Saint Jean de BrébeufArticle Free Pass Saint Jean de Brébeuf,
(born March 25, 1593, Condé-sur-Vire, Normandy—died March 16,
1649, Saint-Ignace, New France; canonized 1930; feast day
October 19), Jesuit missionary to New France who became the
patron saint of Canada. Brébeuf entered the Society of Jesus in
1617, was ordained priest in 1623, and arrived in New France in
1625. Assigned to Christianize the Huron Indians between
Georgian Bay and Lake Huron, he lived in danger of death until
forced by the English to return to France in 1629. Back again in
“Huronia” in 1634, Brébeuf laboured for 15 years in primitive
surroundings. He was a veteran of 18 missions when, in 1647,
peace was made between the French and the Iroquois, who were
competitors with the Hurons in the fur trade and their bitter
enemies. The Iroquois, determined to destroy the Huron
confederacy, continued their fierce war against the Hurons and
in 1648–50 destroyed all villages and missions. They seized
Brébeuf and his fellow missionary Gabriel Lal