Nekemte (Vicariate Apostolic) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Getahun Fanta Shikune, C.M., Vicar Apostolic
Theodorus van Ruijven (van Ruyven), C.M., Vicar Apostolic Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Vicariate Apostolic
Name Changed: 3 September 1982
Vicariate
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Ethiopia
Square Kilometers: 85,000 (32,831 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 412, Nekemte, Ethiopia
Telephone: 911.308.682

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Southern Kaffa {Kaffa Meridionale}
- Latin Name: de Kaffa Meridionali
- Erected: 28 January 1913
- Country: Ethiopia
Prefecture Apostolic of Kaffa
- Latin Name: de Kaffa
- Name Changed: 8 September 1913
- Country: Ethiopia
Vicariate Apostolic of Gimma
- Latin Name: Gimmaensis
- Elevated: 25 March 1937
- Vicariate
- Country: Ethiopia

Past and Present Ordinaries

Gaudenzio Barlassina, I.M.C. † (6 May 1913 Appointed - 1933 Resigned)
Luigi Santa, I.M.C. † (14 Jul 1934 Appointed - Nov 1943 Appointed, Auxiliary Bishop of Rimini)
Franz Janssen, C.M. † (21 May 1959 Appointed - 4 Jul 1972 Resigned)
Hendrik Joseph Alois Bomers, C.M. † (17 Dec 1977 Appointed - 19 Oct 1983 Appointed, Coadjutor Bishop of Haarlem)
Fikre-Mariam Ghemetchu, C.M. † (28 Oct 1985 Appointed - 18 Jan 1994 Resigned)
Leonardus Dobbelaar, C.M. † (10 Jun 1994 Appointed - 21 Mar 2008 Died)
Theodorus van Ruijven (van Ruyven), C.M. (23 Jul 2009 Appointed - 10 Nov 2013 Retired)
Varghese Thottamkara, C.M. (10 Nov 2013 Succeeded - 10 May 2023 Appointed, Bishop of Balasore)
Getahun Fanta Shikune, C.M. (16 Jul 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Southern Kaffa {Kaffa Meridionale}
28 January 1913	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Galla	Prefecture Apostolic of Southern Kaffa {Kaffa Meridionale} (erected)
Prefecture Apostolic of Kaffa
8 September 1913	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Galla (Part of the Walagga region) Prefecture Apostolic of Southern Kaffa {Kaffa Meridionale}	Prefecture Apostolic of Kaffa
5 February 1925	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Galla (Boundaries Adjusted) Prefecture Apostolic of Kaffa (Boundaries Adjusted)
10 March 1926	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Galla (Boundaries Adjusted) Prefecture Apostolic of Kaffa (Boundaries Adjusted)
25 March 1937	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Galla Prefecture Apostolic of Kaffa	Prefecture Apostolic of Neghelli (erected) (Sidamo and Borana (in Galla and Sidamo))
Vicariate Apostolic of Gimma
25 March 1937	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Kaffa	Vicariate Apostolic of Gimma (and Name Changed)
13 February 1940	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Gimma (Gambattà-Gudella and part of Voliam) Prefecture Apostolic of Neghelli (Gambattà (left bank of the river Billate))	Prefecture Apostolic of Hosanna (erected)
13 February 1940	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Gimma (Guraghe Hadia)	Prefecture Apostolic of Endeber (erected)
15 October 1969	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Gimma (Illubabor, Wollega, Kaffa, Gomu-Gofa along with Jibat-Metcha)
Vicariate Apostolic of Nekemte
3 September 1982	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Gimma	Vicariate Apostolic of Nekemte
10 June 1994	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Nekemte (Keffa, Illubabor, and Gambela)	Prefecture Apostolic of Jimma-Bonga (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Vicariate Apostolic of Gimma

1950 8,000 8 8 1,000 21 5 ap1951

1970 7,345 427,000 1.7% 22 22 333 24 17 ap1971

1980 13,000 5,111,000 .3% 3 28 31 419 28 43 39 ap1981

Vicariate Apostolic of Nekemte

1990 22,724 6,394,000 .4% 5 20 25 908 37 51 32 ap1991

1999 26,594 4,780,000 .6% 8 9 17 1,564 9 23 51 ap2000

2000 26,051 6,000,000 .4% 13 10 23 1,132 10 29 53 ap2001

2001 27,095 6,000,000 .5% 14 11 25 1,083 11 32 66 ap2002

2002 31,252 6,000,000 .5% 23 12 35 892 12 38 70 ap2003

2003 32,627 6,000,000 .5% 26 9 35 932 9 38 71 ap2004

2004 42,000 6,000,000 .7% 27 10 37 1,135 19 38 71 ap2005

2010 48,395 7,050,000 .7% 24 10 34 1,423 20 45 87 ap2011

2014 46,900 7,831,000 .6% 30 8 38 1,234 6 14 42 93 ap2015

2017 45,000 7,520,120 .6% 28 7 35 1,285 15 55 19 ap2018

2020 46,700 8,032,100 .6% 27 12 39 1,197 1 12 54 22 ap2021

2022 48,800 8,391,530 .6% 26 11 37 1,318 1 15 50 22 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Gimma
1950	8,000			8		8	1,000			21	5	ap1951
1970	7,345	427,000	1.7%		22	22	333		24	17		ap1971
1980	13,000	5,111,000	.3%	3	28	31	419		28	43	39	ap1981
Vicariate Apostolic of Nekemte
1990	22,724	6,394,000	.4%	5	20	25	908		37	51	32	ap1991
1999	26,594	4,780,000	.6%	8	9	17	1,564		9	23	51	ap2000
2000	26,051	6,000,000	.4%	13	10	23	1,132		10	29	53	ap2001
2001	27,095	6,000,000	.5%	14	11	25	1,083		11	32	66	ap2002
2002	31,252	6,000,000	.5%	23	12	35	892		12	38	70	ap2003
2003	32,627	6,000,000	.5%	26	9	35	932		9	38	71	ap2004
2004	42,000	6,000,000	.7%	27	10	37	1,135		19	38	71	ap2005
2010	48,395	7,050,000	.7%	24	10	34	1,423		20	45	87	ap2011
2014	46,900	7,831,000	.6%	30	8	38	1,234	6	14	42	93	ap2015
2017	45,000	7,520,120	.6%	28	7	35	1,285		15	55	19	ap2018
2020	46,700	8,032,100	.6%	27	12	39	1,197	1	12	54	22	ap2021
2022	48,800	8,391,530	.6%	26	11	37	1,318	1	15	50	22	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Gaudenzio Barlassina, I.M.C. † (Prefect: 6 May 1913 to 1933)
Hendrik Joseph Alois Bomers, C.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 17 Dec 1977 to 19 Oct 1983)
Leonardus Dobbelaar, C.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 Jun 1994 to 21 Mar 2008)
Fikre-Mariam Ghemetchu, C.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 28 Oct 1985 to 18 Jan 1994)
Franz Janssen, C.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 21 May 1959 to 4 Jul 1972)
Luigi Santa, I.M.C. † (Prefect: 14 Jul 1934; Vicar Apostolic: 25 Mar 1937 to Nov 1943)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Southern Kaffa {Kaffa Meridionale}
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 5, Page 40, and Page 41
Prefecture Apostolic of Kaffa
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 5, Page 432
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 17, Page 132, and Page 133
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 18, Page 372, and Page 373
Vicariate Apostolic of Gimma
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 29, Page 360, and Page 361
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 62, Page 137
Vicariate Apostolic of Nekemte
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 74, Page 1,187

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Vicariate Apostolic of Nekemte

Vicariatus Apostolicus Nekemteensis