COLUMBUS, Ohio  — This week marks a new era for the Catholic Diocese of Columbus.

Bishop-elect Earl Fernandes will become the 13th Bishop of Columbus and make history as the first Indian-American Catholic Bishop ever when he is installed Tuesday. 

What You Need To Know

  • Fernandes will become the first Indian-American Catholic Bishop

  • The ordination and installation are Tuesday, May 31

  • The Bishop-elect has been a priest for 20 years

The 49-year-old Toledo native and son of immigrants most recently served as the pastor of St. Ignatius of Loyola in Cincinnati. 

Fernandes said he is hoping to make an impact through what he can provide to the Columbus community.

"Being a pastor is really hard and so I want to be close to the priests of the Diocese of Columbus, but get out to the parishes and go and see what the real needs are," Fernandes said.

He said he hopes to learn what the surrounding communities, both urban and rural, are like and what the true needs are. Fernandes said especially in the growing urban areas of the city. 

"There's even more growth projected because of the building of Intel's plant in New Albany," he said. "We'll need to plan for the future and think about what kind of church we want to be and what type of church we need to have to meet the people's spiritual and pastoral needs."

The installation for Bishop-elect Fernandes is set for 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 31. The mass will take place at St. Paul the Apostle in Westerville, Ohio.