St Isaac and companions

 Isaac, John and their companions (Anthony Daniel, Gabriel Lalement, Charles Gamier, Noel Chabanel, John Lalande and Rene Goupil) were all born in France and were Jesuit priests with the Society of Jesus.  They all volunteered to go to New France (to an area which is now Ontario) as missionaries to bring the Good News to the Huron people of Canada.  For 25 years, they worked hard to care for the Huron people, to build Churches and schools and to share the Gospel.  They learned the language of the Hurons and wrote a catechism book into the Huron language.  Although many of the Huron people came to know Jesus through these missionaries, many still did not trust them.  There were lots of illnesses that came with the people coming from France, England and the Netherlands and because the Aboriginal people never encountered these illnesses they were not able to fight the diseases and many people died.  Many of the Huron people believed that the missionaries brought these diseases and suffering to their people.  Isaac, John and their Companions were also not liked by the Iroquois people who were enemies of the Huron.  Since the missionary priests were helping the Huron people, the Iroquois hated them.  After their many years of mission and service, Isaac, Jogues and their Companions were captured by the Iroquois and killed.  They died as martyrs, because they had never stopped sharing the Good News about Jesus’ love for all of us.