Énemond Massé

In 1609 he left the province of Lyon to join Father Pierre Coton, the confessor to Henri IV, at the court.

There they spent much time and energy learning the new languages, compiling dictionaries and grammars to help them, and translating the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer.

Massé spent four months living among the Maliseet at the mouth of the Saint John River in order to more quickly learn their language, became ill due to the hardships endured, but recovered.

[3] Massé displayed a practical common sense along with carpentry skills which earned him the nickname of Père Utile (Father Useful).

Massé and about a dozen others were set adrift on the sea in an open boat, but succeeded in making St. Marys Bay and then Cape Forchu.

From there they passed Cape Sable Island and arrived at Port Mouton where they learned of two French ships near present-day Halifax.

[1] He died at Sillery, and a monument was erected to his honour at this place on the site of the old Jesuit Church which stood on the bank of the Saint Lawrence River, a short distance above Quebec City.