Le Jeune, Paul (Superior of the Jesuits, New France)

Le Jeune, Paul (Superior of the Jesuits, New France)

Father Le Jeune was the superior of the Jesuits of Quebec from 1632-1639, and author of the first 15 Relations sent back to France. Upon his arrival to Quebec Father Le Jeune revitalised the Jesuit residence as well as started his relation work with the indigenous. He attended a winter hunt in which he mastered the Huron language as well as conceived of ways in which to carry out the mission. These included converting nomadic tribes to agriculturally sedentary lifestyle, instituting schools for the young and hospitals for the sick, as well as hand picking exemplary French citizens to inhabit Quebec. In the Relations Le Jeune wrote back to Europe on the affairs and daily life of Canada in order to recruit Jesuits and to receive further funding from France.

1632-1649, 1660

Person

Jesuit Residence, Quebec

Léon Pouliot, “LE JEUNE, PAUL,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 1, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed September 29, 2021, https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/le_jeune_paul_1E.html.

1591

Vitry-le-Francois, France

1664

Paris, France

Superior of the Jesuits; Editor of the Relations; Procurator of the Canadian mission

French; Cree

Father Le Jeune was born in champagne France to Calvinist parents, but embraced Catholicism at 16. He joined the noviciate and was instructed by Father Masse, who has just returned from Acadia and was planting the seed of missionary work in his students, including Le Jeune. He studied philosophy and Theology and was a teacher and preacher before becoming appointed superior-general of the Jesuit mission in Canada. although he never asked to be a missionary, he was excited to carry out the work.

Jaenen, Cornelius J. “Paul Le Jeune.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. The Canadian Encyclopedia, January 21, 2008. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/paul-le-jeune.

Conflict and Change in Early Canadian History (Carleton HIST 1301)

Hunter Everett