CAHAGNE, TAURIN

CAHAGNE, Taurin. – Born at Heubécourt (Eure department) on 27 May 1826, died at Carcassonne on 1 September 1899. He was ordained a priest among the Capuchin Friars Minor of the Toulouse province (1856), in which he served as definitor and guardian. Missionary in Ethiopia (1866), he assisted Abp. G. Massaia in Shoa, who consecrated him titular Bishop of Adrianta (1874). Exiled by order of Ati Joannes to King Menelik (1879), he succeeded Massaia—who was detained in Europe—as Apostolic Vicar of the Galla countries, establishing his see at Harrar (1881). Despite persecutions and hardships, he founded nine stations with 700 neophytes, a seminary, two communities of Franciscan Sisters of Calais with orphanages and dispensaries. He published religious works in the Oromo language, for which he composed the alphabet.