This year the Apprentis d’Auteuil is celebrating 100 years of association with the Spiritans. Blessed Daniel Brottier, C.S.Sp., was the first Spiritan who came to Auteuil after Spiritans agreed to take it over. The then orphanage was in dire financial straits, but Fr. Brottier came with his energy, zeal and optimism, transforming the organization and most importantly, investing in the lives of the children there. 

A student described it this way: “Before I arrived at Auteuil, I had always been called by a number; Fr. Brottier called me John.”

Fr. Brottier had many skills he put to use at Auteuil. Throughout much of his time as a missionary, he excelled at sharing the story of the areas where he was working. He wrote letters and newsletters prodigiously to connect with new benefactors and supporters of the work of Auteuil.

This method worked for Fr. Brottier while he was raising money for the chapel in Senegal and it worked for him in Auteuil as well.  At the time of his arrival at Auteuil in 1923, there was a list of twelve thousand benefactors on his desk. Twelve years later, at his death, the list contained a hundred and fifty thousand names

Fr. Brottier’s skills as a businessman, writer, and fundraiser were very beneficial for Auteuil and allowed him to take care of many more children. But he was also very warm and personable to the children he served. He was known for a calm, patient, indefatigable spirit. 

He reveals his goal for his work this way: “If we want to succeed at Auteuil, we must dedicate ourselves to these children wholeheartedly and unreservedly. I have offered myself to God to serve them until death. I desire no other job, I want to die here in their service. Those who come to live with us must be happy. The children must feel that I know what they are doing and that I follow them up affectionately. Let the children be treated without harshness, always with justice. Prefer rewards to punishments. Let them not have to complain about food, clothing, tools. Then you can preach to them and get them to pray.”

In the next century, over 700 Spiritans would serve at Auteuil and help it grow to be the organization it is today.