Francis Xavier Kroot

Francis was born to Henry Kroot and Joanne Schrauwerson on 7 December 1854 at Zwolle, Holland. He attended a Catholic boarding school at Roermond, Holland, where he studied music, and calligraphy and mastered French, German and Italian.^[2][3]

Francis studied at the minor seminary at Culemborg and completed his philosophy and theology from St. Josephs Seminary, Mill Hill London. He was ordained a priest on 8 June 1878 by Herbert Vaughan.^[2][3]

On 8 August 1878, Francis was sent to Madras, India as a missionary priest where he served as Seminary Rector at Nellore. In 1897 he served as the Army Chaplain of Fort St. George, Madras, and also an Editor of Catholic Watchman magazine. He founded the congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Fatima on 8 February 1893 at Bellary, Karnataka.^[2][3][4]