Background
He was born in Bouxières-aux-Chênes, in the Diocese of Nancy and received his religious training from the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, whom he joined at the age of twenty.
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Joseph Gerard
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He wasn"t particularly gifted academically, but was quick at learning languages, which would later help him in learning the Zulu and Sesotho languages he used for his missionary work. Gérard moved to South Africa in 1853, and never returned to his home country again. Gérard was ordained as a priest at Pietermaritzburg in 1854.
He started his work as a missionary among the Zuluus in the Vicariate of Natal, but met with little progress there.
With permission from the Basotho chief Moshoeshoe I, they founded the Motse-oa-"M"a-Jesu (Village of the Mother of Jesus) mission around 32 kilometers (20 mi) south of Thaba Bosiu, at the site of present day Roma. By all accounts, Gérard was well respected by Moshoeshoe for remaining in the country during the Free State–Basotho Wars, and it has been said that it was at Gérard"s encouragement that the chief sought British intervention at the end of the conflict.
However, Gérard"s missionary work still progressed slowly: by the end of 1879, there were only 700 Catholics in the country. In 1875, Gérard founded the Saint Monica mission in the Leribe District in northern Lesotho.
From there, he serviced not only the Basotho of Lesotho, but also those who lived in the neighboring Orange Free State.
He returned to the Roma congregation in 1898, where he continued his work as a missionary for the rest of his life. He died on May 29, 1914, aged 83. Gérard was beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 15, 1988, in a mass conducted at Lesotho"s capital Maseru.
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Born
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Died
March 29, 1914 (aged 83) -
Nationality
France -
Religion
Christianity