P.E.I

EXCERPT FROM THE DIARY OF BISHOP PLESSIS iv

In 1812, when Bishop Plessis visited St. John's Island, now known as ., he was met in Bedeque by a small boat carrying Father Angus, later

to be known as Bishop Angus MacEachern.

Father Angus had served the Island Missions for twenty-two years, and

was familiar with every Bay, Cove, and Inlet. After spending the night on board the Bishop's Schooner, they set out to visit the Faithful in

vario

some

Thus

us Settlements of the Island.

The following is quoted from the Diary of Bishop Plessis, published years later by a friend and admirer of the renowned Bishop.

”It was a matter next of getting to Fortune Bay, or if you will, Rollo Bay, which is adjacent to it, where there are twenty-six Acadian Families. We set sail between eight and nine in the evening. The daylight ending was replaced by a beautiful moonlight, and, although it was seventy-five miles from Charlottetown to our destination which was at the East End of the Island, the 'ANGELIQUE' arrived there the next morning carried by a good flying wind which blew moderately the whole night. This day being the Feast of

St. Alexis, the Bishop gave him as the Patron Saint to the Chapel

in this place, a Chapel wretchedly built and incomplete, having for its whole furnishings only two candies without a Crucifix, and an Indian Altar front on which were represented Children's Games, more fit to distract the spirit than to inspire devotion.

The Scotch of Shipwreck or Naufrage and of East Point who had not been able to get to St. Andrew's at the time of the Visitation betook themselves to Rollo Bay to receive the Sacraments; and they did so in such large numbers that, with the house filled right up on Saturday Night, several were obliged to sleep in the Church while others, a little hardier, spent the night outdoors. The two Scottish Priests each took a barn for hearing confessions and were overwhelmed with people. One of them preached in Gaelic. The Bishop preached in French in the morning and taught Catechism in the afternoon in both French and English. By teaching in English he hoped to get himself understood by the Scotch.

After giving orders to work out something a little more fitting for

the Chapel of St. Alexis, he took leave of the Faithful of Rollo Bay and sailed off to Nova Scotia.”

ended the 1812 Episcopal Visit which brought peace, joy, courage

and renewed faith to the Faithful of our own area.

NOTE:

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The above was found in the files of St. Columba Church and is included with this booklet, as evidence of the existing of the East Point Community long before the first Record of Death is given in the Parish Records.

The Feast of St. Alexis is celebrated on July 17th.