Brother Martin High School is honoring the Venerable Brother Hippolyte Polycarp today, January 9th, 2024 on the anniversary of his death. 

Jean-Hippolyte Gondre, a member of a humble and devout family from La Motte-en-Champsaur, France, became Brother Polycarp when he joined the Institute of Brothers of the Sacred Heart in 1827. Considered the "Second Founder," he was responsible for the initial growth of the order in southern France. As the first Brother Superior General, he promoted the missionary work of the Institute in the Americas, recruiting five brothers to travel to Mobile, Alabama, in 1847, which later led to the opening of St. Aloysius in New Orleans in 1869. By the time of his death in 1859, the Institute had grown to over 400 Brothers in 70 schools.

His cause for canonization has been proceeding since 1902. In February 1984, Polycarp was declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II. In his announcement, Pope John Paul II declared: "Brother Polycarp was genuinely and constantly heroic in his practice of all the virtues: Faith, Hope, and Charity towards both God and neighbor, as well as the cardinal virtues of Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and Fortitude." We honor Brother Polycarp in the front reception area of our campus alongside Brothers of the Sacred Heart Founder, Father André Coindre, and our school's namesake, Brother Martin Hernandez.

"Let us pray.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for the leadership and guidance of Brother Polycarp, our second Founder. Allow us, as Partners in Mission and students, to follow his model of leadership, faithfulness, and devotion.
We ask this through the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Amen.

Venerable Polycarp, pray for us.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen."