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Bishop Malesic participates in ordination, installation of new Columbus bishop

News of the Diocese

June 2, 2022

Bishop Malesic participates in ordination, installation of new Columbus bishop

Hundreds of bishops, clergy, religious and lay faithful, including Bishop Edward Malesic, attended the liturgies and celebration for the ordination and installation of new Columbus Bishop Earl Fernandes earlier this week.

A livestreamed Mass of ordination and installation was celebrated at 2 p.m. May 31 in St. Paul the Apostle Church, Westerville. Bishop Malesic was among the bishops who participated in the laying of hands during the ordination. Cincinnati Archbishop Dennis Schnurr was the main celebrant. Co-consecrators were Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio for the United States, and Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop Fernandes’ predecessor in Columbus.

Vespers also were livestreamed at 7 p.m. May 30 from St. Andrew Church in Columbus the evening before the ordination/installation.

Bishop Malesic participates in ordination, installation of new Columbus bishop

Bishop Fernandes, who will turn 50 on Sept. 21, is the 13th bishop of the Diocese of Columbus. He replaces Bishop Brennan, whom Pope Francis named as the eighth bishop of Brooklyn, New York last September. Bishop Brennan was installed as bishop of Columbus in March 2019 and was installed as bishop of Brooklyn Nov. 30, 2021.

When Bishop Fernandes’ appointment was announced on April 2, Bishop Malesic released the following statement: “Today, the Holy See announced that Pope Francis has appointed Father Earl K. Fernandes as bishop-elect of Columbus. I applaud the Holy Father’s appointment of Father Fernandes and I welcome him as the new shepherd of the Catholic faithful of Columbus. Said to be a priest of strong intellect and unwavering energy, I look forward to getting to know Bishop-elect Fernandes and working with him as together we address the needs and concerns of the Catholic community in Ohio through the Ohio Conference of Catholic Bishops. May God bless Bishop-elect Fernandes always as he begins his new and very important ministry.”

A native of Toledo, Bishop Fernandes was ordained May 18, 2002 for service to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. He is the first priest of Indian American descent in the United States.

Until his elevation as bishop, he served as pastor of St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish in Cincinnati. Bishop Fernandes also served on the staff of the apostolic nunciature in Washington, D.C. 2016-2019. In addition, he has served as dean of Mount St. Mary Seminary in Cincinnati and as a member of the board of trustees at Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, as well as an assistant professor, author, speaker and retreat master. He is fluent in Italian, Spanish and French.

Bishop Malesic participates in ordination, installation of new Columbus bishop

During the ordination/installation Mass, Archbishop Pierre noted it was significant that Bishop Fernandes was being installed in a church dedicated to an apostle. “The office of bishop has apostolic origins. The Church is apostolic. She teaches what the apostles taught and the bishops inherited the office from the apostles and perpetuate their ministry,” he added.

In remarks at the end of the Mass, the newly installed bishop thanked the many people who helped shape him, offering a special debt of gratitude to his parents who had the biggest impact on his life, he said.

In a bit of good-natured teasing, he noted that Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing, Michigan – the only other bishop in the world who is named Earl -- was in attendance at the Mass. Bishop Fernandes elicited laughter and applause from the congregation when he mentioned the longtime rivalry between Ohio State University, located in Columbus, and “the other university (in Michigan) whose name shall not be mentioned in a holy place.”

Bishop Malesic participates in ordination, installation of new Columbus bishop

On a more serious note, the new bishop acknowledged the service of the priests, clergy, religious and faithful in the Columbus Diocese. “I want to work with you so you can exercise your ministry with joy,” he told the priests. “Today is a great celebration for the people of God and especially the Diocese of Columbus,” he added.

The Diocese of Columbus was erected March 3, 1868. It encompasses 11,310 square miles and has a population of about 2.8 million, of which about 207,000 are Catholic. There are 105 parishes and 53 schools in the diocese.

Photos provided by the Diocese of Columbus.

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