Roman Catholic Diocese of Galle
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Galle is a diocese
of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church
in Sri Lanka
.
Erected as the Diocese of Galle in 1893, the diocese is suffragan to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo
. In 1995, part of the diocese was split off to form the Diocese of Ratnapura
The current bishop is Raymond Kingsley Wickramasinghe, appointed in 2011.
The original Diocese
of Galle comprised the Southern and Sabaragamuwa civil Provinces of Sri Lanka
. As such it extended from the foot hills of Utuwankanda to the coastal parish of Hambantota
, covering an area of 403875 square miles (1,046,031.4 km²) of the most varied aspect from the point of view of scenery, population and pastoral engagements.
However, right back into the time of Blessed Joseph Vaz
and his Oratorian disciples and still earlier in Portuguese
times (mid 16th Century) stations in its coastal fringe as well as in its Ratnapura reaches are on record for Evangelization
and advanced pastoral
structure.
After the division of the Diocese in 1995 into Ratnapura
, nearly 9000 Catholics are still spread unevenly across the hills and dales and beaches of the Galle Diocese. The present diocese of Galle has a geographical area, comprising the Southern Province embracing Galle, Matara and Hambantota civil districts having an area of 5493 square kilometres (2,120.9 sq mi). The membership of the Presbyterium counts 28 Priests of whom 24 diocesans and four Religious and serve in 12 parish
es and other institutions of Diocesan Apostolates. Nearly 90 Religious Sisters extend their supportive hands in serving the people of God in Ruhunu Rata Diocese.
The first bishop of the diocese was the Belgian
Jesuit Joseph van Reeth SJ
who guided the destinies of the infant diocese from 1893 to 1923. Rt. Rev. Dr. Gaston Robchez SJ, the Bishop
of Trincomalee
and Apostolic Administrator of Galle for 10 long years (1923–1933). The last Jesuit bishop Msg. Nicholas Laudadio SJ took up the responsibilities of the diocese in 1933 for 30 years.
Msg Anthony De Saram, sent from Colombo
, became the first diocesan bishop of the Diocese in 1964 until 1982. With his demise, Msg. Sylvester Wewitavidanelage was installed in 1982 until 1993. In 1993 Msgr. Elmo Noel Joseph Perera, a priest originating from the diocese, was installed the Bishop of Galle. He served the diocese till his retirement in 1995. Fr. Terrence Leanage took over the affairs of the diocese as Apostolic Administrator
. Bishop Harold Anthony Perera, Bishop of Ratnapura
, was installed on .
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
Erected as the Diocese of Galle in 1893, the diocese is suffragan to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo
The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. It was erected as the Diocese of Ceylon from Diocese of Cochin by Pope Gregory XVI on December 3, 1834, and renamed as the Diocese of Colombo on February 17,...
. In 1995, part of the diocese was split off to form the Diocese of Ratnapura
Roman Catholic Diocese of Ratnapura
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ratnapura is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka....
The current bishop is Raymond Kingsley Wickramasinghe, appointed in 2011.
History
The Southern and Sabaragamuwa Provinces were part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo (1887) and, before, of the “Southern Vicarate of Ceylon” (1847). The diocese was established in 1893.The original Diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Galle comprised the Southern and Sabaragamuwa civil Provinces of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. As such it extended from the foot hills of Utuwankanda to the coastal parish of Hambantota
Hambantota
Hambantota is a coastal city in the south of Sri Lanka. It is the capital of the Hambantota District...
, covering an area of 403875 square miles (1,046,031.4 km²) of the most varied aspect from the point of view of scenery, population and pastoral engagements.
However, right back into the time of Blessed Joseph Vaz
Joseph Vaz
Blessed Joseph Vaz was a Catholic Oratorian priest from Goa. He is known as theApostle of Ceylon....
and his Oratorian disciples and still earlier in Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
times (mid 16th Century) stations in its coastal fringe as well as in its Ratnapura reaches are on record for Evangelization
Evangelization
Evangelization is that process in the Christian religion which seeks to spread the Gospel and the knowledge of the Gospel throughout the world. It can be defined as so:-The birth of Christian evangelization:...
and advanced pastoral
Pastoral
The adjective pastoral refers to the lifestyle of pastoralists, such as shepherds herding livestock around open areas of land according to seasons and the changing availability of water and pasturage. It also refers to a genre in literature, art or music that depicts such shepherd life in an...
structure.
After the division of the Diocese in 1995 into Ratnapura
Ratnapura
- Floods :The town of Ratnapura is situated in the flooding plain of the river Kalu. The town experiences regular floods usually in the month of May. There is no large dam across the Kalu, so this leaves the city at the mercy of nature's forces every year. Several proposals have been made to reduce...
, nearly 9000 Catholics are still spread unevenly across the hills and dales and beaches of the Galle Diocese. The present diocese of Galle has a geographical area, comprising the Southern Province embracing Galle, Matara and Hambantota civil districts having an area of 5493 square kilometres (2,120.9 sq mi). The membership of the Presbyterium counts 28 Priests of whom 24 diocesans and four Religious and serve in 12 parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es and other institutions of Diocesan Apostolates. Nearly 90 Religious Sisters extend their supportive hands in serving the people of God in Ruhunu Rata Diocese.
The first bishop of the diocese was the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
Jesuit Joseph van Reeth SJ
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
who guided the destinies of the infant diocese from 1893 to 1923. Rt. Rev. Dr. Gaston Robchez SJ, the Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Trincomalee
Trincomalee
Trincomalee is a port city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka and lies on the east coast of the island, about 113 miles south of Jaffna. It has a population of approximately 100,000 . The city is built on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. Overlooking the Kottiyar Bay,...
and Apostolic Administrator of Galle for 10 long years (1923–1933). The last Jesuit bishop Msg. Nicholas Laudadio SJ took up the responsibilities of the diocese in 1933 for 30 years.
Msg Anthony De Saram, sent from Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
, became the first diocesan bishop of the Diocese in 1964 until 1982. With his demise, Msg. Sylvester Wewitavidanelage was installed in 1982 until 1993. In 1993 Msgr. Elmo Noel Joseph Perera, a priest originating from the diocese, was installed the Bishop of Galle. He served the diocese till his retirement in 1995. Fr. Terrence Leanage took over the affairs of the diocese as Apostolic Administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
. Bishop Harold Anthony Perera, Bishop of Ratnapura
Ratnapura
- Floods :The town of Ratnapura is situated in the flooding plain of the river Kalu. The town experiences regular floods usually in the month of May. There is no large dam across the Kalu, so this leaves the city at the mercy of nature's forces every year. Several proposals have been made to reduce...
, was installed on .
Ordinaries
- Joseph van Reeth, S.J.Society of JesusThe Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, † (11 Jan 1895 Appointed - 1923 Died) - Nicholas Laudadio, S.J., † (28 May 1934 Appointed - 26 May 1964 Retired)
- Anthony de Saram † (22 Mar 1965 Appointed - 28 Feb 1982 Died)
- Don Sylvester Wewitavidanelage † (15 Oct 1982 Appointed - 9 Nov 1995 Died)
- Elmo Noel Joseph Perera (1 Jun 1995 Appointed - 11 Oct 2004 Resigned)
- Harold Anthony Perera (15 Feb 2005 Appointed - 14 May 2009, became Bishop of KurunegalaRoman Catholic Diocese of KurunegalaThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Kurunegala is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka....
) - Raymond Kingsley Wickramasinghe (27 May 2011 Appointed – present)
External links
- www.gallediocese.org, the official web site
- www.codesep.org, Community Development Service for Plantations - Diocese of Galle