The Rev. Fr. Jean Marie Boudard, SM

tribute The Rev. Fr. Jean Marie Boudard, SM

By a Colleague who knew him for many years.

ITH the passing of Father Jean [Marie Boudard, at Malaita, : BSIP, on October 5, there jd a long and interesting life »ted entirely to the welfare of people of the Solomon Islands, ither Boudard was born in tany, in France, in April, 1881. in he reached the required age military service he served under ;hen famous officer —Captain aid—of whom he often told y a hearty tale, and at the close [s military training he resumed icclesiastical studies and entered Priesthood in December, 1906. one desire was to devote his [to missionary work in the fic Islands—a work which is listed, in part, to the Marist lers and Brothers. sailed from Marseilles at the lining of 1907 and on arrival at [ney transhipped for the jnons on the old Mindini, then r the command of the almost [dary Captain William Voy, ie acquaintance Father Boudard ys cherished. ie Mindini duly reached her nation, disembarking her [ngers at Aola, on the coast of lalcanal, as was the custom in I days. There Fr. Boudard met ;he first time a man whom he to know very well —Billy Pope, at the time sailed regularly be ll Aola and Sydney. Billy Pope for partner another colourful Imer of the Solomons —Billy on. ther Boudard went first to Rua Islands, which had been ired by Bishop Vidal from Cap- Keating, of the sailing vessel oor. Rua Sura was then the [quarters of the Catholic ion, and remained so until 1920. ter a short stay at Sura to i the elements of the Gari lage, and to receive some in ition from older hands, Fr. lard was sent to Avuavu ion Station on the rough her coast of Guadalcanal, was a very wise appointment, vents later proved. Here the ly Breton Priest, strong in ique, robust in health, fearless Indomitable in character, found Untry and a people admirably dto his talents and rugged acteristics. ither the jagged mountains K abruptly from the ocean, mby deep ravines, flooding nts and rivers, nor craggy spurs fears for his undaunted spirit, fegular journeys took him far id into the regions about Lion’s I and Tat uv e Mountains, Jgh the challenging Gorogana &uta Districts of the hinterland,

and right across Guadalcanal to the leeward coast at Aola.

His coastal visits extended from Cape Hunter to Marau Sound. For this latter work he used a saddle horse and a pack-horse—“ Monty” and “Moli,” whose names became household words for years amongst the natives of Avuavu District. Here, too, he found a rough, raw, simple primitive, pagan people ready to be moulded into an elementary Christian community.

These were dangerous times when the “devil man” was extremely

active and deceit and intrigue were always present. It is told that once a “devil man” tried to administer a charm to Fr. Boudard, but the reaction was so swift and sure that the devil-man’s mana was lost for ever.

Jean Marie Boudard was never discouraged. With characteristic persistence, persuasive language, unanswerable logic and a pleasant and facile tongue, salted with many anecdotes, he endeared himself to the people.

The Breton peasant is born of the soil, and herein lay the reason for Father Boudard’s practical knowledge of subsistence farming which made him the undisputed authority on staple native crops,

ical and citrus fruit trees, the dng of coffee as well as the ice of animal husbandry. He an expert in the care of horses, [e, pigs and poultry and he in uced first-class blood stock f Australia which improved re stock beyond measure, it the real and lasting monu t which he has left may be and in the hearts of the people [vuavu District; for there is a nt simplicity, an openness of i and implicit trust noticeable iese people which seems to give [ a unique distinction amongst nhabitants of Guadalcanal. One [see there an imprint of the acter of Jean Marie Boudard. ither Boudard spent 35 years Lvuavu and without doubt his t lies buried there and his name [ not be forgotten in our ration. it. despite his life-long interest [vuavu and its people, he did hesitate to make the sacrifice mded of him by his Superiors [ansfer to anew district. Here pent his latter years amongst ople far different in character [those he had known so well (for so long.

EN in these last ten years there iias been no lessening in the gy, assurance and joviality of [grand old man. He quickly Bred himself to the Visale

people, but remained at the same time firm to the end; woe to the one who strayed from the beaten path.

During these years he became well known to European and native residents of the Russell Group which, with Savo Island, formed part of his domain.

Fr. Boudard returned to the Solomons after the War and took up his new post at Visale. Here he found a rumed Mission Station, once a showplace well known to pre-war residents of the group. It was the former Headquarters of the Catholic Mission and the residence of the Bishop; but it had been re duced to a shambles by the ravages of war With the same undaunted courage of other days, he built himself a native shack and then set his firm hand to rebuild, from the ruins, anew and prosperous Mission Station complete with buildings, equipment and stock and resounding to the laughter of hundreds of happy native children.

From his school he sent out boys well-disciplined and trained to take their place in village life. He kept them close to the soil and to home and family and gave them plenty of his own practical knowledge to enable them to fend for themselves and to find a niche in their own communities.

Like every true missionary, Father Boudard was counsellor, philosopher

and friend to all, but in a degree above the common; and many a native, of whatever creed or of none, came to him for advice, instruction and even admonition. There was nothing soft or patronising in his words—he was a sure judge of human conduct and he wasted no time in summing up the worth of a character. He was feared for his

justice and his firmness and loved for his friendly manner and his generosity.

In his time he did more for the Solomon Islands by mould ing the character of its native people over a period of 45 years than many another may have achieved in more spectacular spheres.

His health remained robust to the end in spite of his hard life. With out warning he suffered a heart attack while on a trip to Malaita Island, and in a matter of an hour the end had come.

A brave Breton son gone to rest far from his native shore, after a life full of labour and of merits.

Truly a model Missionary was Jean Marie Boudard.

Vale Atque Vale!