- Jérôme Lalemant
Jérôme Lalemant, (
April 27 ,1593 –January 26 ,1673 ) was aJesuit priest who came to Canada in 1638 after much varied experience in the priesthood in France. He was almost immediately made superior for the mission to the Hurons, succeedingJean de Brébeuf , and in 1639 founded Sainte-Marie-des-Hurons which was the central residence of the missionaries in the field. The mission was located just south ofGeorgian Bay onLake Huron and near modern dayMidland, Ontario .From 1645-1650, Father
Lalemant had duties as superior of the Jesuits in Canada. (His brother,Charles Lallemant ) was the first superior of Canada). This was during this period that all eight of theJesuit missionaries fromSainte-Marie among the Hurons , known as theCanadian Martyrs were killed. His own nephew,Gabriel Lalemant and Jean de Brébeuf died together in 1649. In 1650, hevenerated their remains in Quebec.Later in 1650, Lalemant went to France and was replaced by Father
Paul Ragueneau . On his return to Canada, he served under Ragueneau until 1656 when he returned to France. He served a second term as Canadiansuperior from 1659–65 under the urgings of BishopFrançois de Laval . His work continued to solidify the Jesuit mission in Canada and his writings give us verifiable information about the social, political, and religious life of Canada during that period.External links
* [http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=374 Biography at "the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online"]
* [http://www.crvisuals.com/vp/steMarieWhy.htm Sainte-Marie among the Hurons]
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08752c.htm Catholic Encyclopedia article]
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