COVEH EAD (St. Eugene’s)

s Iii-\RLY AS 1772 a number of Scottish

Catholics formed settlements at

Covehead and some fifty years later a group of Irish immigrants began making homesteads there In 1832 the parishioners built their first little church‘ a log structure‘ dedicated to St. Eugene.

With the Catholic population increasing the people erected their second church in 1853 and this place ofworship continues to serve the parish to this day. In the 1960s two side wings were added to the church due to ongoing parish growth.

56 OUR PARISHES

Covehead never had a rectory. In the early years it was served by the priests living in Tracadie. Later, priests from St. Dunstan’s University were its administrators. At times the priest living at Corran Ban had spiritual care for the people at Covehead as well.

One of St. Eugene's most illustrious natives was Monsignorjames Reardon who for 65 years served in the Archdiocese of St. Paul—Minneapolis, U.S.A. Professor, pastor and historian\ he was a well known and energetic Church figure across the Mid—\Vest and died while still at work at the age of91.

Some of the very best farmland in the province lies all around the Covehead area and much fishing takes place out of the local harbour, The parish's short distance from Charlottetown has encouraged many families to settle there and its proximity to the lavish waters of the North Shore and to the National Park brings large numbers ofvisitors there each

SLIIUINCIC

Today St. Eugene's has 200 families

within its boundaries.