Girard0985

24 January 1851 — Father Jean Forest to Father Victor Poupinel, Wellington

Translated by Fr Brian Quin SM, February 2006; reviewed Elizabeth Charlton, December 2022

APM Z 208 24 January 1851

Wellington 24 January 1851

To the Reverend Father Poupinel

Reverend and dear Father

[1]

I received in time your letter enclosing a fine list of the members of our Society. How the good God has blessed it since we left you, and how many beautiful souls have come to take refuge under the great and sure protection of the good and tender Mother. How we rejoice to see that she has so beautiful a family, that we congratulate ourselves at having so many confreres and Brothers. I know only a very small number of them. But I hope that soon the good God will do me the favour of getting to know a good number in heaven.

[2]

Your little notes on the most interesting things that have happened since our departure have interested us very much. I would very much like it if you could send me some sort of press to make copies of the various news items which come from France — copies which I would send to the mission stations. We would all willingly subscribe to pay for this press.

[3]

Right now Bishop Viard is building a beautiful church in Wellington. It will be 44 feet wide and 53 feet long, as presently planned — 23 feet high without including the roof. It will have three naves. In my little earthly paradise called River Hutt, three and a half leagues [about 17 km] from Wellington, where I have been living for a few months, we are also building a little church — it will be proportionate to the number of Catholics there. It will only be 18 feet wide, 40 feet long and 12 feet high. It is all made of wood. Here people no longer think of building in stone since the earthquakes which still are going on with varying intensity.

[4]

We will, Reverend Father, certainly need your help to decorate its interior. We really have nothing at all. The poor little candlesticks we use on Sundays and feast days you would not want to put on the poorest altar in France. We left almost everything of the best we had in the diocese of Auckland. I pitied the poverty of the poor priests of the Bishop of Maronea [Pompallier]. So I hope that the good God will be so kind as to reward our charity even in this world, as he promised, and that it will be through your intervention. Here is a little list of what would be, in my opinion, most necessary.

[5]

Note carefully, dear Father, before everything else, that this little church is specially designated to be the church for the Society. There it is that we will gather for our retreats etc. It will be in a special way under the protection of the Good Mother.

[6]

Objects required for the church.

1. We need six candlesticks — with their stands - and a cross

2. A [niche — recess?] for Exposition

3. A monstrance or in the form of a sun for benediction

4. An incense boat — we have a poor thurible

5. Some candles — about 20 pounds - some tapers — about 40 pounds

6. Some altar cards — with frames

7. Some altar furnishings — vases, flowers etc

8. A way of the Cross would give us great pleasure if someone gave it to us.

9. We need a little organ. Here all the heretical sects have music in their chapels, and through it attract a lot of people. If you came across some little finger organs or even cylinder ones we would be delighted.

[7]

Personal items. You have forgotten, very dear Father, that I had a cautery ulcer when I left France This blessed ulcer has been with me everywhere today, and will probably be with me until I die. It has to be fed, maintained and here you can find nothing of what it needs. The English do not know what a cautery is. I need a good quantity of balls of iris of a fairly strong grade, some cautery paper — a certain quantity of soft paper to change it. (Written later: "I have just now received some balls of iris, some cautery paper and some soft paper. Thank you very much for the kindness you have shown in thinking of me.")

[8]

I am hatless and sockless. Some good and strong woollen socks — that is what we really need in this country. Some socks made of silk for summer. Do not forget that I have very big feet — the same as Bishop Pompallier's.

[9]

I need a big number of pictures — for baptism, for confirmation, for First Communion — a lot of other pictures as well, big and small but all beautiful — because the English, who are among the peoples who once upon a time destroyed images, are extremely fond [sic] of them.

[10]

A good quantity of rosaries, assembled or not. Little holy water fonts to contain holy water in houses. None of these things is to be found anywhere in the colonies, not even in England. We will draw out the money for all these things, even used. A good number of pretty crucifixes would sell well here. Our Catholic families have none of these things — they ask us for them often.

[11]

Everything you cannot get gratis, we will try to pay for here. You will send us the price. All these things I am asking you for particularly are for me and my little parish.

[12]

Can I remind you, dear Father, that in one of your recent letters you promised me to help me with all your strength? I rely on your word as on the word of a good Marist. For my part, I will try to send you some of those little handcrafts made by our natives.

[13]

Do not forget to bring me to the memory and prayers of the good Fathers Cholleton Colin, elder [Pierre Colin], Maitrepierre, Girard, Séon, Chatagnier and all the old Fathers whom I knew. I commend myself as well to yours.

I have, indeed, the honour of being,

Reverend Father,

your totally devoted servant

J Forest SM