Paul Ragueneau
Encyclopedia
Paul Ragueneau is known most notable as a Catholic
Jesuit missionary
. He was born in Paris
and died in the same city. He is sometimes confused with his elder brother François, also a Jesuit. Father François Ragueneau accompanied Father Charles Lalemant who was returning to Canada in 1628. Their vessel was captured by Kirke
who was then blockading the St. Lawrence
and he was sent as a prisoner to England. It cannot be determined whether Francois ever did visit the Canadian missions.
Paul Ragueneau became a novice in the Society of Jesus
in 1626. From 1628 to 1632 he taught at the Collège in Bourges
after which he furthered his religious training at the College of La Flèche. From there, he went to Quebec
in 1636.
Upon arriving in Quebec, he was almost immediately sent to the Huron mission where he worked under the instruction of Fathers Jean de Brébeuf
and Jérôme Lalemant
for eight years. At some point, he became superior of the Huron mission, likely in 1645. He would have been in charge during the events surrounding the Canadian Martyrs
. He joined the fugitives on Saint Joseph's Island and led a small band to Quebec.
In 1650, he became vice-rector
of the College of Quebec, and superior of the Canadian mission. In 1656, Ragueneau was assigned to the residence at Trois-Rivières. In 1657, he left for Sainte-Marie-de-Ganentaa
. He was part of the times that saw the departure of Fathers Chaumonot
, Le Moyne
, and other missionaries. This first attempt at an organized apostolate among the Iroquois had failed.
In 1662 he returned to France
and remained there as procurator of the mission.
The Parish Municipality of Ragueneau
in Quebec, Canada, is named after him.
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Jesuit missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
. He was born in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and died in the same city. He is sometimes confused with his elder brother François, also a Jesuit. Father François Ragueneau accompanied Father Charles Lalemant who was returning to Canada in 1628. Their vessel was captured by Kirke
David Kirke
Sir David Kirke was an adventurer, colonizer and governor for the king of England. Kirke was the son of Gervase Kirke, a wealthy London-based Scottish merchant, who had married a Huguenot woman, Elizabeth Goudon, and was raised in Dieppe, in Normandy.In 1627 Kirke's father and several London...
who was then blockading the St. Lawrence
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
and he was sent as a prisoner to England. It cannot be determined whether Francois ever did visit the Canadian missions.
Paul Ragueneau became a novice in the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
in 1626. From 1628 to 1632 he taught at the Collège in Bourges
Bourges
Bourges is a city in central France on the Yèvre river. It is the capital of the department of Cher and also was the capital of the former province of Berry.-History:...
after which he furthered his religious training at the College of La Flèche. From there, he went to Quebec
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
in 1636.
Upon arriving in Quebec, he was almost immediately sent to the Huron mission where he worked under the instruction of Fathers Jean de Brébeuf
Jean de Brébeuf
Jean de Brébeuf was a Jesuit missionary, martyred in Canada on March 16, 1649.-Early years:Brébeuf was born in Condé-sur-Vire, Normandy, France. He was the uncle of the fur trader Georges de Brébeuf. He studied near home at Caen. He became a Jesuit in 1617, joining the Order...
and Jérôme Lalemant
Jérôme Lalemant
Jérôme Lalemant was a Jesuit 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, succeeding Jean de Brébeuf, and in 1639 founded Sainte-Marie-des-Hurons which was the central residence...
for eight years. At some point, he became superior of the Huron mission, likely in 1645. He would have been in charge during the events surrounding the Canadian Martyrs
Canadian Martyrs
The North American Martyrs, also known as the Canadian Martyrs or the Martyrs of New France, were eight Jesuit missionaries from Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, who were martyred in the mid-17th century in Canada, in what are now southern Ontario and upstate New York, during the warfare between the...
. He joined the fugitives on Saint Joseph's Island and led a small band to Quebec.
In 1650, he became vice-rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the College of Quebec, and superior of the Canadian mission. In 1656, Ragueneau was assigned to the residence at Trois-Rivières. In 1657, he left for Sainte-Marie-de-Ganentaa
Sainte Marie among the Iroquois
Sainte Marie among the Iroquois was a 17th century French Jesuit mission to the Onondaga Iroquois. It was located on Onondaga Lake near modern-day Syracuse, New York...
. He was part of the times that saw the departure of Fathers Chaumonot
Pierre-Joseph-Marie Chaumonot
Pierre-Joseph-Marie Chaumonot was a French priest and missionary. A variety of circumstances led to his pursuing a religious path...
, Le Moyne
Simon Le Moyne
Father Simon Le Moyne, S.J. was a Jesuit priest in Lower Canada who was involved in the mission to the Hurons. His notability in Canadian history comes from his work as an ambassador of peace to the Iroquois....
, and other missionaries. This first attempt at an organized apostolate among the Iroquois had failed.
In 1662 he returned to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and remained there as procurator of the mission.
The Parish Municipality of Ragueneau
Ragueneau, Quebec
Ragueneau is a parish municipality in Quebec, Canada, on Outardes Bay on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River.-History:The first settlers arrived in 1920, mostly from Saint-Paul-du-Nord, Les Escoumins, and Sainte-Anne-de-Portneuf. That same year, Ragueneau Township was proclaimed and named...
in Quebec, Canada, is named after him.