Rev. Joseph T. Hudon, pastor of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Manistee, and a gentleman of superior culture and ability, is a native of Canada, and was born in Kamouraska, province of Quebec, on the 16th of December, 1857. In his youth he was the recipient of excellent educational advantages. He was educated in Laval University in Quebec, taking all the orders under the jurisdiction of the institution. On the 19th of June, 1883, he was ordained to the holy priesthood, and at once received the appointment of assistant priest at Quebec, where the two ensuing years were passed.

From Quebec Father Hudon was transferred to the States, becoming assistant priest in Notre Dame Church of Chicago, where he remained from 1885 until the following year. From 1886 to 1888, inclusive, he was pastor of St. Ann's Catholic Church of Alpena, Mich., where he was very successful in his work, the membership being increased and the prosperity of the church promoted materially. In the last year named he came to his present pastorate in Manistee, where he has since had charge of the French Catholics.

St. Mary's parish embraces two hundred families in Manistee and seventy-four families in Onekama, besides fifty in Frankfort. Services are held on week days at the missions, while the Sundays are devoted by Father Hudon to the work at Manistee. The French language is used in the worship, he being the first pastor of the exclusively French organization in Manistee. Prior to 1885 there was but one Roman Catholic Church in this city, but during that year the Poles withdrew and formed a seperate organization. Three years later, with the consent of the Bishop, the French withdrew from the Irish and German congregation, and organized their present church, retaining the old church building. The work has prospered wonderfully since each nationality has been accommodated with services in its own language, and the change has proved to be a very wise one.

In connection with St. Mary's Church, a parochial school is conducted under the charge of the Sisters of Mercy. The attendance is gratifying, and under the excellent supervision of the Sisters the pupils are making satisfactory progress. To the work of the church Father Hudon devotes his entire time and attention. In the prosperity and happiness of each member of his parish he takes a personal interest, and his parishioners feel that in him they have a true friend, as well as spiritual adviser. As may be imagined, his attention is wholly occupied in discharging the many duties connected with his pastorate, and he has, therefore, little time to give to matters of public interest. However, he is well informed upon topics of current importance, and is a thoughtful student of the great issues of the age. Among Protestants as well as Catholics he is highly respected as an able man, of superior intellectual attainments and splendid qualifications for his present responsible position.