Flatrock
—  Town  —
View from town wharf
Seal
Flatrock Location of Flatrock in Newfoundland
Coordinates: 47°42′31″N 52°42′52″W / 47.70861°N 52.71444°W / 47.70861; -52.71444
Country	Canada
Province	Newfoundland and Labrador
Census division	1
Population (2006)
- Total	1,214
Time zone	Newfoundland Time (UTC-3:30)
- Summer (DST)	Newfoundland Daylight (UTC-2:30)
Area code(s)	709

Flatrock is a town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The town had a population of 1,214 in the Canada 2006 Census.

Contents 1 Religion 1.1 Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto 2 English 3 Differences from other communities 4 See also 5 References

[edit] Religion

Flatrock, is primarily a Roman Catholic town. The first settlers, were Roman Catholic Irish fishermen, and also Roman Catholic Frenchmen. There is a population of One Thousand Two Hundred Fourteen. About 95 per cent is Roman Catholic, 2.0 % is Anglican Church of Canada, 1% United Church of Canada, or Methodist who attends the United Church in Pouch Cove, and 1% Presbyterian who attends St. David's Kirk, in St. John's, or as it is better known as St. David's Presbyterian Church. There is only one church in Fatrock, and that is St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. This church, shares the same parish of St. Agnes' Roman Catholic Churc, in the neighbour community Pouch Cove. The Church currently shares two priests with Holy Trinity in Torbay, Holy Rosary in Portugal Cove, and St. Agnes' in Pouch Cove. There is no Presbytery in Flatrock, but there is in Torbay, Pouch Cove and Portugal Cove. Flatrock, is generally a Traditional community.

[edit] Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto

Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto is a religious shrine located outside of the parish church in Flatrock. Founded in 1954 by Fr. William Sullivan after his return to the parish from Lourdes, France. Fr. Sullivan saw many similarities in the terrain in Lourdes to that of his church in Flatrock, and saw that it would be a great opportunity to take advantage of this land.^[1] It is to date the largest religious grotto east of Montreal and has been visited by Pope John Paul II on September 12, 1984 where it received a special blessing from His Holiness.^[2]

The grotto has been designed by Michael Curtis of the nearby city of St. John's. Since it's inception, a number of additional monuments have been erected including: a lifesize statue of the crucifix, a statue of St. Michael, a statue of theBlessed Mother that is placed in the cave portion, a statue of St. Bernadette and it contains the fourteen Stations of the Cross which are frequently venerated by parishioners. As well, there as a number of memorial plaques placed throughout the grotto.

The Our Lady of Loudes Grotto has also been voted the "Most Psychedelic Spot" by the St. John's bi-weekly publication The Scope in 2007.^[3]

[edit] English

Flatrock has a very distinct accent. Primarily, it is a mixture of Irish Gaelic, British, and Scottish Gaelic. The people her commonly use phrases such as "B'y" and "Hows ya cuttin" in common conversation. Some examples of other words used are: "Jinker" - someone who brings bad luck, sometimes people call a person that if they are getting on their nerves. "Whats wrong with you?" which sounds like "Was wrang wit you?".

[edit] Differences from other communities

Flatrock uses the Imperial System of measurement, although the National standard is the Metric system. The majority of people in Flatrock voted Tory, unlike Pouch Cove who voted NDP. Neither Flatrock or Pouch Cove have a stong Liberal population.

[edit] See also

• List of cities and towns in Newfoundland and Labrador

[edit] References

1. ^ The Grotto - Town of Flatrock
2. ^ Religious Shrine Our Lady Of Lourdes - Canada Photos.com
3. ^ The Scope

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