Catholic Parishes in PEI (c. 1885) by Rev. Alfred E. Burke
Please see the Contents page for information on this and other historical sketches of PEI Roman Catholic parishes, as compiled by Father Alfred Burke circa 1885.
The Mission of St. Mark, Lot 7
This mission was settled by Irish Emigrants about the year 1823. Most of these settlers came from the countries of Wexford and Kerry, some of them emigrated first to Newfoundland, and after serving a few years in the fisheries there, crossed over to Prince Edward Island. Going from Charlottetown to Bedeque they found employment in the ship yard of Hon. Joseph Pope, and after working there for some years, purchased land in Township Seven and removed to what is known the mission of St. Mark.
For some years they formed part of old Cascumpec parish, and not until 1844 did they undertake the building of a church for themselves. In that year, chiefly owing to the exertions and perserverance of Messrs. Peter Doyle and William Howard, a small chapel was built in which the priest from Tignish would come to say mass about four times a year. The church was forty feet in length by thirty in width.
In 1879 under the direction of Rev. Stanislaus Boudreault, then pastor of Cascumpec, a new church, seventy feet in length by forty in width, was commenced, which was completed in 1882 under the direction of Rev. Stephen Phelan.
In the year 1879 Father Stephen built a parochial house which stands beside the church, on high land, overlooking the gulf.
Old travellers, who have painful reminiscences of jogging over the Western Road of Prince Edward Island, long before that province could boast of a railway, have pleasant memories of restful sojourns at the house of Mr. Thomas Doyle, a native of Wexford, Ireland, and the pioneer settler of St. Mark's mission. In Mr. Doyle's hospitable house the weary way farer always found a kindly welcome, entwined by the agreeable society of his genial and witty host, and those who are so fortunate to have partaken of Mr. Doyle's hospitality, hold his name in affectionate remembrance.
Upon the division of old Cascumpec parish in 1880 St. Mark's was conjointly with the mission of the Sacred Heart, Alberton, placed in charge of the Rev. Stephen Phelan, who says mass there upon every third Sunday.
First Catholic Settlers of St. Mark's Mission
Township Seven
Thomas Doyle
Patrick O'Reilly
Michael White
Thomas Dalton
Maurice Griffin
Robert Howard
Maurice O'Halloran
Lawrence Butler
Garret O'Reilly
Patrick O'Reilly
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