New Bishop for Hossana in Ethiopia Ordained

New Bishop for Hossana in Ethiopia Ordained

CANAA || By Makeda Yohannes, Ethiopia || 06 July 2017

The new Bishop for the Apostolic Vicariate of Hassana in Ethiopia, Seyoum Fransua, was ordained last Sunday, July 2, at the Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, Hossana town.

Bishop Seyoum who will be turning 47 on August 20 has succeeded Bishop Woldeghiorghis Mathewos, 75.

The jurisdiction of the Apostolic Vicariate of Hossana includes the zones of Kembata Tembaro, Hadiya, and Silte in Southern Nations, and parts of Alaba special district as well as Nationalities and Peoples Regional State.

The ordination ceremony began on July 1 with the people from the various parts of the jurisdiction parading to receive the Bishop-elect from the town of Beresa.

The Bishop-elect was accompanied to Hassana by various Church dignitaries, among them, Berhaneyesus Cardinal Souraphiel of Addis Ababa, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ethiopia, Archbishop Luigi Bianco, all the Catholic Bishops of Ethiopia, the Secretary General and the entire staff of ECS, his family and friends among many laity and other guests.  

As he arrived to the Vicariate the people on horses, motor cycles and countless cars lead him to the center of Hossana town where thousands of people accompanied by a brass band were waiting to welcome him.

The climax of the ceremony was on Sunday, July 2, when the consecration ceremony presided over by Berhaneyesus Cardinal Souraphiel took place.

Speaking on the occasion, the deputy president of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State H.Ex. Mr. Melese Alemu said that attending the consecration ceremony gave him a great spiritual satisfaction and ensured that the regional administration office is as ready as ever to collaborate with the Apostolic Vicariate of Hossana in all its endeavors.

He also thanked the Catholic Church for her contributions in the development efforts of the region and particularly in the Kembata Tembaro and Hadiya Zones. He added that for ages the Church has been with the people giving not just spiritual support but also providing social services to ensure integral development.

At the same time, Zonal Administrators of Kembata Tembaro Zone and Hadiya Zone Mr. Anteneh Fekadu and Mr. Sintayehu W/michael respectively testified that it is because of the Catholic Church and her ministry of educating people that many people from both zones can be found in higher level positions in different sectors of services both in the country and outside. They also gave their assurances of continued collaboration to Bishop Seyoum and the Apostolic Vicariate of Hossana.

On his part, Bishop Seyoum thanked all the Bishops especially the late Apostolic Vicar of Meki, Bishop Yohannes and his successor, Bishop Abraham, his mother Mrs. Banchiyirga Belew and his late Father Mr. Fransua Noel, all his colleagues and teachers as well as the clergy, religious men and women and the faithful in Hossana for according him a warm reception.

He also pleaded with all to pray for him saying, “Since it was announced that the Holy Father has elected me to be the Bishop of the Catholic Vicariate of Hossana I have continued to ask myself a question that no one has been able to help me answer adequately – WHY ME? I never dreamt that one day I will be called to shepherd the faithful in the Vicariate of Hossana.”

“The shock of election prevails and I continue to say that I accepted this election in obedience to the Holy Father, Pope Francis,” Bishop Seyoum continued, adding, “Having vowed obedience to God and to the Church, I accept this ministry as a missionary of the Church and I thank the Holy Father for the honor done to me, an unworthy servant of the Church. For the rest of my life I remain saying, Thy Will Be Done.”

“Through the intersession of Our Lady and St. Josef and your prayers I shall serve Our Lord and His people in our Vicariate as per His will, for this I ask you all to remain united with me in prayer,” He prayed.

Bishop Seyoum hails from the Apostolic Vicariate of Meki. Responding to his call to priesthood, he joined the Franciscan Capuchin Institute of Philosophy and Theology to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Theology. Bishop Seyoum went on to join the Pontifical Urbanian University in Rome to study missiology making him the only Ethiopian Catholic Priest to hold a doctoral degree in Missiology.

He served as a rector of the minor seminary in the Apostolic Vicariate of Meki, assistant Parish priest of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Cathedral in Meki town, Deputy Secretary General of Meki Catholic Secretariat until he went to Rome for further studies.

Upon completion of his Doctorate degree he joined the Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat in Addis Ababa in 2012 at the same time continuing to serve the Apostolic Vicariate of Meki as Vicar General.

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI erected the Apostolic Vicariate of Hossana January 20, 2010.