Bl. Pierre Bonhomme

Pierre Bonhomme was born in Gramat, south-west France, in 1803 and ordained in 1827. While still a deacon he opened a school for boys, and as a young priest he started a group for girls of the town.

As parish priest of Gramat he was moved by the neglect of poor, old and sick people. He founded the Sisters of Our Lady of Calvary to care for them; the sisters later also taught deaf children and ran schools. He travelled widely as a preacher. He died in 1861 and was beatified in 2003.

Pierre Bonhomme was beatified in 2003.

Beatification allows public veneration, usually in a particular region or religious family. Canonization extends it to the whole Church.