PANAJI: Fr José Remedios Fernandes (77) has been relieved of the post of Vicar General of the Archdiocese, a position he had served for about 21 years. In an official communication, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao expressed “deep appreciation for his valuable services to the Archdiocese and with the hope that he will continue to make the same available to the Archdiocese to the extent possible.” Fr Fernandes has been authorised to reside at the See Cathedral in Old Goa, and to help the parish priest in the pastoral ministry.
Hailing from Cansaulim, Fr Fernandes was ordained April 28, 1973 and served as professor at Rachol Seminary shortly after his ordination and was then sent to Rome to pursue further studies.
Fr Fernandes returned to teach at the Rachol Seminary and was later posted as Director of the Pastoral Institute at Old Goa. In 1994, Fr Fernandes was appointed Chancellor of the diocese and was later appointed as vicar general of the archdiocese in 2004. Auxiliary Bishop Simiao Fernandes presently serves also as the vicar general of the archdiocese.
