The beginning of the Mission Sisters of Ajmer (MSA) Education System were laid first in 1913 in a school in the city of Ajmer for the poor street children and orphans. It was known as St. Imelda's School.

In 1919 the Rt. Rev. Henry Fortunatus Caumont—our Founder—established the first Sophia School in Ajmer for the education of girls. He was the first Bishop of the Ajmer Diocese which then covered practically the whole of Rajputana (the present Rajasthan).

Hailing from France, Rev. Fr. Fortunatus Caumont, O.F.M. Cap. came to India as a young missionary priest in 1897. A man of vision, he realized that the backwardness and illiteracy of people—especially in rural areas—could be reduced only if women received basic education, particularly the Rajput women. While men enjoyed a princely education in the Princes’ College of Mayo, Ajmer, women’s education was neglected.

Seeing the prime need to uplift women, he undertook a gigantic task in 1911. With the help of his sister, Mother Mary Matilda, he founded an indigenous Congregation, the Mission Sisters of Ajmer, to serve the people of Rajputana. To his Mission Sisters he entrusted the education of girls, and in 1919 he started the first school for them in Ajmer, Rajasthan.

The name and motto he chose reflect his educational ideal: “Sophia” in Greek means WISDOM, and wisdom is summed up in “VACHAN”—the Eternal Word, the source of true wisdom. As educationalists, we are to give true wisdom to the children in our schools and colleges.

In 1930, Bishop Henry Fortunatus Caumont passed away. In him, Mother Mary Matilda lost a staunch supporter and adviser. Over the years, Mother Matilda saw the Sophia School, Ajmer take deep roots and grow into a High School. Through the dedicated work of the Mission Sisters of Ajmer, she was able to establish similar schools in other parts of the country, mainly in the major cities of Rajasthan.