Description

Oil Dedicated to Richard Fernando (Servant of God)

Richard Fernando (Servant of God) from A Blessed Call To Love.

Brother Richie Fernando was a 26 year-old Jesuit seminarian from the Philippines when in 1996 he died protecting his Cambodian students from a hand grenade.

He is now on the road to sainthood, thanks to a norm issued by Pope Francis this summer that opens the door to canonization for those who have “voluntarily and freely offered their lives for others and have persevered until death in this regard.”

Father Antonio Moreno, head of the Jesuits in the Philippines, told Rappler July 30 that the order had received permission to begin the initial work of opening Brother Fernando’s cause for canonization.

Brother Richard (Richie) Fernando, S.J., arrived in Cambodia in 1995 to serve at a Jesuit mission which served people who had been disabled by polio, landmines, or other accidents.

According to the Jesuits of the Asia Pacific Conference. Richie quickly earned the trust of his young students as he learned their native language. And took the time to listen to their stories of suffering.

One of his students an orphan named Sarom, who became a soldier at 16 and maimed by a landmine. Even while some at the mission found Sarom’s attitude troublesome. Richie wrote in letters to friends that Sarom still had a place in his heart.

On October 17, 1996, Sarom came to the mission school for a meeting with the school director and staff. While he had finished classes, he had asked to continue at the school. Though his request was denied because school officials found him disruptive.