Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte
The Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte is a Roman Catholic apostolic vicariate located in Nekemte, Ethiopia.
The see is directly subject to the Holy See 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
- Assosa zone
- Kamashi zone
History
- January 28, 1913: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Southern Kaffa / Kaffa Meridionale, 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
- Lost territory on 1994.06.10 to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Jimma–Bonga.
Statistics
As per 2014, it pastorally served 46,900 Latin Catholics on 98,792 km² in 93 parishes and 26 missions with 38 priests, 6 deacons, 56 lay religious and 15 seminarians.Leadership
;Apostolic Prefect of Southern Kaffa- Father Gaudenzio Barlassina, Consolata Missionaries
- Father Gaudenzio Barlassina, I.M.C.
- Fr. Luigi Santa, I.M.C.
- Luigi Santa, I.M.C., appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Rimini, Italy
- *Apostolic Administrator Urbain-Marie Person, O.F.M. Cap.
- *Apostolic Administrator Fr. Frans Janssen, Lazarists
- Frans Janssen, C.M.
- * Apostolic Administrator Fr. Herman Wilhelm Teuben, C.M.
- Hendrik Joseph Alois Bomers, C.M.
- Hendrik Joseph Alois Bomers, C.M., appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Haarlem, Netherlands
- Fikre-Mariam Ghemetchu, C.M.
- Leonardus Dobbelaar, C.M.
- *Apostolic Administrator Theodorus Van Ruijven, C.M.
- Theodorus Van Ruijven, C.M.
- Varghese Thottamkara, C.M.
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic
- Varghese Thottamkara, C.M.