Saint-Jean-Baptiste parish / Bouctouche
Established in 1785
First church: 1800
First priest: 1839
Bouctouche owes its name to its first inhabitants, the Micmacs, who named their campground Chebouctou ‘Chebooktoosk’ which means « large little harbour ».
The region, as well as Bouctouche itself, are part of two seigniories conceded to the Sieur de Chauffours in 1684 and to the Sieur du Plessis, naval treasurer, in 1696. However, the First Nations were the only inhabitants of Bouctouche until 1785 when the first Acadian families from Memramcook came to settle here.
These families built a wooden chapel around 1800. Later, Fr. Julien Rioux, first resident priest (1839-1854) would have the first church built at Pointe-à-Jacquot. The wooden belltower was topped by a wrought iron cross.
The Immaculate Conception Convent opened its doors in 1880. Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur nuns made it one of the great teaching institutions in Acadie beginning in 1924. It was completely renovated after its closing and became a museum.
While the convent was being built, the parish also built a majestic neo-gothic style church with construction ending in 1898. Fire would destroy this church on December 18, 1921.
Most Rev. Philippe Hébert, priest from 1923 to 1940, laid the foundations for the new church. From 1926 until 1954, parishioners celebrated mass in the basement of the present church which is situated in the heart of the village on Irving Boulevard. The sumptuous home built by Archibald Irving would become the new rectory and the old rectory would be transformed into a diocesan retreat house which would close its doors in 1929. Most Rev. Désiré Allain, parish priest from 1940 to 1967, would see to the construction of the present church.
A diocesan Marian congress was held in Bouctouche from August 14th to the 17th, 1947, with close to 20,000 people attending the closing ceremonies.