Girard0337

25 July 1844 - Father Philippe Calinon to Father Jean-Claude Colin, Tonga

Based on the dispatched original, APM OC 208 (Tonga) Calinon.

One sheet forming four pages, three of which are written on; the fourth bears only the address, an annotation above the address, and Poupinel’s annotation.

Translated by Merv Duffy and ChatGPT, August 2026.

[p. 4]

[Address:] Mr ¤ Mr Colin (priest) ¤ Montée Saint-Barthélemy, No. 4 ¤ Lyon, France

[Above the address, in an unknown hand:] Carried from Wallis to Oahu, “Sandwich,” by the Adolphe, Captain Morvan, and handed over by that captain in the town of Heururu - 24 November 1844, for France.

[Postal marks:] [O]UTRE-MER 20 JUIN 45 [LE HAV]RE - 8 PARIS 8 24 JUIN 45 (60) - LYON 2[-] JUIN [45] (68)

[In Poupinel’s hand:] Central Oceania ¤ Tonga Tabou, 25 July 1844 ¤ Father Calinon

[p. 1]

My Reverend Father,

[1]

We called at Wallis on 16 June; from there we went to Futuna, where Bishop Bataillon replaced Father Roulleaux with Father Favier, Roulleaux being assigned to Fiji with Father Bréhéret and Brother Anet. We are now at Tonga, where I am to remain with Brother Renault.

[2]

In these three missions I found the members of our Society to be excellently disposed. In the latter two missions alone, however, they are quite exhausted by privation. Several of them, among others, no longer had shoes and had almost no clothing. We supplied these needs from our personal belongings while awaiting articles from France. Above all, Fathers Roulleaux, Servant, and Grange and Brother Augustin must not be forgotten.

[3]

The shortage of personnel and the excessively promising hopes entertained regarding Tonga obliged the Bishop to station me here until he can come and establish his own residence. He believed that he would be able to found a new establishment at Moa, the island’s principal town, which is still entirely non-Christian. The chiefs’ hostile disposition and the intrigues of the Protestants caused his efforts to fail. I am remaining with our Fathers at Pea while awaiting more favourable circumstances.

[4]

I appointed Father Mathieu as sub-provincial at Wallis for the members of that mission and of the Futuna mission. The Bishop has also conferred upon him the titles [p. 2] of pro-vicar, secretary, parish priest of Saint Joseph, and provisional procurator. This accumulation of dignities, or rather of responsibilities, will make you understand how greatly we need more personnel.

[5]

Priests are needed to found new establishments, and Brothers are needed even for the establishments already founded. Brothers Joseph, Marie-Nizier, and Attale are considerably exhausted.

[6]

A Brother should be assigned specifically to the Bishop’s personal service. It is distressing to see him served now by one person and then by another. The service is slow and clumsy, and places at risk articles that are difficult to repair or replace.

[7]

At least one Brother is needed who understands timber construction for churches and houses. At least one is also needed who understands pharmacy and the preparation of medicines. Everywhere, the sick turn to the missionaries, and the practice that has prudently become established prevents anyone ever being sent away without medicine or advice.

[8]

Do not fear, my Reverend Father, that you will overburden the Bishop by sending him personnel. The fervent Christian community of Wallis would consider itself fortunate to have to feed twenty missionaries until they could be distributed throughout the Navigator Archipelago, at Vava‘u, Rotuma, and elsewhere.

[9]

Do not conclude from this, however, that men with improvised vocations can be sent. At Wallis we have Mr Grézel, whom I believe we shall be obliged to send back to France. He was a burden to the Bishop of Amata during the voyage. He will remain a burden to both Bishop Bataillon and me for as long as he remains in the mission. When I say “burden,” I do not yet mean “scandal.”

[10]

As for the establishment of a procurator’s house mentioned in the Provincial’s regulations, after discussing it with His Lordship and the Fathers of our Society, the unanimous opinion is that Tahiti would be a suitable location once the French colony has attained sufficient stability. I believe it my duty, my Reverend Father, to submit to you a difficulty on this point that arises in several articles of my regulations: namely, how the [p. 3] Provincial will be able to meet all the expenses required by his journeys, his foundations, the assistance to be distributed among the members, and so forth, without receiving any allocation from the Council of the Propagation of the Faith. I spoke about this to the Bishop, who admitted that he could not understand it either, since, according to the terms of the allocations, he is the holder of all the funds and consequently it is his responsibility to found the various establishments, appoint their directors, supervise their administration, and examine their accounts. According to this arrangement, the Society would be excluded from the administration of temporal affairs, and I would have to concern myself only with maintaining religious discipline among our members. The Bishop, who is motivated by the purest intentions, assured me that he would be deeply distressed to displease you and that he would always act for the greatest good of your members. Nevertheless, like me, he would also be very glad to have your opinion on this matter. We both trust that you will take this into consideration and will kindly inform us without delay of your view.

[11]

To return to this procurator’s house, the Bishop and I believe that it is urgent to make provision for it as soon as funds have been received from France. In that event, I would ask you whether having a single priest in charge of the house, together with two Brothers, would comply with the terms of the decree of September 1842, given the proximity of Catholic missionaries and the ease with which he would be able to communicate with them.

[12]

I also believe it would be appropriate for the Provincial and the sub-provincials to have a special seal for their correspondence with members of the Society. The Bishop shares this opinion. It is, moreover, the practice of other congregations. You will judge, my Reverend Father, whether this is necessary.

[13]

I shall say nothing to you about the Bishop of Amata. We have received no news of him since his departure for New Caledonia with Father Rougeiron and Brothers Jean and Blaise. We are concerned because the people there have a very bad reputation in these regions. Bishop Bataillon will not be able to visit him during this voyage, because he must return directly from Fiji to Wallis. I believe that His Lordship will give you details about the missions that the limits of this letter prevent me from providing.

[14]

Permit me, my Reverend Father, to commend myself to your holy sacrifices, and please accept the assurance of the profound veneration with which I remain the most humble and devoted of your servants and children,

Calinon,

Marist priest

Tonga Tabou, 25 July 1844