François-Xavier Babineau
Encyclopedia
François-Xavier Babineau (21 March 1825 – 16 April 1890) was a Canadian
Catholic priest, and the first New Brunswick
-born Acadian
to become a Catholic priest.
Babineau was born the son of prosperous farmers in New Brunswick. He received his early education locally and then studied at Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière in Canada East
. He pursued further studies for the priesthood at Quebec City
, and was ordained in 1851 by Bishop Charles-François Baillargeon
.
Babineau returned to his home province to minister and served in a number of parishes. In 1859 at Cap-Pelé
, he singlehandedly saw a number of his parishioners through a smallpox
epidemic.
In 1864, François-Xavier became the first resident priest for Cap-Pelé and, over a number of years, ministered there and at Buctouche, New Brunswick. In 1878, being unhappy with his postings, he left the ministry. In 1881, he obtained a teaching certificate and finished his life in that capacity.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Catholic priest, and the first New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
-born Acadian
Acadian
The Acadians are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia . Acadia was a colony of New France...
to become a Catholic priest.
Babineau was born the son of prosperous farmers in New Brunswick. He received his early education locally and then studied at Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière in Canada East
Canada East
Canada East was the eastern portion of the United Province of Canada. It consisted of the southern portion of the modern-day Canadian Province of Quebec, and was primarily a French-speaking region....
. He pursued further studies for the priesthood at Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, and was ordained in 1851 by Bishop Charles-François Baillargeon
Charles-François Baillargeon
Charles-François Baillargeon was a Canadian Roman Catholic priest and archbishop.He was from Lower Canada and studied at the Collège de Saint-Pierre-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud and Collège de Nicolet followed by four years of theology at Quebec where his choice of the priesthood was confirmed...
.
Babineau returned to his home province to minister and served in a number of parishes. In 1859 at Cap-Pelé
Cap-Pele, New Brunswick
Cap-Pelé is a Canadian village in Westmorland County, New Brunswick.The community's population meets the requirements for "town" status under the Municipalities Act of the Province of New Brunswick, however there has been no move to change municipal status.-Geography:It is located on the...
, he singlehandedly saw a number of his parishioners through a smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
epidemic.
In 1864, François-Xavier became the first resident priest for Cap-Pelé and, over a number of years, ministered there and at Buctouche, New Brunswick. In 1878, being unhappy with his postings, he left the ministry. In 1881, he obtained a teaching certificate and finished his life in that capacity.