Our First Family: Exemplars All!
Meet the caumont family
Papa Salvat Caumont
Mama Pauline
God has a plane for each child as he called them one by one into the divine vineyard to serve as missionaries. Henri their eldest son was born on December 10, 1871 . He was very talented, gifted with great intelligence and personal charm his father Salvat, passed away in 1888. On completing his studies a later year, Henri made know to his mother, His desire to join the French Capuchin as he felt a strong urge to become a missionary and serve the poorest of the poor in a foreign land.
The senior member of Salvat Caumont’s family member objected strongly to this. They felt that he should earn and support the younger members of the family. His mother Pauline however felt differently. She would not allow anything to come between him and his desire to answer God’s call. Being a person of deep faith, she believed that God in his loving providence would look after her and her children. Henri accordingly joined the French capuchins on August 16, 1889 and ordained a priest on December 19, 1896. A year later he was sent out to India and began his work in the desert of Rajasthan.
The poor people of Rajputana were suffering from their traditional isolation and lack of education. The literacy rate was only 10% Girls in the cities as well as in the ruler area were prisoners of prejudice and the strict purdah system. The French brothers were able to do little or nothing for the women. On January 7, 1903 Rev. Henri Caumont was appointed perfect Apostolic and later in 1913 he was appointed and consecrated as the First Bishop of the newly created diocese of Ajmer Rajputana.
In his farsightedness he realised that only dedicated consecrated Indians girls would be able to help women and girls in Rajputana. He approached the French Nuns in Ajmer i.e. the religious of St Mary’s of the Angels. However, his request was turned down due to the internal rules of the SMA. Eventually, He sought permission from Pope St. Pius X and founded two congregations the Prabudasi Sisters of Ajmer in 1906 and the Mission Sisters of Ajmer on April 26, 1911.
Fr. Henri F. Caumont
Fr. Gregory
Back home in the far away France his Brother Charles had joined the French capuchins and has received the name Fr Gregory. Joseph the youngest son also joined the same order but remained as a brother. He took the name Brother Gatian. Both these brothers came to India Rajputana and took the tough, dusty road to the mission. Henri’s sister, Matilda had joined the Nuns of St. Mary of the Angels. She took the name Mother Mary Fortunat. She too, came to Rajputana and later, at the request of Bishop Caumont became the co-Foundress of the P.S.A. Sisters.
When Mama Pauline got to know that her younger daughter, Josephine had also decided to become a missionary like her brothers and sisters, she too was inspired to spend the rest of her life working for the poorest of the poor in the Missions.
Having provided for her youngest daughter, she herself joined the SMA nuns. She was called Mother M. Felicity. She had the unique privilege of being received the Religious life by her own son Henri, who had been ordained a priest by then in September 1897.
Matilda and Josephine
Later as Mother M. Fortunata S.M.A. & Mother M. Matilda S.M.A
Her son at the same time also officiated at the profession ceremony of his sister Mother M Fortunata. Mother M Felicity came to Rajputana and spend her days looking after the tribal’s of Thandla in M.P. She went to her eternal reward on 14 October 1909 after being blessed by her Priest son Father Henri Caumont. Her mortal remains were laid to rest in Thandla.
The tomb stone which has crossed a hundred years looks simple but for us it is a hallowed spot because it contains the mortal remains of a heroic woman who means so much to us.
The last member of the Caumont family to leave home, was not at all the least. In fact, she was no other than our beloved Mother M Malida who arrived in Rajputana soon after making her final Commitment on August 12, 1903. In 1911, Mother M Malida received her ‘obedience’ to be the co-foundress of the Congregation of the Mission sisters of Ajmer. She was barely 30 at this time, but putting her trust in God and filled with zeal for the spread of his name, She accepted the challenge and worked with great courage till the day of her golden jubilee-12 August 1950. At 10 am on August 19, our beloved ‘mother’ suffered a massive heart attack. It shattered all the plans of the sisters to celebrate her Golden Jubilee. It was a reminder that God’s ways are not our ways.
The last member of the Caumont family to leave us was Mother M Fortunata. She died at a ripe old age in the year 1958. Perhaps we should raise our eyes in a classic military salute to the family that has become a role model for all families and the very epitome of the ultimate family sacrifice.
Mother M. Matilda