Born: Villy-le-Bouveret, Haute-Savoie, December 5, 1872.
Took the habit: N.-D. de l’Osier, April 29, 1847.
Vows: N.-D. de l’Osier, April 30, 1848 (No.190).
Priestly ordination: Maryvale, July 21, 1850.
Died: Buffalo, U.S.A., February 9, 1873.
Claude Sallaz was born in Villy-le-Bouveret, diocese of Annecy, France, on December 5, 1822. His parents were Jean-Francois Sallaz and Anne Duret. Having heard a talk given by Father Léonard Baveux, he entered novitiate in Notre-Dame de l’Osier on April 29, 1847 and took vows on April 30, 1848. In the words of his novice master, Father Florent Vandenberghe, “during his novitiate, Brother Sallaz was noted for his gentleness and his amenable character. Under the salutary influence of a spirit of piety and mortification, he was always content, always smiling.” After a short stay in the major seminary in Marseilles, he continued the study of theology in Maryvale, England, where he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop de Mazenod on July 21, 1850.
He was sent to Canada in March 1851. He ministered in Saint-Alexis de la Grande-Baie, in the Saguenay Region, in 1851-1852, in South Gloucester and L’Orignal, Ontario, in 1852-1854 and from 1854 to 1859 among the Canadians in the parish of Saint Peter, Plattsburg, New York. He was superior and pastor there from 1863 to 1869. Before becoming pastor, he ministered in Dannemora (1854-1863). From 1869 to 1873 he was superior of the Oblates in the parish of Holy Angels, Buffalo, New York. He was responsible for the building of the churches entrusted to the Oblates in Plattsburgh, Redford and Dannemora, and the presbytery and school in Holy Angels, Buffalo.
Father Sallaz was a man of duty and a zealous missionary. He was known as “the good”. It seems that he wrote only one letter to Bishop de Mazenod and one to Father Fabre as superior general. In his letter to the latter on June 8, 1866, he apologizes for not having written for thirteen years and he says that he has always been obliged to do the work of two men.
He was highly esteemed by the bishops and by the faithful. He died on February 9, 1873 after only a few days illness. He was a victim of the smallpox epidemic. He is buried in Buffalo.
Yvon Beaudoin
and Gaston Carrière, o.m.i.
