Adigrat (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Tesfay Medhin, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 20 February 1961
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Addis Abeba
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Ethiopia
Square Kilometers: 80,000 (30,900 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 8, Adigrat [Tigray], Ethiopia
Telephone: (0344)45.21.38; 45.22.03
Fax: 45.26.30

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Tigrai
- Latin Name: de Tigrai
- Erected: 25 March 1937
- Country: Ethiopia

Past and Present Ordinaries

Bartolomeo Bechis, C.M. † ( 1937 Appointed - 1939 Died)
Salvatore Pane, C.M. † (10 Jun 1939 Appointed - 1951 Died)
Hailé Mariam Cahsai † (9 Apr 1961 Appointed - 24 Nov 1970 Died)
Sebhat-Leab Worku, S.D.B. † (12 Jun 1971 Appointed - 12 Oct 1984 Resigned)
Kidane-Mariam Teklehaimanot † (12 Oct 1984 Appointed - 16 Nov 2001 Resigned)
Tesfay Medhin (16 Nov 2001 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Tigrai
25 March 1937	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Abyssinia	Prefecture Apostolic of Tigrai (erected)
Diocese of Adigrat
20 February 1961	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Tigrai	Diocese of Adigrat

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Prefecture Apostolic of Tigrai

1950 4,000 1,800,000 .2% 16 16 250 8 ap1951

Diocese of Adigrat

1970 9,848 3,200,000 .3% 33 3 36 273 4 34 14 ap1971

1980 10,500 2,140,000 .5% 45 6 51 205 10 32 18 ap1981

1990 15,145 3,620,000 .4% 61 9 70 216 25 69 32 ap1991

1999 16,625 4,516,625 .4% 73 12 85 195 41 60 35 ap2000

2000 17,016 4,517,016 .4% 68 13 81 210 54 56 33 ap2001

2001 17,120 4,017,000 .4% 74 13 87 196 54 54 33 ap2002

2002 17,427 3,500,000 .5% 74 11 85 205 38 47 33 ap2003

2003 18,014 3,694,650 .5% 75 12 87 207 43 51 36 ap2004

2004 19,326 3,695,962 .5% 72 14 86 224 46 48 36 ap2005

2006 19,994 4,146,000 .5% 66 15 81 246 46 51 35 ap2007

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Prefecture Apostolic of Tigrai
1950	4,000	1,800,000	.2%	16		16	250			8	ap1951
Diocese of Adigrat
1970	9,848	3,200,000	.3%	33	3	36	273	4	34	14	ap1971
1980	10,500	2,140,000	.5%	45	6	51	205	10	32	18	ap1981
1990	15,145	3,620,000	.4%	61	9	70	216	25	69	32	ap1991
1999	16,625	4,516,625	.4%	73	12	85	195	41	60	35	ap2000
2000	17,016	4,517,016	.4%	68	13	81	210	54	56	33	ap2001
2001	17,120	4,017,000	.4%	74	13	87	196	54	54	33	ap2002
2002	17,427	3,500,000	.5%	74	11	85	205	38	47	33	ap2003
2003	18,014	3,694,650	.5%	75	12	87	207	43	51	36	ap2004
2004	19,326	3,695,962	.5%	72	14	86	224	46	48	36	ap2005
2006	19,994	4,146,000	.5%	66	15	81	246	46	51	35	ap2007

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Bartolomeo Bechis, C.M. † (Prefect: 1937 to 1939)
Hailé Mariam Cahsai † (Bishop: 9 Apr 1961 to 24 Nov 1970)
Salvatore Pane, C.M. † (Prefect: 10 Jun 1939 to 1951)
Kidane-Mariam Teklehaimanot † (Priest: 20 Dec 1964; Bishop: 12 Oct 1984 to 16 Nov 2001)
Yohannes Woldegiorgis † (Priest: 31 Oct 1954 to 21 Dec 1991)
Sebhat-Leab Worku, S.D.B. † (Bishop: 12 Jun 1971 to 12 Oct 1984)

Diocese of Adigrat

Dioecesis Adigratensis