The church in New France Roman Catholic Religion The church in New France

Central Questions What were the three main functions of the church in New France? What were the contributions of the church to the colony?

The church worked in three main areas… The Catholic church was a powerful partner in the development of the colony of New France. The church worked in three main areas… 1) converting the Indigenous people 2) ministering to the spiritual needs of the settlements; 3) providing leadership in social welfare in the colony--- including education, health care, caring for the orphaned and the poor.

Francois Laval, the first bishop of New France from 1659 to 1688, founded a seminary to train priests in Quebec which later became Laval University.

Missionaries In our previous unit, we briefly looked at the impact of missionaries on the Indigenous People. Although it is generally acknowledged that the priests were sincere in their belief that conversion was in the best interests of the Aboriginals, the changes were not always positive.

Huronia- Mission settlement The aggressive work of religious order like the Jesuits and Recollets played their part in the exploration and opening up of Indigenous territory to fur traders. Priests established missions such as the one in Huronia (1634) and encouraged the Indigenous people to settle so that it would be easier to convert them.

Because Indigenous groups wanted to retain the French as trading partners and allies, they tolerated the missionaries who themselves got caught up in Indigenous warfare. Many priests died and their martyrdom encouraged conversions. The publication of the Jesuit Relations, encouraged interest in the colony back home in France

Thus, since the beginning of the history of New France the church has always been present and its work has always been entwined with the economic, political and social development of the colony. It was not until the “Quiet Revolution” of the 1960’s in Quebec that people began to question the Church’s authority in other than spiritual affairs