Rev. Derek Fernandes Appointed as the new Bishop of Belgaum
Bangalore : His Holiness, Pope Francis has appointed His Excellency Most Rev. Derek Fernandes (64), until now Bishop of Karwar, as the new Bishop of Belgaum on 1 May, 2019.
Bishop Derek Fernandes, was born on 14 May, 1954, in Sirsi, Karnataka, in the then Diocese of Belgaum. He was ordained priest for the Diocese of Belgaum on 5 May, 1979. He has a doctorate in Canon Law from the Urbaniana University, Rome. He was assistant parish priest and then parish priest of Holy Cross church (1979-1983); parish priest of Immaculate Heart of Mary church at Modage (1983-1986); chancellor and procurator of the diocese of Belgaum (1991-2002); Diocesan administrator of Belgaum (2004-2006).
He was appointed Bishop of Karwar on 24 February, 2007 and ordained on 20 April, 2007. He is a priest for 39 years and a Bishop for 12 years.