Bishop Jerome Fernandes Thuppasserry
Bishop Jerome Fernandes Thuppasserry
Msgr. Jerome Fernandez was consecrated Bishop by Archbishop Joseph Attipetty at Ernakulam on December 12, 1937. He was a man of great vision and rare gifts. He was the voice of Kollam town, and was a staunch defender of the rights of minorities.
By realizing the need of medical help in the interior region in the Punalur and Charumood mission, he invited religious sisters, such as Assisi hospital, Channapetta, Holy Cross hospital Adoor, St. Jerome hospital, Kunnam, Marianam Hospital, Sooranad.
He invited religious sisters such as FIH Sisters in Punalur, Channapettt, and Kottarakara, SRA sisters in Charummood, St. Joseph sisters of Chamberry in Edamon, Deena Seva Sabha sister in Kodumon, MSST in Kunnam and Cheriyanad, Little Flower sisters of Bethany in Pathanapuram.
He had great vision on those mission centers Punalur and Charummood, and had plan to bifurcate the Quilon Diocese in 1972 itself and to have a new Mission diocese comprising of these mission stations. Thus a new impetus was given to the Missionaries and under his care the mission land again flourished and became a great center of missionary activity.