Goals and Visions

  Welcome to the Illinois Mission, I am Fr. Jacques. Well, not really. My name is Jacob and I am a reenactor portraying the Jesuit missionaries in New France during the 17th and 18th century. 

 What are the goals of this portrayal and why would one want to portray a religious person in this context. 

Firstly, the Jesuits were a MAJOR force in New France and especially in terms of their contact with Native tribes. Much of what we know about Native Americans during this period comes from the writings of the Jesuits and was compiled into what is called "The Jesuit Relations". It is incredibly insightful. Presenting this history, its historical facts and material culture are at the core of what we hope to do. We feel that we can take this portrayal to new heights. 

 Secondly, in the missionary spirit of the Jesuits, our hope is to provide a Catholic presence in the reenacting community that is dominated primarily by Protestant ministers and ministries. Many events will have a divine service on Sunday mornings, but there is usually no alternative for Catholics. 

 A note that is very important to make is that we are NOT ordained. We cannot perform priestly or sacramental services like the Mass, Confessions etc. However, we can lead people in lay offices and prayers such as the Rosary and the Hours. The Jesuits would have read the Hours out of the Breviary every day if time permitted them. One Jesuit writing in 1746 says of the Breviary : 

The care of the sick, settling the quarrels of the savages, and all the other affairs of the village, which must needs be seen to by the missionaries, keep us so busy that it is sometimes far into the night before the Breviary is said or our other prayers attended to. 

 We are still putting this impression together and this blog will serve as a place to document that process as well as a resource for Catholics in the reenacting community.