Holy Cross Church, Gampaha


Holy Cross Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Gampaha, Sri Lanka. It is part of the Archdiocese of Colombo. The church is nicknamed the "Rock Church" because the outside of the church is faced with gneiss. The Holy Cross Church is known as Gal Palliya in Sinhala language.

History

There was a church named "Holy Cross" near the heart of Gampaha during the Portuguese ruling period in Sri Lanka. This was during the reign of King Rajasingha II, the third king of the Kingdom of Kandy in Sri Lanka.
After the Portuguese era, the Dutch had control over parts of Sri Lanka. The Dutch were opposed to the Catholic and the traditional religions. The original church was ruined.
The present church was built later in a different part of the town.

Apostolic blessing

An Apostolic Blessing certificate was received from Pope John Paul II for the 75th anniversary of Holy Cross Church in 1991.

Parish priests

FromToPriest
19101922Rev.Fr. Gregory Silva
19221934Rev.Fr. P.J.Dominic O.M.I.
19301931Rev.Fr. Alexis Seru O.M.I.
1932 Feb1932 SepRev.Fr. J.M.Kerbul O.M.I.
19321933Rev.Fr. J.Santhiyago
19331934Rev.Fr. D.B.Jakoline
19341935Rev.Fr. Joseph Alosius O.M.I.
19351937Rev.Fr. A.Godvin Fernando
1937 Sep1937 DecRev.Fr. Peter Fernando
19381940Rev.Fr. A.Marjes O.M.I.
19401941Rev.Fr. F.Desigo O.M.I.
19411943Rev.Fr. L.M.V.Thomas O.M.I.
19431947Rev.Fr. Alias Weerakkodi O.M.I.
19471949Rev.Fr. Julius Wijesooriya O.M.I.
19491955Rev.Fr. Phillip C. Dissanayake O.M.I.
19551961Rev.Fr. J.L.Mikay O.M.I.
19611965Rev.Fr. Kingsly Perera O.M.I.
19651966Rev.Fr. Emil Perera O.M.I.
19661967Rev.Fr. Reginold De Silva O.M.I.
19671971Rev.Fr. J.Edwin Fernando
1971 Mar1971 JulRev.Fr. Stanley Wedasinghe
19711975Rev.Fr. Don Tuder Pawulienes O.M.I.
19751976Rev.Fr. Patrick M. Fernando
19761979Rev.Fr. Don Tuder Pawulienes O.M.I.
19791980Rev.Fr. D.A.Dassanayake O.M.I.
19801987Rev.Fr. Luwigi Hettiarachchi O.M.I.
1987 Mar1987 SepRev.Fr. Ernest Premasiri O.M.I.
1987 Sep1988 AugRev.Fr. Sarath Silva O.M.I.
1988 Aug.....Rev.Fr. P.Stanis Lawos O.M.I.

Namesakes

There are other Holy Cross Churches in the Archdiocese of Colombo, Sri Lanka: