PANAJI
Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Fr Simião Purificação Fernandes as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, assigning him the titular see of Salde.
The bishop-elect will assist Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão in shepherding the flock entrusted to his pastoral care.
The appointment of Bishop-Elect Fernandes, who is presently the Director of St Pius X Pastoral Institute at Old Goa and the Convenor of the Committee for the Ongoing Formation of Priests, was made public in the Vatican on Saturday at 12 noon (3.30 pm IST), stated the Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media (DCSCM).
Bishop-Elect Fernandes was born in Chandor on December 21, 1967 to Victor Fernandes and Ana Santana Costa, both deceased. Ordained priest on May 10, 1993, after his seminary studies in the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol, he obtained a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and a Doctorate in Biblical Theology at the Jnana Deepa Pontifical Athenaeum in Pune.
He worked as an Assistant Parish Priest in the parishes of Aldona and Taleigão and as a Parochial Administrator in the parishes of Marcela and São Pedro.
For most part of his priestly life, he was involved in the organisation of some of the key apostolates in the Archdiocese, as Secretary of the Diocesan Commission for Liturgy, Joint Secretary of the Diocesan Commission for Biblical Apostolate and Coordinator of the Apostolate of Ecumenism. At the same time he taught Sacred Scripture and Pastoral Theology at the Seminary of Rachol.
While continuing as the Director of the Pastoral Institute, where a year’s programme of Pastoral Enrichment for Deacons is being conducted, he was also, more recently, appointed as the Convenor of the Coordinating Team for the Diocesan Phase of the Synod 2023-2024 and as a Member of the Committee for the Solemn Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St. Francis Xavier.
He has been carrying out all his challenging responsibilities with great competence and sense of commitment, the DCSCM added.
Incidentally, 1993 is a significant year for both prelates as Bishop-elect Fernandes was ordained priest and Cardinal Ferrão was appointed auxiliary bishop that year.
