Daijiworld Media Network—Mumbai (CN)
Mumbai, Nov 10: Fr John Fernandes hailing from Mangalore is one among the 16 priests, who have been named for the first ever National Award for Excellence, instituted by the Catholic Priests’ Conference of India (CPCI). He is the professor and head of Chair in Christian Studies at the Mangalore University, Mangalore.
The awards are in recognition of their achievements in different fields of ministry. The awards will be presented at St Pius College, Aarey Road, Goregaon East, during the national get together of diocesan priests scheduled for Wednesday December 3 and Thursday December 4.
Fr John Fernandes
The award consists of a plaque and a citation, which will be given away by Bishop Bosco Penha of Bombay Archdiocese. The recipients have been selected from among 40 nominations received from different dioceses of India. The selection committee was headed by its national president Fr Sebastian Poomattam of Raipur diocese.
CPCI is a national voluntary organization of diocesan priests begun in 1987, with its headquarters in Bangalore (www.cpcibangalore.org). All are welcome to the ceremony. The names and details of the other winners are as follows:
1 Fr Valerian Fernandez (58), Aurangabad / Maharashtra
2 Fr Joseph Muttumana (75), Ernakulam / Kerala
3 Fr Francis J L Britto (65), Mumbai / Maharashtra
4 Fr C J Varkey (87), Thamarassery / Kerala
5 Fr Theodore Lakra (54), Ambikapur / Chhattisgarh
6 Fr Lesser R H (80), Udaipur / Rajastan
7 Fr Zacharias M (74), Jabalpore / Madhya Pradesh
8 Fr Britto F M (57), Raipur /Chhattisgarh
9 Fr Kuriakose Mampilly (57), Ernakulam / Kerala
10 Fr Joseph Chittoor (75), Mananthawady / Kerala
11 Fr Thomas Kulangara (54), Thiruvanandapuram (Malankara) / Kerala
12 Fr Edwin N J (64), Kottar / Tamil Nadu
13 Fr John Mariae (84), Diphu / Assam
14 Fr Allwyn D’Silva (61), Mumbai / Maharashtra
15 Fr Christudas Baba (65), Bettiah / Bihar