A Catholic house of worship is set to remain in the small fishing town of Portugal Cove South forevermore.

An anonymous donor from outside the province, with ties to Portugal Cove South, purchased Holy Rosary Church for the local community. Lifelong parishioner Cynthia Power, the chair of the Portugal Cove South Historical Corporation, expressed her happiness that the church will endure as an inspirational landmark.  

“It’s literally a beacon sitting on top of the hill looking out over our community and the water,” said Power. “It’s always been like a symbol of strength and hope for our community and the people.”

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For three years, the residents of this community on Newfoundland’s southern shore fought to secure ownership of their beloved parish as the Roman Episcopal Corporation of St. John’s (RCESJ) put the church up for sale early in 2022 to help compensate victims of clerical abuse.

Heads turned in September 2024, as Power and Town Mayor Clarence Molloy changed the locks and posted notices barring prospective buyers and Archdiocese representatives, including Archbishop Peter Hundt, from entering.

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Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador Justice Garrett Handrigan ruled on May 21 that the RCESJ owned Holy Rosary, not the residents, and therefore the keys had to be surrendered.

“We were very disappointed by the court ruling when it came down, but we did understand and respect the decision,” said Power. “We were happy to turn over the keys. We felt we had done everything that we could.”

Originally, the church was listed at $75,000, but the asking price had dropped to approximately $37,000 when this legal squabble began in April. Within a month of the ruling, the corporation was contacted by a representative of a potential angel investor. Power said there has been no direct communication with the patron and that the individual was interested in purchasing Holy Rosary for the community.

A phone call with the mystery buyer’s representation confirmed that this desire to purchase was legitimate. Ultimately, Holy Rosary Church was bought by this individual for $25,000, and it was declared that the town and the Portugal Cove South Historical Corporation will be recognized as the owners.

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On Oct. 22, Power and Molloy were reunited with the keys to their hilltop sanctuary. Power shared that Holy Rosary will be utilized in the years ahead as a chapel instead of a parish with weekly liturgical services.

“We will not have regular Mass every week,” said Power. “We will have Mass for wakes, funerals, baptisms, weddings, and Mass, say for Christmas day, Easter Sunday, things like that. We will continue, as in the past nearly two years, going to (Holy Redeemer Parish) in Trepassey for Mass.”