Much loved Chief Shepherd of the Archdiocese

Commodore Shemal Fernando, RSP, USP, MSc

Seventy-five is an impressive innings in human affairs and is fully worth a remembrance. When such a period of time passes in the life span of a distinguished Sri Lankan, who has served mankind, it deserves to be remembered with thanksgiving. Of all the vocations, there can be nothing better than the honour bestowed to serve in the vineyard of the God Almighty.

The Most Rev. Dr. Nicholas Marcus Fernando, the Archbishop Emeritus of Colombo who spearheaded almost the entire pastoral weight of work of the Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka and guided the Catholic flock as the Chief Shepherd for well nigh 25 years from 1977 to 2002 celebrated his 75th birthday on December 6.

Archbishop Fernando is a man of utter simplicity, disarming humility and of patient holiness and piety.

During his courageous religious duty which span over 48 years, he endeared himself to the poor and the rich alike. He was like the good and faithful servant in the parable - he was faithful in small matters, therefore, he was put in charge of great matters.

With constancy and care, he laboured along with the priests, religious lay catechists and the faithful for a quarter century for not only the effective promotion of evangelization of the people but also for the provision of earthly needs of the citizens and social progress of all.

From his fruitful Episcopal activity, there has resulted strengthening of Catholic bonds, an abundance of holy vocations and flourishing ecclesiastical organizations.

The most significant historical and spiritual moment in the life of Archbishop Fernando was perhaps welcoming the Pope John Paul II to Sri Lanka for a 2 day historical visit during which the beatification of Fr. Joseph Vaz, the Apostle of Sri Lanka took place at the Galle Face Green on 20th January 1995.

The Vatican had requested His Excellency Carlo Kuris, the then Apostolic Nuncio in Colombo to look for a suitable candidate to succeed Cardinal Thomas Cooray, OMI. His Excellency Kuris was aware that he was looking for a successor to the great Cardinal.

And when he got the news from the Holy Father on 30th March 1977, he rushed to the National Seminary in Kandy, where Archbishop Fernando was serving to announce the nomination of Msgr. Nicholas Marcus Fernando as the new Archbishop of Colombo.

At the age of 44, Archbishop Fernando became the youngest to be appointed to the office. Archbishop Nicholas Marcus Fernando was consecrated as the 7th Archbishop of Colombo on 14th May 1977 by his predecessor, His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Cooray and passed the torch to guide the destines of the Catholic flock in Sri Lanka.

Archbishop Fernando is the first diocesan priest to be appointed an Archbishop in the history of Sri Lanka. His predecessor Cardinal Thomas Cooray as well as five who preceded were Oblate Missionaries.

Archbishop Fernando hails from the fishing hamlet of Munnakkara in "Little Rome" - Negombo. He was born on 6th December 1932 as the second child of very humble and pious parents - late Kurukulasuriya Wilfred Severinus Fernando and late Kurukulasuriya Mary Lily Fernando, who valued the proper upbringing and the endowments of spiritual values to their children.

Archbishop Fernando had his early education at the Roman Catholic Mixed School in Munnakkara. Then, he crossed over to the renowned Catholic educational institution, St. Mary's College, Negombo, where he had a brilliant career and was beckoned by God to His vineyard to enable him to fulfil his allotted vacation.

Responding with devotion to the Divine call, Nicholas Marcus entered St. Aloysius Seminary, Borella and passed the SSC Examination with an exemption from the London Matriculation in 1949, the London University Inter-Arts Examination in 1951, the London University BA Examination in 1953 and entered St. Bernard's Major Seminary in 1953 for his Philosophical studies.

In the seminary, he set his goals straight and chartered the correct course. His perfection was to seek God's will and fulfil it and as a result glory and honour followed him - as the day follows the night. And the day dawned for young Nicholas Marcus to approach the altar which in turn paved him the way to reach the helm of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka.

In 1953, he entered St. Bernard's Seminary to continue his ecclesiastical studies and did very well as a student. He was sent to Collegio Propaganda Fide Rome in 1954 to pursue his studies and obtained double Baccalaureates and Licentiates in Philosophy and Theology from the Urban University in Rome.

The then Cardinal Prefect of Propaganda Fide, His Eminence Cardinal Agagianian ordained him in Rome on the 20th December 1959. Fr. Nicholas Marcus returned to Sri Lanka in 1960 and was appointed to the staff of St. Peter's College, Bambalapitiya. In 1973, he was again sent to the Urban University in Rome to read for his Doctorate in Theology which he achieved in 1976 with a Summa cum Laude.

He established 34 new parishes and more religious orders came in to undertake work in both parishes and institutions. The existing parishes were divided for better pastoral care of the faithful. New ventures too were launched for numerous types of activities in the social, educational and pastoral fields.

Throughout his pilgrimage of service he has walked the entire Diocese of Colombo over and over again to see for himself what remained to be done.

During his tenure as the Archbishop of Colombo, he consecrated two bishops - Bishop Malcolm Ranjith and Bishop Marius Peiris and shared his mission, vision and administrative responsibilities with four Auxiliary bishops - Bishop Edmund Fernando, Bishop Oswald Gomis, Bishop Malcolm Ranjith and Bishop Marius Peiris.

The belief of the people of the Archdiocese and Sri Lanka on the life of Archbishop Nicholas Marcus Fernando was that he was a humble man who walked in the footsteps of the great Apostle Peter and remained simple, honourable and a clear minded pastor.

One who cared and stayed very close to every man and woman, but above all they appreciated his humbleness and humility throughout his episcopate spanning three decades.

But, above all he was a man of God.