The church played an important role in the independence struggle. On 27 October 1991, young independence activists tried to demonstrate against the Indonesian occupation. While the Indonesian security forces ran after them, pastor Alberto Ricardo da Silva offered them protection in the church. At night, the Indonesians stormed the church and shot activist Sebastião Gomes, who then bled to death. On 12 November 1991, after the memorial service for Gomes, a demonstration started in front of the church and led to the Santa Cruz massacre, in which at least 271 people were killed by Indonesian security forces.