IFTTT Autopost 
This week’s missionary hero was an American missionary Brother who devoted his life to serving others. His name was William Gagnon.
William was born on May 16, 1905 in Dover, New Hampshire to French-Canadian parents who had come to the United States looking for work. When he was a teenager, William and his brothers left school to do mill work to help support the family.
When he was in his early 20’s, William applied to the Marist congregation in Hudson, New Hampshire, but because of a kidney disorder, he was rejected. He then read about the Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God, founded in the Sixteenth Century. He read how the Brothers devoted their lives to serving the sick and needy as nurses and other healthcare professionals.
In 1930, William was accepted by the order and went to Montreal as a postulant. However, he had to leave shortly after entering the order to return home to help support his family in New Hampshire when his father was injured. He resumed his training in April 1931 and received his religious habit three months later. Brother William made his solemn profession on November 21, 1935. In Canada, he served the community in leadership positions in schools and hospitals.
In 1950, Brother William, who had dreams of being a missionary ever since he was a boy, asked to be transferred to his order’s new mission in Vietnam, and his wish was granted.
In January 1952, Brother William and two other Hospitaller Brothers took charge of Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Bui-Chu and its dispensary, about 120 miles south of Hanoi. In that location, the Brothers built a hospital and took care of war victims. Because he had a good background in French, he was able to communicate with the Vietnamese who spoke French as a result of the French influence in that country.
Brother William was a person of many talents, such as putting empathy into action, soothing hurt feelings, providing leadership when the community was in the midst of bombings. And, of course, his nursing and leadership skills were always treasured.
Brother William died on February 28, 1972 in Vietnam. Pope Francis declared him Venerable on December 15, 2015.
