Simon Bruté

Simon William Gabriel Bruté de Rémur, the First Bishop of the dioceses of Vincennes, Indiana, was born on March 20, 1779, at Rennes, France. His father was Simon-Guillaume-Gabriel Bruté de Remur, Superintendent of the Royal Domains in Brittany; and his mother, Jeanne-Renee Le Saulnier de Vauhelle Vater, was the widow of Francis Vater, printer to the King and Parliament at Rennes.

Life in France

He attended schools in Rennes for several years, until his studies were interrupted by the French Revolution. During the Revolution, he worked in the printing establishment of his mother, learning and practising the business of a compositor. Despite the efforts of his mother to shield him from the horrors of the Revolution, he still witnessed many disturbing and exciting scenes, including the trials and executions of priests and nobles.

Bruté began studying medicine in 1796 and graduated in 1803. He did not practice medicine following his graduation, but instead entered the seminary of Saint Sulpice in Paris. He was ordained a priest on June 11, 1808, joining the Society of Saint Sulpice, and taught theology for two years before sailing to the United States as a missionary.

Missionary to America

Bruté arrived in Baltimore, MD in 1810, where he taught philosophy for two years at St. Mary's Seminary. He then spent a short amount of time on the Eastern Shore before being transferred to Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, MD.

Despite his humble protest to remain at his 'Mountain' home, Bruté accepted the position of bishop and proceeded west. Bruté was assigned to Vincennes with only two other priests to serve the newly formed diocese.