Roman Catholic Diocese of Galle
 | This article includes a improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (January 2017) ) |
Diocese of Galle Dioecesis Gallensis காலி மாவட்ட | |
|---|---|
Roman Catholic | |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Cathedral | St. Mary's Cathedral, Galle |
| Patron saint | Saint Joseph |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Raymond Kingsley Wickramasinghe |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Malcolm Ranjith |
| Website | |
| Website of the Diocese | |
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Galle (
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.
History
The Southern and
Leo XIII
.
The original
Sabaragamuwa civil Provinces of Sri Lanka. As such it extended from the foothills of Utuwankanda to the coastal parish of Hambantota
, covering an area of 403,875 square miles (1,046,000 km2) of the most varied aspect from the point of view of scenery, population and pastoral engagements.
However, right back into the time of
Evangelisation and advanced pastoral
structure.
After the division of the diocese in 1995 into
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 5,493 square kilometres (2,121 sq mi). The membership of the Presbyterium counts 28 priests of whom 24 are diocesans and four Religious and serve in 12 parishes
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
Trincomalee
and Apostolic Administrator of Galle for ten years (1923–1933). The last Jesuit bishop Msg. Nicholas Laudadio took up the responsibilities of the diocese in 1933 for 30 years.
Anthony De Saram, sent from
Apostolic Administrator. Bishop Harold Anthony Perera, Bishop of Ratnapura
, was installed on 8 March 2005.
Ordinaries
- Joseph Van Reeth, † (11 Jan 1895 Appointed - 1923 died)
- Nicholas Laudadio, † (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 Kurunegala)
- Raymond Kingsley Wickramasinghe (27 May 2011 Appointed – present)
See also
References
External links
- www.gallediocese.org, the official web site
- www.codesep.org Archived 2011-06-20 at the Wayback Machine, Community Development Service for Plantations - Diocese of Galle
