Elsipogtog Parish - Elsipogtog
Established before the 17th century
First church in 1897
First pastor in 1969
The Micmacs had free access to the whole territory now known as Kent County, before the arrival of the white man. At the beginning of the 18th century, they got along well with the Acadians, who had settled among them, but had problems with the English settlers, who tried to dislodge them. Finally, a treaty was signed in 1725.
In 1805, the New Brunswick Legislature set aside Big Cove (now Elsipogtog), as a Reservation, with twelve families. The Reserve grew through natural growth, but at the beginning of 20th century, it increased in number, through migrations from other small reserves Memramcook, Beaumont, Shediac, and Bouctouche.
In these early times, the Native people who had become catholic, and spoke French as well as their mother tongue, were ministered to, spiritually, by the missionaries of Richibucto-Village.
When a parish was set up in Richibucto, in 1881, with Father J. E. Bannon, as pastor, the mission of Big Cove was served from there. By this time, First Nations people came under the Federal Department of Indian Affairs, and were gradually anglicized. Before 1900, the Capucin Fathers from the Restigouche Reserve used to come at least four times a year to administer the sacraments in Micmac.
In 1897, a church was built on the Reserve, and dedicated to Saint Ann. The priest from Richibucto continued to come regularly, until 1964, when the Big Cove Mission was assigned to Saint Charles, until 1969.
In June 1965, the Redemptorists of Buctouche Retreat House began to serve in Big Cove to assist the St Charles’ priest. Among others, Fr. Raphael Caron and especially Fr Gabriel Gagnon (1966 - 1969).
Finally, when the Buctouche Retreat House closed in the summer of 1969, Big Cove church received its first ‘residing priest’: Fr Gagnon. Historically, his starting date was: Sept 1969. Since that time, the Redemptorists have continued to serve and reside in the community of (Big Cove) Elsipogtog.
The sisters of ‘‘Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Cœur’’ have been working and teaching on the Reserve since 1970.
On September 22, 1971, the church burned, and until the opening of the new one in 1973, religious services were held in the basement of the old school until the completion of the band office.
On October 1971, Fr Gagnon accepted to serve the mission church of Bass River, which was founded in 1876.
On April 19, 1992, the Buctouche Reserve opened their own chapel.
October 11, 1993 was the opening of the church for Indian Island Reserve.
In 2000, Bishop Ernest Leger created a personal parish (sui generis) uniting the three First Nation Communities and serving the mission of Bass River.