We are happy to announce that His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Fr. Simião Purificação Fernandes as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman. The appointment was made public in the Vatican on Saturday, the 6th April, 2024, at 12 noon (3.30 pm IST).
Bishop-Elect Simião Purificação Fernandes was born in Chandor, Goa on 21st December 1967 to Victor Fernandes and Ana Santana Costa, both deceased. Ordained priest on 10th May 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 organization of some of the key apostolates in our 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. He is presently the Director of the Pastoral Institute St. Pius X at Old Goa and the Convenor of the Committee for the Ongoing Formation of Priests.
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.
On this happy occasion, Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao, on behalf of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, is pleased to issue the following congratulatory Statement:
“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 to assist our Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão in shepherding the flock entrusted to his pastoral care.
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.’ ”
