Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte

Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte Vicariatus Apostolicus Nekemteensis
Location
Country	Ethiopia
Metropolitan	Immediately subject to the Holy See
Statistics
Area	98,792 km2 (38,144 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2004) 6,000,000 42,000 (0.7%)
Information
Rite	Roman
Cathedral	Cathedral of Kidane Meheret
Current leadership
Bishop	Bishop Varghese Thottamkara, C.M. (formerly, Coadjutor Bishop under Bishop Emeritus Theodorus van Ruijven, C.M.)
Map

The Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte (Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Nekemteensis) is a Roman Catholic apostolic vicariate (pre-diocesan jurisdiction) located in Nekemte, Ethiopia (where Ethiopian Orthodox, Islam and Coptic Catholicism are predominant).

The see is directly subject to the Holy See (not part of any ecclesiastical province) and its Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Its seat is the Cathedral of Kidane Meheret, in Nekemte.

The Vicariate Apostolic of Nekemte comprises the following:

Oromia region:

1. East Welega zone
2. West Welega zone
3. Kelem Welega zone
4. Horo Guduru wollega zone
5. West Showa Zone

Benishangul Gumuz Region:

1. Assosa zone
2. Kamashi zone

History

• January 28, 1913: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Southern Kaffa / Kaffa Meridionale (Italiano), on territory split off from the Apostolic Vicariate of Galla
• September 8, 1913: Renamed as Apostolic Prefecture of Kaffa
• March 25, 1937: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Gimma, hence entitle to a titular bishop, having lost territory to establish the Apostolic Prefecture of Neghelli
• Lost territories on 1940.02.13 to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Hosanna and Apostolic Prefecture of Endeber
• September 3, 1982: Renamed after its see as Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte / Nekemteën(sis) (Latin)
• Lost territory on 1994.06.10 to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Jimma–Bonga.

Statistics

As per 2014, it pastorally served 46,900 Latin Catholics (0.6% of 7,831,000 total) on 98,792 km² in 93 parishes and 26 missions with 38 priests (30 diocesan, 8 religious), 6 deacons, 56 lay religious (14 brothers, 42 sisters) and 15 seminarians .

Bishops

Ordinaries

(all Roman rite; so far members of Latin missionary congregations)

Apostolic Prefect of Southern Kaffa

• Father Gaudenzio Barlassina, Consolata Missionaries (I.M.C.) (May 6, 1913 – September 8, 1913 see below)

Apostolic Prefects of Kaffa

• Father Gaudenzio Barlassina, I.M.C. (see above September 8, 1913 – 1933)
• Fr. Luigi Santa, I.M.C. (July 14, 1934 – March 15, 1937 see below)

Apostolic Vicars of Gimma

• Luigi Santa, I.M.C. (see above March 15, 1937 – November 1943), appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Rimini, Italy
  • Apostolic Administrator Urbain-Marie Person, Capuchin Franciscans (O.F.M. Cap.) (1952–1958)
  • Apostolic Administrator Fr. Frans Janssen, Lazarists (C.M.) (1958 – May 21, 1959 see below)
• Frans Janssen, C.M. (see above May 21, 1959 – 1972)
  • Apostolic Administrator Fr. Herman Wilhelm Teuben, C.M. (1972 – December 17, 1977)
• Hendrik Joseph Alois Bomers, C.M. (December 17, 1977 – September 3, 1982 see below)

Apostolic Vicars of Nekemte

• Hendrik Joseph Alois Bomers, C.M. (see above September 3, 1982 – October 19, 1983), appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Haarlem, Netherlands
• Fikre-Mariam Ghemetchu, C.M. (October 28, 1985 – January 18, 1994)
• Leonardus Dobbelaar, C.M. (June 10, 1994 – March 21, 2008)
  • Apostolic Administrator Theodorus Van Ruijven, C.M. (July 2008 – July 23, 2009 see below)
• Theodorus Van Ruijven, C.M. (see above July 23, 2009 – November 10, 2013)
• Varghese Thottamkara, C.M. (first as Coadjutor Bishop; then as Bishop, November 10, 2013 – ...)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic

• Varghese Thottamkara, C.M. (June 28, 2013 - November 10, 2013 )

See also

• List of Catholic dioceses in Ethiopia

External links

• GCatholic.org - data for all sections
• Catholic Hierarchy ^{[self-published]}