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. Mary, Souris
The earliest dwellers in Souris Village arrived there from St. Peter in 1810. They were soon followed by some Acadians from Arichat, and by a family of McPhees who came to Souris in 1814. Little Harbour, the eastern part of the parish was first settled by three Highland families who went there in 1806. The inhabitants of this portion of what is now the mission of Souris attended mass at St. Columba's East Point, previous to the building of the parish church, while the settlers of Souris village being nearer Rollo Bay, depended for spiritual care upon the pastor of that mission.
Occasionally stations were held at the houses of Mr. Angus Campbell of Little Harbour, of Mr. Neil McLellan of Little Harbour, of Mr. Angus McDonald (Hector) of Chepstow, and of Mr. Peter Chiverie of Souris.
In 1838 the people bestirred themselves and took steps toward building a church: ground was bought from Francis Chiverie and cleared by the parishioners, and upon this site the pioneer church was erected by Messrs. Thomas Stone and Michael Bayley. The dimensions of this church were sixty feet by thirty five feet. The first elders were Donald Allan McDonald, Souris, Francais Lavie, Souris, Angus McDonald (Hector). The priest in charge of the mission at that time was the Reverend John MacDonald of Glenaladale, who offered the first mass in Souris church in January 1839.
In the month of June 1849 a disastrous fire destroyed both the church and a fine parochial house, which was just being completed by the Rev. Pius McPhee. Nothing daunted, the parishioners determined to proceed at once with the building of a new church; they turned out in a body, went to the woods, procured, and prepared the matrial for the frame.
This second church was opened in November 1849; the builder was Ronald Ban McDonald. It is eighty feet in length by forty five in width, and twenty two feet in height; the spire is a hundred feet high. The vestry is twenty four feet by thirty. The present parochial house was built by Rev. James Phelan in 1862.
The church which is called St. Mary's, possesses a fine oil painting, a copy of Murillo's Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin, which framed nicely in gilt hangs suspended above the high altar. The stations of the cross are oleographs in black walnut frames. From the grave yard we have a beautiful view of the surrounding cemetery. Here are some very choice specimens of the Stone cutters Art, Monuments that would be considered handsome in more pretentious places than Souris. One grave lying near the entrance to the cemetery has a more than local reputation on account of its inscription which reads as follows:-
In Memory
of
Elizabeth MacDonald
beloved wife of Andrew McInnis
died
Dec. 15th 1852
R.I.P.
She was a native of Tochaber, Scotland,
And was the lady honoured with
having the first dance with
King George III at the Royal Ball
In Edinburgh in 1818.
The priests who have attended Souris mission, are as follows.
Bishop McEachern up to 1835, assisted in the early years of the settlement by Rev. Messrs. Cecile and Beaubien.
Rev. John McDonald 1835 to 1844
Rev. Francis McDonald 1844 to 1845
Rev. Pius McPhee 1845 to 1852
Very Rev. D. McDonald 1852 to 1861
Rev. James Phelan 1861 to 1863
Rev. Dugald McDonald 1863 to 1864
Rev. Donald Francis McDonald 1864 up to the present time.
Across the road from St. Mary's Church stands, one of the prettiest convents in the Maritime Provinces. It is of red brick, picked out with white brick, the dimensions are eighty feet by forty five feet, height thirty four feet. This house is well planned, well located, well ventilated and is in fact a charming school fitted with all modern improvements obtainable in Souris, and is managed so as to give it an air of comfort and brightness that will linger in the memory of those who visit it. In the convent chapel stands a beautiful statue of Our Lady of Lourds given by the children of Mary of the parish. The window blinds throughout the building are worthy of notice, they having been painted by the sisters whose cumming brushes have delineated exquisite wreaths of maple leaves, and sacred devices upon pure white linen. This school was opened in 1881, herefore sisters of the congregation of Notre Dame teach ninety six pupils in a locality that for health giving breezes is perhaps unequalled in Prince Edward Island.
The scenery around Souris is magnificent, combining views of river, rock and ocean, for it is only a few miles from the busy, bristling, little town to the Northern beach, where the ocean rolls in unceasingly, and the gull and the gannet reign indisputed sovereigns.
The picturesque winding Souris river flows through farms of prosperous settlers who in the management of their property have had an eye to beauty as well as to utility. The writer gained much information regarding the early days of the mission and its first church from a fine old Irish gentleman, from Tipperary, who with his beautiful old wife reside in affluence upon the fertile and picturesque farm which fifty years ago their energy and industry won from the uncleared forest.
The name of Souris was bestowed upon the district in consequence of its being devastated early in the century by a plague of mice. These mischievious vermin were exorcised by Bishop McEachern, but the savages they committed still form the theme of many a winter nights tale.
Souris is the third town of importance in Prince Edward Island. It has a rapidly increasing population of whom a good proportion are Catholics.
Catholic Settlers of the Mission of
St. Mary
Souris
| Michael Chiverie | who came in 1805 |
| Jean Longueepee | who came in 1810 |
| Joussault Longuepee | who came in 1810 |
| Fidele Paquet | who came in 1813 |
| Cyprian Paquet | who came in 1813 |
| John McPhee | who came in 1818 |
| Francois Chiverie | who came in 1819 |
| Paul Boucher | who came in 1820 |
| Neil McLellan | |
| John McKinnon | |
| Archibald McLellan | |
| Angus Campbell | |
| Martin Whelan | |
| Thomas O'Donnell | |
| Martin Lyons | |
| James Mullally | |
| Patrick Birmingham |
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