Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte

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

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	Vacant
Map

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 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^[1] – May 10, 2023)^[2]

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic

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

See also

• List of Catholic dioceses in Ethiopia