Everyone was kept alert and participated in an exemplary manner in the Mass and other liturgical celebrations. Father taught the whole assembly to sing the Gregorian, Mass of The Angels. However this was not accomplished all at once. First there was the formation of the Mens' Choir. Sixteen men met on Oct. 30, 1936 for this purpose with Joseph Aeneas Poirier as organist. It was a monumental task since they all had to learn Latin. The story goes that the first choir practised long and hard in secret for their first Midnight Mass at Christmas. The congregation was not told about the Mass, nor were they expected to at¬ tend because the choir was not certain it would get through it. The people became suspicious that something was going on, and when they saw the men sneaking to church around 11:30 P.M. they decided to go and investigate. From all accounts the Mass went over well and they had about 25 unexpected people in attendance. On December 8th, 1936, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the first reception of the Children of Mary took place. On this occasion a beautiful four foot statue of Our Lady, bearing a crown with a large star, made especially for the children of Mary, was placed over the main altar. The census, taken in December of 1936, showed one hundred and ten families with 629 persons. Our latest census taken in August of 1982 shows one hundred and seventy-five families with 850 persons. A house was purchased from Madeline Pineau and hauled by Wes Coles on to the church property. With some alterations and additions the Rectory was opened on April 1, 1937. Before this Father McNeill stayed at the home of Cyriac Pineau . Stella Maris Rectory with harbur in background. 12