Rev. Oliver Weerakkody, 77, died Jan. 25, 2018

Reverend Don Oliver Weerakkody, a Catholic priest for 52 years, died on January 25, 2018, in Sri Lanka at the age of 77.  He was born on August 4, 1940 in Tudella, Sri Lanka to Don Johanes Weerakkody and Magelin Margaret (Perera) Weerakkody.

Fr. Weerakkody earned a Bachelor’s degree in 1962 and a Master’s degree in Divinity in 1966, both from National Seminary in Sri Lanka.  He was ordained for the Archdiocese of Colombo in Sri Lanka on December 21, 1965, moved to Austin in 1990 and incardinated into the Diocese of Austin in 1998.  Fr. Weerakkody served as a chaplain at Seton Medical Center in Austin and as parochial vicar at St. Louis Parish in Austin.  He retired on June 30, 2014 before returning to Sri Lanka shortly thereafter.

Fr. Weerakkody was preceded in death by his parents Don Johanes and Magelin Margaret Weerakkody.  

Fr. Weerakkody’s funeral was held on Sunday, January 28 in his native village, Tudella, in the Archdiocese of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Louis Catholic Church in Austin on Friday, February 9, at 11:00 a.m.  It is open to anyone who was touched by the dedicated service of this priest while he was living and working in the Diocese of Austin.