By Jose Kavi
New Delhi, Dec 4, 2023: The Syro-Malabar Church on December 4 joined those mourning the death of Christy Fernandez, a former secretary of the Indian president.
Fernandez died at 12.20 am on December 4 in the Lisie Hospital in Kochi, Kerala. He was 73.
He was admitted in the Church-managed hospital two weeks ago following gastroenterology ailments.
His funeral services will be held at 11 am on December 6 at St. George Church cemetery, Clapana in Kollam district, according to family members.
Fernandez “was the mild presence in officialdom,” said a condolence message from the Media Commission of the Syro-Malabar Church.
The commission hailed the senior officer of the Indian Administrative Service as “an excellent officer, a wise man” who was able to project a gentle presence in official and political arenas.
“The Syro-Malabar Church has lost a friend,” added the message issued by Vincentian Father Antony Vadakkekara, the Church’s Public Relations Officer.
Fernandez, a member of the Latin rite Church, was appointed by the Kerala government to conduct a study on the backwardness of Christians in the state.
“He made sincere efforts in studying the problems of the Christian minorities and bringing them before the government,” the message adds.
Fernandez was the secretary to Pratibha Devisingh Patil, India’s first woman president.
Father Jose Vattakuzhy, former secretary of the Indian Catholic bishops’ office of the labor, said Fernandes was an inspiration and guide
“He was a man of dedication, integrity and loving service. His service to the nation and the Catholic Church will never fade away in history and from the hearts of people who were associated with him like me” Father Vattakuzhy, currently the director of the Pastoral Center of the Archdiocese of Thrissur, wrote on his Facebook page.
Fernandes belonged to the 1973 batch of the IAS Gujarat cadre. He had also served as joint secretary in the Agriculture and Petroleum ministries, additional secretary in the Commerce Ministry and principal secretary of the Gujarat Town Development Council and secretary to the Department of Tourism
He had contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election as an independent candidate with the support of the Marxist party from Ernakulam but lost to K.V. Thomas of the United Democratic Front (UDF). Most recently, he served as the chairman of Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation.
Happened to meet him in Mumbai a few years ago when both of us received awards from a Christian organization. A very unassuming person.