improved during World War II. He promoted and brought to reali- ty the mission church at Miminegash.

ASSISTANT PASTORS

Near the end of Father Gauthier's pastorate young priests had been sent to assist the aging pastor. This tradition was revived as Father Walsh passed his prime. Assistants were Rev. John F. Johnston, Rev. Emmanuel Richard, Rev. Nazaire Gallant, Rev. Arthur Pendergast, and Rev. J .J . Dumphy.

FATHER LECLAIR

When Father Walsh retired in 1967, Rev. Joseph LeClair, a Tignish native became pastor until 1978. During this time school consolidation was completed. Programs to assist parents and teachers of the new Catechism program were developed after Second Vatican Council. Father LeClair was instrumental in founding Palmer Road A.A. groups. A sister assistant, Sister Winnifred Mclver’helped to establish the Al—Anon groups so active today and introduced congregational singing. Father LeClair had a sound system installed. His jolly demeanour, booming exhortations, and introduction of French language masses are fresh in the memory of most parishioners. Father LeClair also welcomed to the spacious parish residence a ntive of Palmer Road (Waterford) Rev. Richard Ellsworth, who retired from U.P.E.I. Later we welcomed a former assistant, Rev. Emmanuel Richard, who had become partially disabled.

The single pastor system continued after Father LeClair was sent to Wellington in 1978. He was succeeded by Rev. Nazaire Gallant, a previous assistant pastor. Father Gallant moved to a smaller parish in 1982 because of his health. While here, he was assisted by Sister Della Gaudet C.N.D. for three years and by Sister Pauline Dalton, C.N.D. who stayed until 1985. Father Claude Shea, who was semi—retired at Tignish after his career as a military chaplain, and a native of Palmer Road, substituted for Father Gallant. He started the “Life in the Spirit” program which helped to introduce the Charismatic Prayer Groups. Rev. Arthur O’Shea was an interim replacement in 1982—83. During that year, he restored the Karn reed organ whose melodies sounds again grace many of our services.

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