Henri de Bernières was the nephew of the celebrated mystic Jean de Bernières de Louvigny. He was born at Saint-Jean de Caen about 1635. Still simple tonsured, he was appointed to the parish of Saint-Pierre de Caen, but preferred to move to Canada in 1659, with Msgr. de Laval. He received minor orders in Québec on December 2, 1659, the diaconate in February and the priesthood on March 13, 1660. These were the first ordinations in Canada. Bishop de Laval kept him as secretary and chaplain and educated him in the Iroquois language. Henri de Bernières was also the first parish priest in Quebec, when Bishop de Laval erected this curateship in 1664 and joined it with the Séminaire de Québec. In 1662 he assumed the functions of grand vicar during the Bishop Laval's journey to France. In other absences of the bishop, he was administrator of the diocese, in 1671, in 1678, in 1684. He was the delegate of Bishop Laval to the Sovereign Council during the bishop's travels; superior of the Ursulines and Hôtel-Dieu from 1676 to 1683, and first dean of the chapter of Québec from 1684 to 1700. One of the first five priests of the seminary, he became the first superior and occupied this office four times: from 1665 to 1672, from 1673 to 1683, from 1685 to 1688, from 1693 to 1698. He gave the spiritual conferences to the seminarians. He died in the winter of 1700, during a severe epidemic of "colds," and was much regretted. He was a "pacifist and was a disinterested man who sought only the glory of God", written by Mère Juchereau. "His virtues were remarkable, especially his humility, his charity, and his long and long patience", written by l'Abbé Charles Glandelet. He was buried in the chapel of the Seminary, but his remains were later transported to the cathedral.
Henri de Bernières was the nephew of the celebrated mystic Jean de Bernières de Louvigny. He was born at Saint-Jean de Caen about 1635. Still simple tonsured, he was appointed to the parish of Saint-Pierre de Caen, but preferred to move to Canada in 1659, with Msgr. de Laval. He received minor orders in Québec on December 2, 1659, the diaconate in February and the priesthood on March 13, 1660. These were the first ordinations in Canada. Bishop de Laval kept him as secretary and chaplain and educated him in the Iroquois language. Henri de Bernières was also the first parish priest in Quebec, when Bishop de Laval erected this curateship in 1664 and joined it with the Séminaire de Québec. In 1662 he assumed the functions of grand vicar during the Bishop Laval's journey to France. In other absences of the bishop, he was administrator of the diocese, in 1671, in 1678, in 1684. He was the delegate of Bishop Laval to the Sovereign Council during the bishop's travels; superior of the Ursulines and Hôtel-Dieu from 1676 to 1683, and first dean of the chapter of Québec from 1684 to 1700. One of the first five priests of the seminary, he became the first superior and occupied this office four times: from 1665 to 1672, from 1673 to 1683, from 1685 to 1688, from 1693 to 1698. He gave the spiritual conferences to the seminarians. He died in the winter of 1700, during a severe epidemic of "colds," and was much regretted. He was a "pacifist and was a disinterested man who sought only the glory of God", written by Mère Juchereau. "His virtues were remarkable, especially his humility, his charity, and his long and long patience", written by l'Abbé Charles Glandelet. He was buried in the chapel of the Seminary, but his remains were later transported to the cathedral.
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