PANAJI
Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao has congratulated Rev. Fr Simião Purificação Fernandes on his appointment as auxiliary bishop by Pope Francis.
In a congratulatory statement on behalf of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, Cardinal Ferrao said: “It is with joy and gratitude to God that the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman hails the appointment of Rev. Fr Simião Purificação Fernandes as its Auxiliary Bishop.”
“With hearts uplifted in thanksgiving, we, the Clergy, the Religious and the Faithful of this Archdiocese, extend our warmest felicitations to Fr Simião and pray that God’s grace may accompany him in all his future endeavours, granting him wisdom, courage and compassion, as he takes on the mantle of an Auxiliary Bishop.”
“We pray that the ministry of the Bishop-Elect may be fruitful, his leadership inspired and his decisions guided by the Holy Spirit, following in the footsteps of the greatest Servant-Leader, Jesus Christ.”
“Mindful that Bishop-Elect Simião has been an acknowledged guiding force in the ongoing Synodal Journey of the Church in Goa, we welcome him joyfully, ready to ‘journey together in communion, participation and mission’,” Cardinal Ferrao added.
