The Most Reverend Earl K. Fernandes was ordained and installed as the 13th Bishop of the Diocese of Columbus on May 31, 2022. He holds a doctorate in moral theology from the Alphonsian Academy in Rome.
Bishop Fernandes is a member of several USCCB committees and subcommittees, including:
- Chair, Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs
- Member, Committee on Catholic Education
- Member, Committee on Doctrine
- Member, Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church
- Member, Subcommittee on the Catechism
- Member, Task Force on Instituted Ministry in the Church
He is a member of the Board of Trustees for the following organizations:
- Cristo Rey Columbus High School
- Cross Catholic Outreach
- Mother Angeline McCrory Manor
- Museum of Catholic Art and History
- Pontifical College Josephinum
- Pregnancy Center Plus in Cincinnati
- The Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Columbus
- The National Catholic Bioethics Center
Bishop Fernandes is also on the Episcopal Advisory Boards of the following organizations:
- Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition
- Catholic Pharmacy Association
- Courage International
- Desert Stream Ministries
- Encyclopedia of Catholic Theology
- FOCUS Parish
- Franciscan University of Steubenville
He has given presentations, talks, and retreats around the country and has published articles in four collections of essays published by the Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha, which also published a book authored by him in 2014. Bishop Fernandes’ scholarly essays have also appeared in Seminary Journal, Homiletic and Pastoral Review, the Linacre Quarterly, Journal of the National Apostolate for Inclusion Ministry. His articles in the latter two addressed issues of persons with disabilities.