Bangalore 3 February 2023 (CCBI): Bishop Emeritus Anthony Fernandes (86) of Bareilly, passed away on Friday 3 February 2023 at 05.52 am at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Ghaziabad. His funeral was conducted on 6 February 2023 and laid to rest in the clergy cemetery at Harunagla.
He was born on 6 July 1936 at Kalathur, Udupi, Karnataka. After his High School studies at Don Bosco School, Shriva, Karnataka in the diocese of Udupi, he joined the Diocese of Varanasi. He had his initial formation at St. Paul’s Minor Seminary, in Lucknow. He completed his Philosophical and Theological studies from St. Joseph’s Regional Seminary in Allahabad. He was Ordained priest during the Eucharistic Congress held in Mumbai on December 2, 1964. He was serving as Vicar General of Varanasi when he was appointed the first Bishop of Bareilly on January 19, 1989. His ordination as bishop followed on March 29, 1989, at St. Alphonsus Cathedral, Bareilly.
He had served the National Church as a member of the commission for Laity. At the Regional level he was the Chairman for Family Commission and the Regional Bible Institute. He retired from his active episcopal ministry on 11 July 2014. He is a priest for 59 years and a bishop for 35 years.
Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara
Deputy Secretary General, CCBI