There is an English poet John Donne who wrote a poem which began these words:  "NO MAN IS AN ISLAND".  As children of God we are interconnected and need one another to fulfill God's will.  As the Director of the Mission office, I have come to experience how John Donne's quote written many years ago still holds true today.  We are stronger as we stand together.  There is no possible way the mission office would be able to fulfill all things alone we definitely all play an important part in fulfilling the Mission Appeals assigned to us each year.

Fr. Jeremy Morais, MS. was born in Stirling, Nova Scotia, Canada to French Acadian parents from the Province of New Brunswick. Growing up, he and all his brothers were altar servers and the missionary priests made a deep impression on his life.  He joined the La Salette Missionaries and completed his theological studies at St. Francis School of Pastoral Ministry in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he received his Master of Divinity degree.  On May 22, 1981 he was ordained to the priesthood at St. John Cathedral in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette. 

He spent the first seven years after ordination (1981-1987) as a Vocational Director for the La Salette Missionaries in the U.S.A. I have been serving as a foreign missionary for the past 36 years (1987-2023) on the Island of Madagascar off the east coast of Africa. Knowing the importance of the La Salette Ministry established to support our missionary endeavors in foreign lands, Fr. Jeremy, have accepted whole heartedly the directorship. He shares with us his calling as a foreign missionary and his acceptance of this special ministry:  A member of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette.  Throughout my seminary training to the ordination of priesthood I sensed a deep calling from God to serve as a missionary. After ordination I requested to go to the missions, however I was asked to serve as vocational director of my Province and treasurer of our local religious community for six years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

On October 1, 1987 I received my mission cross and departed to serve as a missionary on the Island of Madagascar where I have been working for the past thirty six years. Knowing the importance of the annual appeals to support our missionary endeavors,  I used part of my vacation time to help out the Mission Center.  from my own experience how much this ministry in the USA has helped and continue to help our missionaries in the various countries that we serve.  On August 2023,  He begun a new journey as a missionary.  Even though my mind and heart reside in my adoptive country (Madagascar), I have decided to accept the request of the Provincial of the Mary, Mother of the Americas to serve as Executive Director of the North American La Salette Mission Center here in St. Louis, Missouri. I want to thank all our benefactors for their continued support which makes it possible to sustain our pastoral efforts.  I look forward to sharing with you my missionary experience. I thank you for your support of our La Salette Missionaries in foreign lands that we serve.