Saint Jean de Brébeuf

Saint Jean de Brébeuf (1593-1649), French Jesuit missionary to New France, who worked primarily among the Huron (see Huron Indians) in Ontario, Canada, and became a martyr. He was born in Condé-sur-Vire, Normandy (Normandie). He first arrived in the New World in 1625 and lived in Huron territory until 1629, when he returned to France. In 1633 he traveled again to New France, with French explorer Samuel de Champlain. The following year Brébeuf founded the mission of Sainte Marie among the Hurons in the area of Georgian Bay, Lake Huron. In 1649 Iroquois braves at war with the Huron captured Brébeuf and Jesuit missionary Gabriel Lalemant, his associate, and tortured them to death. Brébeuf, Lalemant, and six other missionaries, known collectively as the Jesuit North American Martyrs, were canonized in 1930. Their feast day is October 19.