Bangalore 22 September2020 (CCBI): The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India express its deep sentiments of gratitude to Rev. Dr. Ayres Fernandes (70) who completed the term of his office as the Executive Secretary to the CCBI Commission Liturgy (1-10-2012 to 30-9-2020) and the first Administrator of Shanti Sadan (1-12-2018 to 30-9-2020) the CCBI Secretariat Extension, Benaulim, Goa.

Archbishop Filipe Neri, the President of the CCBI in his special letter to him recalled his service to the Church India: “The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India appreciate in a special way all the hard work and sacrifice that you have put into the meticulous supervision of the renovation of the Shanti Sadan, and, later, in the organization of its official inauguration and blessing ceremony as the first Administrator”.

“As the Executive Secretary of the Commission for Liturgy you have made a substantial contribution to both the CCBI and to the Church in India. Especially your contribution to prepare the English Lectionary and the Directives for the Celebration of the Liturgy is outstanding and praiseworthy. Your collaboration to convene 27th Plenary Assembly in 2015 which discussed the theme “Liturgy and Life” is commendable” remarked Archbishop Anil Couto, the Secretary General of the CCBI.

Fr. Ayres was born on 3 April 1950 at Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa. He remained in Africa until he completed his schooling at Dr. Rebeiro’s High School, Nairobi. He joined the minor seminary of Our Lady at Saligao, Goa and did his philosophy at Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol, Goa and theology at Vidya Jyothi, Delhi. He was ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Delhi on 22 October 1977.

He served as a missionary (1978-1979) in the districts of Bettiah in Bihar and the assistant parish priest (1979-1981) at the Our Lady of Health parish, Okhla, New Delhi. He was the parish priests at St. Thomas Church, R. K. Puram (1981-1985), St. Francis Xavier’s Church, Rohtak (1985-1987), St. Michael’s Church, Gurgaon (1987-1989), St. Anthony’s Church, Paharganj (1989-1992), St. Michael’s Church, Prasad Nagar (2000-2006), Church of Our Lady of Health, Okhla (2006-2012).

He was the member of the college of consultors and council of priests of the Archdiocese of Delhi (1985-1992 and 1998-2000) and Director of Liturgy (1985-1992). He was the manager of St. Michael’s School at Rajaji Nagar (2000-2006). He was the archdiocesan director of liturgy, bible and catechetics and regional secretary of liturgy, bible and catechetics, manager of St. Anthony’s Boys High School from 1998 to 2000. He was the chairman of the Yesu Kristu Jayanti 2000 in the archdiocese of Delhi and chief coordinator of Papal Visit, for “Ecclesia in Asia” in 1999.

He holds bachelor’s degrees in philosophy, theology and a master’s degree in sociology from Mysore University. He took his licentiate and doctorate in liturgy from the Pontifical University of Saint Anselm, Rome. He is the visiting professor of various ecclesiastical institutes in India and abroad and well known for his lectures in liturgy.

Source: https://ccbi.in/the-ccbi-thanks-fr-ayres-fernandes/