Born in Lagor (France) on August 25, 1857.
Died in Betharram (France) on March 21, 1940.
A student of the college of Betharram, he entered the novitiate in 1874 and was ordained a priest in 1880. He remained in the mother house as chaplain of the Marian sanctuary and as teacher of the seminary. In 1897 he was chosen as master of the novitiate and as general councilor of the congregation. He was then elected assistant general by the chapter of 1910 and superior general in 1911. During his generalate, which lasted until 1935, he managed to rebuild and develop the institute that had just emerged from the terrible blow of the French laws of confiscation and dispersion and despite the evidence added by the great war.
In 1912, in the *church of S. Angelo Custode in Rome, Don Guanella tried to convince Father Paillas to continue their stay in Traona in Valtellina. In the cordial meeting Fr Guanella collected the excellent impressions of the superior and of the Betharramite religious on the population, the clergy and the parish priest of Traona and their regret at having had to leave that foundation due to a simple lack of personnel.
Sources:
Betharramite Archive of Rome, Fondo Italie-Traona, Petitions diverses pour le maintien des Religieux à Traona 4011.
Guanellian sources:
Guanellian Letters, nos. 3232, 3302, 2581.
Photographs:
Betharramite Archive in Rome (courtesy of Roberto Cornara).