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Son of the soil is Auxiliary Bishop

BishopSon of the red soil of the twin villages of the erstwhile capital of Goa, Rev Simiao Purificacao Fernandes was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman by the Holy Pope Francis on Saturday, April 5.

The 57-year-old priest hailing from Guirdolim was the Director of St Pius X Pastoral Institute at Old Goa where all new priests are trained in their duties and responsibilities.

He was born in the month of Lord Jesus Christ’s birth, on 21st December 1967 to Victor Fernandes and Ana Santana Costa, both of whom must be looking at him with pride from heaven, He was ordained as a diocesan priest on 10th May 1993.

Following his ordination and while fulfilling his priestly duties, he obtained a License at Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and a Doctorate in Biblical Theology at Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune.

Fr Simiao served as an Assistant at Aldona and Assistant Parish Priest at Taleigao. He was the in charge of pastoral care at Sao Pedro parish and later the Parish Administrator of Holy Family at Marcela, before serving as External Professor of Sacred Scriptures in Patriarchal Seminary Rachol. Besides, he was also in charge of the Apostolate for Ecumenism and since 2018 he has been serving at St Pius X Pastoral Institute.

He has also held very sensitive and significant positions in the Archdiocese as since 2021 he is co-ordinating the ongoing formation of clergy and since 2023 he was co-ordinator for Diocesan phase of the 2023 Synod. In addition, he is also Director of Communio of Goa Archdiocese.

Auxiliary Bishop Simiao is truly a son of the red soil of the land as he did his primary education at the Government Primary School, Guirdolim then studied up to Class VII at the parochial school St Joseph’s Educational Institute, Chandor following which he did his SSC at the Saligao Seminary.

His priestly vocation was influenced by late Fr Alvim Esteves and late Fr Cristo Rodrigues, he disclosed once when speaking on how he became a priest.

Even as Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao hailed his appointment, Agostine Antao, former Sarpanch of Guirdolim said: “It is indeed a joyous moment  to witness a fellow villager from Guirdolim being bestowed such an honour by our Holy Father.”