Saint of the Week – St. John de Brebeuf

Jesuit martyrs of North America. John was born in Normandy, France, on March 25, 1593. Joining the Society of Jesus, he was ordained in 1622. Three years later he volunteered for the missions in Quebec. Canada. For the next quarter of a century, with a brief interruption, he labored among the Huron Indians. His labors were placed in jeopardy because of Huguenot renegades and a smallpox epidemic that decimated entire Indian villages. John left for a brief time when the English captured Quebec, but returned to the Hurons again. In 1649 he was captured by the Iroquois, who were enemies of the Huron. John and his companions were cruelly slain on March 16 at Sault Ste. Marie near Georgian Bay. His companion were: Isaac Jogues. Anthony Daniel. Gabriel Lalement, Charles Gamier, Noel Chabanel, John Lalande, and Rene Goupil — all Jesuits. John de Brebeuf converted seven thousand Indians and composed a dictionary and catechism in the Huron language. He was canonized in 1930.