Deconsecrated on June 19, 2022, the Acadian monument that had once been Saint Bernard church was rescued from demolition on the 28th of July, 2023. Two registered charities, the local Heritage Saint Bernard and Nation Prospère based in Bouctouche N.B. became the new owners. Héritage Saint Bernard was initially founded in 2001 by parishioners to raise funds to maintain the building as a community and cultural center, becoming in 2018 a Canadian registered charity. Heritage Website Nation Prospère, also a Canadian registered charity, through its research and interventions, develops and implements durable solutions to enable Atlantic Canada’s Acadian People to thrive in the 21st century. Nation Prospère website

While aware of the challenges and the consequences of failure, not attempting to save this Acadian monument on the shores of Saint Mary's Bay would be an unimaginable tragedy. It is with hope in the future of l'Acadie that we invite you to join this call for help from this small Acadian community in Nova Scotia. In recent years, we have witnessed the unprecedented loss of distinctive elements of our heritage. Let us not miss this opportunity to intervene while we can, for the benefit of present generations and the future of Acadian culture in Nova Scotia and all Canada.

The history of how and why this Acadian monument was constructed over 32 years by poor uneducated Acadian farmers, fishermen and lumberjacks is a tale of perseverance, faith and resourcefulness of the Acadian culture that has defied adversity since the 1755 deportation has been well documented. This account of ambition, dreams, reality and despair is available upon request, but presently time demands that essential repairs be undertaken to the structure.