Girard0332

16 June and 10 August 1844. - Father Joseph-François Roulleaux to Father Jean-Claude Colin, Futuna

Based on the dispatched copy, APM OF 208 (Fiji), Roulleaux.

One sheet of “Bath” paper, measuring 170 mm × 222 mm when folded and forming four pages, three of which are written upon; the fourth bears only the address and Poupinel's annotation. Dated: “Third Sunday after Pentecost” = 16 June 1844.

Translated by Merv Duffy and ChatGPT, August 2026.

[p. 4]

[Address:] To the Very Reverend / Very Reverend Father Colin / Superior General of the / Society of Mary / at Lyon

[Postmark:] OUTRE MER LE HAVRE 20 JUNE 45

[In Poupinel's hand:] Central Oceania / Futuna, Third Sunday after / Pentecost 1844 / Father Roulleaux

[p. 1]

+ O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.

Futuna Island, Third Sunday after Pentecost, 1844.

My Very Reverend Father,

[1]

It has already been a long time since I wrote to you; it is opportunities that I have lacked, and my heart has been greatly saddened by this. It would have been a great consolation to open my heart to you amid the trials to which Divine Providence subjected me during the two years I spent here with the Reverend Father Servant. We did not get along at all. Bishop Pompallier had entrusted me with the administration of temporal affairs, subject only to his supervision. This arrangement mortified the Reverend Father Servant. He imagined that I was merely a steward assigned to him as a mark of honour, and from this premise he drew conclusions that entirely deprived me of the authority entrusted to me. This led to disputes in which fraternal charity was sometimes wounded. They ceased only with the new arrangement established by the Bishop of Amata when he passed through, assigning each of us a part of the island to serve exclusively. Finally, the Bishop of Enos is taking me away from here to station me in Fiji with the Reverend Father Bréhéret. I confess, my Very Reverend Father, that I sometimes gave way a little too much to my temper, that I sometimes gave answers that were lacking in respect, and that I insisted a little too much upon the rights that His Lordship had given me. I sincerely ask God's forgiveness for this, and I hope He will have mercy on me, because my heart has been subjected to trials that were utterly crucifying for me. It is not very surprising that I committed faults when one considers all the hardships that preceded my vocation. Nevertheless, the Blessed Virgin did not abandon me. She protected me well in every circumstance, and I can truly say that it was she who sustained me and gave me the courage not to allow myself to be entirely overwhelmed amid so many difficulties. [p. 2]

[2]

We are leaving for Fiji. I have only enough time left to close my letter, commend myself to your prayers and Holy Sacrifices, and express the profound respect with which I remain, my Very Reverend Father, your most obedient child,

Joseph-François Roulleaux

S.M., Apostolic Missionary

10 August 1844.

My Very Reverend Father,

[3]

I am taking advantage of a few free moments to inform you that tomorrow His Lordship is leaving us at Namuka, a small island in the Fiji archipelago, until we have a favorable opportunity to travel aboard a native vessel to Somosomo, another island, much larger, where we were supposed to disembark had the captain not opposed it with all his strength. We shall have with us a catechist whom Bishop Pompallier left two years ago on La Gemba, a neighboring island, with the promise that he would send priests to him within six months. Throughout this time, this poor neophyte has had to struggle against the entreaties of the heretics and the scandals of the pagans; he has persevered. We even have aboard a Fijian whom he baptized when the man was in danger of death and who is deeply attached to the faith. In a letter that this catechist wrote to the Reverend Fathers in Tonga, he said: If you delay in visiting me, I shall wait patiently for another year; if you do not come after that, I shall wait patiently for yet another year; and if, in the end, you leave me like this, I shall wait patiently all my life. We shall first stay at the home of one of this brave young man's relatives.

[4]

His Lordship has given our mission the title “Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows.” This title is already all too well justified. We face opposition from every side, and His Lordship is experiencing some very painful difficulties throughout this voyage. He receives all of this [p. 3] with a humility and submission that edify us.

[5]

Dear Brother Anée is remaining with us.

[6]

I shall write to you in greater detail later, my Very Reverend Father, but at present I do not have the peace of mind necessary to do so as I would wish. I am being appointed superior here, but I have few of the necessary qualities. I have not yet been sufficiently trained in obedience to lead others. My Very Reverend Father, please commend me in a special way to the Blessed Virgin, so that she may take care of me until the end. This is the prayer I make to you as I ask for your blessing.

Your most obedient child,

Joseph-François Roulleaux

Prefect Apostolic