Background
Fernando, Frank Marcus was born on October 19, 1931 in Chilaw, Sri Lanka. Son of Elaris and Mary Bridget (Pinto) Fernando.
Fernando, Frank Marcus was born on October 19, 1931 in Chilaw, Sri Lanka. Son of Elaris and Mary Bridget (Pinto) Fernando.
Bachelor, University London, 1959. Bachelor Philosophy, Propaganda Fide, Rome, 1953. License Theology, Propaganda Fide, Rome, 1957.
Fernando served as the from his appointment on December 27, 1972, until his retirement on October 19, 2006. The diocese is based in Chilaw, a coastal city north of Colombo. He was officially ordained a Catholic priest in Rome, Italy.
Fernando was first ordained as a bishop on August 19, 1965.
He was further appointed the coadjutor bishop of Chilaw in 1968. Fernando succeeded Edmund Peiris as the on December 27, 1972.
He remained until his retirement on October 19, 2006. Fernando served as the president of the Catholic Bishops" Conference of Sri Lanka.
He became a writer and human rights activist for a number of Catholic and Sri Lankan causes as bishop.
Fernando campaigned strong against a proposed law that would limit religious conversions in Sri Lanka. He also fought against the construction of a coal-fired power plant which many feared would pollute both the environment as well as a Catholic shrine located in the Diocese of Chilaw. Fernando organized rallies and prayer services against the deteriorating human rights, justice, and environmental policies in the country.
Bishop Frank Marcus Fernando died on August 24, 2009, at the age of 77 at a private hospital in Marawila.
His requiem mass was held at the home of the Archbishop of Colombo on August 25. His funeral mass was held at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Chilaw.