Capuchin bishop declared Servant of God

By Matters India Reporter

Ajmer, April 8, 2022: Bishop Pius Thomas D’Souza of Ajmer has declared the first bishop of the northern Indian diocese as a Servant of God, the first stage in the four-phase canonization process in the Catholic Church.

Bishop Fortunatus Henry Caumont was the founder of two indigenous religious congregations – Prabhudasi Sisters of Ajmer and Mission Sisters of Ajmer.

The declaration took place during a Mass April 3 in the Ajmer cathedral church.

The Mass began with an entrance procession carrying Bishop Caumont’s portrait. It was placed before the altar and garlanded by Bishop D’Souza who led the Mass.

Emeritus Bishop Ignatius Menezes of Ajmer, Bishops Oswald J Lewis of Jaipur and Chacko Thottumarickal of Indore diocese assisted him along with Father Skylark George, head of the Capuchin’s Krist Jyoti province, North India.

Bishop Thottumarickal, a Divine Word prelate, in his introductory message, mentioned the “walks the talk” quality of the pioneer missionary in Rajputana Mission.

Bishop Menezes, in his homily, highlighted Bishop Caumont’s visionary characteristics. The prelate had worked relentlessly and tirelessly for long hours every day, Bishop Menezes added.

Bishop D’Souza read the declaration according to the guidance of Capuchin Father Carlo Calloni, the postulator from Rome. Bishop Lewis led the intercessory prayer.

Among those present were Prabhudasi superior general Sister Joicy and Mission Sister of Ajmer leader Sister Sabine. Large number of lay people from Rajasthan another northern Indian diocese too attended the ceremonies.

Bishop Caumont was born December 10, 1871, as one of the eight children of Salvat Caumont and Pauline Caumont in France’s industrial city of Tours.

Three children died in infancy.

In 1879, Henry joined the school and in 1883 he received the First Holy Communion. He served daily Mass and was impressed by the sermons of Abey Moras. It was at this time that he thought of celibacy and priesthood.

A year after his father’s death, Henry entered the novitiate of the Capuchins at Lemans in the province of Paris on August 15, 1889, where he received the habit and was named Brother Fortunat. As a young Capuchin, he had requested to be sent to the Missions. He made final profession in September 1893 and was ordained a priest on December 19, 1896.

His superiors gave him permission to leave for the Rajputana Mission in India. He arrived in Rajputana on December 16, 1897 and worked in mission stations such as Jabhua, Mhow, Neemuch, and Khurda.

He was in-charge of orphanage. When famine and epidemic hit the region, he acted as a caretaker, pastor, guide, mentor and savior for the people.

He was appointed Prefect Apostolic of Rajputana Mission on January 27, 1903. He was made the first bishop of Rajputana on May 22, 1913, and his consecration ceremony was held at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Ajmer on October 28, 1913.

He was moved seeing the spiritual and physical barrenness of Rajasthani people. He focused on reaching out to women with the Gospel. But the prevalent pardah (veil) system in India did not allow men to talk to women.

He realized that women can reach out to other women and hence started the “Prabhudasi Sisters” (Handmaids of the Lord) in Ajmer on May 24, 1906.

The congregation effectively preached the Gospel not only in Rajasthan but also in other parts of northern India.

In 1911, he founded another congregation – the Mission Sisters of Ajmer.

He died on April 4, 1930.