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Birth Date :  30 January, 1962
Ordained Priest :  3 December, 1995
Joined V.O.K :  15 November, 1995
Deceased :  2 May, 2007

Fr. Francis was born in Ahmadi, Kuwait, his parents being employees at KOC then. His ancestral home is in Colva, Goa, India.

He completed his studies in Bombay and Goa, India, and returned to Kuwait in 1981. He then worked in the private sector in various capacities.

Having heeded the call to serve Christ and His Church, Fr. Francis left Kuwait in December 1986 to join the Seminary and begin his formation to the Priesthood.

For one year he did his Regency and served at the Sacred Heart Church, Burdwan in West Bengal, India as a seminarian, being in charge of the Boys Boarding School and other Church responsibilities. This enabled him to get a foretaste of the work involved as a future priest.

Fr. Francis began his formal formation to the Priesthood and in June 1988 he did his Minor Seminary formation for two years at St. John Mary Vianney Seminary, in Barasat, West Bengal until May 1990. In June the same year he began his Philosophical Studies at Morning Star College, Barrackpore, for two years also in West Bengal until May, 1992. In June 1992 he then began his Theological studies at St. Pius College, Goregaon, Mumbai, India and completed the same in October 1995.

Fr. Francis was ordained a Deacon to the Priesthood by Bishop Ferdinand J. Fonseca the Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay on March 30, 1995 at St. Pius Seminary, Bombay, India.

This was followed by his Ordination to the Priesthood at the Holy Family Cathedral in Kuwait on December 3, 1995 by the Bishop of Kuwait, Msgr. Francis Micallef. Incidentally Fr. Francis is the first Priest to be born and ordained in Kuwait.

Following his ordination, Fr. Francis left Kuwait to pursue his higher studies in Canon Law on June 19, 1998. He completed his Masters in Canon Law in March 2000, under the Urbaniana University of Rome, who have given their faculties to St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bangalore, India. He then began practicing at the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Bombay, before returning to Kuwait.

Fr. Francis Fernandes  BORN: 30-1-1962  DIED: 2-5-2007 With deep regret we announce the demise of Fr. Francis Fernandes in a tragic accident on 2nd May, 2007, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Fr. Francis served in the Vicariate Apostolic of Kuwait since his ordination on 3rd December, 1995. He was notably the first Priest to be born and ordained in Kuwait. Fr. Francis will be lovingly remembered by his parishioners in Kuwait, for his kindness and great sense of humour. Photographs of the Funeral St. Joseph's Church, California | Blessing of the Coffin | Cemetery | Final Farewell Eternal rest grant unto his soul, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul rest in peace. A Loving Tribute to Dear Fr. Francis Fernandes God looked around His Garden – He found an empty place He then looked down upon the earth, And saw your loving face. He put His arms around you, And lifted you to rest His Garden must be beautiful He always takes the best! You left us precious memories, You had always been our guide An inspirational good priest, Will ever be our pride! Adieus to you, dear Father, Adieus to you, our friend, The road that you have traveled Has now come to an end. It saddened us to lose you, You have not gone all alone For someday we will meet you, When God calls us home. - Composed by: Charlotte Noronha -