Merv: Created page with "==10 December 1844 and 6 July 1845. - Father Catherin Servant to his parents, Futuna== ''From the copy, APM, Servant file. '' ''Sheet measuring 207 × 131 mm, written on both sides.'' ''Translated by Merv Duffy and ChatGPT, September 2026. '' ''[p. 1]''
Futuna Islands, Queen of Martyrs, 10 December 1844
:My dear parents, ;[1]: You may perhaps think that I am lost in Oceania, but think again: I am still full of health and..."

2026-09-11T03:26:24Z

Created page with "==10 December 1844 and 6 July 1845. - Father Catherin Servant to his parents, Futuna== ''From the copy, APM, Servant file. '' ''Sheet measuring 207 × 131 mm, written on both sides.'' ''Translated by Merv Duffy and ChatGPT, September 2026. '' ''[p. 1]'' <div style="text-align:right;">Futuna Islands, Queen of Martyrs, 10 December 1844</div> :My dear parents, ;[1]: You may perhaps think that I am lost in Oceania, but think again: I am still full of health and..."

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==10 December 1844 and 6 July 1845. - Father Catherin Servant to his parents, Futuna==
''From the copy, [[APM]], Servant file. ''

''Sheet measuring 207 × 131 mm, written on both sides.''

''Translated by Merv Duffy and ChatGPT, September 2026. ''

''[p. 1]''

<div style="text-align:right;">Futuna Islands, Queen of Martyrs, 10 December 1844</div>

:My dear parents,

;[1]: You may perhaps think that I am lost in Oceania, but think again: I am still full of health and vigour, in perhaps one of the happiest situations a missionary could find.

;[2]: The inhabitants of this island, almost all of whom are baptized, give us much consolation. I do not often have an opportunity to write to you, but that is not my fault; opportunities to write to France are very rare. I am here with an excellent fellow priest and the good Brother who was the companion of the Reverend Father Chanel.<ref>Jean-Victor Favier and Brother Marie-Nizier (Jean-Marie Delorme) (cf.[[Girard0353| doc. 353]], § 1).</ref> Among our neophytes we have fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters who take particular care to provide for our needs. Therefore, do not worry about me.

;[3]: But what of you? Are you striving to become saints? Ah, how greatly I desire it! If only you knew how much I think of you in the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Always pray earnestly to the good God for me, that He may show me mercy and forgive me my sins. Farewell, my dear father, my dear mother, my dear Françoise, my dear Jeanne, my dear Monsieur Séon. I shall never forget you. Another time, I shall write to you at greater length. I am yours in Jesus and Mary,

<div style="text-align:right;">Servant</div>

''[p. 2]''

;[4]: As the ship that was to carry my letter to you departed too soon, I come again, on 6 July 1845, to say a few words to you. At first, the natives made us fast a great deal through their negligence in providing us with food. Now everything has changed; they take care of us. In each of Futuna's parishes, we have nine servants at our disposal. My house stands in a very beautiful garden in which all the island's fine trees grow. The fervour of our neophytes increases with their instruction.

;[5]: Farewell in Jesus and Mary. Pray for me. I think of you when I celebrate the Holy Mysteries in the place where the Reverend Father Chanel, my former fellow priest, died a martyr.

<div style="text-align:right;">A(loysius) C(atherin) Servant</div>

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