Prior to 1924 the Roman Catholic population of Croachville, now known as East Saint John, attended the Cathedral on Waterloo Street, or St. Joachim's on the Loch Lomond Road. Bishop LeBlanc saw the need for a church in the East (as it was known) of St. John County. In July 1923 the decision was made to erect a new parish and build a church, thus partitioning St. Joachim's.
The boundaries were set, and covered the area of East Saint John proper, along Bayside Drive, to Kane's Corner, to the south side of Loch Lomond Road to a point know as Slaughter House Hill, where today, stands the Loch Lomond Mall. In addition, the parish incorporated the area going in the direction of the Dry Dock, all the Old Black River Road, Grandview Avenue, out to the King's County Line, and all the Read Head Road to Cape Spencer.
On October 1, 1923, Bishop LeBlanc appointed Father Francis Walker as the first pastor. He was instrumental in setting up the parish after the land for the new church was obtained from Joseph A. Likely Ltd. The contract for construction of Stella Maris Church was awarded to John Flood & Sons Ltd. and the digging for the foundation got under way in the later part of October that same year.
The first Mass in the parish was celebrated on December 8, 1923, in a rented hall, as work continued on the new church building during the winter. On Sunday, May 11, 1924, before a large gathering of parishioners, Bishop LeBlanc blessed the foundation, and the cornerstone was set in place. The new church was to be dedicated to Mary under her title, Stella Maris (Star of the Sea).
On June 14, 1924, the first Mass was celebrated in the church basement. A large number of children received their first Holy Communion. The first baptism was celebrated later that afternoon. Although the exterior of the church was completed by autumn of 1924, the church basement continued to serve the needs of the parish for yet another little while.
Father Walker was instrumental in establishing the Novena of St. Theresa of the Little Flower. Following the initiative the church and parish seemed to get a much-needed boost. The main body of the church was quickly completed and at the Solemn Closing of the Novena in the summer of 1928, all sacred worship was and continues to be celebrated, in the main church.
In January 1948, Bishop Bray appointed Father Walker to Sussex as pastor. He was succeeded by Father Arthur Kinsella (later named Monsignor), who remained until his death in 1968.
From its vantage point overlooking Courtney Bay in Saint John East, Stella Maris continues to beckon the faithful to celebrate its Catholic faith and heritage.