By Matters India Reporter
New Delhi, March 21, 2026: Ivan Fernandes, a journalist with more than three decades of experience in international media, has become the managing editor of Matters India.
Ivan, as he is popularly known, assumed the office on March 21, two days after the news service completed 13 years.
“I look forward to helping take MI to the next level by enhancing and nurturing a grassroots network of citizen journalists,” said the 59-year-old former seminarian of the Calcutta Jesuit province.
Matters India is in safe hands as it enters a new phase, said Jose Kavi, who edited the news service since its inception, welcoming Ivan.
Ivan began his journalism career as a reporter of The Herald, the weekly published by the archdiocese of Calcutta. He also reported for the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCAN), the leading Christian news agency in Asia based in Bangkok, Thailand, when he was a philosophy student in Chennai.
As a journalist, Ivan’s work is shaped by a strong sense of calling, commitment and a desire to make a meaningful difference. Throughout his career, he has chosen roles that reinforced this aspiration, guided by the conviction that passion and professional expertise must go hand in hand to achieve meaningful and lasting impact.
With more than two decades of experience leading UCAN’s main editorial desk and nearly 10 years as the managing editor of La Croix International, Ivan brings deep editorial expertise, an international perspective and a firm commitment to journalistic integrity.
His work has consistently focused on maintaining high editorial standards while producing content that serves both the Church and the wider public.
Ivan specializes in religious and social development issues in South and Southeast Asia. Over the years, he has developed a nuanced understanding of the region by telling the stories of its people — their social, economic and political struggles, as well as their achievements, cultures and faith traditions.
This experience has strengthened his Asian identity and given him insight into the complex realities shaping communities across the continent.
Ivan says he believes journalism should not only inform but also contribute to building a more equitable society. His approach integrates professionalism, spirituality and a pursuit of excellence, while ensuring that policy, communication and storytelling retain a human dimension and a sense of ownership.
Ivan is multilingual and has shown keen interest in Asian literature and spirituality, photography and philately. He is the author of Requiem for Calcutta (https://ivan-fernandes.com), a work that captures the city’s cultural diversity through human stories.
He also manages the blog Indian Catholic News (indiancatholicnews.com), which curates official communications from Church bodies across India in a clear, accessible and media-friendly format, providing a consistent and unified voice for the Church in India.