| João Pedro Fernandes, C.Ss.R. Vice-Province of Luanda – Angola -------------------------------------------------- Fr. Fernandes was born in Chinguar, Bié (interior of Angola), on July 5, 1958, the eldest of five brothers. He was a mathematics teacher before entering the Redemptorist Seminary in Huambo in March, 1980. He made his first profession on September 6, 1984 and was ordained a priest on October 16, 1988. He worked for some years in initial formation and in pastoral work on the outskirts of Huambo and in Luanda, where he was the Pastor of Holy Family Parish before becoming the Vice-Provincial Superior. He obtained his Licentiate in Biblical Theology at the Gregorian University in Rome and a Diploma in Pedagogy from the Salesian University in Rome. He was professor for some years in the Major Seminary of Huambo and in the Major Seminary of Luanda and has often preached retreats and given conferences. He has been involved in the formation of lay pastoral agents, especially in the study of the Bible and Catechetics. He edited, with others, the new edition of the “Catechism for Adults” of the Archdiocese of Luanda. On several occasions he has been a member of the Vice-Provincial Council of Luanda. In the two recent sexennia he has been a member of the General Secretariats for Spirituality (1997-2003) and for Evangelization (2003-2009) and a member of the Commission for Africa. He has been the Vice-Provincial Superior since June, 2005 and President of the Conference of Religious Superiors of Angola up to the date of his election as General Consultor on November 5, 2009. |