Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte

{{Short description|Catholic missionary jurisdiction in Ethiopia}}

{{Infobox diocese

|jurisdiction = Apostolic Vicariate

|name = Nekemte

|latin = Vicariatus Apostolicus Nekemteensis

|country = Ethiopia

|metropolitan = Immediately subject to the Holy See

|rite = Roman

|cathedral = Cathedral of Kidane Meheret

|cocathedral =

|area_km2 = 98,792

|population = 6,000,000

|population_as_of = 2004

|catholics = 42,000

|catholics_percent= 0.7

|bishop = Vacant

|coadjutor =

|auxiliary_bishops=

|map = File:Ethiopia - Vicariato apostolico di Nekemte.jpg

}}

The Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte ({{langx|la|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:

East Welega zone
West Welega zone
Kelem Welega zone
Horo Guduru wollega zone
West Showa Zone

Benishangul Gumuz Region:

Assosa zone
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 entitled 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 .

Leadership

;Apostolic Prefect of Southern Kaffa

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

;Apostolic Prefects of Kaffa

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

;Apostolic Vicars of Gimma

Luigi Santa, I.M.C. (March 15, 1937 – November 1943), appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Rimini, Italy
Apostolic Administrator Urbain-Marie Person, O.F.M. Cap. (1952–1958)
Apostolic Administrator Fr. Frans Janssen, Lazarists (C.M.) (1958 – May 21, 1959)
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)

;Apostolic Vicars of Nekemte

Hendrik Joseph Alois Bomers, C.M. (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)
Theodorus Van Ruijven, C.M. (see above July 23, 2009 – November 10, 2013)
Varghese Thottamkara, C.M. (first as (November 10, 2013{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = May 10, 2023 | date = November 10, 2013 | language = it | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 10.11.2013 | url =https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2013/11/10/0736/01660.html }} – May 10, 2023){{cite press release | date = May 10, 2023 | access-date = May 10, 2023 | publisher = Holy See Press Office | language = it | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2023/05/10/0351/00768.html | title = Rinunce e nomine, 10.05.2023}}

=Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic=

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

References

External links

[http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/neke0.htm GCatholic.org - data for all sections]
[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dneke.html Catholic Hierarchy] Wikipedia:Sources

Category:Roman Catholic dioceses in Ethiopia

Category:Apostolic vicariates

Religious organizations established in 1913

Category:Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 20th century

Oromia Region

1913 establishments in Ethiopia