JOHN MARTIN MOYE. FOUNDER of the. Congregation of The Sisters of Providence

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1 JOHN MARTIN MOYE FOUNDER of the Congregation of The Sisters of Providence

2 JOHN MARTIN MOYE was born in 1730 on January, 27 th. He grew up in a pious family. His mother taught him that a good Father should live poorly and love the poor people.

3 Since he was a little boy he liked to teach about God's love to their friends. At the age of seventeen he joined the Jesuit University to study Theology and Philosophy.

4 On March 9 th, 1754, at age of twenty four, JOHN MARTIN MOYE was ordained Priest. In the Church of St Victor, in Metz, he cares and worries so much about the poor.

5 He gradually realized that the children were not receiving basic education, especially girls.

6 And began to think about on his project of sending girls to teach children, especially girls, who were left out, in the society and in the Church too. Some time later, he met Margaret Lecomte, a young seamstress, whom he accompanied in Spiritual Direction. He shared with her his dream, which she welcomed and loved as it was hers.

7 In early January 1762, he requested permission from the Bishop to realize his project of sending some girls to open small schools in the Region of Metz.

8 On January 14 th, 1762, after preparing and initiating some girls with simple methods of teaching and also about some spirituality of Providence, João Martinho sent Margaret Lecomte to open the first school! Before sending her, he asked if she wanted some money, but she chose to go with nothing, trusting herself entirely to Divine Providence....

9 Margaret arrived in Saint Hubert in the afternoon of January 14 th, 1762 No one in the village had a decent place to offer for her to stay, so she spent her first night there, in the house of a very poor and large family. She could not sleep that night; she spent the all night in prayer, with courage and hope, knowing that Providence would not abandon her.

10 The next morning Margaret found an abandoned stable, so poorly maintained that even animals couldn t live there. Later, other young girls were sent to Vigy and Befey and to other villages around Metz. It was there that Margaret has installed her home and the 1st School. The news shocked the authorities. Priest Moye was forbidden to open new schools.

11 JOHN MARTIN MOYE knelt at the feet of Our Lady Help of Christians, renewing his submission and putting his Project of the Schools in her hands and in the hands of her Son. He gave everything in the Hands of Providence. JOHN MARTIN MOYE suffered very much, but submitted himself immediately.

12 Before the end of 1762, he received permission for other new schools could be opened again! In 1765, JOHN MARTIN MOYE was sent to Dieuze, where he continues his project, now in the region of Lorraine.

13 Many young girls wanted to follow the path traced by JOHN MARTIN MOYE...

14 On December 30 th, 1771, he went by ship to China. His life there was full of difficulties, persecutions and arrests. But he continued his missionary work with great love and a deep faith, always following and living with the suffering and poverty of local people.

15 JOHN MARTIN MOYE was a prisoner because of his faith during his stay in China. He came to think that he would have the honor of martyrdom. In August,1784 he arrived in France. From there he dedicated to the spiritual renewal of the Congregation, steadying the spirituality of Providence and the Four Fundamental Virtues that should be part of the life of the Sisters. He spent eleven years there and after so much time of difficulties and persecution, he became seriously ill.

16 In 1789 many changes have happened in France. It was the beginning of the French Revolution. Father Moye agreed to live in Treves, in the house of some priests, your friends. There, he will continue to preach the Word of God, practicing charity and taking care of the soldiers and civilians wounded in the war, or affected by typhus, which was killing many people. At the end of April, he was also affected by this serious illness.

17 Before dying, he gives his final blessing to the Sisters: Grow up and multiply yourselves, if this is the will of God. At four o'clock in the morning of May 4 th, 1793, he finally surrendered to God.

18 João Martinho Moye was beatified on November 21th, in 1954.

19 Here's Project JMMoye: Among the many possibilities that he had, his heart was drawn for the care of children and young people. He wanted that women helped him to realize his project of educating children and young people. He was a very bold person for his time He defined some criteria that would be the 'brand' of those women-sisters The Four Virtues: Abandonment to Divine Providence Simplicity Poverty Charity