Vicariate Apostolic of Soddo-Hosanna

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Bishop(s) Rodrigo Mejía Saldarriaga, S.J., Vicar Apostolic Domenico Crescentino Marinozzi, O.F.M. Cap., Vicar Apostolic Emeritus

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Vicariate Apostolic Elevated: 15 October 1982 Vicariate Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Ethiopia Square Kilometers: 55,000 (21,243 Square Miles) Mailing Address: P.O. Box 132, Wolayta Soddo, Ethiopia Telephone: (06)51.20.61 Fax: 51.20.63

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Hosanna
  • Latin Name: Hosannensis
  • Erected: 13 February 1940
  • Country: Ethiopia

• Prefecture Apostolic of Soddo-Hosanna
  • Latin Name: Soddensis-Hosannensis
  • Name Changed: 30 December 1977
  • Country: Ethiopia

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Tiziano da Verona, O.F.M. Cap. † (25 Oct 1940 Appointed - 1945 Died)
• Urbain-Marie Person, O.F.M. Cap. † (2 Jan 1952 Appointed - 16 Feb 1973 Resigned)
• Domenico Crescentino Marinozzi, O.F.M. Cap. (23 Feb 1979 Appointed - 5 Jan 2007 Retired)
• Rodrigo Mejía Saldarriaga, S.J. (5 Jan 2007 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Hosanna
13 February 1940	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Gimma Prefecture Apostolic of Neghelli	Prefecture Apostolic of Hosanna (erected)
Prefecture Apostolic of Soddo-Hosanna
30 December 1977	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Hosanna	Prefecture Apostolic of Soddo-Hosanna
Vicariate Apostolic of Soddo-Hosanna
15 October 1982	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Soddo-Hosanna	Vicariate Apostolic of Soddo-Hosanna

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Statistics

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 Hosanna
1950	7,000			4		4	1,750			3	2	ap1951
1970	18,000	960,000	1.9%	1	14	15	1,200		15	6		ap1971
Prefecture Apostolic of Soddo-Hosanna
1980	35,803	2,304,000	1.6%	1	26	27	1,326		29	28	11	ap1981
Vicariate Apostolic of Soddo-Hosanna
1990	65,662	3,198,000	2.1%	1	26	27	2,431	1	27	49	13	ap1991
1999	142,339	4,264,000	3.3%	14	31	45	3,163	1	34	51	17	ap2000
2000	155,023	6,200,000	2.5%	19	33	52	2,981	1	36	47	18	ap2001
2001	161,407	6,400,000	2.5%	23	32	55	2,934	1	44	50	27	ap2002
2002	167,374	6,700,000	2.5%	23	33	56	2,988	1	46	54	28	ap2003
2003	183,902	6,700,000	2.7%	24	30	54	3,405	1	41	53	28	ap2004
2004	198,827	6,900,000	2.9%	23	27	50	3,976		38	67	28	ap2005

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

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Affiliated Bishops

• Tiziano da Verona, O.F.M. Cap. † (Prefect: 25 Oct 1940 to 1945)
• Domenico Crescentino Marinozzi, O.F.M. Cap. (Apostolic Administrator: 1972; Prefect: 23 Feb 1979; Vicar Apostolic: 15 Oct 1982 to 5 Jan 2007)
• Rodrigo Mejía Saldarriaga, S.J. (Vicar Apostolic: 5 Jan 2007)
• Urbain-Marie Person, O.F.M. Cap. † (Prefect: 2 Jan 1952 to 16 Feb 1973)