Fr. Jean-Pierre Bernard (24 years old) had been ordained a priest by Bishop de Mazenod in September 1847 and within days had left for Canada. Within day s of his arrival in Canada, Eugene received the news that
our very good, very fervent Fr. Bernard is so ill that he received, that very day, the last sacraments. I am truly devastated by this news. Could we not permit ourselves some dedication to God and to the salvation of souls by this fervent missionary, with his good hand, his wonderful voice, his robust health! My God, what a new trial!
Eugene de Mazenod’s Diary, 6 March 1848, EO XXI
The typhus epidemic in Canada:
In 1847-1848 there was an outbreak of deadly typhus in eastern Canada caused by a large emigration as a result of the Great famine in Ireland. Crowded ships carrying around 90,000 migrants became sources of infection and were referred to as “coffin ships.” Sheds were erected to quarantine all who had been infected, and these became places of great suffering and death. Between 3500 and 6000 typhus deaths were recorded in Montreal and over 4000 in Ontario. Religious responded with the Grey Nuns, the Sisters of Providence and the Oblates among others, with many becoming infected and several dying. Bishop Bourget of Montreal appealed to the Catholics of Quebec to come forward and help their fellow-Catholics. Many adopted children who had been orphaned as a result of the epidemic.
(See:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1847_North_American_typhus_epidemic#Bytown_(Ottawa)
REFLECTION
“The pandemic has been such an awful time for so many people around the world, but it has also been a reminder for us about the things that really matter – the people in our lives and the love we have for them.” (Ananya Birla)
This morning’s reflection is not easy to sit with. I am just learning of the “coffin ships” and horrible circumstances of life and death on those ships. This is something that we have had to accept and open our hearts to: just as we did/do with the atrocities which were done and still continue with our Indigenous brothers and sisters.
Some of us in North America were angry at some of the countries in Europe who closed their borders to millions of refugees who were fleeing from Northern Africa and the Middle East; and for those peoples of Haiti. I live in the capital city of Canada and yet the “tent cities” are visible across the city and where many find their only hope with drugs that will kill them.
Yesterday the Fire Department came to see if there were common rooms in our building which are air conditioned . We need to perhaps personally invite our elderly neighbours to join us as some of them might feel ashamed to admit they need help.
This morning I find myself wondering what St. Eugene de Mazenod would do in these circumstances. How can I walk in his footsteps and in the footsteps of the many early Oblates. Indeed not just of those who were alive at the birth of our country but of our community of sons and daughters of the greater Oblate/Mazenodian Family. We are called to “enlarge the space of our tents” (Is 54:2) and as we walk together as we become pilgrims of hope in communion.