The parish is comprised of Catholic families in
the geographical area extending from Seven-Mile Bridge to Ben Eoin with the streets and
roads branching from Highway 4, also from Blackett's Lake to MacAdam's Lake and along the
Northside of East Bay to Island View. The parish was formerly part of the Bras d'Or
Mission whose priest resided mainly at East Bay. In 1837 it became an independent parish
with its own pastor, Father Neil MacLeod. This faith community's current pastor is Father
Francis J. Abbass.
Within the parish boundaries there are two churches: St. Mary of the Assumption Church
(1841) at East Bay and St. Rose of Lima Church (1895) at Northside East Bay; two
cemeteries: St. Mary's at East Bay and Resurrection at Sydney Forks; a parish hall at East
Bay and a community
recreation centre at Sydney Forks; two residences: the current glebe (1954) and the old
glebe (Unity House, home for people living with handicaps).
In the 19th century the parishioners
established an educational facility which a cairn at St. Mary's claims to be the root of
the present Saint Francis Xavier University.
