The Catholic Church was a big part of life in New France and helped shape people’s identity, especially because religious conflict in Europe made faith very important to people. Jesuit missionaries played a major role by creating missions among several First Nations groups, learning their languages, and trying to convert them to Catholicism. They also wrote detailed reports about First Nations life. The Church provided important services, such as schools, hospitals, and orphanages, and the clergy were educated leaders who influenced decisions that affected the colony.