78 THEISLAND ACADIANS

was no money to pay his passage. He recommended several steps for them to take in order to obtain the services of either Father Bailly, residing in Halifax, or of Father de la Brosse who had to travel as far as the Bay of Chaleur. He warned them clearly, however, that before inviting any missionary to visit them, prior authorization from the Governor of Halifax was absolutely essential. In the same missive Bishop Briand announced that he was having four Acadians educated in France, two of whom would soon be ordained. He gave them hope: “Perhaps, you will have a resident who will even be of your own nation” (TR)'°°. Monseigneur Briand declared that he was most sensi- tive to their spiritual needs and implored them to lead a wholesome life:

Many of your young people have never seen the celebration of the Blessed Sacrament of the Holy Mass, have never been to confession, have never received the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, and consequently only know their religion through their imagination and words. This is very little, indeed too little, to create invincible ties to the religion that we admire with great satisfaction in the ancient Acadians. [...] Since you cannot go to confession and you are likely to die without sacraments, look after yourselves well. Those consider- ations must, I think, make a strong impression on you. (TR)'”’

The Acadians had to wait until 1770 before they were able to welcome their first priest, Father James MacDonald, who arrived with a group of Scottish families fleeing religious persecution in their own country. Monseigneur Briand made haste to grant the necessary powers to this member of the clergy. He spoke several languages and would be able to work not only amongst his Scottish compatriots, but also the Acadians on the Island.

The premature death of Father James MacDonald in 1785 created a hiatus in the Catholic community on the Island since the Canadian episcopate still did not have the means to send a resident priest. To fill the gap the bishop authorized Jean Doucet, an Acadian from Rustico, to baptize and receive marriage vows anywhere on the Island when no missionary was available.'°.

In the meantime, the Acadians in the Maritimes welcomed the first priest of Acadian origin, Father Joseph-Mathurin Bourg, who was educated in France and ordained in Quebec City by Monseigneur Briand in 1772. The following year he began his ministry as Vicar