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 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 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 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 5,493 square kilometres (2,121 sq mi). The membership of the Presbyterium counts 28 Priests of whom 24 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 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 ten 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 8 March 2005.
Read more about this topic: Roman Catholic Diocese Of Galle
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“While the Republic has already acquired a history world-wide, America is still unsettled and unexplored. Like the English in New Holland, we live only on the shores of a continent even yet, and hardly know where the rivers come from which float our navy.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“The history of modern art is also the history of the progressive loss of art’s audience. Art has increasingly become the concern of the artist and the bafflement of the public.”
—Henry Geldzahler (1935–1994)
“Let it suffice that in the light of these two facts, namely, that the mind is One, and that nature is its correlative, history is to be read and written.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)