of summer residents and visitors alike. Tins general location was once the well-developed homeland of a number of French families who lived at Port lajoie from the early 1720s to the late 1750s. There they had a church, built in 1722 and dedicated to St. John the Evangelist. It was the first place of worship on the Island. The early priests there were the first to set foot on the Island. In 1759 the British destroyed their properties and deported the residents. Immigrants from Ireland arrived in this locality in the early 1820s and for many years went to Charlottetown for liturgical services. Our Parishes ♦ 57 EMYVALE (St. Anne's) A NUMBER OI-' IMMIGRANT FAMILIES from Ireland arrived in this location in 1839. Their first church, dedicated to St. Anne, opened for worship in 1851 and eight years later they had a small rector}' as well. Recently the parishioners celebrated the 150th anniversary of the opening of that church. In the late 1890s, with the Catholic population growing steadily, the parishioners built their second church, a large and stately one, with an especially beautiful interior. This was one of architect William Harris' churches. St. Anne's Church, burned in 1962 In 1907 the people erected the present spacious rectory which is also of Harris design. A parish hall, constructed in the early 1900s, was sold in the late 1970s. Since then the parishioners have been using and contributing to the Emyvale Community Centre. A fire in 1962 completely destroyed the beautiful parish church but later that year the people were able to worship in the present brick church on the same location. St. Anne's Parish today has 100 families, with a goodly number of children and youth. More than thirty religious sisters from this small parish have gone forth far and wide in the service of God's Church. The scenery around the parish is very striking with some of the Island's greatest hills and winding valleys. On one of those high hills a sanatorium for the treatment of tuberculosis operated for a number of years before and during the 1920s. Despite the steep slopes, farming can be carried on throughout the region. People have generally known this community as "Lot 65 Parish". Emyvale, named after a district in County Monaghan, Ireland, is the preferred designation today. FAIRFIELD (EAST POINT) (St. Columba's) IN THE EARLY 1700s a few French families lived in this area. Scottish immigrants began arriving at the end of the 1700s and had their first little log chapel in 1805. Then came a second one twenty years later, followed by a third church in 1846 which was finished and enlarged over the next few years. In 1917 this beautiful church was completely destroyed by fire and the people had to use the parish hall for liturgical activities. In 1920 the parishioners constructed a new brick church which unfortunately proved to be structurally unsound almost from the beginning. In 1963 they abandoned this church and moved to the hall again. In 1965 the present practical and spacious church was built. Its full basement serves as a parish centre, including a convenientspaceforlocalwak.es. In 1980 a cosy rectory was added onto the church. The first parish rectory appeared in the 1830s or before. This was replaced by a new one in 1888 which served until twenty years ago when it was sold. The parish's patron saint is St. Columba, an Irish monk who established the famous monastery at Iona, Scotland. Although the church is located in Fairfield, this part of the diocese over the years has been known as "East Point 'arish". St. Columba's Church, burned 1917 Attractive scenery overflows in the parish with the lavish Gulf waters on the north folding into those of the Northumberland Strait on the south. Rich farm lands thrive here and abundant fishing grounds prevail with North Lake being one of the busiest ports on the Island. Today 120 families make up this old parish. Our Parishes * 59 FORT AUGUSTUS (St. Patrick's) In 1830 a group of Irish immigrant families settled here on lands owned by Father John MacDonald who had inherited this parr of his father's estate. Soon they were joined by other Irish immigrants who settled nearby and by some Scottish neighbors who rook up land generally around Glenfinnan. In 1837 the parishioners erected their first church, dedicated to St. Patrick, and replaced ir with a beautiful brick one in 1870 which they finished over the years. A fire in 1897 did great damage to this church, requiring almost total reconstruction with William Harris the chosen architect. It has been called "the truest Gothic church on the Island" and has one or Harris' most impressive interiors. Extensive maintenance of recent years has preserved this architectural hilltop gem. A large brick parochial house was built in 1875. From 1958 until 1985 it served as a convent for the Sisters of Saint Marrha who taught in local schools and brought an extra dimension to parish life. In the 1990s this large house was transferred to a government agency for use as seniors' apartments. The present recrory was built in 1958. Father Allan MacDonald was pastor of St. Patrick's Parish for 49 years (1877-1926) and his remains rest in the cemetery there. In 1916 a mission church was erected at Johnston's River (Mount Ryan) and dedicated to the Sacred Heart. Of rather unique architecture of Spanish Revival style, the front of" this church in particular is worthy of pause and reflection. Today there are 260 families in St. Patrick's Parish. This area was named by Father John MacDonald, probably for Fort Augustus, Inverness, Scotland. Sacred Heart Church 60 s Our Parishes FOXLEY RIVER (St Brigid's) Irish immigrants began settling this area as early as the mid 1820s and for many years travelled to Cascumpec nine miles away for their liturgical services. In 1868 they built a neat little church, dedicated to St. Brigid, one of the patron saints of Ireland. This church continues to adequately serve the sixty families there. Later additions included interior finishing, a new vestry and a spacious rectory. Often referred to simply as "Lot 11 Parish", St. Brigid's is among the smallest parishes in the diocese. Over the years its pastors usually had spiritual care as well for one or two other parishes. Still, from the early 1940s until 1967 the people had their own resident pastor. Changes in recent years saw the sale and removal of the rectory and the purchase of the nearby vacated school which serves nicely as a parish centre. The parish includes the narrowest point of the Island (3 miles) and one of its communities is conveniently called Portage. Across the parish's northern border is a pretty little finger of water called the Narrows. Farther north lie the broad waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Situated in a quiet wooded section and with the charming Foxley River spreading across its brow, the church of St. Brigid is a proud and prayerful place of worship for the parishioners and visitors alike. Our Parishes ♦ 61 GEORGETOWN (St. James) In THE EARLY days this settlement was known as Three Rivers, referring to the Montague, Brudenell and Cardigan Rivers that flow there. A number of French families once lived there but in the mid 1700s their property was destroyed by New England privateers and the residents left the area. In 1805 there began a settlement of Scottish immigrants around Panmure Island where they soon built a small church. Eventually people began to inhabit the present-day Georgetown area where in 1837 they built a church which they dedicated to St. James. A few years later they enlarged that building and made it one of the prettiest churches in the diocese. In 1919 a beautiful and roomy brick church was erected. Unfortunately the construction was faulty, resulting in man}' repairs and its eventual demolition in 1974. That same year the present combined church and rectory was constructed, giving the parishioners an attractive and economical parish complex which includes space for local wakes. The first rectory probably dates to the 1850s. It was a large building that later served as a hall. The next rectory was built around 1920 and sold in the mid 1970s. Georgetown, named for King George III, is a quaint and skillfull}' laid out town, originally intended to serve as the capital of Kings County. It probably enjoyed its greatest economic times in the mid to late 1800s. Its outstanding harbour has been generously used for the fishery, for ocean trade and as a one-time ferry terminal. Contained within a pretty jut of land well watered on three sides, St. James Parish today counts 225 families. GRAND RIVER (St. Patrick's) THE FIRST Catholic: presence in this section of the diocese came with the Acadians who inhabited the area from 1728 until 1758 and who had a church dedicated to the Holy Family at present-day Gillis Point near Port Hill. Unfortunately, deportation essentially ended that community. In the early 1790s some thirty Scottish Catholic families settled along the river. Bv 1810 they had a small log church which they replaced eight years later with a new one dedicated to St. Patrick. In 1836 they began the building of the present church and in 1844 the present day rectory was constructed. In 1890 this church underwent major renovations under the keen eye of architect William Harris. It was enlarged, given a new steeple, Gothic windows, sham buttresses and more, making it one of our most beautiful churches. Visible for miles, it forms a picturesque backdrop for the majestic Grand River that cuts deep into the countryside there. Although it is one of the smaller parishes in the diocese, comprising just sixty families, its pastors have resided in the rectory there almost continuously since 1876. At times they also had responsibility for other nearby parishes, such as today when the pastor serves the parishes of Lennox Island and Foxley River as well. Rich farmlands abound throughout this area, while the vast waters of Malpeque Bay define the parish's northern and eastern boundaries. According to the distinguished Irish historian, Father Paul Walsh, the church at Grand River has the distinction of being the first church in Canada to be dedicated to St. Patrick. Our Parishes * 63 GREEN MEADOWS (St. Lawrence O'Toole) o VER THE YEARS this parish was known as Morell, later as Morell Rear and since the 1980s as Green Meadows. In the 1830s and 1840s Irish and Scottish immiarants settled the region which then formed part of St. Andrew's Parish. In 1866 the people erected their first and only church, the present one, dedicating it to St. Lawrence O'Toole who was the first archbishop of Dublin in the twelfth century. In 1894 the parishioners built a rectory and the same year welcomed their first resident pastor. This house burned in 1913 and a new one replaced it the same year. By the 1920s a growing population had settled in what is today Morell Village. In 1929 this village area was canonically erected as a parish and dedicated to St. Theresa of the Little Flower. Since then both parishes have shared the same pastors who since the late 1950s have lived in the village rectory. In 1960 the Sisters of Saint Martha came to the parish to teach in nearby schools and took up residence in the unoccupied St. Lawrence rectory. They brought new life to the parish eight years there and shortly after their departure the rectory was sold. Near the church stands the former "horse bush," now renamed "the prayer garden," a splendid growth of old hardwood trees, now neatly groomed and containing within it a grotto of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Today approximately ninety families live in St. Lawrence Parish which contains an abundance of good and level farm lands. The name "Green Meadows" is related to "Beaupre" (beautiful meadow) from St. Anne de Beaupre, Quebec, to which a number of parishioners travelled on pilgrimage. I^Si'iSW'^. 64 Our Parishes HOPE RIVER (St. Ann's) Irish immigrants from the 1820s and 1830s formed the beginnings of this parish and in the early years the people went in general to Rustico, the nearest mission, for liturgical services. Up until the 1950s, six parish churches have come and gone. Built in 1843, 1844, 1864, 1875, 1876 and 1912, one blew down, one burned, one practically fell down, while the others became too small and were replaced. The present-day church, the seventh, opened at Christmas in 1954. It was a modern but bold style of architecture for its time, but very suitable for today. An added feature is its large full basement which is an ideal parish centre. As well, this basement for nearly forty years has been the home of the very popular "St. Ann's Lobster Suppers". The existing rectory was built in 1946 and is the parish's fourth. The three previous ones erected in 1844, 1882 and 1901 all burned to the ground. The first resident priest came in 1873. From then until 1990, except for a brief period, the pastors lived in the parish. Despite ongoing setbacks from almost constant rebuilding, the fire of the Spirit and the flame of faith have remained high among the parishioners to this day. St. Ann's Parish contains some of the most hilly sections of the diocese and the scenery within its boundaries is quite grand. Today 135 families live there. A major change occurred back in 1872 with the addition of 100 Acadian families from Rustico. One of those baptized in the parish was Hon. WAX7. Sullivan who was premier of P.E.I, from 1879 to 1889 and chief justice of the province after that for some twenty years. Two others born within the parish, although baptized in Rustico, were Cornelius O'Brien and John Thomas McNally, both archbishops of" Halifax. Our Parishes 65 INDIAN RIVER (St. Mary's) jt*. I N mi: lath 1700s a number of Scottish, Acadian and Aboriginal families lived in this general area. The first church was built in 1814 and followed by a second one, a very beautiful church, in 1843. from that time onwards a priest lived there until 1976 when Kensington became the place of residence. Fire from lightning completely destroyed the parish church in 1896. Its replacement is the present-day magnificent St. Mary's Church, opened in 1902, an architectural gem for the whole Island. This is one of the "Harris churches" and a great landmark for miles around. The first parochial house, built in 1842, was replaced by a new one in 1886 which lasted until destroyed by fire in the 1970s. 66 Our Parishes As early as 1906 the people in Kensington had Sundav Mass in the C.M.B.A. hall and later in the Temperance hall there. In 1937 the people erected the present Holy Family Church in Kensington and in 1976 a new rectory was built next door. Nowadays except for summer months all liturgical activitv takes place at Holy Family Church which two years ago received a major interior renovation. In the 1980s a massive fund raising project gave the Indian River church a much needed uplift. A short time later the parish made an agreement with the Indian River Festival people to permit the use of the church for top quality musicals and other cultural events. Since then these great summer festivals have made the St. Mary's Church there a favorite gathering place for music lovers from far and near. Today 250 families live in the parish, most of them centred around the busy and growing town of Kensington. Holy Family Church IONA (St. Michael's) ALREADY in ii IE 1750s there was a small French parish at Point Prim, dedicated to St. Paul. It had a neat little church and parochial house for its 58 families and pastor. This ended tragical!}' in 1758 when all were expelled. Irish immigrants began coming to the Iona area in the 1820s. In 1852 their first church, dedicated to St. Michael, was formally opened and later eraduallv finished. Fire on New Years Day, 1926 totally destroyed this pretty church. The same year the parishioners erected their second church, a much larger and more imposing one which became a vivid landmark across the Iona hills. This church was never finished inside and in January, 1959 it too was destroyed in flames. Later that year the present- day church was opened for worship. After both fires the parish hall, built in 1914, served as a temporary church. St. Michael's Church, burned in 1926 The present rectory as far as can be determined was erected around 1870 and resident priests lived there from 1884 until 1986. The name of Father James Phelan, pastor from 1891 until 1908, was long remembered in the parish. It was he who gave the name Iona to the community (formerly known as Montague Cross) and Fodhla to the nearby railway station. The boundaries of Iona Parish are vast, from Wood Islands to Orwell Cove and east to the county line. Its southern and western edges are washed by the generous waters of Northumberland Strait. Seventeen who were baptized in the parish became priests and two of its parishioners, Dr. Joseph Daly and Annette Ryan, were Rhodes scholars. Today St. Michael's Parish has 125 families and its pastor also serves St. Joachim's Parish, Vernon River, where he resides. Our Parishes 67 KELLY'S CROSS (St. Joseph's) Willi! m ^■i4m * vi J IN THE 1840s Irish immigrants settled here and in 1848 they built their first church, St. Joseph's, and three years later a rectory as well. In 1898 the parishioners erected a much larger and more stately church, designed by architect William Harris. Around the same time they built the present-day rectory, another Harris design, to replace the one that burned. St. Joseph's Church, burned 1914 / / worship which also offers facilities for parish wakes. Recently its roomy full basement has been named the "Kelly's Cross Community Centre". A highlight parish event was the visit of the Apostolic Delegate in 1914 at which time he ordained two priests for our diocese. Another important occasion was the building of the mission church, Our Lady of Fatima, at Green Road in 1948. The annual Kelly's Cross picnics have been a parish feature for over a century, this year's being the 1 14th without interruption. Having to build lour churches and two rectories has challenged the parishioners over the years but their faith remains strong. Nearly twenty priests and over forty nuns have come from this small parish. Fire completely destroyed this beautiful church in 1914, but the following year the parishioners had another new church, this time a brick one. Unfortunately this building was structurally unsound, even unsafe, and in 1953 it was demolished. In 1956 the people erected the present-day beautiful and practical house of 68 Our Parishes Today approximately 125 families make up St. Joseph's Parish which contains its share ol Island hills. On one oi these steep hills is the Island's only downhill ski facility, the Brookvale Provincial Ski Park Our Lady ofFati Church, Green i KINKORA (St. Malachy's) THE BEGINNINGS OF THIS PARISH date to the mid 1830s with the arrival of settlers from Ireland. Over the next few years more Irish immigrants came. In 1847 the people built a pretty little church, dedicated to St. Malachy, a twelfth century Irish bishop. It is probable that this name was also connected to Father Malachy Reynolds, their first regional pastor. In 1872 the church was considerably enlarged. The first rectory was constructed in the 1850s and the present one in 1886. Parish priests have lived here since at least the 1860s. In 1901 the present handsome and spaciotis church opened its doors, leaving the old one to be used as a hall. This is another of the "Harris churches" of P.E.I, and very much resembles the church at Indian River. The Sisters of Saint Martha established a convent at Kinkora in 1921. In 1935 the\' purchased the M.J. Mclver residence which they later enlarged and used for a girls' boarding school for many years. In 1941, under the leadership of the sisters, Kinkora began a high school program, the first on the Island outside Charlottetown and Summerside. It was really a combination of grades XI and XII, set up under the Maritime Board. Over the years this parish community was known as Southwest, referring to a branch of the Dunk River. For a time it was known as Somerset. The present name is probably taken from "Kincora" in Ireland. The parish contains some of the Island's finest firm lands. Across its sweeping hills and valleys can be seen some of the choicest rural views on the Island. St. Malachy's is a parish of about 250 families. Adjusting to the faith needs of a multigenerational community in changing times is a priority in pastoral outreach. LENNOX ISLAND (St. Anne's) THE aboriginals living on present-day Prince Edward Island were generally known as "Micmacs". They lived across P.E.I, but Lennox Island, containing some 1300 acres, has been home ro most of them, at least since 1870. Their ancestors became Roman Catholics in the early 1600s and chose St. Anne, grandmother of Jesus, as their patron saint. A new and pretty church opened on Lennox Island in 1842 but a number of years later it fell victim to fire. The people then built the present church in 1895 and about ten years later a rectory followed. For twenty years, beginning in 1948, they had their own pastor | residing among them. f> Otherwise, from 1876 until now the priests at Grand River have had responsibility for the pastoral care of Lennox Island. for many years St. Anne's Sunday in late July has been a great local celebration and homecoming, as well as a festive occasion lor people from near and far. In 1948 the Sisters of Saint Martha came to Live on Lennox Island mainly to teach in the new school just opened. They assisted in others ways as well and still maintain a presence there. In the early 1970s a new causeway to their island has added greatly to the economy and convenience of the 350 people living there today. The school there is fittingly named the "John J. Sark Memorial" after this prominent Lennox Island resident who died in 1945. The Mi'Kmaq people of Lennox Island have adapted to the demands of a changing society but the}' do not forget their past. Nowadavs they engage in a variety of occupations both on and off their island. 70 Our Parishes LITTLE POND (St. Francis de Sales) A few Acadian families settled in this area in the late 1700s and these were followed by Scottish settlers who moved there in the early 1800s. In 1863 the present church was built and dedicated to St. Francis de Sales. From early historical notes it appears that Father Francis MacDonald, the pastor over that wide area, was not in favor of putting a church there but Bishop Maclntyre, a builder of note, agreed with the parishioners and so it was done. A large rectory stood for many vears beside the church and used for weekend visits by the priests. In the 1940s it was removed. Over the years Little Pond has been served by the pastors at Souris, Rollo Bay, St. Charles and St. George's. Around 1900 the parishioners of Little Pond, along with their Baptist and United Church neighbors, invested in an impressive summer-winter hearse which all three congregations used until 1951. This was an example of practiced ecumenism before its time. One of the most prominent natives of Little Pond is Bishop Faber MacDonald, Bishop of Saint John since 1999. Prior to that he was Bishop of Grand Falls, Newfoundland. Three other priests and four religious sisters came from this small church community. Today St. Francis de Sales Parish has forty families. The little church and cemetery present a charming picture while all around thrive excellent farms. Several bays lap its pretty shore while farther out lie the immense waters of the Northumberland Strait. Our Parishes 71 MISCOUCHE (St. John the Baptist) L'actuelle paroisse de Miscouche connut ses debuts en 1816 lorsque les pionniers acadiens acquirent 6 000 acres de terre du colonel Compcon. lis y construisirent leur premiere eglise en 1823 de meme qu'un nouveau presbytere. A new day dawned in 1864 with the arrival in the parish of the Sisters of Notre Dame. Their new convent, enlarged over the years, served also as a school, at times with boarders. From that setting the sisters provided distinguished service in the field of education and in the life of the parish lor 121 years. The convent closed in 1985 but the sisters still maintain a presence in the parish. The magnificent Casavant pipe organ was installed in 1902, followed in the 1920s by an array of beautiful stained glass windows. A complete renovation of the church sanctuary took place in 1977, making it in line with the Second Vatican Council's liturgical update. In 1895 the parishioners erected the present rectory, a real companion piece for the church. From 1843 until now the parish has had a resident pastor. Lors de la convention nationale acadienne de 1884 qui a eu lieu a Miscouche, on y adopta le tricolore etoile qui devint le drapeau de I'Acadie. In 1892 the present impressive church, a showpiece of ecclesiastical architecture, opened for worship, leaving the old one lor a parish hall. In 1932 St. John the Baptist Parish hosted the first Eucharistic Congress ever held in the Diocese of Charlottetown. Au centre du village se trouve le Musee acadien qui est exploite depuis bon nombre d'annees maintenant. Today approximately 350 families comprise Miscouche Parish which occupies an ideal Island setting. 72 Our Parishes MONT-CARMEL (Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel) ON SURNOMMAIT CET ENDROIT Fifteen Point [la pointe du Lor quinze], ou quelques families acadiennes s'erablirenr en 1812 ec y barirenr leur premiere perire eglise en rondins des 1820, qu'ils dedierenr a Norre-Dame-du-Monr-Carmel. En 1827, les habiranrs erigerenr une nouvelle eglise plus grande cerre fois, qu'ils agrandirenr encore plus tard afin d'accommoder les besoins de la popularion grandissanre. Peu de remps apres, ils consrruisirent egalement un presbytere. A partir de 1828 er ce pendant plusieurs annees, le Pere Sylvain Perrey, pretre acadien, administrait la paroisse er en fur le cure. En 1898, les paroissiens erigerent 1 magnifique eglise de brique actuelle qui surplombe les eaux vives du detroit de Northumberland. En 1902, les t;ens consrruisirenr ['immense er magnifique maison paroissiale, faire de briques. En 1959, les Soeurs de Notre- Dame-du-Sacre-Coeur arriverenr dans la paroisse ou elles servirent pendant vingr ans et enseignerenr aux Acadiens de Monr-Carmel et a l'ecole regionale Evangeline. De 1977 a 1989, les Soeurs Servantes du Saint-Coeur de Marie s'etablirent egalement a Mont-Carmel ou elles servirent les paroisses acadiennes de Tendroir. A Cap-Egmonr, on erigea en 1975 le Cenrre Goeland qui sert depuis ce temps a titre de cenrre d'educarion chrerienne acadien. m Au fil des ans, les gens de Monr- I\\l7^&^cax'i//R C'armel se sont joints aux Acadiens des alentours pour fonder des enrreprises de soutien muruel, donr une Caisse Populaire, des Cooperatives agricoles, de pecheurs, d'ecoles, er encore d'autres Cooperatives. Aujourd'hui cerre communaute acadienne de la Region Evangeline compte environ 210 families. C'est une communaute avec des traditions bien enracinees, mais ouverte a la jeunesse et aux besoins d'aujourd'hui. Our Parishes 73 ■#**tfMfc\»>;**r SOME Catholic settlers lived in Montague and along the Sparrow's Road (Greenfield) as early as the 1850s. The people erected their first church, St. Mary's, in 1872 and two years later they built a parochial house. Served for most of its earlier years by the priest living at Georgetown, St. Marv's TOO / welcomed its first resident pastor in 1950. In 1972 the old church and rectory, both a full century old, were demolished and a new church-rectory complex was erected in their place. In 1997 a new and separate priest's dwelling was built, leaving the space of the former one for other parish activities. The town of Montague is a bustling community, cut in half by the scenic river of the same name which is busy with fishing and other seagoing boat traffic. Surrounding the town, the parish contains an abundance of fertile farm lands, among the best anywhere on the Island. St. Mary's, Montague is a lively and growing parish with 420 households as shown by last year's census. The Spirit of the Lord continues to animate the people, many of whom are actively involved in the life of the parish. Catechetics, Social Justice, Liturgy, Family Life, RCIA, Knights of Columbus, CWL, RENEW, small faith sharing groups and lay pastoral visitation are some of the ministries and committees in which the parishioners are able to participate. One of the most prominent parishioners is Hon. Pat Binns, Premier of Prince Edward Island. Since the late 1980s St. Mary's Parish, Montague and St. Pauls Parish, Sturgeon have 'II been sharing the same pastor. First St. Mi Church 18, •TT 74 Our Parishes MORELL (St. Theresa of the Little Flower) ALREADY in THE MID 1700s there was a thriving French parish ar Sr. Peter's Harbour with a church built in 175 1 and a pastor appointed two years later. At that time this was one of the most populous settlements and principal trading posts of the Island. All this tragically ended in 1758 with the deportation of these people. Today's Catholic community was originally part of Morell's St. Lawrence O'Toole Parish. In the 1920s, with an increasing population in the village area, the St. Lawrence Parish hall was moved out to become the village's first church, dedicated to St. Theresa of the Little Flower. A few years later the people built a rectory. In 1929 this village section was canonically erected as a parish. Over the years the little church was enlarged and updated, but in 1976 it was replaced by a new construction, the present-day combined church and rectory. This new setting provides adequate space for parish activities, including dignified accommodation for parish wakes. In a garden close by the church is a charming winding walkway, uniquely named "Little Flower Avenue", that leads to a grotto of the Little Flower, built in 1983 on the site of the original parish church. Morell is a lively little village and the parish overall has 190 families. The pastor here is also parish priest I at Green Meadows. The beautiful Morell River winds through the parish while out to the north and west stretch the massive waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The harbour at Red Head is a busy fishing port with a large mussel plantation nearby. Our Parishes 75 MOUNT STEWART (St. Andrew's) A FEW Acadian families lived around Savage Harbour in the mid 1700s and in the 1770s Scottish immigrants began settling the area. c> o o In 1806 the parishioners built their first church and in 1823 a new parish house followed. This house eventually became St. Andrew's College which operated on that site from 1831 to 1844. It then became a parochial house again until replaced around 1885. until 1835, his remains rest within a tiny chapel, erected in the 1970s, at St. Andrew's. On either side lie the remains of two parish natives, Bishop Bernard MacDonald and Bishop Charles MacDonald, both bishops of Charlottetown. A third native son, James Morrison, was a long-time Bishop of Antigonish. The parishioners built a larger and more beautiful church in 1862 which served until it fell victim to fire in 1946. The parish hall then became a temporary church. In 1864 the first church, then vacant, was moved down the ice to Pownal Street, Charlottetown to become the main part of St. Joseph's Convent-School. In the late 1980s, after that school closed, it was moved back to its original site and reconstructed to become today's "St. Andrew's Chapel", Outstanding missionary priest, later Bishop Angus MacEachern, came from Scotland in 1790 and made St. Andrew's his home base during his 45 years here as he travelled the Island and the mainland. Auxiliary Bishop of Quebec from 1821 and first Bishop of Charlottetown from 1829 In 1960 the new parish church was erected in Mount Stewart, leaving the parochial house, constructed in 1934, back in St. Andrew's. Approximately 225 families constitute St. Andrew's Parish today. St. Andrew's Church burned 1946 i \ 76 Our Parishes ORIGINALLY a part of the old Rustico Parish, this area became a parish of its own in 1936. In 1920 the people built a small church here and in 1945 enlarged is considerably, making it much as it appears today. They dedicated it to Mary under the title of "Stella Maris" (Star of the Sea). In 1937 a nearby house was moved and became the rectory. convent and more. In the 1980s the parishioners designated an area in the church basement as the "McNeill Room" in remembrance of their founding pastor. North Rustico is a busy little village. The fishery is a major occupation out of North Rustico Harbour and into the plentiful waters of the nearby Gulf of St. Lawrence. In 1940 the Sisters of Notre Dame arrived in the parish to teach. Soon a local house was moved close to the church for a convent. The sisters brought a quality of educational excellence and have been a great blessing for the parish where they still maintain an active presence. Two natives of the parish had the honor of serving as Prince Edward Island's Lieutenant Governor. Dr. Aubin Doiron and Marion (Doyle) Reid discharged these duties with dignity and grace during five-year terms in the 1980s and 1990s. Father Doug McNeill, the first pastor, deserves mention here. During his twelve years in the parish he was a leader along many fronts including liturgy, school, fishery, co-op, Slightly over 300 families make up Stella Maris Parish today with a wide range of employment activities in practice. Being so close to the splendid North Shore and National Park, tourism is a major enterprise. Our Parishes 77 PALMER ROAD (Immaculate Conception) ORIGINALLY THIS AREA had the name "Mission of St. Thomas" while still part of Tignish Parish. In 1870 the people, composed of Acadian and Irish settlers, built their first church under dedication to the Immaculate Conception. Some ten years later they had a new parochial house and in 1882 they welcomed their first resident pastor. Our Lady of the Assumption 78 Our Parishes Fire in 1890 complete!}' destroyed this first church but three years later the present handsome and spacious church opened its doors. Seating 1000, it is the largest wooden church in the diocese. Stained glass windows of recent years have added to its beauty. The present parochial house was built in 1939 and the former one sold. A large parish hall opened in 1901 and was sold in 1973. Since then the former local school, with additions, has been the parish centre. In 1946 the new mission church, Our Lady of the Assumption, opened at Miminegash for the benefit of increasing numbers of families settling in that part of the parish. The waters of Northumberland Strait skirt the parish's west side, providing abundant harvests offish as well as Irish moss. In addition to having a busy harbour, Miminegash for many years was referred to as the "World's Capital of Irish Moss". Au milieu des annees 1980, la paroisse etablit une cooperative funeraire, la premiere a Pile, et peu de temps apres, construisit une maison funeraire, situee pres de Peglise. Aujourd'hui, la paroisse de I'lmmaculee- Conception compte 600 families d'origines acadienne et irlandaise, dans laquelle on celebre une messe en francais durant la fin de semaine. Palmer-Road tient son nom de deux freres dont le nom de famille etait Palmer et qui etaient les proprietaires d'une grande partie de cette region. ROLLO BAY (St. Alexis) Tins parish had its beginnings at Bay Fortune where a number of Acadian families lived from the mid 1700s and where they had a small chapel. In 1804 the people built a little church close to the shore which under direction from Bishop Plessis of Quebec they dedicated to St. Alexis. For a number of years several priests from France visited the people at Bay Fortune and with the rest of Island Catholics they welcomed two Quebec bishops during their pastoral visitations of 1803 and 1812. Gradually the Catholic population moved farther north and there in 1853 they built a much more spacious church which they enlarged and remodeled in 1870. Father Walker arrived in 1880 as their first resident pastor and shortly thereafter the people erected an attractive parochial house. He served as pastor there for 46 years and a small chapel over his remains draws attention in the parish cemetery. Parish priests lived at Rollo Bay until 1999. In 1930 the parishioners constructed the present large and graceful church on the same site as the 1853 building which they moved across the road to serve as a hall for a number of years. A mission church, dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima, opened in the New Zealand end of the parish in 1936 and after decades of faithful use it was officially closed in the summer of 2001. Father Walker's tomb Superb scenery abounds, first from the peaceful waters of Rollo Bay and then by the great spread of the Northumberland Strait. Fertile and active farm lands extend throughout the region. St. Alexis Parish today numbers 240 families and shares its pastor with neighboring Souris. ST. A CHARLES (St. Charles Borromeo) THE BEGINNINGS of this Catholic community date back to the 1880s when some thirty Acadian families from Rustico moved to this area which they renamed New Acadia. This was then the northern end of Rollo Bay Parish. Slightly to the west resided a like number of families of Irish and Scottish descent who belonged to St. Peter's Parish. Encouraged by Father Walker, pastor at Rollo Bay, they built the present beautiful church in 1896, dedicating it to St. Charles Borromeo who was one of the great reformers of the 16th century. In 1913 they added a new rectory and in 1928 a parish hall. At first the pastor of Rollo Bay served St. Charles and in 1909 the priest at St. Margaret's assumed this ministry. Their first resident pastor arrived in 1927 and from then until 1980 they were able to maintain their own parish priest who over those years also served Little Pond. In the 1980s the parish house was sold and in the 1990s the hall was destroyed by fire. Their pastor today lives in St. Margaret's and serves St. Columba, Fairfield as well. These three, each of which for many years had its own resident pastor, now form a very practical cluster of parishes with one pastor, a sign of arrangements to come in other parts of the diocese as well. Today St. Charles Parish has 80 families. 80 Our Parishes ST. GEORGE'S IN ti IE LATE 1790s a few Scottish immigrant families settled around Launching Point and soon other families joined them. In 1802 they built a log chapel and in 1820 they erected a larger church a mile inland which the)- dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel. In 1860 the parishioners built their third church, this time at St. George's, and dedicated it to St. George, patron saint of England. On Easter Sunday, 1943 this church was completely destroyed by fire, after which the parish hall became their temporary place of worship. In 1952 the parishioners proudly opened the present beautiful and spacious church. In 1836 the early settlers erected a small house for the priest and in the early 1860s they built a new one. The third and last one was constructed around 1910 and sold in 1995 when the last resident pastor moved out. Father Francis MacDonald was very much associated with St. George's Parish. He served all his sixty priestly years in southern Kings County where he supervised the building of half the churches in that region. During all of that time St. George's was part of his pastorate. There he died and is buried. More than twenty religious sisters and a dozen priests were born in the parish. In one neat corner of the cemetery there is a nicely designed section containing the remains of ten priests. Two of these parish natives, Monsignors MacLean and MacLellan, were Vicars General under three bishops each and both also served terms as diocesan administrators. Another parish native, Bennett Campbell, was premier of P.E.I, from 1978 to 1979. Today 120 families live in St. George's Parish, a lovely rural setting washed on three sides by splendid waterways. 'V. V ft ^t Our Parishes 81 ST. MARGARET'S (St. Margaret of Scotland) Scottish SETTLERS came to the Naufrage (shipwreck) area in the 1770s and already there were forty families when they built their first log chapel there in 1805. A second church followed in 1816 which with additions served the needs of the parishioners for the next forty years. In 1857 the people erected a new and quite imposing church on high land overlooking the Gulf to accommodate the still growing Catholic population. The first parochial house was built in 1840 and replaced by a new one in 1878. In 1894, with the population moving farther back from the shore, the church and other buildings were moved about a mile south to where they stand today. Tragedy struck the parish in 1921 when a forest fire destroyed the church, parochial house and all the other buildings except the hall which became the temporary home for the pastor and a place for worship. Strangely, this burning took place on the patronal feast of the parish, St. Margaret of Scotland. Out of these ashes a new parochial house was built in 1922 and a new and impressive church in 1926. Both of these stand there today and come as a surprise to those travelling that generally wooded area. The rugged Gulf of St. Lawrence skirts the parish's north side, providing superb summer scenery and a bounteous harvest offish for the heavy boat traffic out of Naufrage Harbour. Approximately 90 families constitute St. Margaret's Parish today. The parish priest lives there and provides pastoral care as well to nearby Fairfield and St. Charles parishes. ST. PETER'S BAY (St. Peter's) In 1792 some Scottish immigrants moved here and settled along the North Shore. In 1830 they built their first church and in 1868 added a new parochial house, the one still in tise today. In 1881, under the careful eye of Bishop Maclntyre, an immense and beautiful brick church was built. At the time it was probably the most magnificent church in the diocese. Fire from a lightning strike in 1926 destroyed this fine structure but two years later another brick church had its formal opening. Due to weak construction, this church in 1960 underwent complete rebuilding exteriorly, with the brick walls being replaced by wood. Bishop Peter Maclntyre was a native of St. Peter's Parish and served as Bishop of Charlottetown from 1860 until his death in 1891. His remains lie in a neatly designed crypt in the church basement. Another prominent parishioner was Dr. Roddie MacDonald. In 1952 he was invested by Bishop Boyle as a Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great at a grand celebration in the parish. That year he was completing 65 years in the practice of medicine. In terms of population the St. Peter's Bay area is believed to have had the highest enlistment rate (300) and the highest casualty rate (40) of any place in Canada during World War I and II. A great number of these came from St. Peter's Parish. The church which can be seen for miles occupies a most beautiful setting, overlooking the still and curving waters below. Up the bay the precious Greenwich sand dunes area became part of the National Parkin 2001. Approximately 180 families make up St. Peter's ST. TERESA'S (St. Cuthbert's) Ai-'bv Irish immigrant families settled this area in the 1840s and gradually others, including some Scottish families, joined them there. One of those early settlers was Thomas Baldwin after whom Baldwin's Road is named. In 1846 the people built their first church on the Baldwin's Road which they dedicated to St. Cuthbert, one of the most venerated English saints who lived in the seventh century. In 1875 the parishioners pulled down their church and built a new one. Four years later this church blew down during a violent winter storm and was quickly replaced by a small temporary chapel. A beautiful and large church was opened in 1886 and solemnly dedicated by Archbishop Lynch of Toronto. Due to premature deterioration, this one was dismantled and replaced in 1912 by a magnificent church designed by architect William Harris. Unfortunately this architectural gem and rural landmark was totally destroyed by fire in 1993. Two years later the present church opened for worship. The first parish rectory was constructed in the 1860s, destroyed by fire in 1936 and replaced the same year by the present one. Since 1878 the pastors have resided there. In 1949 the Sisters of Saint Martha arrived in the parish, moving into a new convent by the church. They remained in the community until 1999, giving a half century of kindly service for the well being of the school children and of the whole parish. The parishioners here have had their set backs from the on^oinc; building of new structures, but they remain today a strong faith community of 140 families situated in a beautiful rural setting. St. Cuthbert's Church, burned 1993 84 Our Parishes SEVEN MILE BAY (St. Peter's) -^ I ~W$F n m v i ft £*3Krt5S5(3 Ti us PARISH had its beginnings in the early 1800s and by 1815 there was a little chapel at the shore to serve the few Scottish immigrants there. The parishioners moved this chapel up to the main highway and in 1856 built a new church there. This one they gradually updated, especially in 1908 when a sizeable addition including a tower gave it its final form. Around 1900 the parish purchased and moved a farm house to serve as a priest's residence. In the summer of 1955 fire from lightning completely destroyed the parish church. Three years later the parishioners erected the present beautiful and spacious church which now includes a finished basement. From 1919 until 1997 the parish priests resided here. Just recently the parish house was sold since nowadays the pastor also serves Kinkora Parish and lives there. Farmlands within the parish are among the very best on P.E.I. Excellent scenery abounds, sustained by the vast blue waters of Northumberland Strait. From the church there is perhaps the finest Island view of the new Confederation Bridge, the building of which has had some impact on the parish. In the middle of the parish lies the former town of Borden, named after Prime Minister Robert Borden. With a branch railroad coming there in 1916 and the first ice-breaking car ferry a year later, this community grew in stature. In 1917 the present mission church (Sacred Heart) was built there. Sacred Heart Church Comprised of some 270 families, support the message of the Gospel through the participation of dedicated parishioners. Sacred Heart Church Tin: FIRST SETTLERS of this area were some Acadian and Scottish families. In 1839 they built their first church which burned in 1849 along with their new parochial house. The following year the people erected a new church and in 1862 a new parish house. Parish pastors have lived in Souris continuously since 1864. In 1881 the Sisters of Notre Dame arrived in the parish, moving into an impressive four-storey brick convent- school. A large annex was added in 1919. For over a century the Sisters provided exemplar}' leadership within the school system and throughout the parish. In 1901, with an increasing Catholic population, a quite massive new church of Island sandstone was built, William Harris being the architect. Unfortunately in 1928 this impressive church burned almost to the ground, leaving only the outer shell. From these ruins arose in 1930 the beautiful St. Mary's Church of today. In 1923 the present rectory was built and in 1952 St. Mary's Hall was erected on Main Street. Around 1 9 1 0 a mission chapel, dedicated to St. Joseph, was opened at Red Point and closed in the 1970s. Souris, named from early plagues of mice, is a bus}' modern town containing, among other facilities, a first-rate harbour which sees much boat traffic, including the Magdalen Islands ferry which docks there. Superb scenery is near at hand, aided by the picturesque Souris River, Colville Bay and the wide open reaches of Northumberland Strait. Outside the town prosperous farm lands abound. St. Mary's Parish today is composed of 500 families. Its parish priest also has pastoral responsibility lor neighboring Rollo Bay Parish. 86 Our Parishes SOUTH RUSTICO (St. Augustine's) ONE OF OUR OLDEST AND MOST HISTORIC PARISHES, this area was home to a few Acadian families in the late 1700s. One of these residents, Jean Doncet, in 1785 received permission from the Bishop of Quebec to witness marriages and conduct baptisms throughout the Island at a time when there was no priest here. Bishop Bernard MacDonald lived at Rustico during his whole time as Bishop of Charlottetown from 1837 to 1859. The present St. Augustine's Church, built in 1838 and St. Mary's of the People, Hunter River replacing two earlier ones, was in a way Bishop MacDonald's pro cathedral, the place of many ordinations and other episcopal events. Two smaller rectories gave way in 1844 to the present one which served for fifteen years as the bishop's residence for the diocese. St. Augustine's Churc In 1864 the people built the Farmers' Bank of Rustico, inspired by their energetic pastor Father Belcourt. It operated for thirty years, was later a hall and is now a museum. The Sisters of Notre Dame came to Rustico in 1882 and began a special era of education for that part of the country. After ninety years of faithful service the Sisters sold the convent in the 1970s. It is now the Diocese of Charlottetown's busy retreat house, Belcourt Centre, named after the above-mentioned pastor. Three future archbishops were baptized in St. Augustine's Church: Cornelius O'Brien and John McNally, both archbishops of Halifax, and James McGuigan, Archbishop of Regina and Toronto and Canada's first anglophone cardinal. In 1949 the parishioners built a mission church at Hunter River, the birthplace of Cardinal McGuigan, and named it St. Mary's of the People after the j cardinal's titular church in Rome. Today 315 families reside in the parish. STRATFORD (Our Lady of the Assumption) Formerly A part of the cathedral parish, the Southport Catholic community came together in 1950 with the purchase of the vacant Southport school which then became a mission chapel for the area. That same year the Assumption of Mary was proclaimed a dogma of faith by Pope Pius XII. In 1963 Southport officially became a parish, dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption with Monsignor McMahon as first pastor. A modest attached rectory and additions to the small church satisfied the needs of the parishioners for awhile. In 1989 the present beautiful church opened its doors and was blessed by Bishop James MacDonald on the feast of the Assumption. Painted in Marian blue, it contains a large worship area with moveable chairs, a spacious foyer, parish offices and an attached hall. A neat new cemetery lies beside the church and in the 1990s a new rectory was erected nearby. In 1995 the name Southport was changed to Stratford. That year through amalgamation it became a town, with its boundaries being almost identical to those of the parish. Washed on three sides by beautiful waterways, the Assumption Parish area probably contains the Island's choicest residential locations and scenic lookouts. The view of Charlottetown across the Hillsborough River is among its striking features. The parish today has 650 families who are active in many works of the local church and diocese. One of these has been providing weekly Mass on television for the whole diocesan community over the past twelve years. With great potential for growth, parishioners take pride in their parish community, striving to live the spirit of the Second Vatican Council and looking forward with enthusiasm. Our Parishes STURGEON (St. Paul's) As EARLY as 1803 some settlers arrived here and over the next few years there was a sizeable Catholic community, made up of Irish and Scottish ancestry. A small church at Panmure Island, built in 1822, served the people for a few years until it was dismantled and the lumber used to construct a church at Georgetown. In 1851 the parishioners erected their first St. Paul's Church. Becoming inadequate, it was replaced in 1888 by the present impressive church of Island sandstone, designed by architect William Harris. This was Harris' first Roman Catholic church as well as his first stone church. In 1873 the people built their first rectory which was destroyed by fire in 1938 and replaced the same year by the present one. The priest most connected with the early years of the parish was Father William Phelan, a native of Ireland, who was pastor at Sturgeon for almost 35 years and who carefully supervised the building of the stone church. His remains rest in a vault in this church's basement. The water side of the parish overlooks beautiful St. Mary's Bay and the wide reaches of Northumberland Strait. The community is named after the sturgeon fish once found there and fishing has been the occupation of many parishioners over the years. From last year's census 190 families, a good cross section of ages, live in St. Paul's Parish which stretches over a large part of Kings County. No resident priest has lived here since 1988. Since then, Sisters of Notre Dame have served as pastoral associates and have lived in the rectory. Nowadays Montague and Sturgeon share the same pastor. SUMMERFIELD (St. James) M OST OF ri IE EARLIEST Catholic settlers in this area came from Ireland and would have gone to Indian River tor liturgical services. In 1865 they began construction of" their first church which opened for worship the following year under dedication to the Holy Magi. For quite some time the people referred to it as the "Freetown church". Even with their own church, this community still remained a mission of Indian River for over fifty years. In 1918 this area became a parish of its own and the following year the people built a new rectory. Needing more worship space, the parishioners erected the present beautiful church which opened in 1929 and which they dedicated to St. James the Apostle. This structure is truly a gem among our rural churches. From 1918 the parishioners here had their own resident pastor until 1972, shortly after which they sold their parish house. Since the 1970s the pastor at Hope River for a number of years had responsibility also for Summerfield Parish. In more recent times the parish priest at Kelly's Cross exercises pastoral care here where some sixty families now live. Rich farm lands extend throughout the parish and the pleasant inland scenery especially from the church hill is very grand. 90 Our Parishes SUMMERSIDE (St Paul's) BY THE 1840s a few Catholic families lived here and in 1853 they moved the vacated Indian River church to Summerside, placing it under the patronage of St. Charles Borromeo. In 1869 the parishioners began construction of a new brick church which Bishop Maclntyre consecrated in 1876, assisted by Bishops Rogers and Cameron. This one was dedicated to St. Paul. In 1872 the people moved a new but unused building from Mont Carmel which became a roomy parish rector\'. Fire all but destroyed St. Paul's brick church in 1946. By shrewd reconstruction parishioners ended up with a church, good classrooms and a fine basement ball. In 1961 the present magnificent stone church opened its doors, giving the parish probably the largest worship space in the diocese, as well as an attached rectory. A classic style Casavant pipe organ is also a feature of the church. The Sisters of Notre Dame have been a strong presence in the parish since their arrival in 1868 when they opened their first convent. A new and much larger convent replaced it in 1885. The great work these sisters accomplished in the field of education for over a century is beyond measure. In the mid 1990s the parishioners removed the old church/hall ^^^ and developed a nice parish centre out of the former attached rectory plus a new basement section. At the same time they purchased a house up the street for a rectory. St. Paul's Parish today is the second largest in the diocese with over 2300 families, the majority of whom are of Acadian descent. Each Sunday there is one Mass celebrated in French. This busy parish includes the new city of Summerside, as well as farmlands to the east. Our Parishes 91 TIGNISH (St. Simon and St. Jude's) Cette paroisse a vu le jour en 1799, alors que huit families acadiennes vinrent s'y etablir et, deux ans plus tard, y construisirent line petite eglise en rondins ores du rivage. From 1811 and continuing over the next thirty some years a goodly number | of Irish immigrants settled here. En 1826, on erigea une deuxieme eglise a environ un demi- / mille a l'ouest de la premiere. En 1859, on commenca la construction de la majestueuse eglise actuelle, en brique, qui fit l'objet d'une grandiose celebration d'inauguration l'annee d'ensuite. En 1882, on y installa le magnifique grand orgue de marque Mitchell. In 1868 the Sisters of Notre Dame arrived in the parish, moving into a large three- storey brick convent-school. The convent was sold in 1993 but the sisters still maintain a presence in the parish. The splendid service of this great Congregation of Notre Dame for well over a century is beyond measure. The present brick rectory was constructed in 1872 and in 1967 today's stylish parish centre opened its doors. One of the Tignish pastors, Father Peter Maclntyre, served as Bishop of Charlotretown for over thirty years. The parish also produced its own bishop, Leo Nelligan, who was Bishop of Pembroke, Ontario. Three parish natives served as Lieutenant Governor of P.E.I.: George Howlan, Charles Dalton and Joseph Bernard. Tignish produisit sont pro pre journal, l'lmpartial, entre 1893 et 1915. The Credit Union, Co-Op Movement and Tignish Fisheries are among the institutions very active over the years. Today approximately 1000 families live in St. Simon and St. Jude's Parish which takes in the extreme end of the Island. The church remains the centre, visible for miles around the country and far out to sea. TRACADIE (St. Bonaventure's) A few French families lived in this area as early as the 1720s and others gradually joined them. By 1751 they had a small church at Scotchfort dedicated to St. Louis. The deportation in 1758 unfortunately brought an end to their presence there. In 1772 some 200 Scottish settlers arrived in the Tracadie Bay and Scotchfort area, sponsored by Captain John MacDonald. The same year at Scotchfort they erected a modest church which they dedicated to St. John. Father James MacDonald came out with these immigrants and served the pioneer people all over the Island with true missionary zeal until his death in 1785. For many of these years he was the only priest on this Island. The parishioners constructed a new- church at Tracadie around 1840 and finished it over the years. In 1903 the present day large and imposing St. Bonaventure's Church opened for worship. Designed by a Quebec architect and built by the Bradleys of P.E.I., this impressive structure deserves a close up look. For visitors along here this church is a delightful surprise. The Sisters of Saint Martha came to this parish in 1942 and eight years later moved into their new convent. Over the years they have been an influential presence within the school system and in the parish. In the 1970s the old rectory, of age unknown, was moved away and a new one built. From 1860 to the present there has been a resident priest at Tracadie. Today 165 families live in St. Bonaventure's Parish. Excellent farm lands extend throughout and a pleasant backdrop is beautiful Tracadie Bay. Our Parishes 93 VERNON RIVER (St. Joachim's) E arlv SETTLERS in this area were Scottish families who moved over from Tracadie and Irish immigrants who joined them later. A small log church was built at Waterside in 1804 and a second one a few years later near the water south of the present hall. A third church, constructed around 1830 and enlarged in the 1850s, stood close to today's cemetery. In 1868 the present brick rectory was built, replacing an older one of age unknown. Since 1845 the parish has had a resident pastor. In 1877 began the erection of the present magnificent brick church. It was consecrated by Bishop Maclntyre two years later, with Bishop Walsh of London giving the sermon. In 1902 the majestic pipe organ was installed. who left the parish at age five. When still a young priest he founded the Catholic Church Extension Society of the United States in 1905. Then from 1924 until his death in 1948 he was Bishop of Oklahoma Citv and Tulsa. A mission church (Star ot the Sea) opened at China Point in 1897 and closed in 1970. The present parish hall was constructed in 1900. Father James Morrison was pastor here from 1907 until 1912. In that latter year he became Bishop of Antigonish where he served until his death in 1950. Perhaps prominent par was Francis Ke Today 320 families live in Vernon River Parish which is dedicated to St. Joachim. More than twenty priests and upwards of forty religious sisters have come from here. Nowadays the pastor also . serves St. Michael's Parish, lona. Vast areas of primary farmlands abound throughout the parish, as well as an abundance of scenic •"SKS8K3E 94 Our Parishes WELLINGTON (Immaculate Conception) > A IN THE FIRST YEARS of its existence this was an Irish settlement, beginning in 1843. Most of these early residents moved to other parts and Scottish settlers from Grand River moved in. Eventually this area became a parish of its own, made up of portions of Miscouche, Grand River and Egmont Bay. The parishioners erected their first church in 1875, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception and completed over the next few years. In the 1890s they enlarged the church and as late as 1950 did extensive upgrading to it. In 1951 Wellington's beloved church burned to the ground but the following year the present magnificent structure rose from the ashes. Its official opening took place on December 8, 1952, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. In 1915 the people built the present parochial house. In the early years their parish priest resided at Miscouche or at Grand River. From 1917 until 1998, except for two years, the parish had its own resident pastor. Au fil des ans, la population de cette paroisse s'est tenue tres occupee. lis y etablirent, a titre d'exemple, la caisse populaire qui sert une clientele repartie sur un vaste territoire. Pendant de nombreuses annees, les residents de Wellington disposaient de leur propre medecin. Aujourd nui, on y trouve un centre de sante d'avant-garde. Dans les annees 1980, les residents de Wellington construisirent une residence pour personnes agees remarquable, qu'ils ont appelee le Chez-Nous. La paroisse de Wellington compte aujourd'hui 200 families. Au fil des annees, un nombre important de families acadiennes des paroisses avoisinantes s'y etablirent et forment maintenant une grande partie des paroissiens. Parmi ceux-ci, Ton compte notre Lieutenant-Gouverneur actuel, en la personne de Leonce Bernard (baptise a Mont-Carmel), qui a ete nomme a titre de representant de la Reine tout recemment, soit en 2001. Our Parishes * 95 AFTERWORD If you do not stand firm in faith, you shall not stand at all. (Isaiah 7,9) In this brief history we have looked backward and must be impressed with the people of faith who have brought us this far. Now we must look to the future, at least into the next generation or 1 5-year time span. Our laity have been faithful workers over the years through their families, financial support and various forms of leadership. Yet, the Second Vatican Council has challenged them to a broader and more intense apostolate in the Church and in the world. The same council makes clear that training for this new role is indispensable and that it is the responsibility of the diocese to provide this training. Vocations to the priesthood will need to be more actively pursued, with parishes taking a greater responsibility for this pastoral need. The torch of priestly ministry must be handed on and the near future is going to require a new partnership between clergy and laity. Much of the Second Vatican Council's basic teaching still lies open before us: all the baptized, without exception, are called to holiness of life; full and active participation by all the people in the Eucharist is the aim to be considered before all else; what we celebrate at Eucharist is to be lived each day, that is, faith and life are to go together. In all of these we have just begun. Involving the young people more deeply in the life of the Church will be both a challenge and a joy. In families, in the parishes and through our diocesan youth Ministry Office may great strides be taken to nourish the Christian lives of our youth who have enormous potential as evangelizers. We have come this far through faith in action. May God's Spirit pour out on our diocese so that our old shall dream dreams and our young shall see visions. Forward we must go in faith, for as Isaiah so aptly says: "If you do not stand firm in faith, you shall not stand at all." Beside restful waters he leads me. (Psalm 23,2) 96 ♦ Afterword ■ ' ■ ' ■ ' m ■:■ ■ a ■■ ■■■■■■. ■':■■■■■.-.■;- i - :. ■ :.■'■'.;.■' ■■ ■. ■: .'■ I ■