Msgr. George Fernandes

He was, intensely, a man of God and through his calling, he established many legacies that have endured. We do not know all of his work, because he was also a man of great humility. Born, in Goa, on April 23, 1903, George was the second son of John Luis Fernandes and Isabella Ratton. After his Matriculation at the Goan Union High School, he joined the Papal Seminary at Kandy, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). He was ordained a priest in the Archdiocese of Bombay on September 23, 1929. Fr. George began his ministry in the Catholic Church as an Assistant at Our Lady of Salvation, Dadar, Bombay where he served for twelve years. He served last at St. Andrew’s, Bandra as a Parish Priest and as a Dean of South-West Salsette from June 1961 till his unexpected death in June, 1970. He also worked as a Diocesan Consultor and was a member of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission. In 1961, he was appointed Domestic Prelate to the Pope and the title of Monsignor was conferred upon him. In his 41 years of Ministry, he served in eight Parishes of the Archdiocese. A creative organizer, an excellent musician, a great educationist, a renowned preacher, a lover of the poor and needy, a pastor first and last – and above all a man of God – the memories of Msgr. George remain fresh forever, for the traits which endeared him to all. He founded the Sunday School at his first Parish – Dadar and was its guiding force in its infant years. He gave it an identity and eventually many other Parishes followed his example. It was due to his initiative, ardent zeal and contagious enthusiasm that Sunday Schools in the Archdiocese grew and still flourish. The founding of the religious congregation – The Poor Sisters of Our Lady – was indeed the crowning achievement of Msgr. George. With a core group of seven young women whom he felt were blessed with the vocation for religious life, he formed a “home grown” Diocesan congregation. Msgr. George was assisted in this work by Very Rev. Fr. J.J. Dias, Vicar of Salvation Church, Dadar, Rev. Fr. Justin D’Souza, Chaplain at Orlem and a few lay people. Msgr. George continued to harvest vocations for our Institute, which had a place of pride in his heart, till the time of his death. On June 2, 1970 at the age of 67, Msgr. George suffered a massive, fatal heart attack. His mortal remains are interred in front of the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Andrew’s Church, Bandra.