Born: Roscoff (Finistère), January 2, 1827.
Took the habit: Nancy, March 9, 1848.
Vows: Nancy, March, March 10, 1849 (No. 245)
Priestly ordination: Nancy, September 22, 1849.
Died: Québec, Canada, March 27, 1903.
Ferdinand Grenier was born in Roscoff (Finistère), diocese of Quimper, on January 2, 1827. His parents were Jean-Baptiste Grenier, a sailor, and Élisabeth Bagot. After his studies in the minor seminary, and then in the major seminary of Saint-Pol-de-Léon, he began his novitiate in Nancy on March 9, 1848. In his report for the month f March, the novice master, Father Jacques Santoni, wrote: “Grenier, he is still quite young although he has almost finished theology. He has graduated. He is the most charming young man that I have ever known; he is as pious as an angel, simple as a child and he is a most likeable character. He is punctual, docile and has all the virtues. It is a pity that he is subject to violent headaches which prevent him from applying himself more either to study or to his exercises of piety.” In June 1848, Father Santoni again wrote: “Grenier, a holy young man, pious, docile, humble, charitable”. The novice took his vows in Nancy on March 10, 1849 and on September 22 he was ordained priest by Bishop A. B. Menjaud of Nancy.
The young priest’s first assignment was to the missions of Blida and Philippeville, in Algeria. He returned to France in 1850 and then left for Canada where he ministered in Saint Alexis, Grande-Baie, Saguenay (1850-1852), and Saint-Pierre-Apôtre, Montreal (1852-1853). He then went to Detroit, Michigan to found a college but those plans were not carried out and he returned to Montreal (1853) and then went to minister in Saint-Sauveur, Quebec 1853-1863). His next assignment was to the parish of Saint Peter, Plattsburgh, New York (1863), becoming Superior of the bishop’s house in Ottawa (1863-1968) during which period he was also chaplain to the Grey Nuns of the Cross in Ottawa. He was moderator of Oblate scholastics (1867-1868), master of novices in Lachine (1868-1870). His final assignment was to Saint-Sauveur, Quebec where he had twice been superior (1874-1879; 1885-1894).
At the end of his life, Father suffered from heart problems. He became seriously ill only one week before his death on March 27, 1903. His biographer wrote: “His temperament and character made happiness easy in his own life and among those who lived with him. Nature, or more correctly, the Creator had given him a heart that was gentle and good, peaceful and indulgent and these qualities were greatly enhanced by the workings of grace and by long experience.” In Quebec especially, Father was distinguished by his fidelity to the confessional, his love for the poor and for the sick. The people were very fond of him and thronged to his funeral which was presided by Archbishop Begin of Quebec. He was buried in the cemetery of Jésus-Ouvrier in Quebec.
Yvon Beaudoin
and Gaston Carrière, o.m.i.
