Apostolic Vicariate of

Awasa

Ethiopia

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Apostolic Vicariate

Name: Awasa / Hawassa / Auasa (Italiano) / Avasan(us) (Latin)

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1937.03.25: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Neghelli / Neghellien(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Galla and Apostolic Prefecture of Kaffa)
1940.02.13: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Hosanna
1969.10.15: Renamed as Apostolic Prefecture of Awasa / Hawassa / Auasa (Italiano) / Avasan(us) (Latin)
1979.03.15: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Awasa / Hawassa / Auasa (Italiano) / Avasan(us) (Latin)

Present Prelates

Vicar Apostolic (2024.11.15 – ...):

Bishop Gobezayehu Getachew Yilma (46)

Ordinaries

Vicars Apostolic of Awasa (Roman Rite)

Bishop Gobezayehu Getachew Yilma (46)
(2024.11.15 – ...)

Vicar Apostolic of Awasa (Ethiopia)

Born:	1978.12.04 (Dodola, Ethiopia)
Ordained Priest:	2005.01.16
Consecrated Bishop:	2025.02.09

Priest of Meki (Ethiopia) (2005.01.16 – 2024.11.15)

Vicar Apostolic of Awasa (Ethiopia) (2024.11.15 – ...)

Fr. Juan Antonio González Núñez, M.C.C.J.
(Apostolic Administrator 2020.09.29 – 2024.11.15)

Bishop Roberto Bergamaschi, S.D.B. (70)
(2016.06.29 – 2020.09.29)

Vicar Apostolic of Gambella (Ethiopia)
Titular Bishop of Ambia

Servite Domino in lætitia

Born:	1954.12.17 (San Donato Milanese, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1982.10.02
Consecrated Bishop:	2016.10.08

Vicar Apostolic of Awasa (Ethiopia) (2016.06.29 – 2020.09.29)

Titular Bishop of Ambia (2016.06.29 – ...)

Vicar Apostolic of Gambella (Ethiopia) (2020.09.29 – ...)

Bishop Giovanni Migliorati, M.C.C.J.
(2009.03.21 – 2016.05.12)

Christus spes nostra

Born:	1942.08.24 (Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1969.04.12
Consecrated Bishop:	2009.05.31
Died:	2016.05.12 († 73)

Titular Bishop of Ambia (2009.03.21 – 2016.05.12)

Vicar Apostolic of Awasa (Ethiopia) (2009.03.21 – 2016.05.12)

Bishop Lorenzo Ceresoli, M.C.C.J.
(1993.12.20 – 2009.03.21)

Born:	1931.05.18 (Nave, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1960.04.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1994.03.19
Died:	2024.09.06 (Castel d’Azzano, Italy † 93)

Vicar Apostolic of Awasa (Ethiopia) (1993.12.20 – 2009.03.21)

Titular Bishop of Fallaba (1993.12.20 – 2024.09.06)

Bishop Armido Gasparini, M.C.C.J.
(1979.03.15 – 1993.12.20)

Born:	1913.08.19 (Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1938.04.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1979.05.27
Died:	2004.10.21 († 91)

Prefect Apostolic of Awasa (Ethiopia) (1973.02.16 – 1979.03.15)

Vicar Apostolic of Awasa (Ethiopia) (1979.03.15 – 1993.12.20)

Titular Bishop of Magnetum (1979.03.15 – 2004.10.21)

Prefects Apostolic of Awasa (Roman Rite)

Fr. Armido Gasparini, M.C.C.J. (later Bishop)
(1973.02.16 – 1979.03.15)

(see above)

Bishop Urbain-Marie Person, O.F.M. Cap.
(1969.10.15 – 1973.02.16)

Born:	1906.02.04 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1932.02.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1955.08.28
Died:	1994.02.09 († 88)

Apostolic Administrator of Harar (Ethiopia) (1952 – 1955.07.03)

Apostolic Administrator of Gimma (Ethiopia) (1952 – 1958)

Prefect Apostolic of Neghelli (Ethiopia) (1952.01.02 – 1969.10.15)

Apostolic Administrator of Hosanna (Ethiopia) (1952.01.02 – 1972)

Vicar Apostolic of Harar (Ethiopia) (1955.07.03 – 1981.12.04)

Titular Bishop of Cyme (1955.07.03 – 1994.02.09)

Prefect Apostolic of Awasa (Ethiopia) (1969.10.15 – 1973.02.16)

Prefects Apostolic of Neghelli (Roman Rite)

Bishop Urbain-Marie Person, O.F.M. Cap.
(1952.01.02 – 1969.10.15)

(see above)

Fr. Gabriele Arosio, P.I.M.E.
(1937.05.21 – 1945)

Died:

1945

Prefect Apostolic of Neghelli (Ethiopia) (1937.05.21 – 1945)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of Kidane Mehret, Awasa

Soddo (←), Meki (↑), Robe (→), Garissa (↘), Marsabit (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 118,000 km²

Population: 279,792 Catholics (3.1% of 9,000,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 20 parishes, 40 missions

Personnel: 51 priests (19 diocesan, 32 religious), 98 religious (41 brothers, 57 sisters), 6 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2025.04.02

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