Jérôme Lalemant

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Jérôme Lalemant, (April 27, 1593 – January 26, 1673) was a Jesuit priest who came to Canada in 1638 after much varied experience in the priesthood in France. He was almost immediately made superior for the mission to the Hurons, succeeding Jean de Brébeuf, and in 1639 founded Sainte-Marie-des-Hurons which was the central residence of the missionaries in the field. The mission was located just south of Georgian Bay on Lake Huron and near modern day Midland, Ontario.

From 1645-1650, Father Lalemant had duties as superior of the Jesuits in Canada. (His brother, Charles Lallemant) was the first superior of Canada). This was during this period that all eight of the Jesuit missionaries from Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, known as the Canadian Martyrs were killed. His own nephew, Gabriel Lalemant and Jean de Brébeuf died together in 1649. In 1650, he venerated their remains in Quebec.

Later in 1650, Lalemant went to France and was replaced by Father Paul Ragueneau. On his return to Canada, he served under Ragueneau until 1656 when he returned to France. He served a second term as Canadian superior from 1659–65 under the urgings of Bishop François de Laval. His work continued to solidify the Jesuit mission in Canada and his writings give us verifiable information about the social, political, and religious life of Canada during that period.