St. Anthony’s Church – Ganegama

Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. Hermon Fernando
Address: St. Anthony’s Church, Ganegama, Baddegama
Telephone: +94 91 225 9769
Mass Times:
Sunday – 8.30 am
Monday –
Tuesday – 5.00pm
Wednesday –
Thursday –
Friday – 7.30 am
Saturday – 7.30 am

Ganegama is a small village situated about 16 Km from Galle on the Galle Baddegama road. Rev. Fr. Peter Gabriel Gomez S.J. in his book about the work of the Jesuits between 1893-1990says; The little Catholic Community there back to a certain European who was one of the inhabitants and who in the year 1853 married a Catholic girl from Kalegana. He embraced the Catholic faith and his family became a very happy community of about 50 souls. Towards the year 1900 they gathered at his house for religious services.”(Pg362). Thus began the Catholic community at Baddegama.

In the year 1901, Fr. Joseph Shaeffer, S.J. built a fairly good church and a mission house. He visited it every month even after he was transferred to Hiniduma, In 1906 the “Mission Station” of Ganegama was handed over to Fr. Vincent Fernando. He was a diocesan priest living at Halpathota. In 1913, Fr. Gregary Van Austen, S.J. was asked by the Bishop to oversee the estates at Nakiyadeniya, Udugama, Talgaswala and also Elpitiya. Fr. Van Austen was the assistant priest at Hiniduma. But to visit the estates in the above mentioned four places, Ganegama was more central. So it became a residence for a missionary priest. The building of Ganegama church was completed in 1901 and dedicated to St. Anthony. The plaque fixed in the church reveals this. According to the records at the Bishop’s House, recorded by Bishop Laudadio, S.J. according to the church law, the church was officially proclaimed as a parish on the 15 of August, 1924 on the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary.

According to the parish registers, 4 categories of priests can be sorted out of the priests who were resident at Ganegama.

They are: 1) The priests who were appointed to look after the parish; 2) The priests officially appointed as parish priests; 3) The priests officially appointed as assistant parish priests; 4) The priests who took up residence as a centre in the work between Hiniduma and Elpitiya (mainly as said earlier Jesuit Missionaries).

From 1887-1943, all the parish priests and assistants officially appointed were all Jesuit priests, understandably. In the period from 1924-1925, the first diocesan priest was appointed as the assistant parish priest. And in 1943 the same priest, Rev. Fr. Philip Cooray, was appointed as parish priest. He served at Ganegama till 1958. The priest who served the longest period as assistant parish priest was Fr. Basil Corera, S.J, who sometimes was stationed at Halpathota.

A significant fact to remember is that Bishop Van Reeth choose Ganegama to put up the First Generalate of the Sisters of the Holy Angels, the Diocesan Congregation he founded. This is St. Michael’s Convent, which still stands there, even though not as the generalate. Also there is another fact to remember that Ganegama and Halpathota were one parish. In 1994, after the division of the diocese these two became two parishes and Halpathota also became an important parish.

The following can be counted as important milestones of Ganegama Parish:

1) 1901 The completion of the building of the church

2) 1926:25 anniversary of the parish

The Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Erest Bastiner, S.J.

Assistant Priests Rev. Fr. Paul Delwalde, SJ./Rev. Fr. Philiph Cooray

31 1951:50 Anniversary of the Parish The Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Philip Cooray Assistant Priests Rex Fr. Alfred Fernando

1960: The erection of belfry in memory of Rev. Fr. Philip Cooray The Parish Priest Rev. Fr. CosmaGuzida, SJ. Assistant Priests Rev. Fr. Basil Corera S

5) 1976:75 Anniversary of the Parish The Parish Priest Rev. Fr. M. Battaglia, 51

6) 2001 Centenary Year of the Parish The Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Camillus Cooray

In the Centenary Year, the Catholic Population of the parish was 70 families. There were 215 baptized Catholics. At the time of writing, now there are 150 families (February, 2019). At the moment there are three substations;

1) Nagoda

2) Lelwala

3) Gulugahakanda

There are two priests from the parish of Ganegama. Both have been called to eternal rest in the Lord: Rev. Fr. Cyril Edirisinghe (Galle Diocese) and Rev. Fr. Sunil Gunawardene(Anuradhapura Diocese). Fr. Cyril Edirisnghe was famous for the Stations of the Cross at Hiniduma; the Mysteries of the Rosary at Hewadiwela; the healing stories and paintings at Weligama and very effective snake stone, the “Nai Gala”. There are five Religious Sisters from the parish of Ganegama’ Rev. Sr. Elizabeth Edirisinghe (Fr. Cyril Edirisinghe’s own sister), Rev. Sr. Felicitas. Both have gone to their rest in the Lord. Both are Sisters of the Holy Angels. Rev. Sr. Peter and Rev. Sr. Mary Mageret; both Holy Angel Sisters; Rev. Sr. Priyanga Gunawardene of the Sisters of Charity are serving in the vineyard of the Lord.