The Saints: St. Jean de Brebeuf

1593 - 1649 / Feast - March 16

This Jesuit French missionary was sent to North America to evangelize the recently discovered area of Quebec. He faced enormous challenges with the languages and traditions of the native people, had difficulty traveling uncharted land, fell ill to unfamiliar disease and often found himself in the midst of battles between tribes. Despite these trials, Jean spread the message of Christ for more than 20 years. In 1649, he and a fellow Jesuit were murdered during an Iroquois raid on a Huron mission. He is patron of Canada.