EPALLE, JEAN BAPTISTE (1811-45), a French priest of the Society of Mary at Lyons, came to New Zealand in June 1839 in the schooner Reine de Paix. To acquire the Maori language he was appointed to Kororareka and the surrounding district. Early in 1840 a mission was established under him at Whangaroa.

In 1843 Bishop Pompallier appointed him pro-vicar to proceed to Rome. While he was in France in the following year the Holy See decided to establish a vicariate of Melanesia and Micronesia and the superior of the Society of Mary nominated Epalle, who pleaded against being selected for the post. Consecrated at Rome, he sailed from London early in 1845 with 13 missionaries. They landed at Isabella island, in the Solomons early in Dec, and Bishop Epalle was murdered by natives four days later (19 Dec 1845).

Catholic Cycl.; Larousse; Pompallier; Marist Year Book, 1927, 172 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 133

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