The first priests arrive
Eudist missionaries take charge of several coastal missions, from Manicouagan to Natashquan, and make their homes among the communities.
← The North Shore missions
The Fathers
A North Shore legacy · 1903–2017
The Fathers
of the North Shore
Men and a land transformed: the story of the Eudists who walked, taught, and served along the shores of the St. Lawrence.
Explore this story ↓Eudist missionaries on the North Shore · Eudist Archives
From France to the Gulf of St. Lawrence
Exile turned into mission
In 1903, the Eudists left France amid anti-clerical laws and continued their mission in Canada. Soon after their arrival, a dozen priests were sent to the North Shore, where they took over from the Oblates.
Across this vast, rugged, and beautiful region, they settled in coastal villages. For generations, their presence supported religious life, education, and the development of North Shore communities.
Read the historical account by Basile Babin, c.j.m. (PDF) ↗A timeline
A presence along the coast
A story of departures, foundations, and lasting bonds with the people of the North Shore.
Communities take root
The Eudists establish and serve parishes. They help open churches, schools, and clinics, and support the needs of remote villages.
A regional Church takes shape
The Apostolic Prefecture becomes a diocese in 1945. The Eudists continue their pastoral service before officially relinquishing responsibility for the region in 1978.
A lasting memory
A film by Groupe PVP brings this story to life, along with the changes experienced by the missionaries and North Shore communities.
Men and a land transformed
A mission rooted in people’s lives
Through churches, schools, and clinics, the Eudists respond to residents’ spiritual and material needs. They also take part in efforts to improve the infrastructure the region needs.
Their memory remains part of the North Shore landscape: the Fathers’ name was given to a lake where the Manitou River begins.
Explore the mission story from 1903 to 1978 →Images and testimonies
The North Shore remembered
Four Eudist videos explore places, history, and a deep connection to the region.
Place of remembrance · 1 min 38 sec
Charlesbourg Cemetery — The Fathers of the North Shore
Missionary presence · 1 min 31 sec
The Eudist Fathers settle on the North Shore
Film by Groupe PVP · 3 min 11 sec
Men and a land transformed
Testimony · 15 sec
A bond with the North Shore
A film by Groupe PVP
The Fathers of the North Shore
The original feature presents this contribution under the title “Men and a Land Transformed” and traces the Eudist presence from 1903 to 2017.