St. Joseph's, Port Felix

St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church,
Port Felix

Port Felix was called Molasses Harbour until 1869.
Before the church was built, Father Francois Lejamtel would visit occassionally from Arichat.
The church was built about 1845.
Rev. James Drummond became pastor of Guysborough in 1848, and he included Molasses Harbour in his rounds.
Port Felix was establised as the second parish in Guysborough County in 1851. Rev. Drummond becames it's first priest. He lived at White Head.
Bishop Colin F. Campbell paid a visit to the parish in July 1860, where he was "greeted enthusiastically with banners and guns".
Father Drummond resigned in 1864, and was replaced by Belgian priest Felix van Blerk. Father van Blerk must have made a very big impression on the village, because in 1869, five years after his arrival, the name of the settlement was changed from Molasses Harbour to Port Felix, in his honour.
Rev. Martin A. MacPherson, a native of Big Pond took over in 1874, followed by Rev. G. M. LeBlanc in 1878.
Rev. Placide LeBlanc was parish priest from 1916-1950.
Three parishioners have been ordained to the priesthood, they are Rev. A.A. Boudreau, Rev. Gerald David and Rev. Robert Cashin.

St. Joseph's stands on a high hill overlooking the bay.

Pastors through the years

James D. Drummond, first pastor

ca. Dec. 1851 - 30 Apr. 1864

Felix van Blerk, pastor

5 May 1864-1 Sept. 1874

Martin A. MacPherson, pastor

1 Sept. 1874 - 30 Nov. 1878

Guillaume M. LeBlanc, pastor

3 Dec. 1878 - 1 Sept. 1879

Aug. Vanrenterghem, pastor

~ Sept. 1879 - 19 Aug. 1889

Francis Broussard, pastor, first time

1 Dec. 1889 - 31 Oct. 1890

Amable E. Monbourquette, pastor

16 Nov. 1890 - 30 Apr. 1893

Neil MacDonald, pastor

1 Nov. 1893 - 26 Sept. 1895

Francis Broussard, pastor, second time

1 Oct. 1895 - 31 July 1897

John D. MacLeod, pastor

Aug. 1897 - Aug. 1898

Lubin J. Gallant, pastor

20 Nov. 1898-31 Oct. 1900

Francis Broussard, pastor, third time

1 Nov. 1900 - 25 Jan. 1907

J. Pierre Robitaille, pastor

25 Jan. 1907-1 Dec. 1909

H.J. Louis de G. Chouinard, pastor

1 Dec. 1909 - 31 May 1911

L. Eugene Noel, pastor

1 June 1912 - July 1916

Placide A. LeBlanc, pastor

6 July 1916 - 18 Sept. 1950

Paul A. Boudreau, administrator

18 Sept. 1950 - 20 Nov. 1950

Terence J. Power, administrator

21 Nov. 1950 - 10 July 1952

Terence J. Power, pastor

10 July 1952 - 15 Sept. 1954

R. Colonel MacLeod, pastor

15 Sept. 1954 - 17 Aug. 1959

D. Leo Carter, pastor

17 Aug. 1959-1 Oct. 1963

Hector J. MacNeil, pastor

1 Oct. 1963 - 9 July 1969

Anthony B. O'Brien, pastor

9 July 1969 -

Hughie MacDonald

information sources: Newspaper article - Churches by the Sea -
by M Allen Gibson - date unknown to me - clipping was cut out and not dated.
excerpt from ANTIGONISH DIOCESE PRIESTS and BISHOPS 1786-1925
by Rev. A. A. Johnston, Litt.D. - contributed by Perle Connolly

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St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Port Felix

Port Felix was called Molasses Harbour until 1869. Before the church was built, Father Francois Lejamtel would visit occassionally from Arichat. The church was built about 1845. Rev. James Drummond became pastor of Guysborough in 1848, and he included Molasses Harbour in his rounds. Port Felix was establised as the second parish in Guysborough County in 1851. Rev. Drummond becames it's first priest. He lived at White Head. Bishop Colin F. Campbell paid a visit to the parish in July 1860, where he was "greeted enthusiastically with banners and guns". Father Drummond resigned in 1864, and was replaced by Belgian priest Felix van Blerk. Father van Blerk must have made a very big impression on the village, because in 1869, five years after his arrival, the name of the settlement was changed from Molasses Harbour to Port Felix, in his honour. Rev. Martin A. MacPherson, a native of Big Pond took over in 1874, followed by Rev. G. M. LeBlanc in 1878. Rev. Placide LeBlanc was parish priest from 1916-1950. Three parishioners have been ordained to the priesthood, they are Rev. A.A. Boudreau, Rev. Gerald David and Rev. Robert Cashin.

St. Joseph's stands on a high hill overlooking the bay.
Pastors through the years
James D. Drummond, first pastor	ca. Dec. 1851 - 30 Apr. 1864
Felix van Blerk, pastor	5 May 1864-1 Sept. 1874
Martin A. MacPherson, pastor	1 Sept. 1874 - 30 Nov. 1878
Guillaume M. LeBlanc, pastor	3 Dec. 1878 - 1 Sept. 1879
Aug. Vanrenterghem, pastor	~ Sept. 1879 - 19 Aug. 1889
Francis Broussard, pastor, first time	1 Dec. 1889 - 31 Oct. 1890
Amable E. Monbourquette, pastor	16 Nov. 1890 - 30 Apr. 1893
Neil MacDonald, pastor	1 Nov. 1893 - 26 Sept. 1895
Francis Broussard, pastor, second time	1 Oct. 1895 - 31 July 1897
John D. MacLeod, pastor	Aug. 1897 - Aug. 1898
Lubin J. Gallant, pastor	20 Nov. 1898-31 Oct. 1900
Francis Broussard, pastor, third time	1 Nov. 1900 - 25 Jan. 1907
J. Pierre Robitaille, pastor	25 Jan. 1907-1 Dec. 1909
H.J. Louis de G. Chouinard, pastor	1 Dec. 1909 - 31 May 1911
L. Eugene Noel, pastor	1 June 1912 - July 1916
Placide A. LeBlanc, pastor	6 July 1916 - 18 Sept. 1950
Paul A. Boudreau, administrator	18 Sept. 1950 - 20 Nov. 1950
Terence J. Power, administrator	21 Nov. 1950 - 10 July 1952
Terence J. Power, pastor	10 July 1952 - 15 Sept. 1954
R. Colonel MacLeod, pastor	15 Sept. 1954 - 17 Aug. 1959
D. Leo Carter, pastor	17 Aug. 1959-1 Oct. 1963
Hector J. MacNeil, pastor	1 Oct. 1963 - 9 July 1969
Anthony B. O'Brien, pastor	9 July 1969 -
Hughie MacDonald
information sources: Newspaper article - Churches by the Sea - by M Allen Gibson - date unknown to me - clipping was cut out and not dated. excerpt from ANTIGONISH DIOCESE PRIESTS and BISHOPS 1786-1925 by Rev. A. A. Johnston, Litt.D. - contributed by Perle Connolly
Return to CHURCHES index