76-year-old Indian Bishop Isidore Fernandes passed away from a massive heart attack at Nazareth Hospital, Allahabad, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at 5.30 pm.
His funeral ceremony will occur on April 29, 2023, at 10 am in St. Joseph's Seminary, Prayagraj, Allahabad, India. He served as Bishop of Allahabad between August 4, 1988, and January 31, 2013.
On January 2, 1947, he was born in Shirva (Our Lady of Health Church), Karnataka, originally a part of the Diocese of Mangalore and since then a part of the Diocese of Udupi.
As the eldest of five siblings, he is the son of Casmir Fernandes and Lucy Fernandes. His sister Florin Fernandes is a member of the Congregation of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, and he has two brothers and two sisters.
After finishing his studies at St. Mary's High School in Shirva, Udupi, Karnataka, he entered St. Paul's Minor Seminary in Lucknow on July 1, 1963. He was then sent to the Papal Seminary in Pune to study philosophy and theology.
On October 29, 1972, Bishop William Gomes, then Bishop of Poona, ordained him a priest for the Diocese of Allahabad.
During his priesthood, he served in several capacities, including assistant parish priest at Holy Rosary Church, Pratapgarh, vice principal of St Joseph's College in Allahabad, director of the Nazareth Hospital in Allahabad, prosecutor of the diocese, principal of St Joseph's College, Allahabad, and vicar general of the Diocese of Allahabad.
Pope St. John Paul II appointed Father Fernandes as Bishop of Allahabad on May 5, 1988, at 41, after Bishop Baptist Mudartha retired.
His Episcopal ordination occurred at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Allahabad on August 4, 1988, by Bishop Cecil D'Sa, the Archbishop of Agra.
Additionally, he served as a member of the National Youth Office (CBCI) and the National Commission for Dialogue and Ecumenism (CBCI).
Besides that, he served on the CCBI Commission for Evangelization, as Chairman of the Youth Commission at the Agra Regional level, and as Chairman of St. Joseph's Regional Seminary, Allahabad, for three consecutive terms.
As of January 31, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI accepted Bishop Fernandes' resignation from the Diocese of Allahabad, where he served as a priest for fifty years and as a Bishop for 34 years.
The funeral ceremony will be online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6hcdQG7ow8
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