Bishop Navarre (1836-1912) was ordained in 1872. He began a mission on New Britain in 1882. In 1884, he arrived at Thursday Island to establish headquarters and prepare for the expansion of the Catholic Mission to the mainland of New Guinea. In the following year Navarre chose Fr Henry Verjus to establish a new station on Yule Island, Papua. Navarre moved to Yule Island himself in 1886, and in the following year returned to Europe to be consecrated Bishop at Issoudun, France. He was raised to the status of Archbishop in August 1888. He remained in Papua New Guinea until just before his death on 16 January 1912.

A typescript copy of autobiographical notes, observations and reflections by Mgr Navarre on his missionary experiences and the teachings of the Catholic Church.<BR>See also Encyclopaedia of Papua and New Guinea (Peter Ryan, ed.), Melbourne University Press, 1972, vol.2, pp.840-42.