Dear Parishioners of Immaculate Conception and St Joseph!

This past Tuesday we remembered the martyrdoms of six priests and two oblate laymen (commonly referred to as the

North American Martyrs). As American Catholics we often forget the difficulties that the first missionaries had in coming

to our lands. Several centuries before the influx of European immigrants in the 1870's, missionaries from both France and

Spain first brought the Catholic faith to America. The French missionaries entered America from the East Coast and the

Spanish missionaries from the south through Florida, New Mexico and California.

The North American Martyrs were all French religious who served missions in remote areas of eastern Canada and New

York state between 1625-1649. Although each of these missionaries had heard about the severe environment of the area

called New France, none could fathom what the situation was actually like: disease, severe weather, lack of food, unsanitary

living conditions, impassable forests, solitude and a hostile population. Travel was by canoe on treacherous waterways or

walking for miles through dense insect-filled and uncharted forests.

I often reflect on how easy I have it as a priest with such modern conveniences as Wi-Fi, a dependable heater and running

water. The missionaries who first came to America, however, had nothing but the Gospel and a heroic desire to share the

Good News, even if that meant death.

Of the eight North American Martyrs, the story of Father Isaac Jogues is probably the most well remembered. Arriving in

America in 1635, he served effectively for seven years. On Aug. 16, 1642, however he was captured by the Iroquois. He

was beaten with clubs and burned with hot coals. Some of his fingers were chewed off at the knuckle, and his thumb was

severed from his right hand. This torture was intended to prevent him from saying Mass, as the thumb and forefinger were

necessary for a priest to elevate the host during consecration.

After being imprisoned and used as a slave for 13 months, Father Jogues escaped and made his way back to France where

he was treated as a hero. Because of his mutilated fingers and lack of a thumb, he believed the Church would not allow him

celebrate Mass or distribute the Body and Blood of Christ. Pope Urban VIII, however, made an exception for the courageous

priest, and in 1646, despite the risks, Father Jogues eagerly returned to America. It was not long, however, before he

was captured again. This time suffering martyrdom from tomahawk blows at Ossernenon, now called Auriesville, in New

York State.

May the heroic witness of Father Isaac Jogues and the other North American Martyrs help us to strive for a similar bravery.

May we have an unrelenting zeal to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Our lives are relatively easy compared to the trials

of these first missionaries, nevertheless we have the same baptismal calling to be heroic in our witness and proclamation

of the Faith.

Dear parishioners, you are always in my prayers. Trust always in Jesus. St Joseph, Patron Saint of the Universal Church –

Pray for Us

Fr. Daniel L. Thelen