Angelo Innocent Fernandes

His Excellency Angelo Innocent Fernandes
Archbishop of New Delhi
File:Angelo Fernandes.jpg Archbishop Angelo Innocent Fernandes
Church	Sacred Heart Cathedral
Archdiocese	New Delhi
Province	Delhi State
Metropolis	New Delhi
See	New Delhi
Appointed	16 September 1967
Term ended	27 January 1991
Predecessor	Archbishop Joseph Fernandes
Successor	Archbishop Alan Basil de Lastic
Orders
Ordination	29 August 1937 by Bishop Nicolas Laudadio S.J.
Consecration	1 November 1959 by Valerian Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop j. Fernandes, Archbishop V.Dyer
Personal details
Birth name	Angelo Innocent Fernandes
Born	(1913-07-28)28 July 1913 Karachi
Died	New Delhi
Buried	Interred in crypt in Sacred Heart Cathedral
Nationality	Indian
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Residence	Archbishop's House, New Delhi
Parents	John Ligorio and Evelyn Sabina-Fernandes
Education	STL, DD
Motto	In Aedificationem Corporis Christi
Coat of arms	[[File:220px|50px|Angelo Innocent Fernandes's coat of arms|alt=]]

Biography

Archbishop Fernandes (1913–2000) was born into a devout Catholic family of the late John Ligorio and Evelyn Sabina Fernandes in Karachi, Pakistan (then part of India). He schooled there at St. Patrick’s High School and continued to St. Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalore to prepare for his priestly studies. He graduated from the famed Papal University, Kandy, Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and was ordained on 29 August 1937 in the Archdiocese of Bombay.

Before his transfer to New Delhi (Capital of India) as Coadjutor Archbishop he was Rector of the Cathedral of the Holy Name, Bombay having served as Secretary to Archbishop Roberts and also the late Valerian Cardinal Gracias as his secretary. He was consecrated by His Eminence Valerian Cardinal Gracias on 1 November 1959 on the very grounds where his funeral mass was held. He was Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (1960–1972). Initially he was engaged in pastoral work in Bombay including the fields of education and social service. From 1966-1976 he was appointed Consultor and later member of the Pontifical Academy "Justice and Peace" concerned actively with world cooperation for development at all levels and furtherance of world peace. He was also a member of the Secretariate of the World Synod of Bishops (1971–1974).

Nominated in 1963 by Pope John XXIII to be a member of the Vatican Council Commission "De Episcopis et Diocesium Regimine". In 1964 Co-opted as member of the Commission "Pro Ecclesia in mundo hujus temporis" Archbishop Fernandes had important links with the Government of India and was considered as an important and eminent invitee for various State Functions. For the Gandhi Centenary Year he was a member of the National Intergarion Committee. In many respects he was Gandhi-like in both attitude and lifestyle.

International scope of work

Archbishop has lectured on religion and philosophy and on educational and cultural matters to all types of audiences in India, the Far East, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Great Britain, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Italy and all parts of the USA. His radio talks have been largely on All India Radio, Radio Vaticana, National Broadcasting Corporation-New York, Radio Eirenean, BBC, Radio Koln and KRO-the Netherlands.

He did a World Tour under the auspices of the Christian Family Movement. And also in connection with Ecumenical Meetings on Development, Justice and Peace. Officially to Russia as leader of the Vatican delegation to the Russian Orthodox Church. In connection with multi-religious work in the fields of human rights, development, disarmament, environme nt he travelled to Turkey, Scotland, England, Finland, USA, Japan, Singapore, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan, various European countries and Canada. He also visited Sri Lanka, Burma, Iran, Aden, Mauritius, Israel, Portugal, Spain, France, Poland, Sweden, East Germany.

World Conference on Religion and Peace

The World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP) is an international organization of representatives of the world's major religious traditions who meet to study and act upon global problems affecting peace, justice, and human survival (disarmament). Five world conferences have been held: Kyoto, 1970; Louvain, 1974; Princeton, 1979; Nairobi, 1984; and Melbourne, 1989 as well as numerous regional assemblies. From 1970-1984, the international headquarters in New York was directed by Homer A. Jack, Secretary-General. The headquarters was moved to Geneva, Switzerland in 1984.The collection includes meeting minutes (1970–1987); correspondence (1968–1984); WCRP publications, reports, press releases, financial records, Homer Jack's notes and memoranda on meetings, photographs and sound tape recordings. Materials relating to the major world conferences include minutes of preparatory committees, correspondence with participants, background material, and conference documents, resolutions, and reports. Major subject areas are disarmament and human rights. Archbishop Fernandes was a founding member in Kyoto, Japan. He was elected its first President of WCRP and served as President from 1970-1984. He attended all the World Conferences. Papal Visit to New Delhi-1986

Publications

• 1. "Humanization-A Process of Love": St. Paul Publications, Allahabad
• 2. "The Role of Religious in the Mystical Body": CRI-Women, Calcutta
• 3. "The Role of Religion in a Technological; World": St. Paul, Allahabad
• 4. "Renewal & Adaptation of Religious Life": CRU-Calcutta
• 5. "The Role of the Family in a Changing World": Nirmala Press, Ernakulam
• 6. "The Role of Good People in Society": St. Paul Publications, Allahabad
• 7. "Religion and Peace": St. Paul Publications, Allahabad
• 8. "Religion and the Quality of Life": Sanjivan Publication Assoc., New Delhi
• 9. "Religion and a New World Order": Sanjivan Publication Assoc., New Delhi
• 10. "Apostolic Endeavour": St. Paul Publications, Allahabad
• 11. "Towards Peace and Justice"-1981
• 12. "God’s Rule and Man’s Role"-1982
• 13. "Summons to Dialogue"-1983
• 14. "The Christian Way Today"-1987
• 15. "As You Pray So You Live"-1992
• 16. "Building Bridges-The Missing Dimension in Education"-1993
• 17. "Experience in Dialogue"-1994
• 18. "Vatican Two Revisited"-1996

Personal life

Archbishop Fernandes’ mother tongue was English, but he also spoke Konkani, Latin, Hindi, Italian and a smattering of French. His interests other than reading and writing, was in classical music, violin and took a keen interest in sports, but actively in swimming. His Family-Archbishop Fernandes had a younger brother Stanislaus (deceased 2004) and an older brother Emil (deceased 1994). They are survived by Emil’s sons-Melvyn, Robin, Geoffrey, Kevin and Dana all of whom reside in Canada (Toronto and environs).