Media Release
New Delhi, May 1: His holiness Pope Francis has appointed Fr Derek Fernandes as the bishop of Belgaum according to the communication received by Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, SFX, secretary, General of Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) from the Apostolic Nunciature.
An announcement in this regard was made in Rome on Wednesday, May 1 at noon, corresponding to 3.30 pm of Indian Standard Time.
Fr Derek Fernandes was born on May 14, 1954 in Sirsi of Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka in the then diocese of Belgaum. He was ordained priest for the diocese of Belgaum on May 5, 1979. He has completed his doctorate in Canon Law from Urbaniana University of Rome.
Fr Derek Fernandes served as assistant parish priest and then promoted as parish priest of Holy Cross Church from 1979-83. He was parish priest of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Modage from 1983 to 1986. He served as a chancellor and procurator of the diocese of Belgaum from 1991-2002. He was the diocesan administrator of Belgaum from 2004 to 2006. He was elected Bishop of Karwar on February 24, 2007 and consecrated on April 20, 2007.