VIARD, JOSEPH PHILIPPE (1809-72) was born in Lyons, and educated at the first ecclesiastical college in the diocese of L'Argentiere and afterwards at the theological seminary of St Irenaeus, Lyons. Ordained a priest in 1834, he served in several parishes, and then joined the new Society of Mary in order to devote himself to foreign missionary work. Viard was one of the priests who came to Bay of Islands to reinforce Bishop Pompallier in Dec 1839. After spending a few weeks learning Maori at Hokianga, he accompanied Pompallier on his visit to Tauranga (Feb 1840). Although still unable to speak the language, he was left to instruct Tupaea's people while his chief visited the interior, and a few weeks later he took up his station amongst them. Early in 1841 he was created grand vicar of the mission, and started on a wide tour with the Bishop, visiting Rotorua and as far south as Akaroa, where they heard of the death of Father Chanel at Futuna. Viard went with the corvette Allier to Futuna and received the remains of the martyr. He established a native catechist on the island with great success. In Apr 1842 Viard relieved Pompallier at Wallis, and remained there in charge of all the tropical missions. In 1843, at the request of Bishop Douarre, who had just been appointed to New Caledonia, Viard was sent there to assist the new missionaries, who were quite ignorant of the language. During eighteen months there he incurred the seeds of a disease of which eventually he died. His sufferings from eating only native food were intense.

In Sydney he met Pompallier, who had received instructions to have a coadjutor bishop, and Viard was accordingly consecrated by Archbishop Polding (6 Jan 1846). Returning to New Zealand, he had charge of the whole diocese during the Bishop's first visit to Rome (1846). At Bay of Islands he consecrated Father Colon as coadjutor to Bishop Epalle (afterwards massacred at the Solomon islands). Viard in 1848 ceased to be coadjutor, and was appointed administrator of the vicariate of Wellington. In 1850 he arrived in Wellington with a band of clergy and religious sisters to organise the new diocese. In 1860 a Catholic hierarchy was established in New Zealand, and he was appointed bishop of Wellington. Viard was a man of singularly gentle and tolerant disposition. He won the high respect and affection of the people of Wellington and the Government acknowledged his great public service in allaying unrest amongst the natives on the West Coast during the wars of the sixties. In 1868 he visited Rome and attended the Oecumenical Council on which occasion the inroads of the tropical climate upon his health became evident. He died in Wellington on 2 Jun 1872.

Pompallier; Marist Messenger, 1 Mar 1938 (p); Wellington Independent, 6, 9 Jun 1868, 3 Jun 1872; Portrait: Ward.

Reference: Volume 2, page 212

🌳 Further sources