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, 1775 Comboni Missionaries, brothers and priests, animated by their founder's charism are committed to evangelization in Africa, South America and Asia.

Comboni Missionaries in 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 in Asmara, Eritrea.

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 once again in a new place 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 local 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) in the Archdiocese of Addis Ababa.

Top

Addresses /2004

Addis Ababa

Provincial House
P.O.Box 5581, Addis Ababa
Tel: 00.251.011.551.52.10
      00.251.011.554.55.14
Fax: 00.251.011.551.59.77
E-mail: combprov@ethionet.et

Postulancy
P.O.Box 5581, Addis Ababa
Tel: 00.251.011.270.13.68
Fax: 00.251.011.270.41.71

Awasa
Catholic Church
P.O.Box 12, Awasa
Tel: 00.251.046.220.24.52
Fax: 00.251.046.220.23.48

Dongora Catholic Church
P.O.Box 12,   Aletta   Wondo
Zone: Sidama
Tel: 00.251.046.119.11.44

Fullasa Catholic Church
P.O.Box 12,   Awassa
Zone: Sidama
Tel: 00.251.046.119.11.87

Haro Wato Catholic Church
P.O.Box 320, Dilla
Zone: Gedeo
Tel: 00.251.046.331.20.71
Town: Aleta Wondo
Elmete-Dongora

Qillenso Catholic Church
P.O.Box 28, Kebre Menghist
Tel: 00.251.046.335.09.19
Region: Oromiya
Zone: Borana

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

Gilgel Beles
Catholic Church
P.O.Box 24 Gilgel Beles
Region: Benishangul Gumuz
Zone: Metekel
Tel: 00.251.058.119.00.86

Main Activities in Ethiopia

Education

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: Agereselam
Kebele: Tetich

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 /2008

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	Addis Ababa
5.	Fr. Altieri Claudio	26.06.65	Teticha
6.	Fr. Andriollo Domenico	07.04.62	Teticha
7.	Fr. Asfaha Yohannes woldeg.	10.10.97	Sudan
8.	Fr. Atitse Kokou Donatien	21.04.07	Harowatu
9.	Fr. Baccanelli Giovanni	31.05.68	Haro Wato
10.	Fr. Bellini Giacomo	18.03.61	Gelgel Beles
11.	Br. Bertolo Roberto	29.05.99 RP	Gelgel Beles
12.	Br. Cariani Luciano	25.04.51 RP	Dongora
13.	Fr. Cipollone Rodolfo	26.03.66	Fulassa
14.	Fr. Citton Eliseo	14.05.88	Awasa
15.	Fr. Cordova Alcazar J. Miguel	19.08.00	Qilenso
16.	Fr. Dalla Vecchia Giuseppe	26.06.66	Dongora
17.	Fr. Dawit Wubishet Teklewold	03.06.93	Addis Ababa P
18.	Br. Dessu Yisrashe Banksra	26.05.96 RP	Nairobi
19.	Fr. Detomaso Giuseppe	02.06.68	Tetich
20.	Fr. Di Iorio Nicola	09.08.86	Addis Ababa
21.	Sc. Endrias Shamena	10.05.08	South Africa
22.	Sc. Facil Kebede	01.05.06 RP	South Africa
23.	Sc. Fufa Ensermu	01.05.06 RP	Lima , Peru
24.	Fr. Garcia ReyesEsteban Ramon	28.08.76	Qilenso
25.	Br. Girelli Giovanni	08.09.64 RP	Fullasa
26.	Fr. Gonzales Nunez Juan Antonio	28.06.68	Gilgel Beles
27.	Br. Gonzalez Jimenez Luis Humberto	29.04.07 RP	Addis Ababa
28.	Fr. Hernandez Pedro Pablo	25.02.89	Quillenso
29.	Fr. Innocenti Marco	15.09.01	Gilgel Beles
30.	Fr. Ivo Martin do Vale	31.07.77	Portugal
31.	Fr. Ketema Dagne	10.05.08	Nairobi
32.	Sc. Kidane Wodajo	01.05.05 RP	Austria
33.	Sc. Kiflemariam Kentamo	06.05.07	Nairobi
34.	Fr. Maccani Bruno	06.06.48	Dongora
35.	Sc. Mehari Abraha Iskias	20.11.05	Harowato
36.	Fr. Melaku Tafesse Amente	03.05.92	Awasa
37.	Sc. Melese Tumato shulla	16.05.99 RP	South Africa
38.	Fr. Mencarini Silvio	06.06.48	Addis Ababa
39.	Fr. Menegatti Cornelio	11.06.49	Awasa
40.	Fr.Migliorati Giovanni	12.04.69	Awasa
41.	Fr. Mtiku Habte Cheksa	29.08.98	Gilgel Beles
42.	Fr. Ocana Iglesias Julio	29.07.95	Dongora
43.	Fr. Ochoa Gracian Francisco J.	22.12.01	Haro Watu
44.	Fr. Paoli Paolo	12.04.71	Dongora
45.	Br. Pedercini Aldo	09.09.56 RP	Awasa
46.	Sc. Samuel Yacob	01.05.06 RP	South Africa
47.	Fr. Seyum Kahsay Hagos	01.06.63	Addis Ababa
48.	Br. Smalzi Gian Pietro	01.05.76 RP	Awasa
49.	Fr. Spagnolo Adelmo	30.05.53	Awassa
50.	Sc. Tesfaye Erbello	01.05.05 RP	Brazil
51.	Fr. Tesfaye Tadesse*	26.08.95	Addis Ababa
52.	Fr. Tium Debesay Zewold	27.08.00	Rome
53.	Sc. Yakob Solomon	06.05.07	Nairobi
54.	Fr. Zorzato Mansueto	26.05.56	Fulassa

N.B.
+        Bishop
*         Provincial Superior
P       Postulancy
RP      Religious Profession
Sem.       Major Seminary

Top

This page was last updated on 05/10/2009