Born: Vieux-Condé (Nord), June 12, 1826.
Took the habit: Nancy, November 20, 1847.
Vows: Nancy, November 21, 1848 (N. 226).
Priestly ordination: Marseilles, May 25, 1850.
Died: Jaffna, Ceylon, October 6, 1896.

Léon Charles Mauroit was born on June12, 1826 in Vieux-Condé, diocese of Cambrai, France. He was the second of five children born to Theodore Mauroit and Agathe Merlin. Three of the five became Oblates, one became a diocesan priest and the girl joined a convent. Léon studied in Tourcoing college and did one year of theology in the major seminary of Cambrai. Having heard a talk given by Father Baveux, he decided to become a missionary and began his novitiate in Nancy on November 20, 1847. He took his vows there on November 21, 1848. The report of the novice master, Father Jacques Santoni, for June 1848, tells us that: “This novice truly has many virtues, a great piety among other things, a great love for obedience, a real community spirit and a great attachment to his vocation. His talents seem sufficient and are combined with much good sense and a love for work. He is also very open and presents himself well.” After two years in the major seminary in Marseilles, Bishop de Mazenod ordained him priest on May 25, 1850 and immediately sent him to Ceylon where he arrived on August 24.

His first assignment was to Point Pedro (1850-1852) and the surrounding missions. He lived at Puloly. From 1852 to 1857 he was assistant to Father Étienne Semeria in the cathedral of Jaffna and then he succeeded him as pastor from 1857 to 1868. There was plenty of work because the parish had 6,000 Catholics and there were numerous outstations. In Jaffna, there were cholera epidemics in 1855, 1862, 1864 and 1866 and many died. In 1868, Bishop Christophe Bonjean succeeded Bishop Semeria and he chose Father Mauroit as his personal secretary. Then he appointed him Procurator for the Vicariate in 1875. Father Mauroit was the delegate of the vicariate at the General Chapter of 1879. On his return to Ceylon, he was appointed vicar general and administrator of the Catholic press, positions which he held until his death. He went to live at the church of Saint James in Gurunagar where he was pastor for a number of years. He was recognized as the architect of the diocese and the chief liturgist. Again in 1887 he attended the general Chapter as delegate from the mission vicariate.

Father Jesuthasan Philip ends his note on Father Mauroit with these words: “Father Mauroit served under five bishops: Bettachini, Semeria, Bonjean, Mélizan and Joulain… His principal work was the temporal administration of the diocese and it is due to his prudent administration that we owe, for the most part, the remarkable progress of the diocese in the matter of schools, churches and other enterprises, using the scarce resources provided by the faithful.”

He died in Jaffna on October 6, 1896, surrounded by the priests and Brothers of the vicariate who had assembled for the annual retreat. He is buried in Saint Mary’s cemetery.

Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.