By Santosh Digal

Manila: An Indian priest on June 11 took over as the chief content editor of Radio Veritas Asia, a pan-Asian radio service of the Catholic bishops of Asia.

Father Feroz Fernandes, a member of the Society of Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier or better known as Society of Pilar, was the editor-in-chief of a Konkani weekly “Vauraddeancho Ixtt” (Worker’s Friends), Goa, western India, from 2008 to 2013.

The Office of Social Communication under the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) in early May appointed Father Fernandes for a three-year term, which can be renewed. However the appointment was announced only on June 11.

Father George Plathottam, Executive Secretary of the FABC-Office of Social Communication, said Father Fernandes was chosen on the basis of his academic qualifications and experience as a priest and his services in the media ministry of the Church.

“Fernandes has “shown maturity, competence and commitment in carrying out his various responsibilities, we are confident that he will be able to devote himself wholeheartedly to carry out the mission of RVA, particularly in the early years of its transition from Short Wave to Digital Online service,” Father Plathottam, an Indian Salesian, told Matters India. He thanked the Pilar Society for making Father Fernandes’ services available to the Church in Asia.

Father Fernandes, 45, is required to provide authentic, accurate and relevant content for the RVA, follow up the training of the producers of the various language services and work in close collaboration with the program department and the management and other colleagues.

His talents, competence and hard work would ensure the radio’s further growth in strength and vitality, Father Plathottam said.

As a media platform, Radio Veritas Asia strives to share Christ with global Asians. “FABC covers the whole of Asia which may be described as “the former Parish of Saint Francis Xavier,” said Father Plathottam, while introducing Father Fernandes to the RVA core team.

Father Plathottam made the connections as Fr. Fernandes hails from an island in Goa, India, just about seven minutes’ drive from the renowned Basilica of Bom Jesus located in Old Goa, former capital of Portuguese India, and holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier.

Father Fernandes says he looks forward to being a part of the voice of Asian Christianity, the radio’s tagline.

“It is encouraging to work along with dedicated persons fueled by faith in Christ in the service of humanity,” he told Matters India.

“I do not believe in coincidence – things do not just happen. I felt drawn towards the mission of RVA, as I humbly accepted the offer to shoulder the arduous responsibility. I trust God and am confident in the skill set of my co-workers, especially the collaborators in the twenty-two language services across Asia,” said Fr Fernandes.

Ordained a priest in 2002, Father Fernandes holds ‎Master of Science in Public Service Management, DePaul University, Chicago, USA (2018) and Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication, Sikkim Manipal University, India (2012).

At the time of appointment, he was the pastor at Holy Family Church, Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan, Canada. Prior to that, he served as associate pastor at St. Timothy, Chicago, from July 2015 to September 2016 in the Archdiocese of Chicago, USA. He also worked as a grassroots missionary at a parish on the outskirts of Mumbai, Wagle Estate in Thane district, western India.

Father Fernandes is a social media savvy person. “I am on social media to evangelize. The emerging algorithm-centric media is attractive. I want to be part of the trajectory that leads to God–understanding God’s algorithm of love and mercy to reach others. I am on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, and texting apps,” he said.

He has immersed himself in building leadership capacities of priests and nuns, understating strategies to navigate issues without compromising faith in Jesus and the Catholic Church’s teaching.

“I look at Radio Veritas Asia as a continuation of my missionary apostolate following the FABC’s vision of dialogue with religions, cultures and promote solidarity with the poor,” he added.

The Manila-based radio celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019. It was established in 1969.

In 1958, Church leaders from Asia and Australia decided to establish a radio station for the Catholic Church in Asia to counter the spread of communism and false propaganda during the Cold War. The project was supported and aided by the Vatican, the Church and the government in Germany and others.

Since 1969, the radio used shortwave technology to broadcast. In response to changes in social communication, the FABC in 2018 decided to stop the shortwave broadcast and migrated to online and digital media. This also paved the de-centralization of RVA language services.

Today, RVA has 22 language services and it continues to be the major joint ministry of the FABC. It is the only continental Catholic radio service and continues to be the instrument for proclaiming the Gospel to all peoples of Asia and Asians across the world.