Difference between revisions of "Girard0266"

Latest revision as of 17:14, 8 February 2025

6 July 1843 - Father Jean-Baptiste Petit-Jean to Father Jean Forest, Auckland

Summary

A letter from Auckland to the Bay of Islands which has been sent on to the General Administration.

Speaks of the progress of the school he has in Auckland.

Defends a decision he made to send Brother Colomb away, for having been, in Petit-Jean’s view, unnecessarily familiar with a little girl in the school – a repeated offence, it seems.

Based on the document sent, APM Z 208. Sheet of “Bath” paper, folded to form four written pages, the fourth bearing the address and the annotation by Forest, the annotation of Poupinel on the first page. From Forest’s annotation below the address and his remarks in the letter of 4 November 1843 (cf. doc. 281, § 6), it seems that Forest sent the present letter with two others of Petit-Jean (doc. 268 and 259 and with that of Reignier ([[Girard0263|doc.263).

Translated by Merv Duffy, February 2025.

Text of the Letter

[p. 4]

[Address]

Reverend Father Forest ¤ or if absent to r(everend) F(ather) Baty ¤ Rom(an) Catholic mission ¤ Bay of islands

[In the handwriting of Forest]

17 July 1843. ¤ to very reverendFather Colin — ¤superior general de ¤ la Society of ¤ Mary ¤ ar Lyon

[postmark] 

GENERAL [---] JY 7 AUCKLAND

[p. 1]

[High on the page, in the handwriting of Poupinel]

New Zealand ¤ Father Petitjean

Auckland, July 6, 1843

My Most Reverend Father,

[1]

During your visit, I resolved to write to you from time to time; today, I hasten to be faithful to my good intention. I thank the Lord for the blessings your visit has brought us. Among these happy fruits, I count at least the diligence I now apply to getting up in the morning—perseverance, perseverance. There is still no great cause for boasting. I thought it best to send by post a letter I had intended for Reverend Father Tripe, which I had forgotten to present to you. I will not speak to you about your return to the Bay of Islands—I am convinced that it was, if not expedited, at least very fortunate.

[2]

No doubt you found yourself in a position to say, like Reverend Father Grange: "I would rather have these great winds that stir up the sea than these insignificant little breezes that do not blow straight."

[3]

If you were consulted about our school in Auckland, I am counting on you as a good advocate. Would you believe, my Reverend Father, that there are 80—yes, 80—children enrolled in this school, who reappear from time to time, though only about 50 attend regularly? Let us now speak of Brother Colomb.^[1] I do not think I would have regretted it much if he had left when I suggested it to him. His will may change, but his judgment will remain the same. He has not lost the habit of seeking familiarity with little girls of 7, 8, 9, and even 10 years old. The fact is that one of these little girls found some occasion to say, in the middle of class—even in the presence of Protestants—that Brother Colomb had asked to kiss her. I have reasons to believe that this child is not perfectly truthful. But I have another case of which I am certain, or nearly certain. I am more than convinced that only trivial incidents of this kind have taken place. This is how less scrupulous people would speak. But the house of a priest, an apostolic missionary, a minister of religion, in the presence of our erring brethren, must, if possible, be utterly above the slightest reproach. And then, there is the sacred trust of the children.

[4]

I believe I am acting with enough moderation, as is fitting here. The Bishop will judge... As for me, I have seen enough. Alas, if I were without help, I feel that I would be miserable. They will attempt the impossible to provide me with assistance. Sometimes, one must pluck out an eye.

[5]

I am searching for anything important to tell you, whether externally or internally, but I see nothing at the moment. Please continue to pray for me.

[6]

I will enclose here a note for the Reverend Father Procurator.

I am, with deep respect,

My Most Reverend Father,

Your very humble and very obedient servant

in Jesus and Mary,

Jean-Baptiste Petit-Jean

Marist Priest, Apostolic Missionary

[Postscript]

[7]

The person about whom I recently sent information to the Bishop, and about whom the two of us spoke, seems to me entirely unworthy of his position, due to his lack of judgment and his more-than-questionable morality.

[8]

Monsieur Walsh, a former officer, and his wife have come to see me several times. Madame has fulfilled her religious duties in their entirety. These people seem very respectable to me. They have expressed a desire to go to some island within the Catholic mission and wish to take advantage of the opportunity presented by a whaling ship. In the meantime, it appears that they will return to Coromandel Harbour.

Notes

1. ↑ This letter references Brother Colomb (Pierre Poncet).