Rt. Rev. Bishop Fortunatus Henri Caumont
( Servant of God)
Rt. Rev. Bishop Fortunatus Henri Caumont (1871-1930)
Our Founder, Rt. Rev. Bishop Fortunatus Henri Caumont was born at Tours in France on December 10, 1871 to monsieur Salvat Caumont and Madame Pauline Caumont. After his studies, he joined the Franciscan capuchins on August 16, 1889 and was ordained a priest on December 19 1896. According to his great desire to serve in the missions after one year in 1897 he arrived in the Rajputana Mission of India he was appointed as Prefect Apostolic on January 7, 1903.
Rajputana was India’s desert region and in more ways than one, it was educationally, socialy and economically backward. Fr. Fortunates Henri Caumont was gifted with a remarkable intelligence, and affectionate nature, keen foresight and strength of character. He had a great desire to help the poor and needy particularly women and girl children who were deprived of their rights. He realized that only women could reach out to them and founded two indigenous congregations for women, the Prabhadasi Sisters of Ajmer in 1906 and the Mission Sister of Ajmer in 1911.
In 1913 Rajputana Mission was raised to the status of a Diocese and Monsignor Fortunatus Henri Caumont was appointed as the first Bishop of the Diocese of Ajmer. He was a man of prayer and self sacrifice, and had a sharp mind and far-seeing vision. In every sense, he was a prophet. People of all faiths were attracted to him, they loved him and respected him.
Bishop Fortunatus Caumont’s aim was to Liberate women through education and empower them to take their rightful place in society. Moved by the plight of women and girls veiled in ‘Purdah’ who were denied education, he started Sophia school in May, 1919.
He also opened many primary schools and dispensaries in nearby villages. He also saw the great need to render medical aid to the women and the poor in the villages. With special permission from the Holy Father, Pope Pius X, he sent one of the sisters, Sr. Mary Soares to study medicine in 1917.
One day while he was on his pastoral tour on horseback in Bhildesh (M.P) he suffered a massive heart attack. His faithful horse carried its master safely to the house of the priest in Jhabua. He was then taken to Indore and taken to Robert Nursing Home.
During those fifteen days in the hospital, all those who came in contact with him were surprised to see his deep faith, forbearance, and his unreserved surrender to the will of God. Day by day his condition became worse and on April 4, 1930 at 11:30 p.m., He surrendered his soul into the hands of Jesus. His last words were “Jesus I love you, without reserve, Amen…Alleluia”!
Bishop Fortunatus Caumont is declared as a ‘Servant of God’ on April 3, 2022 and the process of his beatification is on.
on 5th April 1930
