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12 February 1843 - Father Jean Lampila to Father Colin, Bay of Islands

Summary

Lampila begins by informing Colin of his recent ordination to the priesthood (25 December 1842 – at the Hokianga mission station.) He says that he sees himself as truly unworthy of this honour. Amidst his doubts he finds consolation in the fact that Mary is his loving Mother, and in divine mercy. There was no chapel or church at the mission – Bishop Pompallier had a temporary chapel built for the occasion; but Lampila notes that due to the generosity of “les Anglais” a large chapel would soon be built there. Labour for the work had been promised by the local chiefs.

He moves on to describe the mission and its work; the physical difficulties encountered: deep rivers and swamps... the benefits of the newly completed printery in making catechetical work much easier.... a journey to Ahipara, (at the southern end of the “Ninety-mile Beach”) and baptisms done there.

Based on the original, APM Z 208.

Four pages written, with the fourth page also bearing the address and an annotation by Poupinel.

Translation by Merv Duffy, January 2025

Text of the Letter

[p. 4]

[Address]

Monsieur Colin, Lyon, Rue Saint Barthélemy No. 4, Bouches-du-Rhône

[Annotation by Poupinel]

New Zealand, Bay of Islands, 12 February 1843, Father Lampila

[p. 1]

My very reverend superior,

[1]

I write to inform you that since Christmas, your Society has gained one more priest and father.^[1] Would to God that you had among your ranks one of those interior men whose hearts beat only for Him. But alas, to my shame, my conscience does not grant me that sweet satisfaction. Each day, it seems, I become less worthy of belonging to a Society that is dearer to me than anything in the world. In truth, no one deserves your fatherly reproaches more than I do.

No doubt, we find ourselves in the midst of trials that are often very painful and well-suited to stir our human nature. But the faith of a true missionary should make us triumph over all things. With our eyes fixed on eternal hopes, we should look joyfully upon every opportunity to grow in merit and virtue. By writing these lines, I am penning my own condemnation and giving you, Father Superior, a picture of what I ought to be and what I am.

May God, through your prayers and those of the community, grant that one day I may emerge victorious over myself and walk more saintly along the path of virtue that our tender Mother has traced for us. Only then will the precious title of child of Mary have its true meaning. Alas, must I always remain an enemy to myself and to my true interests?

Oh, how I dread, my very reverend superior, losing my taste for the things of heaven! How painful this state is for a sensitive soul. Yet one sweet thought consoles me: Mary is our Mother, and that alone would be enough to encourage me and redouble my patience amidst trials. Besides, I am full of confidence in divine mercy.

So, Father Superior, do not think that this spiritual poverty has diminished the zeal and devotion I must have for the salvation of the poor natives. Thanks to God, I feel increasingly inclined to sacrifice myself for them. However, do not forget us before Jesus and Mary. I know that you consider it a sacred duty to recall your poor exiles in the prayers of the dear Society. I know that your tender solicitude and the deep interest you bear for them constantly keep your gaze fixed beyond the seas to where you have sent them. My first duty, then, is to ask your pardon for not always having responded to such touching care.

[2]

I will now give you, my very reverend superior, some details about a journey of a month and a half, during which I accompanied the Bishop through numerous tribes. You will no doubt find it of interest that my last ordination took place during this expedition, amidst approximately 500 natives and about 40 English settlers, at a mission establishment called Hokianga, where Father Petit resides.

Since it was Christmas Day, this explains the gathering of several tribes, some of which had travelled over 25 leagues to attend. The mission station had become the meeting place for a multitude of canoes. There, the natives built houses in their own fashion to shield themselves from the harsh weather. Let me mention in passing that, lacking a spacious chapel, the Bishop had the natives improvise one on the spot so that they could witness the moving ceremonies of the ordination and participate in the day’s various services.

Thanks to the generosity of the English settlers, we will now have a large and convenient chapel at Hokianga. After the Bishop summoned them to discuss its construction, they all responded very favourably to his expectations. The native chiefs have also agreed to provide workers to assist in its construction.

[3]

This mission at Hokianga, Father Superior, is undoubtedly well-suited to exercise the zeal of a true apostle. You will agree if I tell you that it stretches across an area of approximately 60 leagues. The fathers’ station is roughly at its centre. I say “fathers” because there will now be two of us, as the Bishop has assigned me to assist Father Petit.

I do not know the total number of souls in this mission, but it is certain that there is a vast disproportion between this immense area and the small number of people scattered throughout it, even though it is one of the more populated parts of the island. If I add that there are countless difficulties in traveling from one tribe to another, you will have an idea of the labour and hardships inseparable from this part of the mission. Here it’s a swamp to cross; there it’s a river, sometimes so deep it cannot be traversed without a canoe. As a result, it often happens that certain tribes cannot be visited simply because such means are unavailable.

During our journey to Aipara^[2] (about 30 leagues from the station), we did not encounter these inconveniences. The Bishop’s esteem among the New Zealanders, as well as the assistance of several natives who accompanied us, greatly helped us overcome all these obstacles.

[4]

One more word on the spiritual state of this people. You must already suspect, my very reverend superior, how little the tribes in such isolated locations are instructed in the truths of salvation. They are rarely visited, and even then only briefly. However, now that we are beginning to have books, it will be infinitely easier for us to teach them the fundamental truths of religion and make them feel their full importance; but we expect more from your prayers than from anything else to give lasting effect to the good accomplished by the Bishop’s visit. Whether at Hokianga—that is, at the mission station itself—or along his journey, he baptized and confirmed about a hundred adults and a few children, brought back some tribes who had stopped praying, received the abjurations of two English Protestants, and sowed the seeds of life in several tribes that were on the brink of spiritual death.

I conclude, Father Superior, with the comforting thought that you will aid us with your prayers, the Holy Sacrifice of the Altar, and your support. I hope that if we are no longer granted the chance to meet again in this foreign land, we will reunite in the blessed abode of the elect, with infinitely greater joy.

Your very humble and very obedient servant,:

The least worthy of your children,

Jean Lampila

Apostolic Missionary

Bay of Islands, February 12, 1843

[5]

I would have very much liked to write to some other members of the community, such as Fr Girard, Fr Dusurget, etc., but I barely had time to write this single letter. Please have the kindness, Father Superior, to assure them of my sincere desire to meet their expectations should the opportunity arise, and to present my humble respects to them, as well as to all the other fathers and brothers.

1. ↑ Lampila was ordained to the priesthood on 25 December 1842.
2. ↑ The author intended without doubt to say ‘Ahipara’, mentioned by Pompallier in his letter of 16 February 1843 (cf. [[Girard0240| doc. 240, § 3).