February 4, 2021 — This new documentary produced by the Ricci Institute at the University of San Francisco explores the stories of faith and martyrdom of Jesuits and their converts in New France and compares them to other stories from the missions in China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam. How was the Christian faith transmitted to these peoples across the world? How did they receive it and what key role did the local converts play in the work of evangelization and inculturation? What led to their acceptance by some and rejection by others?
Filmed in Québec City, Montréal, the Jesuit Martyrs’ Shrine and St.-Marie among the Hurons in Midland, Ontario, the story begins with “New France.” This early colony stretched from Newfoundland to the Canadian Prairies and from Hudson Bay to Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico, encompassing a large territory across both Canada and the United States, including the entire Great Lakes region. Following the arrival of the “Black Robes” in Québec in 1611, many Jesuits gave their lives for the mission and died as martyrs in what is today Midland, Ontario, and Auriesville, New York. Speakers from across the world share their thoughts and expertise about these unique encounters between peoples, East and West.