Spending the past month and a half or so talking to people about Bishop Earl Fernandes provided valuable insights into the man who was chosen to lead the Diocese of Columbus as its 13th bishop. Common themes emerged.
He’s highly intelligent, he’s humble, he loves his vocation as a priest, he remembers your name, he’s loyal, he makes time to listen, he loves his family and supporting families, and he’s a man of great faith.
From Toledo, where he was raised and graduated to high school and college; to his first priestly assignment in Sidney, Ohio; to his parishioners in Cincinnati, where he became a parish pastor for the first time; and to his colleagues in the seminary and priesthood, they couldn’t say enough good things about him.
Of course, what member of the Church or the clergy would say anything bad about a bishop, right? But it’s pretty easy to tell when people are being sincere or when they’re just being gratuitous, and everyone – everyone – exuded nothing but sincerity.
Parishioners at most parishes appreciate their priests for their dedicated service and sacrifices, but at the churches in Sidney and Cincinnati, where he served at the beginning of his priesthood and right before coming to Columbus as bishop, respectively, there seemed to be an even greater appreciation, in part because they could see this man is extraordinarily gifted and talented.
He’s an academic, but he never makes anyone feel like he’s an elitist. His brothers say he is academically blessed but humble. The new bishop breezed through high school, college and two years of medical school before he decided to pursue a calling to the sacrament of Holy Orders.
Some people are smart and want you to know it. Not so in this case. He can carry on a conversation about Ohio State football or which restaurant offers the best chicken wings as easily as he can discuss moral theology and medical ethics.
The defining characteristic of this man, though, can be traced to his family and his upbringing.
His devout parents, Sydney and Thelma, instilled in their five sons that their Catholic faith took precedence. Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Litany of Loreto, Angelus, Regina Coeli were everyday parts of life and were non-negotiable, whether the boys wanted to pray or not.
Sunday Mass was never missed, and daily Mass and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament were big parts of their lives.
His parents also lived simply and humbly.
They came to the United States from India in 1970 with only a few dollars in their pocket and the promise of a better life in America, leaving behind their relatives.
Sydney was a highly respected physician, but the family did not live a life of privilege. He resided in a small house in a poor neighborhood on the east side of the city until the boys were teenagers. They shared bedrooms.
The five brothers will tell you they weren’t saints. They engaged in mischief like most boys. When they did, they had to answer for it to their parents.
In school, the five were stalwarts, all graduating from Toledo St. Francis de Sales High School. Three became medical doctors, one a judge and the other now a bishop who spent two years in medical school. From a career standpoint, they are high achievers.
At the installation and ordination Mass on Tuesday, May 31, at Westerville St. Paul Church, the four brothers and their families watched with joy as their brother and uncle joined the successors of the Apostles. One brother, Trevor, is a deacon in the Ukrainian Catholic Church and proclaimed the Gospel during the Mass.
Sadly, the bishop’s beloved parents weren’t able to share this moment in person. Sydney died in 2019 at age 82. Thelma has been in and out of the hospital in the Toledo area with health issues and suffering from dementia. She was too ill to travel.
She did, however, receive the news of his appointment as bishop from her son, Earl, firsthand before it was announced to the public on April 2. Then-Bishop-elect Fernandes made a special trip to see her.
Several weeks later, one of the bishop’s brothers, Ashley, visited her and asked if she was excited about Earl becoming a bishop. He wasn’t sure whether she would remember hearing about it, but she broke out in a big smile, confirming that she understood.
Now that the installation and ordination are over, the new bishop will dive into his role. His calendar is already filled for the next month and beyond.
He’ll face challenges and decisions as a new member of the Church hierarchy. Some will be difficult.
He’ll be asked to speak with a prophetic and thoughtful voice for the diocese on issues such as shortages of vocations, violence, abortion, euthanasia, poverty, potential parish closings and mergers and the like.
But from all accounts, he’ll be up to the challenge. He’ll no doubt be guided by faith and reason – the bedrocks of a firm foundation that began with nurturing from his parents.
As he begins a new ministry, pray for him.
