Bishop Ferrando, who has been granted the title, ‘Servant of God’ was declared Venerable on 3 March 2016 after Pope Francis approved his life of heroic virtue.

The Salesian Congregation (SDB) initiated the Cause in 1997, in collaboration with the Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians, the congregation founded by him. There were two diocesan processes, one in Shillong and the other in Genova. The process at Shillong was officially inaugurated by Most Rev. Dominic Jala SDB, Archbishop of Shillong on 3 October 2003. The one at Genova was initiated on 27 May 2006.  Both the processes were concluded together in Shillong on 13 August 2006 at the presence of the Local Ordinary and Postulator General. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints declared the process valid on 17 October 2008 and began their own evaluation.

The postulation compiled the Positio for the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and submitted it to them upon its completion in 2012. On 5 March 2015 the theologians advising the Congregation approved his life and virtues, while the Congregation itself met on 23 February 2016 and also approved the cause's continuation. It received papal approval on 3 March 2016 allowing for Pope Francis to declare him as Venerable.

Stephen Ferrando spent 46 years in Northeast India serving its people. He was man of deep faith and great trust in God; he was able to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. He was outstanding in his simplicity of life, humility, obedience and love for the poor and needy which enabled him to win many souls for Christ. For 34 years he was Bishop of Shillong, which then comprised the whole of Northeast region of India. He always desired to become part of its soil but at his retirement in 1969, he was asked to return to his native place. Hence, he spent his days after retirement at Genova Quarto, Italy. He died on 20 June 1978 and was buried in the family tomb at Rossiglione. With the special intervention of the divine providence his mortal remains were brought back to Shillong and interred at St. Margaret’s convent chapel, on 12 December 1987. People who lived with him in Shillong and Genova, remember him as a “good and holy” pastor who went about doing good to all, making selfless sacrifices. He was a lover of children especially the poor and abandoned.