Awasa (Vicariate Apostolic) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Gobezayehu Getachew Yilma, Vicar Apostolic
Juan González Núñez, M.C.C.I., Apostolic Administrator

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Vicariate Apostolic
Elevated: 15 March 1979
Vicariate
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Ethiopia
Square Kilometers: 118,000 (45,577 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Catholic Church, P.O. Box 12, Hawassa (SNNPRS), Ethiopia
Telephone: 912.649.679
Fax: (046)220.23.48

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Neghelli
- Latin Name: Neghelliensis
- Erected: 25 March 1937
- Country: Ethiopia
Prefecture Apostolic of Awasa
- Latin Name: Avasana
- Name Changed: 15 October 1969
- Country: Ethiopia

Past and Present Ordinaries

Gabriele Arosio, P.I.M.E. † (21 May 1937 Appointed - 1942 Resigned)
Urbain-Marie Person, O.F.M. Cap. † (2 Jan 1952 Appointed - 16 Feb 1973 Resigned)
Armido Gasparini, F.S.C.J. † (16 Feb 1973 Appointed - 20 Dec 1993 Retired)
Lorenzo Ceresoli, M.C.C.I. † (20 Dec 1993 Appointed - 21 Mar 2009 Retired)
Giovanni Migliorati, M.C.C.I. † (21 Mar 2009 Appointed - 12 May 2016 Died)
Roberto Bergamaschi, S.D.B. (29 Jun 2016 Appointed - 29 Sep 2020 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Gambella)
Gobezayehu Getachew Yilma (15 Nov 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Neghelli
25 March 1937	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Galla Prefecture Apostolic of Kaffa	Prefecture Apostolic of Neghelli (erected) (Sidamo and Borana (in Galla and Sidamo))
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)
Prefecture Apostolic of Awasa
15 October 1969	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Neghelli	Prefecture Apostolic of Awasa
15 October 1969	Territory Added	Prefecture Apostolic of Hosanna (Sidamo (except Wollamo))	Prefecture Apostolic of Awasa
Vicariate Apostolic of Awasa
15 March 1979	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Awasa	Vicariate Apostolic of Awasa

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

Prefecture Apostolic of Awasa

1970 1,082 1,465,950 .1% 8 8 135 12 10 ap1971

Vicariate Apostolic of Awasa

1980 15,960 2,366,000 .7% 29 29 550 41 32 11 ap1981

1990 63,564 3,892,000 1.6% 1 34 35 1,816 41 57 14 ap1991

1999 121,637 4,145,000 2.9% 9 38 47 2,588 58 66 17 ap2000

2000 124,873 4,820,000 2.6% 9 37 46 2,714 53 73 17 ap2001

2001 132,715 4,970,000 2.7% 10 40 50 2,654 55 70 17 ap2002

2002 140,135 5,320,000 2.6% 7 39 46 3,046 53 70 17 ap2003

2003 147,261 5,451,000 2.7% 7 37 44 3,346 46 71 17 ap2004

2004 157,417 5,600,000 2.8% 11 48 59 2,668 1 56 70 19 ap2005

2010 190,575 6,782,000 2.8% 15 32 47 4,054 41 71 19 ap2011

2014 212,342 7,533,000 2.8% 20 27 47 4,517 43 76 19 ap2015

2017 233,638 8,113,600 2.9% 20 37 57 4,098 47 76 20 ap2018

2020 248,935 8,956,000 2.8% 17 24 41 6,071 33 73 20 ap2021

2022 272,662 9,000,000 3.0% 17 31 48 5,680 39 59 20 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Prefecture Apostolic of Awasa
1970	1,082	1,465,950	.1%		8	8	135		12	10		ap1971
Vicariate Apostolic of Awasa
1980	15,960	2,366,000	.7%		29	29	550		41	32	11	ap1981
1990	63,564	3,892,000	1.6%	1	34	35	1,816		41	57	14	ap1991
1999	121,637	4,145,000	2.9%	9	38	47	2,588		58	66	17	ap2000
2000	124,873	4,820,000	2.6%	9	37	46	2,714		53	73	17	ap2001
2001	132,715	4,970,000	2.7%	10	40	50	2,654		55	70	17	ap2002
2002	140,135	5,320,000	2.6%	7	39	46	3,046		53	70	17	ap2003
2003	147,261	5,451,000	2.7%	7	37	44	3,346		46	71	17	ap2004
2004	157,417	5,600,000	2.8%	11	48	59	2,668	1	56	70	19	ap2005
2010	190,575	6,782,000	2.8%	15	32	47	4,054		41	71	19	ap2011
2014	212,342	7,533,000	2.8%	20	27	47	4,517		43	76	19	ap2015
2017	233,638	8,113,600	2.9%	20	37	57	4,098		47	76	20	ap2018
2020	248,935	8,956,000	2.8%	17	24	41	6,071		33	73	20	ap2021
2022	272,662	9,000,000	3.0%	17	31	48	5,680		39	59	20	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Gabriele Arosio, P.I.M.E. † (Prefect: 21 May 1937 to 1942)
Lorenzo Ceresoli, M.C.C.I. † (Vicar Apostolic: 20 Dec 1993 to 21 Mar 2009)
Armido Gasparini, F.S.C.J. † (Prefect: 16 Feb 1973; Vicar Apostolic: 15 Mar 1979 to 20 Dec 1993)
Giovanni Migliorati, M.C.C.I. † (Vicar Apostolic: 21 Mar 2009 to 12 May 2016)
Urbain-Marie Person, O.F.M. Cap. † (Prefect: 2 Jan 1952 to 16 Feb 1973)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Neghelli
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 29, Page 365, and Page 366
Prefecture Apostolic of Awasa
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 62, Page 138, and Page 139
Vicariate Apostolic of Awasa
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 71, Page 559, and Page 560

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Vicariate Apostolic of Awasa

Vicariatus Apostolicus Avasanus