COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Diocese of Columbus has a new Bishop.
Father Earl Fernandes was ordained and installed as the new leader for Columbus Tuesday afternoon at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Westerville.
On April 2, Pope Francis announced Fernandes' appointment as the 13th bishop for Columbus.
Fernandes is replacing Bishop Robert J. Brennan who was installed as Bishop in Brooklyn in November 2021.
A native of Toledo, Fernandes is the son of Indian immigrants and the fourth of five boys.
Fernandes comes to Columbus with 20 years of experience serving his community, through his work as a dean, pastor, associate professor, high school teacher, retreat leader and more.
He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Toledo and came to Cincinnati to study at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine before discerning a vocation to the priesthood.
Fernandes was ordained to the priesthood on May 18, 2002. Most recently he has been serving as pastor of St. Ignatius of Loyola Church in Cincinnati since 2019.
He is the published author of one book and numerous articles and essays and has given presentations, talks, and retreats around the country. He has been a regular contributor to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s magazine The Catholic Telegraph.
He holds a doctorate of moral theology from the Alphonsian Academy in Rome.