(ANS – Vatican City) – Yesterday, Wednesday, December 5th, the Postulator General for the Causes of the Saints, Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni, handed the chancellery of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints the "Positio super virtutibus, et fama sanctitatis" (Position on virtues) for the Servant of God, Bishop Stephen Ferrando, Salesian Bishop of Shillong (India) and founder of the Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians (MSMHC).

The Position had as Relators in the first instance, Fr Cristoforo Bove, OFM Conv., and, after his death, Fr P. Zdzisław Kijas OFM Conv., and as collaborators Sr Philomena Mathew, already Vice Postulator and current superior of the Sisters founded by Bishop Ferrando, Sr Joseph Jancy and Dr Lodovica Maria Zanet.

Structural elements of the Position, which presents critically and thoroughly all the evidentiary documents and proofs regarding the heroic virtues of the Servant of God are as follows: a short presentation by the Relator; the Information, or the theological section which proved that the servant of God exercised all the heroic Christian virtues; the various Summaries with texts and with documentary evidence. After delivery, the Position will have to wait its turn to be examined by the theological Consultors in the Dicastery.

Stephen Ferrando, born in Rossiglione, the Province of Genova, Italy, on September 28, 1895, attended Salesian schools, first in Fossano and then in Turin, and was fascinated by the life of Don Bosco. He left for India as a missionary, and in 1934 he was appointed by Pius XI, Bishop of the Diocese of Krishnagar.

His apostolate was characterized by the Salesian style: joy, simplicity and direct contact with people. His humility, simplicity, love for the poor spurred many to convert and request Baptism. He reconstructed the great cathedral and the mission buildings, spreading devotion to Mary Help of Christians and to Don Bosco. He wanted the Indians to be the first evangelizers of their own land.

From a group of Indian catechists he founded the Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians (MSMHC) linked to the Salesian Family on June 27, 1986.

On June 26th, 1969, after having taken part in the work of the Council, he handed in his resignation from his diocese. He had started with 4000 Catholics in Assam, on leaving there were 500,000. In Italy, the old missionary Bishop retired to the Salesian House at Quarto (Genoa). He died on June 20th, 1978. The Diocesan process began on October 8, 2003 and ended in Shillong on August 13, 2006.

Published 06/12/2012