MISSION OF ST. MARY

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Although at a very early date one or two Irish Catholics families had settled in the immediate vicinity of Montague Bridge. it was not until

' the arrival there of Austin C. MacDonald Esq. M.P. and of Pierce Gaul, Esq. who followed a year or two later. that any steps were taken towards the formation of a Catholic mission in that place. The nearest resident priest on the south side of the Montague. was the Rev. James Phelan of Vernon River. who used to come to Montague Bridge occasionally and hold a station in Mr. Gauls house. When Mr. MacDonald and Mr. Gaul proposed the scheme

of erecting a church. they received great encouragement and assistance from the Irish settlers of Sparrow's Road. who cheerfully gave their time and labour, going in a body to the woods, hewing logs and hauling them to the mill always taking care to have a surplus quantity, the sale of which would pay for the work done on the lumber required for the church.

A subscription list was opened in which figure the names of Catholics near and far , One Mr. Power. one of the early settlers of the place was a generous donor. and the names of Sir Edward Kenny, and the late Hon. Daniel Brenan are down for considerable amounts. In 1866 it was determined to hold a tea party the proceeds of which should go to swell the church fund. This tea party. towards which the Protestant neighbours kindly contributed. was most successful and was the first of several in aid of the same cause. St. Mary's Church was accordingly commenced and was open for service in 1871. It was blessed by the Bishop in 1872. the sermon on the occasion being preached by Rev. D. O'Brien. now Archbishop of Halifax. In 187h the parochial house was completed and Rev. William Phelan went there to live. the first resident priest of Montague Bridge. Up to that date the mission had been

attended first from Vernon River of which parish Rev. James Phelan was pastor.

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