Born at Andouillé (Mayenne), March 16, 1814
Ordination to the priesthood in Le Mans, March 17, 1837
Taking of the habit in N.-D. de l’Osier, September 12, 1853.
Oblation in N.-D. de l’Osier, July 16, 1854 (No. 363)
Died in New Westminster, Canada, October 29, 1890.

Julien Baudre was born son of Jeanne Laigneau and Michel Baudre at Andouillé in the diocese of LeMans in France on March 16, 1814. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Jean-Baptiste Bouvier, the bishop of LeMans on March 17, 1837. He served as assistant priest at Saint-Mars-d’Outillé (1838-1839, at Marolles-les-Braults (1839-1842), at Martigné-Le-Lude (1842-1847) and at Notre-Dame de la Couture in LeMans (1847-1853). Then he entered the novitiate at Notre-Dame de l’Osier on September 12, 1853. He made his perpetual vows there on July 16, 1854 with a dispensation of a few months in order to be able to send him to Texas to replace Father Baudrand who had died on October 1, 1853. In a note written about this novice, Father Vandenberghe wrote in October of 1853: “Baudre: very fervent. He lends himself wholeheartedly to the exercises of his novitiate; exemplary as to regularity and meticulousness in observance; a timid conscience, apprehensive of ministry because of a spirit of faith; tender-hearted; frank and open, bright and cheerful, naturally keen.” During his novitiate, he took part in preaching a mission during Advent and another mission during Lent. He ministered in the parish of l’Osier in January and February of 1854. “Everywhere he inspires confidence,” wrote the novice master in March of 1854. “He does a lot of work, showing enthusiasm and with a great deal of prudence.”

Father Baudre was superior of the college at Galveston in 1854-1855 and had to endure a great deal at the hands of Bishop Odin who criticized and changed everything he did at the college. Sent to Montreal, he was superior of the community in 1856-1857 and worked in the parish up until 1859. Recalled to France, he was appointed director of the apostolic school of Vico, taught dogma at Montolivet in 1860-1861, moral theology in the autumn of 1861 and was sent to Paris at the beginning of 1862 as chaplain to the Sisters of the Holy Family of Bordeaux. He asked to leave for Oregon with Father D’Herbomez and shipped out in September of 1862.

In the missions of British Columbia, he initially exercised his zeal at the college of Saint Louis in Victoria (1863-1866) of which he was superior. Then he was pastor of the French parish and vicar general for Bishop Modeste Demers. Subsequently, he worked in Tulalip, Washington State (1866-1867). He became director of the mission of New Westminster (1867-1869). Using this as his base, he did ministry in Priest Point in Washington State (1867-1868) and in Mission City, British Columbia (1867). He was then appointed director of the mission of Immaculate Conception of Lake Okanagan (1869-1878), of Williams Lake (1878-1887), superior of Saint Eugene at Cranbrook (1887) from where he went to New Westminster (1887-1890).

After suffering two months of a painful illness, he died in New Westminster on October 29, 1890 at the age of seventy-six.

Yvon Beaudoin
and Gaston Carrière, o.m.i.