Pierre-Joseph-Marie Chaumonot
Encyclopedia
Pierre-Joseph-Marie Chaumonot (March 9, 1611 – February 21, 1693) was a French priest and missionary. A variety of circumstances led to his pursuing a religious path. He completed his studies at the Jesuits’ noviciate
in Florence
and, after three more years of training, came to Canada in 1639.
There he was immediately involved in the Huron mission being constructed at Sainte-Marie-des-Hurons
near Georgian Bay
under the leadership of Father Lalemant
. It was during the next years that Father Chaumonot was to achieve a mastery of the Huron language that he recorded for others to use in the study of the language. From that time on, he experienced a long series of moves under difficult circumstances. (We have good details on much of his life since in 1688 Father Claude Dablon asked Father Chaumonot to write an autobiography.) We know he worked with many notable priests; Jean de Brébeuf
, Simon Le Moyne
, Claude Dablon
and Antoine Daniel
to name some.
One of Father Chaumonot's lasting achievements was the founding of the Huron mission of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette
in 1674.
Father Chaumonot retired in 1691 to the Jesuit college at Quebec where he died at the age of 82 years. He had served 52 years in his ministries
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
and, after three more years of training, came to Canada in 1639.
There he was immediately involved in the Huron mission being constructed at Sainte-Marie-des-Hurons
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons was a French Jesuit settlement in Wendake, the land of the Wendat, near modern Midland, Ontario, from 1639 to 1649. It was the first European settlement in what is now the province of Ontario. Eight missionaries from Sainte-Marie were martyred, and were canonized by...
near Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay is a large bay of Lake Huron, located entirely within Ontario, Canada...
under the leadership of Father 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...
. It was during the next years that Father Chaumonot was to achieve a mastery of the Huron language that he recorded for others to use in the study of the language. From that time on, he experienced a long series of moves under difficult circumstances. (We have good details on much of his life since in 1688 Father Claude Dablon asked Father Chaumonot to write an autobiography.) We know he worked with many notable priests; 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...
, Simon 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....
, Claude Dablon
Claude Dablon
Claude Dablon was a Jesuit missionary, born in Dieppe, France.At the age of twenty-one he entered the Society of Jesus, and after his course of studies and teaching in France, arrived in Canada in 1655. He was at once dispatched with Father Chaumonot to begin a central mission among the Iroquois...
and Antoine Daniel
Antoine Daniel
Saint Antoine Daniel was a Jesuit missionary at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, and one of the eight Canadian Martyrs....
to name some.
One of Father Chaumonot's lasting achievements was the founding of the Huron mission of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette
L'Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec
L'Ancienne-Lorette is a city in central Quebec, Canada. It is a suburb of and an enclave within Quebec City. It was merged with Quebec City from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2005, but was re-established as a separate city on January 1, 2006....
in 1674.
Father Chaumonot retired in 1691 to the Jesuit college at Quebec where he died at the age of 82 years. He had served 52 years in his ministries