Stephen Ferrando
Encyclopedia
Stephen Ferrando born Rossiglione
, Italy
September 28, 1895, died June 21, 1978, was an Italian
missionary
belonging to the Salesians of Don Bosco
(SDB), an order founded by St. John Bosco
. Ferrando was ordained a priest on March 18, 1923 at the Salesian Institute of Borgo San Martino
, Alessandria
, Italy. A few months latter he was assigned to serve in British India, as part of the third batch of missionaries dispatched. Ferrando left Venice
on December 2, 1923 along with nine other companions, reaching Shillong
, then the capital of the Assam
province of British India and headquarters of the Prefecture Apostolic of Assam on December 23. There he was entrusted with the responsibility of forming future missionary personnel for the Prefecture, serving as the Master of Novices
. He also served as the Catechist and then the Rector
of Our Lady's House in Shillong and in 1929, became a Council Member of the Provincial team of the Salesians in the diocese
.
At that time, the Holy See
had entrusted the Archdiocese of Madras, the diocese of Krishnanagar and the Prefecture Apostolic of Assam to the Salesians.
On July 9, 1934, Ferrando was consecrated
and installed as the bishop
of Krishnanagar
in Nadiab, the island-city in the province of Bengal
; he choose Apostolus Christi, "An apostle for Christ" as his motto. When the Prefecture of Assam was elevated as the bishopric of Shillong shortly after, Ferrando was transferred as the Bishop of Shillong as its second bishop on November 26, 1935, a position he held until June 26, 1968, when he retired (The diocese was then promoted to an archdiocese, so that his successor was an archbishop
).
The young diocese was faced with many challenges, none greater than the shortage of personnel. Ferrando immediately threw himself into the work of increasing the diocesan personnel. On March 18, 1932, he wrote to the Rector Major of the Salesians, "St. Francis Xavier made that emotional appeal to the studious youth of his times. From the same wonderful land of India I renew his appeal so that many may come to work in Assam... The harvest is rich... but the laborers are few."
At that time, missionaries were valued as facilitators for social improvement and uplift, and delegations were continually calling on Ferrando from the Asom, Khasis, Munda
s, Karbi
s, Tiwa
s, Bodo
s, the Manipuris, Garos
, Naga
s and other tribes requesting that he assign priests, nuns, doctors, educationists and other personnel to their communities. In his annual report of 1945-46, Ferrando wrote, "This makes me very anxious, because if once a favorable occasion is lost, it is difficult to regain it." Missionaries such as L. Piasecki, A. Pianazzi, C. Vendrame and A. Ravalico expended themselves to conform and strengthen the Christians of the large and extensive diocese.
On April 10, 1936, the Bishop's House, formerly the residence of the Prefect Apostolic, went up in flames. Ferrando immediately began plans to build the diocese a proper Cathedral
with adjacent seminary
, bishop's house and a resthouse for exhausted missionaries.
At the beginning of 1937, Ferrando spent several weeks visiting villages and baptized hundreds of catechumen
s and
confirmed two hundred souls.
During World War II
, the British Government ordered the internment of most of the Italian and German
missionaries throughout British India. While fifty-six of his missionaries were interned or expelled, he was left with thirty priests and twenty other clerics to man the diocese.
Believing it necessary to organize the local people to take up clerical positions, Ferrando founded the Missionary Sisters of Mary, Help of Christians (MSMHC) in 1942. In 1962, he succeeded at last in setting up the St. Paul's Minor Seminary in Shillong.
In early 1969, the Government of India
declared that foreign missionaries must be recalled and replaced by locals. As a result of this, Ferrando too resigned and made way for an Indian citizen to be appointed; he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Troyna. Ferrando retired to Italy, where he died June 21, 1978.
Ferrando was a regular contributor of articles of missiological
, cultural, anthropological
, geographical
and historical
nature on the Assam Mission to such publications as the Bollettino Salesiano, Gioventù Missionaria, etc.
Rossiglione
Rossiglione is a comune in the Province of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about 41 km northwest of Genoa....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
September 28, 1895, died June 21, 1978, was an Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
belonging to the Salesians of Don Bosco
Salesians of Don Bosco
The Salesians of Don Bosco is a Roman Catholic religious order founded in the late nineteenth century by Saint John Bosco in an attempt, through works of charity, to care for the young and poor children of the industrial revolution...
(SDB), an order founded by St. John Bosco
John Bosco
John Bosco , was an Italian Catholic priest, educator and writer of the 19th century, who put into practice the convictions of his religion, dedicating his life to the betterment and education of street children, juvenile delinquents, and other disadvantaged youth and employing teaching methods...
. Ferrando was ordained a priest on March 18, 1923 at the Salesian Institute of Borgo San Martino
Borgo San Martino
Borgo San Martino is a comune in the Province of Alessandria in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km east of Turin and about 20 km northwest of Alessandria....
, Alessandria
Alessandria
-Monuments:* The Citadel * The church of Santa Maria di Castello * The church of Santa Maria del Carmine * Palazzo Ghilini * Università del Piemonte Orientale-Museums:* The Marengo Battle Museum...
, Italy. A few months latter he was assigned to serve in British India, as part of the third batch of missionaries dispatched. Ferrando left Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
on December 2, 1923 along with nine other companions, reaching Shillong
Shillong
-Connectivity:Although well connected by road, Shillong has no rail connection and a proper air connection. Umroi Airport exists but has only limited flights.-Roadways:Shillong is well connected by roads with all major north eastern states...
, then the capital of the Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
province of British India and headquarters of the Prefecture Apostolic of Assam on December 23. There he was entrusted with the responsibility of forming future missionary personnel for the Prefecture, serving as the Master of Novices
Master of novices
The master of novices or novice master is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to refer those religious to whom is committed the training of the novices and the government of the novitiate of a religious order or congregation...
. He also served as the Catechist and then the Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Our Lady's House in Shillong and in 1929, became a Council Member of the Provincial team of the Salesians in the diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
.
At that time, the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
had entrusted the Archdiocese of Madras, the diocese of Krishnanagar and the Prefecture Apostolic of Assam to the Salesians.
On July 9, 1934, Ferrando was consecrated
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
and installed as the bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Krishnanagar
Krishnanagar
Krishnanagar can refer to:* Krishnanagar, Agartala, a locality in Agartala, Tripura, India.* Krishna Nagar, Hyderabad, a neighbourhood of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.* Krishnanagar, Nadia, a town in Nadia district, West Bengal, India.....
in Nadiab, the island-city in the province of Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
; he choose Apostolus Christi, "An apostle for Christ" as his motto. When the Prefecture of Assam was elevated as the bishopric of Shillong shortly after, Ferrando was transferred as the Bishop of Shillong as its second bishop on November 26, 1935, a position he held until June 26, 1968, when he retired (The diocese was then promoted to an archdiocese, so that his successor was an archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
).
The young diocese was faced with many challenges, none greater than the shortage of personnel. Ferrando immediately threw himself into the work of increasing the diocesan personnel. On March 18, 1932, he wrote to the Rector Major of the Salesians, "St. Francis Xavier made that emotional appeal to the studious youth of his times. From the same wonderful land of India I renew his appeal so that many may come to work in Assam... The harvest is rich... but the laborers are few."
At that time, missionaries were valued as facilitators for social improvement and uplift, and delegations were continually calling on Ferrando from the Asom, Khasis, Munda
Munda people
The Munda are tribal people of the Chota Nagpur Plateau region.They are found across Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Assam states of India, and into parts of Bangladesh...
s, Karbi
Karbi
The Karbis, mentioned as the Mikir in the Constitution Order of the Government of India, are one of the major ethnic groups in North-east India and especially in the hill areas of Assam. They prefer to call themselves Karbi, and sometimes Arleng . The term Mikir is now not preferred and is...
s, Tiwa
Tiwa (Lalung)
Tiwa is a tribal group inhabiting the States of Assam and Meghalaya in Northeast India. They are recognized as a Scheduled tribe within the State of Assam...
s, Bodo
Bodo people
The Bodos are an ethnic and linguistic community, early settlers of Assam in the North-East of India. According to the 1991 census, there were 1.2 million Bodos in Assam which makes for 5.3% of the total population in the state. Bodos belong to a larger ethnic group called the Bodo-Kachari. The...
s, the Manipuris, Garos
Garo (tribe)
See also Garo for other uses.The Garos are a tribal people in Meghalaya, India and neighboring areas of Bangladesh, who call themselves A·chik Mande or simply A·chik or Mande...
, Naga
Naga people
The term Naga people refers to a conglomeration of several tribes inhabiting the North Eastern part of India and north-western Burma. The tribes have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority ethnic group in the Indian state of Nagaland...
s and other tribes requesting that he assign priests, nuns, doctors, educationists and other personnel to their communities. In his annual report of 1945-46, Ferrando wrote, "This makes me very anxious, because if once a favorable occasion is lost, it is difficult to regain it." Missionaries such as L. Piasecki, A. Pianazzi, C. Vendrame and A. Ravalico expended themselves to conform and strengthen the Christians of the large and extensive diocese.
On April 10, 1936, the Bishop's House, formerly the residence of the Prefect Apostolic, went up in flames. Ferrando immediately began plans to build the diocese a proper Cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
with adjacent seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
, bishop's house and a resthouse for exhausted missionaries.
At the beginning of 1937, Ferrando spent several weeks visiting villages and baptized hundreds of catechumen
Catechumen
In ecclesiology, a catechumen , “‘down’” + ἠχή , “‘sound’”) is one receiving instruction from a catechist in the principles of the Christian religion with a view to baptism...
s and
confirmed two hundred souls.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the British Government ordered the internment of most of the Italian and German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
missionaries throughout British India. While fifty-six of his missionaries were interned or expelled, he was left with thirty priests and twenty other clerics to man the diocese.
Believing it necessary to organize the local people to take up clerical positions, Ferrando founded the Missionary Sisters of Mary, Help of Christians (MSMHC) in 1942. In 1962, he succeeded at last in setting up the St. Paul's Minor Seminary in Shillong.
In early 1969, the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
declared that foreign missionaries must be recalled and replaced by locals. As a result of this, Ferrando too resigned and made way for an Indian citizen to be appointed; he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Troyna. Ferrando retired to Italy, where he died June 21, 1978.
Ferrando was a regular contributor of articles of missiological
Missiology
Missiology is the area of practical theology that investigates the mandate, message, and mission of the Christian church, especially the nature of missionary work...
, cultural, anthropological
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
, geographical
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
and historical
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
nature on the Assam Mission to such publications as the Bollettino Salesiano, Gioventù Missionaria, etc.
Source
The non-copyrighted book Apostle of Christ: Essays in Honor of Bishop Stephen Ferrando, S.D.B. edited by Drs. Paul Vadakumpadan and Jose Varickasseril, Vendrame Institute Publications, Sacred Heart Theological College, Shillong, 2003, and more particularly, text from the essay The Missionary Vision of Stephen Ferrando by George Maliekal. .Used under the fair use policy of the United States copyright law, and under Wikipedia fair use policy See also: What is "Fair Use" in Copyright Law?" |