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As Bishop, Be “father to the poor, displaced, refugees”: Ethiopia’s Cardinal at Episcopal Consecration of His Auxiliary

piscopal Consecration of Bishop Tesfaye Tadesse Gebresilasie as the Auxiliary Bishop of Ethiopia’s Catholic Archdiocese of Addis Ababa. Credit: Fr. José Da Silva Vieira of the Comboni Missionaries in Ethiopia

Berhaneyesus Demerew Cardinal Souraphiel of Ethiopia’s Catholic Archdiocese of Addis Ababa has called upon his newly Consecrated Auxiliary Bishop to be a shepherd with the interests of the people of God at heart.

In his homily during the Sunday, February 2 Episcopal Consecration of Mons. Tesfaye Tadesse Gebresilasie, Cardinal Berhaneyesus acknowledged with appreciation Pope Francis’ decision to give him an Auxiliary Bishop and the Religious Institute of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ) for providing that person.

Credit: Fr. José Da Silva Vieira of the Comboni Missionaries in Ethiopia

“We are happy here today for receiving from the Holy Father and from the Comboni Missionaries the new Auxiliary Bishop”, the Ethiopian member of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians/CM) said.

As a Bishop, be a good shepherd especially for those in need, “a father to the poor, the displaced, the refugees,” the Cardinal told Mons. Tesfaye during the Consecration celebration at the Nativity Catholic Cathedral of Addis Ababa Archdiocese.

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Credit: Fr. José Da Silva Vieira of the Comboni Missionaries in Ethiopia

Mons. Tesfaye was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Ethiopian Metropolitan See on 6 November 2024; he was serving as the MCCJ Superior General.

His Episcopal appointment was followed by a letter from MCCJ leadership to members, communicating the functioning of the General Council “in this time of transition”, to culminate in the election of a new Superior General.

Credit: Fr. José Da Silva Vieira of the Comboni Missionaries in Ethiopia

Assigned the Titular See of Cleopatris in Egypt, the Ethiopian-born newly Consecrated Bishop will assist the 76-year-old Cardinal, who been at the helm of Addis Ababa Archdiocese since November 1997, when he was appointed Apostolic Administrator.

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In speeches during the February 2 Episcopal Consecration event that Fr. José Da Silva Vieira of the Comboni Missionaries in Ethiopia has described as “a very colourful liturgy done in the Ethiopian Rite that lasted for more than five hours”, Church leaders in attendance congratulated Bishop Tesfaye and thanked God for His graces in the person of the newly Consecrated Bishop.

Credit: Fr. José Da Silva Vieira of the Comboni Missionaries in Ethiopia

The Vicar General of the Comboni Missionaries, Fr. David Domingues, thanked God for the gift, life and the ministry of Bishop Tesfaye in the Institute and in the Church. “We are indeed proud of you”, he said.

Archbishop Menghesteab Tesfamariam of Eritrea’s Catholic Archdiocese of Asmara recalled that it was him who invited Bishop Tesfaye to join the Comboni Missionaries.

Credit: Fr. José Da Silva Vieira of the Comboni Missionaries in Ethiopia

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“Many years ago, I thought I fished a small fish, but gradually he became a big fish. I see Bishop Tesfaye as my dear son”, Archbishop Tesfamariam said about his Confrere, who was elected MCCJ Superior General during the 18th General Chapter in 2015, and was re-elected during the monthlong 19th General Chapter held in June 2022 at the Institute's General House in Rome. 

On his part, the Charge d’affaires at the Apostolic Nunciature in Addis Ababa, Mons Massimo Catterin, urged the newly Consecrated Bishop to prioritize service, saying, “Episcopate is the name of a service.”

Credit: Fr. José Da Silva Vieira of the Comboni Missionaries in Ethiopia

In his maiden speech, the new Bishop appealed for spiritual solidarity. “I continue to count on your prayers and support,” Bishop Tesfaye said during the February 2 celebration that had Cardinal Berhaneyesus as the Ordaining Minister, and Bishop Tesfamariam and his counterpart of Ethiopia’s Meki Apostolic Vicariate, Bishop Abraham Desta, as Assistant Consecrators.

Other dignitaries in attendance included Comboni Missionary Bishops from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the persons of Archbishop Raphael p’Mony Wokorach of the Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu, and Auxiliary Bishop of Kisangani Archdiocese, Bishop Léonard Ndjadi Ndjate.

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Credit: Fr. José Da Silva Vieira of the Comboni Missionaries in Ethiopia

A section of Comboni Provincial Superiors English speaking Africa, Clergy, women and men Religious from Ethiopia and abroad, the Laity, and representatives from other Christian Churches and the Ethiopian government as well as members of the diplomatic corps participated in the February 2 celebration.

The liturgy was conducted in Ge’ez with the translation in English in the screens. Some hymns were in Amharic, including a song written by Fr. Dawit Wubishet, an Ethiopian Comboni Missionary on sabbatical in the U.S.

Credit: Fr. José Da Silva Vieira of the Comboni Missionaries in Ethiopia

The procession of offertory was animated by dancers from the refugee community of Kunama people of Eritrea.

Born in Harar, a city in Eastern Ethiopia, 55-year-old Bishop Tesfaye made his Perpetual Profession in September 1994. He was ordained a Priest on 26 August 1995 in Addis Ababa.

Credit: Fr. José Da Silva Vieira of the Comboni Missionaries in Ethiopia

He served as MCCJ General Councilor responsible for Basic Formation and the circumscriptions of English-speaking Africa and Mozambique following his election to the General Council during the 17th General Chapter of 2009.

In the years preceding his election to the General Council, the Bishop-elect had served as Provincial Superior of the Comboni Missionaries in his native country of Ethiopia (2005-2009). He doubled as President of the Association of Major Superiors in the Horn of Africa nation. 

Credit: Fr. José Da Silva Vieira of the Comboni Missionaries in Ethiopia

The alumnus of the Rome based Pontifical Gregorian University where he obtained a Licentiate in Theology also holds a Diploma in Islamic Studies from the Pontifical Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies in Rome.

He also pursued Islamic studies at the Dar Comboni for Arabic Studies in Cairo, Egypt, and attended a formation course at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome.

Credit: Fr. José Da Silva Vieira of the Comboni Missionaries in Ethiopia

In a 3 December 2024 letter addressed to MCCJ members, the newly Consecrated Bishop reflected on his years of service and the significance of his new mission in Ethiopia's Catholic Church.

“This (Episcopal) appointment is the conclusion of a long process of discernment, which ended with my response to the Church's call to begin a new service, interrupting the one I was carrying out in the General Council,” he said.

Credit: Fr. José Da Silva Vieira of the Comboni Missionaries in Ethiopia

“I feel small, and I recognize my limitations in the face of the call to the new mission, and for this reason, I ask you to support me with your prayers,” Mons. Tesfaye told his confreres.

Credit: Fr. José Da Silva Vieira of the Comboni Missionaries in Ethiopia

He will assist Cardinal Berhaneyesus in shepherding the people of God in Addis Ababa Archdiocese that measures 31,224 square kilometers, with a population of 11,150 Catholics representing less than one percent of the total population, according to the 2022 statistics.

Fr. José Da Silva Vieira of the Comboni Missionaries in Ethiopia contributed to this story.

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