Johannes Bapst
Encyclopedia
Johannes Bapst was a Swiss Jesuit missionary and educator. He became the first President of Boston College
.
of the Society of Jesus. He was ordained priest, 31 December 1846, after the usual course of studies and teaching.
He arrived in New York in 1848 and, ignorant of English, was sent to minister to the Native Americans
at Old Town, Maine
. They had been without a priest for twenty years. He founded several temperance
societies in Maine.
In 1850 he left Old Town for Eastport
. His work immediately began to attract attention, both for its results among Catholics and the number of converts who were brought into the Church. As his missions covered a large extent of territory, he became generally known through the State. When the Know-Nothing excitement broke out he was at Ellsworth
. He was disliked as a Catholic priest, and particularly because of his efforts to establish a Catholic school there. On June, 1851, his house was attacked. Two days later, in pursuance of an order of the Town Council, which was directed to be published in the papers, he was dragged out of the residence of one of his people, was tarred and feathered
, and ridden on a rail to the woods outside the town, and ordered to leave the neighbourhood. Some accounts have it that there was an attempt to burn him to death, which, for some reason or other, was prevented. He recovered from his injuries and continued his work.
The outrage at Ellsworth met with general condemnation. Father Bapst built the first church at Bangor, Maine
, which was dedicated in 1856. He remained there for three years and was then sent to Boston College, as rector of what was at that time the house of higher studies for the Jesuit scholastics. He was afterwards superior of all the houses of Canada and New York, and subsequently superior of a Residence in Providence, R.I..
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
.
Life
At 12 he began his studies at the college of Fribourg, and on 30 September 1835, entered the novitiateNovitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
of the Society of Jesus. He was ordained priest, 31 December 1846, after the usual course of studies and teaching.
He arrived in New York in 1848 and, ignorant of English, was sent to minister to the Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
at Old Town, Maine
Old Town, Maine
Old Town is a city in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 7,840 at the 2010 census. The city's developed area is chiefly located on a relatively large island, though its boundaries extend beyond that...
. They had been without a priest for twenty years. He founded several temperance
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
societies in Maine.
In 1850 he left Old Town for Eastport
Eastport, Maine
Eastport is a small city in Washington County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,640 at the 2000 census. The principal island is Moose Island, which is connected to the mainland by causeway...
. His work immediately began to attract attention, both for its results among Catholics and the number of converts who were brought into the Church. As his missions covered a large extent of territory, he became generally known through the State. When the Know-Nothing excitement broke out he was at Ellsworth
Ellsworth, Maine
Ellsworth is a city in and the county seat of Hancock County, Maine, United States. The 2010 Census determined it had a population of 7,741. Ellsworth was Maine's fastest growing city from 2000-2010 with a growth rate of nearly 20 percent...
. He was disliked as a Catholic priest, and particularly because of his efforts to establish a Catholic school there. On June, 1851, his house was attacked. Two days later, in pursuance of an order of the Town Council, which was directed to be published in the papers, he was dragged out of the residence of one of his people, was tarred and feathered
Tarred and Feathered
"Tarred and Feathered" is a song by English punk rock band Dogs and is featured on their debut album, Turn Against This Land. Released on November 28, 2005, it was the fifth and final single taken from the album....
, and ridden on a rail to the woods outside the town, and ordered to leave the neighbourhood. Some accounts have it that there was an attempt to burn him to death, which, for some reason or other, was prevented. He recovered from his injuries and continued his work.
The outrage at Ellsworth met with general condemnation. Father Bapst built the first church at Bangor, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
, which was dedicated in 1856. He remained there for three years and was then sent to Boston College, as rector of what was at that time the house of higher studies for the Jesuit scholastics. He was afterwards superior of all the houses of Canada and New York, and subsequently superior of a Residence in Providence, R.I..