Mgr Abraham Desta, Bishop of Meki in the IMC General House in Rome. Photo: Jaime C. Patias
From the beginning, Blessed Allamano had wanted to send his missionaries to Ethiopia. But his wish was fulfilled only in 1913, when part of the Vicariate of Oromo was entrusted to the Institute and was erected the Apostolic Prefecture on January 28, 1913, with the name of Southern Kaffa. The first Apostolic Prefect, Msgr. Gaudenzio Barlassina, IMC, was appointed on May 6, 1913.
By Jaime C. Patias *
Historically, Ethiopia is a place very dear to the Consolata Missionaries. The nation is in the most eastern part of the African continent and is a great cultural heritage of more than 110 million people who speak over 80 languages. The territory is bordered by Sudan and South Sudan to the west, Djibouti and Eritrea to the north, Somalia to the east, and Kenya to the south.
In 1941, with the end of the Italian colonial experience, the Consolata missionaries were also expelled from the country. In 1970 the Institute returned to Ethiopia. The territory of the current Vicariate of Meki was dismembered from the Vicariate of Harar and entrusted to the Consolata Missionaries. On 6 March 1980 the territory became an Apostolic Prefecture led by Father Giovanni Bonzanino, IMC, as apostolic administrator.
On December 8, 1981, Father Yohannes Weldegiorgis became Apostolic Prefect. On 25 January 1992 the Prefecture became an Apostolic Vicariate and Father Yohannes was consecrated Bishop; He remained there until September 2002. With his death, Father Giovanni Monti, IMC, was appointed Administrator. On May 10, 2003, Msgr. Abraham Desta assumed as Bishop of Meki.
Interview with Msgr. Abraham Desta
In these days, the Bishop of Meki is in Rome for some commitments, he thanks the Consolata Missionaries for their hospitality and in an interview, he speaks about the responsibility of the Church in Ethiopia.
100 years of IMC presence in Ethiopia in 2016. Mass presided over by the Cardinal of Addis Ababa, Mgr Souraphiel Berhaneyesus and Mgr Abraham Desta. Photo: IMC Archives
“It is important to remember that the Church in Ethiopia is part of the Catholic Church in the world. At the local level, the Church has the responsibility to be a prophetic voice in various social, political, and religious situations”, says Mgr. Abraham. “On issues that concern not only Catholics but also people of good will, Christians and non-Christians, the Church must be the voice of the Good News of the Gospel. It must be a Church that prays, that reflects, a Church that is truly part of the message of Jesus Christ. In the midst of the society, it must be a light that attracts, that guides, a light that illuminates people’s hearts and minds”, the Bishop concludes. “The Church must take seriously the Good News, as recommended by Jesus himself, «so that people may have life and have it in abundance» (cf. Jn 10:10). The Church must be like a torch that guides the people towards full life.” In Ethiopia, where we are not the majority, our voice can reach everyone. It doesn’t matter if we are few, what matters is the essence of the message,” he argues.
God is present in our reality
Born in 1951 in Sebeya, Tigray region, in northern Ethiopia, Msgr. Abraham did his formation in the seminary of Adigrat with the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers). He was ordained priest in 1980 and continued his studies in Ireland and London with the Jesuits, obtaining a licentiate in dogmatic theology and diplomas in community development and pastoral theology. He returned to Ethiopia in 1985 during the time of great drought and civil war. He was appointed rector of the minor seminary of Adigrat, secretary to the bishop and head of pastoral care, then chancellor and director of the Secretariat of the diocese before being appointed Bishop of Meki in 2003.
Looking at the reality, the Bishop notes that in today’s situation in Ethiopia, many people suffer, and says: “where people suffer, God suffers, where people die, God dies, where people are discarded or displaced, God is discarded and displaced in people. We have a lot of homeless people, people who have lost their property, who want to return to their homes and their lands. Many people are excluded and dismissed, and even killed. And the Church must be the voice of the voiceless.”
“We must be courageous so as to give hope to the people, to be a prophetic voice in society”. Photo: Ashenafi Abebe
Evangelization and human promotion
In Ethiopia, the Church carries out a work of human promotion with some social projects, but at the same time, it deals with the pastoral care. “We try to find a balance between these two dimensions,” he explains and affirms: “where there is no human promotion, God cannot be present. If people don’t enjoy life in its fullest sense, it’s like saying you’ll be saved tomorrow. So, when people die, they suffer, I say God is suffering. God is present there. And we in the Church have the responsibility to be the voice of God, to be hope and to create hope in people. This is what we try to do together: bishops, priests, religious, leaders and Christians of the communities.”
There are also several challenges in economics, politics and structures. “Internally, we have small communities which are often far away from each other and have difficulties in communication, or transportation because of the poor roads, among other things.”
The Challenges in evangelization
Located about 130 km south of Addis Ababa, the Vicariate of Meki is one of the thirteen circumscriptions of the Catholic Church in Ethiopia. With a territory of more than 60,000 km2 and a population of about 4 million habitants, it is located in the Oromia region, in the center of the country. It must be remembered that the Catholic Church in Ethiopia uses two rites, the Latin and the Ethiopian, but they work in harmony. In the Vicariate, half of the population is Christian, and there are about 37,000 Catholics. But evangelization, which includes pastoral care and social work, is addressed to the entire population.
Msgr. Abraham Desta also spoke about the difficulties in evangelization, recalling that, “at every moment in history we have faced its challenges. At this time we must be courageous in order to give hope to the people, to be a prophetic voice in society. We can never forget that the Church is a community of prayer to support people. Then we must also embrace others, other religions and live dialogue in practice.”
According to the Bishop, “we must be a visible voice of Jesus Christ who sent us to bear witness to the Gospel to the world. Today we celebrate the conversion of St. Paul (January 25), we too must be converted every day, make a conversion of heart, mind and humanity. In the situation in which we find ourselves in Africa, where the situation is very delicate and hostile, we need to be a voice and a visible witness of this conversion of heart, mind and above all to live what we preach. These are the challenges that we need to address in a positive way among ourselves and in the society,” he points out.
Message to the Consolata Missionaries
At the end of the interview, the Bishop of Meki left a message to the Consolata Missionaries, with whom he has always had a very close relationship. “I have no words to describe the importance of the mission of Consolata missionaries in Ethiopia and around the world. First of all, I want to express my desire that Blessed Allamano be recognized among the saints by the Church. I join you in praying for this holy man to be canonized because he lived a life of holiness,” he said.
Speaking of the sons and daughters of Allamano, the Bishop recalls that “many fathers, brothers and sisters of the Consolata have given their testimony in the Vicariate of Meki, a local Church that owes much to the work of these missionaries. I hope that from heaven they can see the good seed they have sown growing. Many missionaries in Africa, Asia, America and elsewhere are accompanying this process of canonization of your Founder. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the good you have done, and I encourage you to continue with courage. The Church needs you, and we will do what we can to collaborate with your missions. I hope that in the future, you will be able to open other missions and that we can collaborate more in this apostolate. The Institute recently held its General Chapter and certainly there are new decisions and proposals to be implemented.”
As far as missionary vocations are concerned, Ethiopia has given to the Institute 18 young missionaries who are now evangelizing in different countries. Msgr. Abraham also encourages people not to neglect vocations to attract other young people to become Consolata missionaries. “I pray for vocations, but I also ask Ethiopian missionaries to work hard to raise up new vocations. We are ready to help them. On the threshold of the Jubilee of 2025, let us pray for the canonization of Allamano and for the mission to flourish in Ethiopia. Courage and forward”, concludes the Bishop.
* Father Jaime C. Patias, IMC, Secretary for Communication.
