André Garin

Who was André Garin?

André Garin was an Oblate missionary and parish priest.

He was born in La Côte-Saint-André, Isère, France. He received his education at the lesser seminary of his native town, and entered the Order of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate on November 1, 1842. As he was still too young to be admitted to the priesthood, he was sent to Canada, where he was ordained on April 25, 1845, by Bishop Bourget of Montreal. During a period of twelve years he devoted himself to the Indian missions of Eastern Canada, after which he occupied the post of superior successively at Plattsburgh and at Buffalo, New York.

His services were especially valuable in his early fields of labour, as he had mastered both the Montagnais and the English languages. He was subsequently ordered to commence needed organize parish and mission work among the French Canadians in Lowell, Massachusetts. In a short time his good sense, courteous manner, and kindly disposition won for him a wonderful influence over his people. During a pastorate of some twenty-five years he built costly churches and commodious school edifices; he also established several religious confraternities among his parishioners.