Apostolic Vicariate of Jimma

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Apostolic Vicariate

Name: Jimma–Bonga / Gimma–Bonga (Italiano) / Gimmaën(sis)–Bongan(us) (Latin)

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1994.06.10: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Jimma–Bonga / Gimma–Bonga (Italiano) / Gimmaën(sis)–Bongan(us) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte)
2000.11.16: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Gambella
2009.12.05: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Jimma–Bonga / Gimma–Bonga (Italiano) / Gimmaën(sis)–Bongan(us) (Latin)

Present Prelates

Vicar Apostolic (2009.12.05 – ...):

Bishop Markos Ghebremedhin, C.M. (57)

Titular Bishop of Gummi in Proconsulari

Ordinaries

Vicars Apostolic of Jimma–Bonga (Roman Rite)

Bishop Markos Ghebremedhin, C.M. (57)
(2009.12.05 – ...)

Vicar Apostolic of Jimma–Bonga (Ethiopia)
Titular Bishop of Gummi in Proconsulari

Born:	1966.11.18 (Shappa, Ethiopia)
Ordained Priest:	1993.09.19
Consecrated Bishop:	2010.01.24

Titular Bishop of Gummi in Proconsulari (2009.12.05 – ...)

Vicar Apostolic of Jimma–Bonga (Ethiopia) (2009.12.05 – ...)

Prefects Apostolic of Jimma–Bonga (Roman Rite)

Fr. Theodorus van Ruijven, C.M. (86) (later Bishop)
(1998.07.09 – 2009.07.23)

Titular Bishop of Utimma
Vicar Apostolic emeritus of Nekemte (Ethiopia)

Born:	1938.05.22 (Rijswijk, Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1964.03.19
Consecrated Bishop:	2009.08.30

Prefect Apostolic of Jimma–Bonga (Ethiopia) (1998.07.09 – 2009.07.23)

Apostolic Administrator of Nekemte (Ethiopia) (2008.07 – 2009.07.23)

Vicar Apostolic of Nekemte (Ethiopia) (2009.07.23 – 2013.11.10)

Titular Bishop of Utimma (2009.07.23 – ...)

Fr. Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel, C.M. (76) (later Cardinal)
(1994 – 1997.11.07)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Romano Martire
Metropolitan of Addis Abeba of the Ethiopics (Ethiopia)
President of Interritual Episcopal Conference of Ethiopia
President of Council of the Ethiopian Church

Sub tuum præsidium

Born:	1948.07.14 (Tchela Claka, Ethiopia)
Ordained Priest:	1976.07.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1998.01.25
Created Cardinal:	2015.02.14

Prefect Apostolic of Jimma–Bonga (Ethiopia) (1994 – 1997.11.07)

Titular Bishop of Bita (1997.11.07 – 1999.07.07)

Auxiliary Bishop of Addis Abeba of the Ethiopics (Ethiopia) (1997.11.07 – 1999.07.07)

President of Council of the Ethiopian Church (1998 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Addis Abeba of the Ethiopics (Ethiopia) (1998.06.16 – 1999.07.07)

President of Interritual Episcopal Conference of Ethiopia (1999 – ...)

Metropolitan of Addis Abeba of the Ethiopics (Ethiopia) (1999.07.07 – ...)

President of Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (2014.07.24 – 2018.07.21)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Romano Martire (2015.02.14 [2015.10.18] – ...)

Special Churches

Pro-Cathedral: Pro-Cathedral Lideta Mariam, Jimma

Torit (↙), Gambella (←), Nekemte (↑), Emdeber (↗), Hosanna (→), Soddo (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 57,000 km²

Population: 65,000 Catholics (1.3% of 5,169,360 total)

Pastoral Centres: 55 parishes, 18 missions

Personnel: 39 priests (20 diocesan, 19 religious), 67 religious (37 brothers, 30 sisters), 15 seminarians