186 THEISLAND ACADIANS 
     
    
   
   
    
     Islands**. Sometimes Acadian priests ministered to parishes that were 
     
     totally English-speaking. Other Acadian priests born on the Island 
     
     were given parishes in western Canada or the United States. 
     
     Despite this rather discouraging state of affairs, the Island Aca- 
     
     dians were able to rely on the support of several energetic native 
     
     priests who left their mark on their community—the most notable 
     
     of these being Fathers Jean Chiasson, Célestin Gauthier, Pierre-Paul 
     
     Arsenault and Frangois-Xavier Gallant. They took on the leadership 
     
     of various social, economic and religious movements with the goal of 
     
     ensuring the growth of the Acadian community. They promoted and 
     
     defended education and the French language, encouraged farming 
     
     and colonization, and propagated temperance and mutual insurance. 
     
    
   
   
    
     MASTER BUILDERS 
     
    
   
   
    
     Many priests became involved in organizing the construction of 
     
     the magnificent churches and stately presbyteries that characterize 
     
     the Acadian landscape. They were thus continuing the work their 
     
     predecessors had begun mainly in the 1860s with imposing structures 
     
     like the beautiful brick church in Tignish and the famous red sandstone 
     
     parish hall in Rustico that originally housed the Farmers’ Bank of 
     
     Rustico. While glorifying God with these grandiose buildings, the 
     
     priests also wanted to provide their parishioners with monuments 
     
     they could be proud of and which would prove that the Acadians, 
     
     without being the wealthiest class on the Island, were capable of great 
     
     and beautiful accomplishments. No doubt the personal glory of the 
     
     priests responsible for these remarkable structures was also enhanced. 
     
    

    
     At a time when money was scarce, the organizational skills of 
     
     the priests and their talents as fundraisers largely determined the 
     
     financing of these famous buildings. A popular and effective way of 
     
     raising money was the parish picnic which used to be called a “tea 
     
     party”. This important event was organized by the priest and took 
     
     place during the summer, often on the feast of the Assumption (August 
     
     15). The festivities lasted all day long. They would begin with a solemn 
     
     Mass that was often followed by a procession and speeches by guest 
     
     speakers. An effort was usually made to procure a band to liven up 
     
     the celebrations and enhance the religious ceremonies. Included in 
     
     the money-making events were meals, merry-go-rounds, games of