Richard Fernando

Bro. Richard "Richie" Michael Fernando, S.J. (February 27, 1970 - October 17, 1996) was a Filipino Jesuit cleric and missionary recognize for his act of saving children in Cambodia which resulted to his death. He is now already in the preliminary stages for sainthood within the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

Early Life and education

Richard Fernando was born on February 27, 1970. He attended elementary school in Dominican School, and finished his secondary education in Claret School. He graduated with a degree in Developmental Studies from Ateneo de Manila University, then entered the Society of Jesus right after college and took up Philosophical Studies.

Mission in Cambodia

Fernando and other Jesuit missionaries went to Phnom Penh, Cambodia for his Regency in May 1995. It took him only three months to master the Khmer language. He served in the Technical School for the Handicapped which was run by Jesuits in the city. Here at Bantay Prieb or "Center of the Dove" Fernando catered to the material and pastoral needs of his students who were mostly landmine victims.

Martyrdom

On October 17, 1996, at around 9:30 a.m., Sarom, a troubled student who was holding a grenade, rushed into Fernando's classroom. Sarom, a student in the school, was habitually involved in gambling. While everyone else was in panic trying to get out of the room, Fernando was determined to pacify Sarom. He embraced Sarom, and after moments of struggle, the grenade dropped and bounced back at Fernando. The grenade exploded and Fernando was hit by shrapnel in the head, upper and lower back, and legs. He later died in a local hospital.

Fernando's remains were brought back to the Philippines and his body was laid to rest at the Sacred Heart Novitiate in Novaliches, Quezon City. Some of the departed man's blood from the scene of the grenade blast was taken and is now enshrined on top of a small mound in a tomb in Cambodia to serve as a sort of monument for his mission.

Candidacy for sainthood

Fernando's death May Be one of the first examples of Pope Francis' new criteria for canonization. Father Antonio Moreno, head of the Society of Jesus in the Philippines, said that days before the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, that the order will start to work on having Fernando beatified.