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Know your Pastor,
Fr. Roger Marcus Fernando
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Fr. Roger Marcus Fernando was born in Sri Lanka on March 5, 1948 He is the third child of the five children of Mr. Paul Fernando and Mrs. Mary Emerlyn Fernando.
He had his elementary studies at St. Roche’s Catholic School in his home town, Hettirippuwa, Sri Lanka. After completion of his primary education, he joined Joseph Vaaz College run by Marist Brothers in Wennappuwa, Sri Lanka. After his graduation to high school, it was then he had decided to offer himself for God’s call as a priest.
In 1962 he joined the diocesan minor seminary “St. Paul’s Minor Seminary at Marawila, Sri Lanka” and attended St. Xavier’s High School. This young seminarian completed his high school studies as well as his seminary formation successfully and gaining his first little title as the student leader, Monitor of the seminary in his final year.
In 1967 he joined the “Sri Lanka National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka” (Major Seminary) in world heritage historical city Kandy, Sri Lanka. Where he completed Philosophical studies,Philosophy, Metaphysics,Logic and Ethics and theological studies on Dogma, Moral, Scripture, Canon Law, Liturgy and added to these major subject s there were other
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subjects too, among them was other religions; Buddhism, Hinduism, Islamism. Having played an active student role, even here he was elected as the Dean of the seminary in year 1974.
August 18, 1975 he was ordained by his Bishop, Rt. Rev. Dr. Frank Marcus Fernando for Diocese of Chilaw, Sri Lanka and celebrated his first Holy Mass in his home town Parish, St. Roche’s Church on August 19, 1975.
Priestly assignments and career;
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First assignment……..
Second assignment……..
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St. Sebestian Church, Katuneriya, Sri Lanka
Period .. 1975 – 1977
Pastor for two parishes
1. St. Xavier’s Church, Kattakaduwa, Sri Lanka
2. St. John the Baptist Church, Mangala Eliya, Sri Lanka
Period .. 1977 – 1980
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In 1980, Bishop, Rt. Rev. Dr. Frank Marcus Fernando and the Episcopal Councilors unanimously selected him for further studies in Vatican, Italy to qualify himself to be the Rector of the Diocesan Seminary, St. Paul’s Minor Seminary, Marawila, Sri Lanka.
In 1980 he was sent to Vatican, Italy to join “Pontifical University St. Thomas de Aquinas” commonly known as “Angelicum”. Where he earned his BTh, Baccalaureate degree in Theology and STL, Sacrae Theologiae Licentiatus (Licentiate in Sacred Theology) degrees with Magma cum Laude and returned to Sri Lanka to take up the seminary as the Rector.
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Third assignment……..
Fourth assignment……..
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Rector
St. Paul’s Minor Seminary,
Marawila,
Sri Lanka.
Period .. 1983 - 1989
During this period he had increased vocations from 40 to 100, and many projects, programs and facilities for increased vocations and seminarians to have homely and spiritual atmosphere. Within the six year term he has completed successfully all the projects. All his priests students are even today speak highly of him.
Procurator General of the Diocese
Diocese of Chilaw,
Sri Lanka.
Period .. 1989 – 2001
Duties include; in charge of all Parishes, Shrines, their properties, Diocesan Estates welfare all the priests of his diocese and diocesan employees. He has improved in many ways diocesan finances. Even today the priests and the laity of the diocese speak of Fr. Rogers’s ministries and programs and continue the projects he had started in his time.
Bishop extended his term.
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It was a Diocesan policy that a priest, at completion of his 25 years of service to the diocese he belongs, has the option to go and serve the other dioceses he wishes; on this his Bishop allowed him to select a country where he would like to express his priestly ministry and released him for two years. He had been to New York, so he chose California and joined the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
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| Parochial Vicar
St. Christopher Parish,
West Covina, California
Period .. 2003 – 2006
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After completion of his two year term, on Pastor and the Parishioners request with the permission of his Bishop, (his Bishop received many letters from parishioners of St. Christopher parish requesting an extension for Fr. Roger) and his Bishop extended Fr. Roger’s released period. Even today, at least once a year he will go back to St. Christopher parish to meet the pastor and parishioners and spend some time with them.
Being a nature lover, which is God’s creation, he decided to move north, closer to the greenery natural environment and joined the Archdiocese of Portland.
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Seventh assignment……..
Eighth assignment……..
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St. Anthony’s Parish,
Tigard. Oregon.
Period .. 2006 - 2007
Pastor
St. Therese Parish,
Portland, Oregon.
Period .. 2007 to-date
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