Early French Missionaries Lost at Sea Honoured in Wellington

Archbishop John Dew presides

On February 17, 2013 there was a ceremony at Mount Street historic cemetery to unveil and bless a plaque in honour of Jean Villmagne (Brother Deodat) and Fr Michel Borjon sm who perished on a sea journey from Auckland to Wellington on board the Speculator.

Society of Mary Archivist Ken Scadden unveiled the memorial stone, and representatives of the Society of Mary, the Marist Brothers and the French Embassy unveiled an explanatory panel.

Borjon arrived in New Zealand in 1841 along with other well-known Marists including Fathers Antoine Garin, Jean Antoine Seon and Brother Basile (Michel) Monchalin, and a lay Marist, M. Jean Francois Yvert, a printer.

Marist Family members Fr. Denis O’Hagan sm & Br. Kieran Fenn FMS with Dr. Gertrude Koniuszko, Archbishop Dew and Mr. Ken Scadden

Brother Deodat had arrived in 1842, accompanied by Brothers Justin (Etienne) Perret and Luc Ardant, Frs Forest, Reignier, Grange, and Lampila.