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- Bishop Pompallier, also known as Jean Bastiste François Pompallier, was born on the 11th of December, 1801 in Lyons, France. He was the third son in his family.
- He trained for the priesthood at the seminary of Lyon. Ordained in 1829, he worked for seven years in the archdiocese of Lyon. He wanted to make Aotearoa his headquarters and arrived in NZ in 1838.
- He was the first priest in Aotearoa, and made a number of trips back to France and Rome to raise funds for the Church in Aotearoa and to recruit more missionaries. He ran the first mass in NZ on 13 January 1838, Totara Point, Hokianga.
- He established mission stations among the Maori and settlers. By 1841 he and the Marists had started twelve Catholic mission stations throughout NZ. He spread the good news to the Maori.
- In Aotearoa, he published prayer books and a catechism in Maori. He had a part in the Treaty of Waitangi article 4 - A commitment to religious freedom made at the birth of the new nation. Maori believed in Io, which is the equivalent to God. This made it easier for Maori to believe in Christian culture.
- Bishop Pompallier died on 21 December 1871, Puteaux, France. In 2002 his remains were returned to New Zealand and laid to rest at Motuti, Hokianga. Today we remember Bishop Pompallier because of the way he built a foundation of Christanity in our home land of Aotearoa.
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