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Holy Cross ChurchCastlerock

A Brief History of the Church

As the train from Londa to Goa wishes past the milky white waterfalls of Dudhsagar in Goa, 13 Kms from Castlerock, one’s heart skips a beat as one beholds this feast to the eyes! This is Castlerock, though very much interior, it has found favour with the British officers who liked the greenery and in particular the salubrious climate and used it as a summer resort. No wonder there exists in Castlerock a British cemetery. Castlerock is also a railway junction.
The existence of the Holy Cross Mission goes back to around 1898 when it was a sub-station under Khanapur Parish (erstwhile Goa Diocese). The old Presbytery was built in 1935 and Fr. Ascencao Appollinario D’Cunha was the first resident Priest. A Chapel was built and inaugurated by the Patriarch of Goa on 20th Feb. 1949. The same Chapel was repaired and renovated and rededicated in 1998. The Presbytery, which was in a dilapidated condition, was re-built when Fr. Kurian Therady was the Parish Priest and inaugurated by our Bishop on 20th May 1998. Fr. Lawrence Pereira, Fr. Constancio Almeida, Fr. Reginald Pinto, Fr. Dominic Quadros, have served the Parish. Fr. Anil Walter D Mello is the present Parish Priest. The present Sanctuary was renovated by Fr. Anil Walter.

Rev. Fr. Anil Walter D’Mello

Parish Priest, Holy Cross Church Castlerock.
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Our Former Priests