RÉVÉREND SYLVAIN - ÉPHREM - POIRIER (PERREY)

Saint Simon and Saint Jude
Tignish, Î.-P.-É.
July 14th, 1988

1802-1887

First Acadian Priest of P.E.I.
Birth: July 15th, 1802, in Tignish, P.E.I.
 Studies: 1819-1826, in Nicolet, Québec
Ordination: June 28th, 1828, at St. Andrews
Death: August 3rd, 1887, in Egmont Bay
Burial: August 5th, 1887, in Egmont Bay

Sylvan-Éphrem Poirier, who always signed his nameS.E. Perrey was born on July 15., 1802, in Tignish, P.E.I. He was the seventh of nine children, born into the family of Pierre Poirier and Marie Chiasson.

Conditions were very difficult and most uncertain at the time for the Acadian people. Along with seven other Acadian families, are themselves forced to leave the shores of Malpeque Bay to reestablish in the Tignish area (near the old settlement at "the Green") These constituted the first 8 Acadian families to settle in the Tignish and Palmer Rd. region.

The subject of this leaflet was probably baptized by Reverend Jacques-Ladislas de Calonne, an exiled French priest of the Revolution, who came to P.E. I. as a missionary, to primarily minister to the spiritual needs of Acadians. He attended school  in Tignish and then  furthered his education in Rustico. Reverend Joseph-Étienne Cécile, Pastor and Missionry Priest at Rustico saw great potential in the virtues and moral character of this young Acadian man, who expressed confidence that Sylvain would succeed in his studies. And so, in 1819, he recommended him to Mgr. Joseph-Octave Plessis, Bishop of Québec, who placed him at the Seminary of Nicolet, Québec, where he pursued his education towards the priesthood. One can imagine the great hardships endured and the tremendous sacrifice experienced by the young man who found himself so far away from home, at that particular period in the history of the Acadian people.

He returns to his native Island in 1826, and completed his studies under the direction of Mgr. Angus Bernard MacEachern. Sylvain-Éprhem Poirier(Perrey) was orgained on June 28th, 1828 in St. Andrew's Church in St. Andrew, P.E.I. by Mgr. MacEachern. Immediately S.É. Poirier (Perrey)  was appointed Pastor in Tignish and Missionary Priest in the Acadian communities of Prince County.

There was without a doubt a clamour of great joy from the hearts of the Acadians who now saw one oth their own ascend the steps of the Altar of the Lord. Reverend Sylvain played a role of leadership in the communities under his charged. Acadians of the Maritimes Provinces turned to their priests for advice and for encouragement during the years of rehabilitation following the Exile. Single handed he attended to the spiritual and temporal needs of his flock from Tignish to Miscouche, a distance of some 60 miles, over a period of 15 years.

Modes of transportation and accommodation were rudimentary. He frequently slept under the elements, in all kinds of weather. He crossed rivers and bays by canoe, and travelled the rough paths of the Island through the woods often on horseback and somethimes on foot. He was happy in his ministry, despite the many hardships.

In 1860, because of increasing blindness, Reverend Perrey was forced to set aside his priest duties.

By 1869, when his eyesight had somewhat improved, he assumed the duties as the first resident Pastor of Mont-Carmel, from where he ministered to the needs of the people of Egmont Bay.

Finally in 1897, the spent and aging Sylvain-Ephrem went into permanent retirement, particularly because of his failing eyesight. His last years were spent with his nephew Félix Poirier in Egmont Bay.

He passed on to his Eternal reward on August 3rd, 1887, and was buried in the cemetary in Egmont Bay on August 5th.