Comboni Fathers

The Institute of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ) was founded by Bishop Daniel Comboni (1831-1881), who was declared Saint by Pope John Paul II on 5th October 2003.

Comboni envisioned the evangelization of Africa through Africans. At present, 1900 Comboni Missionaries, brothers and priests, animated by their founder's charism are committed to evangelization in Africa, South America and Asia.

Comboni Missionaries in Eritrea and Ethiopia:

1936: The arrival of 6 Comboni Missionaries towards the end of 1936 marks the beginning of a consistant, though short, activity by the Comboni Institute in Ethiopia.

In the Prefecture Apostolic of Gonder, under the Prefect Apostolic Mgr. P.Villa, the Comboni Group established 9 mission stations and staffed the minor seminary in Gonder. War events cut short their missionary activity in the Gonder region.

1941: By the end of the year, all Comboni Missionaries were ordered out of Gonder. As prisoners of war, they were scattered far and wide, from Africa to India. A small group led by Fr. A. Gasparini could stay on in Eritrea giving their co-operation to other religious Societies.

1946: Thanks to Fr. Gasparini's bold initiative, the Comboni Community obtained approval for a school catering to local pupils. March 19th of the same year marks the laying of the cornerstone of the future Comboni College

1964: The first two Comboni Missionaries were assigned to Awasa (Sidama Zone). Between 1965 and 1995 twelve missions have been opened by the Comboni Missionaries in the Vicariate of Awasa.

1966: A Comboni community took charge of the mission-parish in the city of Gonder. Activity was focused on teaching and school direction. Classes were upgraded to junior level.

1971: Seven candidates entered the Comboni novitiate in Awasa (Sidama Zone) directed by Fr.L. Ceresoli.

1973: Mgr. A. Gasparini was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Awasa (Sidama Zone).

1979: Mgr. A. Gasparini was consecrated bishop of the Vicariate Apostolic of Awassa.

1980: The mission-parish Debre Selam in Gonder was entrusted to the Cistercian Order.

1994: Mgr. Lorenzo Ceresoli was consecrated bishop of the Vicariate-Apostolic of Awassa as successor of Mgr. A. Gasparini (19th March l994).

2003: Opening of Gilgel Beles mission ((Benishangul Gumuz).

Top

Addresses /2004

Addis Ababa

Provincial House
P.O.Box 5581, Addis Ababa
Tel: 00.251.1.51.52.10
Fax: 00.251.1.51.59.77
E-mail: combprov@ethionet.et

Postulancy
P.O.Box 5581, Addis Ababa
Tel: 00.251.1.78.00.44

Awasa
Catholic Church
P.O.Box 12, Awasa
Tel: 00.251.6.20.24.52
Fax: 00.251.6.20.23.48

Dongora Catholic Church
P.O.Box 12,   Aletta   Wondo
Zone: Sidama

Fullasa Catholic Church
P.O.Box 12,   Awassa
Zone: Sidama

Haro Wato Catholic Church
P.O.Box 320, Dilla
Zone: Gedeo
Tel: 00.251.6.31.20.61

Qillenso Catholic Church
P.O.Box 28, Kebre Menghist
Tel: 00.251.6.31.13.20
Zone: Borana

Teticcia Catholic Church
P.O.Box 62 Aletta Wondo
Zone: Sidama

Tullo Catholic Church
P.O.Box 12 Awassa
Zone: Sidama

Gilgel Beles
Catholic Church
P.O.Box 24 Gilgel Beles
Region: Benishangul Gumuz
Zone: Metekel

Main Activities in Ethiopia

Education

St. Paul Catholic Elementary and Junior Secondary School (1-8)
Region:    Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP)
Zone: Sidama
Woreda: Awasa Zuria
Town: Awasa
Kebele: Tullo

Sintaro Catholic Elementary School Grade 1-4
Region:            Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP)
Zone: Sidama
Woreda: Awasa Zuria
Town: Wejigera
Kebele: Sintaro

Maqbasa Qorqe Catholic Elementary School Grade 1-4
Region: Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP)
Zone: Sidama
Woreda: Awasa Zuria
Town: Awasa
Kebele: Qorqe

Arosa Catholic Elementary School Grade 1-4
Region:            Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP)
Zone: Sidama
Woreda: Shebedino
Town: Awasa
Kebele: Arosa

St. Joseph Catholic Elementary and Junior Secondary School Grade 1-8
Region:            Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP)
Zone: Sidama
Woreda: Boricha
Town: Irba
Kebele: Fullasa

St. Louis Catholic Elementary School Grade 1-6
Region:    Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP)
Zone: Sidama
Woreda: Aleta Wendo
Town: Aleta Wendo
Kebele: Elmate

Holy Cross Catholic Elementary and Junior Secondary School Grade 1-8
Region:            Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP)
Zone: Sidama
Woreda: Hula
Town: Ageresalam
Kebele: Xexicha

Qillensoo Catholic Elementary School Grade 1-4
Region: Oromiya
Zone: Boranaa
Woreda: Boree
Town: Boree
Kebele: Qillensoo

Xabee Haroo Wato Catholic School Grade 5-8
Region: Oromiya
Zone: Boranaa
Woreda: Uragaa
Town: Solamo
Kebele: Haroo Wato

Pastoral Centre
Dongora Catechetical Centre (Courses for Catechists, Youth, Elders,Women)
Region:    Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP)
Zone: Sidama
Woreda: Aleta Wendo
Town: Aleta Wendo
Kebele: Elmate

Top

MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION /2006

No.	Name	Profession	Location
1.	+Mgr. Ceresoli Lorenzo	02.04.60	Awasa
2.	Fr. Abraham Hailu	04.08.96	Sudan
3.	Br. Acedo Garcia Fernando	01.05.71 RP	Teticha
4.	Fr. Agostini Sisto	26.06.71	Dongora
5.	Fr. Altieri Claudio	26.06.65	Qillenso
6.	Fr. Andriollo Domenico	07.04.62	Teticha
7.	Sc. Asfaha Yohannes woldeg.	10.10.97	Egypt
8.	Fr. Baccanelli Giovanni	31.05.68	Haro Wato
9.	Fr. Badianga Kobo Jean Claude	30.07.00	Haro Wato
10.	Fr. Badola Tigine Desire	17.08.97	South Africa
11.	Fr. Bellini Giacomo	18.03.61	Gelgel Beles
12.	Sc. Benjamin Abiy	01.05.06 RP	Sao Paulo- Brazil
13.	Sc. Berhane Kidane Kashay	04.05.02 RP	Gilgel Beles
14.	Br. Bertolo Roberto	29.05.99 RP	Gelgel Beles
15.	Br. Cariani Luciano	25.04.51 RP	Arosa
16.	Fr. Cipollone Rodolfo	26.03.66	Arosa
17.	Fr. Citton Eliseo	14.05.88	Haro Wato
18.	Fr. Cordova Alcazar J. Miguel	19.08.00	Teticha
19.	Fr. Dalla Vecchia Giuseppe	26.06.66	Dongora
20.	Fr. Dawit Wubishet Teklewold	03.06.93	Addis Ababa P
21.	Br. Dessu Yisrashe Banksra	26.05.96 RP	Nairobi
22.	Fr. Detomaso Giuseppe	02.06.68	Arosa
23.	Fr. Di Iorio Nicola	09.08.86	Addis Ababa
24.	Sc. Facil Kebede	01.05.06 RP	South Africa
25.	Sc. Fufa Ensermu	01.05.06 RP	Lima , Peru
26.	Br. Gasparini Antonio	07.10.49 RP	Awasa
27.	Fr. Giana Carlo	22.12.62	Awasa
28.	Br. Girelli Giovanni	08.09.64 RP	Fullasa
29.	Fr. Gonzales Nunez Juan Antonio	28.06.68	Gilgel Beles
30.	Fr. Hategek Imana Sylvester	26.06.94	South Africa
31.	Sc. Henok Teshome G.	24.04.03 RP	Sao Paulo Brasil
32.	Fr. Hernandez Pedro Pablo	25.02.89	Quillenso
33.	Fr. Innocenti Marco	15.09.01	Gilgel Beles
34.	Fr. Ivo Martin do Vale	31.07.77	Teticha
35.	Sc. Kidane Wodajo	01.05.05 RP	Innsbruk, Austria
36.	Fr. Maccani Bruno	06.06.48	Fullasa
37.	Sc. Mehari Abraha Iskias	06.05.01 RP	Fullasa
38.	Fr. Melaku Tafesse Amente	03.05.92	Awasa
39.	Sc. Melese Tumato shulla	16.05.99 RP	South Africa
40.	Fr. Mencarini Silvio	06.06.48	Addis Ababa
41.	Fr. Menegatti Cornelio	11.06.49	Dongora
42.	Fr. Migliorati Giovanni	29.06.66	Addis Ababa Sem
43.	Fr. Mtiku Habte Cheksa	29.08.98	Sudan
44.	Fr. Navarro Catalan Ramon	07.05.73	Dongora
45.	Fr. Ocana Iglesias Julio	29.07.95	Dongora
46.	Fr. Ochoa Gracian Francisco J.	22.12.01	Haro Watu
47.	Fr. Paoli Paolo	12.04.71	Fullasa
48.	Br. Pedercini Aldo	09.09.56 RP	Addis Ababa
49.	Sc. Samuel Yacob	01.05.06 RP	South Africa
50.	Fr. Seyum Kahsay Hagos	01.06.63	Addis Ababa Sem.
51.	Br. Smalzi Gian Pietro	01.05.76 RP	Awasa
52.	Fr. Spagnolo Adelmo	30.05.53	Awassa
53.	Sc. Tekalign Wondimu	01.05.06 RP	Lima, Peru
54.	Sc. Tesfaye Erbello	01.05.05 RP	Sao Paulo, Brazil
55.	Fr. Tesfaye Tadesse	26.08.95	Addis Ababa
56.	Fr. Tium Debesay Zewold	27.08.00	Addis Ababa P
57.	Sc. Woldeyohannes Tesfay W.	24.04.03 RP