Stephen Ferrando

Stephen Ferrando (28 September 1895 – 21 June 1978) was an Italian Roman Catholic priest belonging to the Salesians of Don Bosco.

Life Stephen Ferrando was born on 28 September 1895 in Genoa; he was the second of three children. He studied at the Salesian school and served in WWI. After the war he taught for a year and then returned to the Salesian school to study for the ministry. Ferrando was ordained to the priesthood on 18 March 1923 at the Salesian Institute of Borgo San Martino in Alessandria. In 1929, he 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, and the diocese of Krishnanagar, and the Apostolic Prefecture of Assam to the Salesians.

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 18 March 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".

On 9 July 1934, Ferrando was appointed 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. He received his episcopal consecration on the following 10 November.

Ferrando was transferred to the Diocese of Shillong and became the second Bishop of Shillong on 26 November 1935, a position he held until 26 June 1969 when he retired. In 1962, he succeeded in setting up the St. Paul's Minor Seminary in Shillong. He was given the title Titular Archbishop of Troyna and retired to Italy, where he lived in his hometown of Genoa.

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 and more.

Ferrando died in Genoa on 21 June 1978. He was buried at the chapel of the St. Margaret’s Convent “Peachlands” in Laitumkrah, Shillong.

Beatification process The process of beatification commenced in Shillong after the Archdiocese of Genoa transferred its rights to conducting the cause on 11 April 2003. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints - under Pope John Paul II - granted approval to the cause on 23 April 2003 which gave Ferrando the title Servant of God. The diocesan process spanned from 8 August 2003 until 13 August 2006. The Congregation declared the process valid on 17 October 2008 and began their evaluation.

The postulation compiled the Positio for the Congregation and submitted it to them upon its completion in 2012. On 5 March 2015 the theologians advising the Congregation approved his life and virtues while the Congregation itself met on 23 February 2016 and also approved the cause's continuation - it received papal approval on 3 March 2016 allowing for Pope Francis to declare him as Venerable.

The postulator is Pierluigi Cameroni.

Other honours He received several honours during his life, including;

A Medal of Honour by the Lt. General of the King of Italy (1917) Conferred title of Commandatore by Victor Emmanuel III (1935) Diploma Accademico Onorario by the president, archeological Academy of Italy (1974)