Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte

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

The Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte (Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Nekemteensis) is a Roman Catholic apostolic Vicariate located in the city of Nekemte in Ethiopia.

History

• January 28, 1913: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Southern Kaffa from the Apostolic Vicariate of Galla
• September 8, 1913: Renamed as Apostolic Prefecture of Kaffa
• March 25, 1937: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Gimma
• September 3, 1982: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte

Leadership

• Vicar Apostolics of Nekemte (Roman rite)
  • Bishop Varghese Thottamkara, C.M. (first as Coadjutor Bishop; then as Bishop, November 10, 2013 - present)
  • Bishop Theodorus Van Ruijven, C.M. (Apostolic Administrator, July 2008 – July 23, 2009; Bishop, July 23, 2009 - November 10, 2013)
  • Bishop Leonardus Dobbelaar, C.M. (June 10, 1994 – March 21, 2008)
  • Bishop Fikre-Mariam Ghemetchu, C.M. (October 28, 1985 – January 18, 1994)
  • Bishop Hendrik Joseph Alois Bomers, C.M. (September 3, 1982 – October 19, 1983)
• Vicars Apostolic of Gimma (Roman Rite)
  • Bishop Hendrik Joseph Alois Bomers, C.M. (December 17, 1977 – September 3, 1982)
  • Fr. Herman Wilhelm Teuben, C.M. (Apostolic Administrator 1972 – December 17, 1977)
  • Bishop Frans Janssen, C.M. (May 21, 1959 – 1972)
  • Fr. Frans Janssen, C.M. (later Bishop) (Apostolic Administrator 1958 – May 21, 1959)
  • Bishop Urbain-Marie Person, O.F.M. Cap. (Apostolic Administrator 1952 – 1958)
  • Bishop Luigi Santa, I.M.C. (March 15, 1937 – 1943)
• Prefects Apostolic of Kaffa (Roman Rite)
  • Fr. Luigi Santa, I.M.C. (later Bishop) (July 14, 1934 – March 15, 1937)
  • Fr. Gaudenzio Barlassina, I.M.C. (May 6, 1913 – 1933)

References

• GCatholic.org
• Catholic Hierarchy