EPALLE, JEAN-BAPTISTE. - Marist missionary, titular bishop of Sion and first apostolic vicar of Melanesia and Micronesia, b. at Roy (Loire) on 8 March 1808 and d. on 15 Dec. 1845. He professed in the Society of Mary (Marists) on 16 July 1858 and in that same year obtained permission to depart for Oceania. He exercised his apostolate in New Zealand, among the Maori.
Temporarily recalled to Europe by his superiors to deal with the affairs of the mission, he was proposed by them as apostolic vicar of the two vicariates of Melanesia and Micronesia, established by Gregory XVI (19 July 1844) by the brief Ex debito. After his episcopal consecration he departed with 14 confreres for his
missions and, having arrived at Isabella Island (Solomon), as soon as he landed (12 Dec. 1845), he was struck down by the natives with three fatal axe blows and two spear thrusts. He expired three days later on the ship, clutching the crucifix in his hands.