St. Mary's Parish History
Prior to 1838, Big Pond was part of a mission territory known as the Bras d'Or Lake Mission. In 1818 Father William Dollard from Ireland became its first pastor and for the next two decades the people of Big Pond received spiritual care from him and his successors, Father William Fraser, Father William B. MacLeod, Father Michael McKeagney and Father Neil MacLeod.
In 1838 Father Neil MacLeod was named the first pastor of the newly established parish of East Bay. His charge included the mission of Big Pond where he built a chapel in 1842, in the vicinity of the present cemetery grounds. Documents indicate that the name of the mission for a time was St.
Michael's, but later on was dedicated to St. Margaret.
In 1891 Big Pond was detached from East Bay and became a mission of Red Islands under Father Roderick MacInnis. In 1892 Father MacInnis began construction of the present church on land donated by Michael MacNeil. The cornerstone was laid on October 20, 1892, with Father Martin MacPherson, a native of Big Pond, presiding. Construction was completed during the tenure of Father Neil MacDonald, who succeeded Father MacInnis as pastor. On July 11, 1897, the church was blessed and dedicated to St. Joseph, Father Martin MacPherson again presiding. In 1905 a Glebe House was built by Father William MacPherson, pastor of Johnstown parish, formerly known as the parish of Red Islands. In that same year Big Pond was established as a separate parish under Father Duncan MacDonald.
It was around 1910 that the name of the parish was changed to St. Mary's. In 1926 Father Duncan MacDonald retired and St. Mary's once again became a mission of Johnstown under Father Lauchlin MacDonald. It remained a mission of Johnstown until 1949 when Father Stanley MacDonald was named pastor, having served as assistant priest in Johnstown since 1944. Father Stanley MacDonald retired in 1966 and Father Angus J. MacLeod was appointed administrator for one year.
In 1967 Father Murdock MacKenzie was appointed pastor, followed by Father John H. MacGregor in 1970. Since Father MacGregor's retirement in 1984, the priests who served St. Mary's Parish were Father James Mombourquette, Father Daniel Doucet, Father Gregory MacLeod, Father Bedford Doucette and the present pastor, Father Joseph Gillis.
Our Sister Parish
Sacred Heart Parish History
The parish of Johnstown, formerly known as the parish of Red Islands, was part of a missionary territory referred to as the Bras d'Or Lake Mission. In 1818 Father William Dollard from Ireland was named its first resident pastor. The second and third pastors were Father William Fraser from Scotland and Father William B. MacLeod, who shortly after his arrival in 1824 built Red Island's first church.
In 1838 East Bay was detached from the Bras d'Or Lake Mission and established as a separate parish under Father Neil MacLeod, whose charge also included Red Islands and Big Pond. In June, 1860, Red Islands was established as a parish and Father John MacDougall was named as its first pastor. In 1890 Father MacDougall was succeeded by Father Roderick MacInnis who built the present Johnstown church. The cornerstone of the church, which was laid in 1891, bears the inscription: "In honor of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus." It was opened for divine services on Sunday, August 26, 1894.
From 1895 to 1898 the parish was served by Father Neil MacDonald. His successor was Father William MacPherson. In 1903 the parish of Red Islands became the parish of Johnstown to honor the memory of its first pastor, Father John MacDougall. In 1905 Father MacPherson built a Glebe House in Johnstown, and in that year Big Pond became a separate parish under Father Duncan MacDonald. It remained a separate parish until 1926 when it once again became a mission of Johnstown.
In 1930 Father George MacLean was appointed the sixth pastor of Johnstown. It was while he was pastor that the Johnstown Parish Hall was built. In 1944 Father MacLean obtained the services of Father Stanley MacDonald as assistant pastor. In 1949 Father Michael MacSween succeeded Father MacLean. In that same year Big Pond was reestablished as a separate parish under Father Stanley MacDonald.
In 1950 Father Daniel E. MacDonald was appointed as the eighth pastor of Johnstown. He was succeeded in 1956 by Father Frederick Morley. It was while Father Morley was pastor that the parish of Johnstown celebrated its 100th anniversary, on August 3, 1960. From 1961 to 1970 the parish was served by Monseignor Ronald MacLean.
In 1970 Johnstown became a mission of Big Pond under Father John H. MacGregor. Father MacGregor served the parishes of Sacred Heart and St. Mary's until his retirement in 1984. Since then the priests who served the two parishes are Father James Mombourquette, Father Daniel Doucet, Father Gregory MacLeod, Father Bedford Doucette and the present pastor, Father Joseph Gillis.
Click HERE to view
St. Mary's 2002 Pictorial Church Directory
or
HERE to
View Sacred Hearts 2002 Pictorial
Church Directory
Contact:
Fr. Joseph Gillis, Pastor
St. Mary's Glebe House
Big Pond, N.S. B1J 1V2
Ph. (902) 828-2317, Fax. (902) 828-2637
email: mjgillis@ns.sympatico.ca
