History · Mission · Heritage
The Eudists’ presence in Church Point reflects the meeting of France and Acadia in architecture, religion, and culture. The gradual shift from a community of French-born priests to one made up of Canadian-born priests helped balance these two cultural traditions. Over the years, the Eudists have contributed to French-speaking heritage in Nova Scotia in many ways.
A historical journey through the communities served by the Eudists.
Explore the parishes ↓These entries trace the Eudist presence across different periods; references to pastoral service come from the archives.
Concessions
The municipality of Concessions takes its name from the term “concession,” referring to land granted to Acadians upon their return from deportation. Founded by Eudist Father Pierre-Marie Dagnaud, pastor of Sainte-Marie, it is the only inland parish. Father Dagnaud had the church built in 1902.
Pointe-de-l'Église
In 1903, Sainte-Marie pastor Father Pierre-Marie Dagnaud planned to replace Father Sigogne’s church with a large wooden church, blessed in August 1905. It still stands and is the largest wooden church in North America. The Eudists have served this parish since 1890.
Saulnierville
According to one tradition, an Acadian family who settled there in 1769 gave the municipality its name, Saulnierville. When the Eudists arrived at Baie Sainte-Marie in 1890, they accepted the Sacred Heart parish from its pastor, Father Jean-Marie Gay. The parish grew significantly under Father Thomas Castonguay: a parish hall was built in 1947, Gay School in 1948, and a Daughters of Jesus convent in 1950.
Chéticamp
Chéticamp is a municipality on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Its economy is based on fishing, forestry, trade, and tourism. Its population is predominantly Acadian and almost entirely French-speaking. At the request of the Bishop of Antigonish, the Eudists arrived in the parish in 1953 and served there for 35 years, until 1988.
Caraquet
When Bishop Théophile Allard died in January 1912, the Eudists were entrusted with Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens parish, as he had wished. In addition to Saint-Paul parish, which they had served since 1901, they ministered in the outlying communities of Saint-Pierre: Saint-Simon, Bertrand, and Maisonnette. Provincial authorities and Bishop Chiasson of Chatham signed a series of agreements with the Eudists concerning Saint-Pierre. The diocese never permanently transferred the parish to them, however; they left in 1941 and took charge of Sainte-Famille parish in Bathurst West.
