AFRICA/ETHIOPIA - Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Benedict XVI, on July 23, 2009, appointed Fr. Theodorus van Rujiven, CM as Apostolic Vicar of Nekemte (Ethiopia). Until now, he has served as Apostolic Prefect of Jimma-Bonga and Apostolic Administrator of Nekemte. He has been assigned the Titular See of Utimma.
Fr. Theodorus van Ruijven, CM was born in Rijswik, Diocese of Rotterdam (Holland) on May 22, 1938. He entered the Congregation of the Lazarist Fathers (Congregation of the Mission) on September 2, 1957 in Panningen (Holland and was ordained a priest on March 19, 1964. He has since ministered as follows: 1965-1986: missionary in Ethiopia, in the houses of Addis Abeba and Bonga; 1986-1992: Consultant of the Lazarist Religious Province of Ethiopia; 1990-1993: Rector of the Minor Seminary of Ambo; 1994-1998: Temporary Visitor; 1998-2002: reelected Consultant of the Lazarist Religious Province in Ethiopia; since 1998: Apostolic Prefect of Jimma-Bonga; since 2008 he has been Apostolic Administrator of Nekemte. The Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte was erected in 1982. It covers an area of 98,972 km. sq., with a population of 6,501,000 inhabitants, of which 45,000 are Catholics (about 1%). The 86 parishes are led by 23 diocesan priests and 9 religious missionaries, almost all of Dutch origin. The Apostolic Vicariate has 16 Major Seminarians, 9 members of male religious congregations (CM) and 39 religious sisters. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 23/7/2009)