HARAR JUNE 3, 2016(CISA)-Bishop Angelo Pagano has been consecrated the new Vicar Apostolic of Harar.
Speaking during the ceremony at Diredawa St. Augustine Catholic Church in Harar, Bishop Emeritus of Harar, Woldetensaé Ghebreghiorghis expressed his great joy for passing on the Catholic community of Harar to their new shepherd.
“Today when I pass on my spiritual children, all priests, religious women and men and all the faithful of Harar to Bishop Angelo, I consider him to be as lucky as I have been all these 29 years to have worked with you in spreading and witnessing the Good News to the people,” Vatican Radio quoted the bishop as saying May 29.
Bishop Woldetinsae also recalled some of the challenges experienced in the Vicariate. He appealed to the faithful to continue growing spiritually in prayer.
“Together we have been through a lot, but with your prayers we have passed the hardships and reached this stage; it is my wish that very soon we will grow even more, and I hope to see that day while I am still alive.”
The new Bishop was welcomed to his Vicariate on May 28 at the Diredawa airport by the Archbishop of Addis Ababa, Cardinal Berhaneyesus, C.M., and Archbishop Luigi Bianco, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ethiopia.
Also present were other Catholic Bishops of Ethiopia, the Mayor of Diredawa City Administration, students of Diredawa and hundreds of Catholics as well as people of good will.
At the time of his appointment, the new Vicar Apostolic of Harar was serving as parish priest in the Diocese of Kumbo, Cameroon.
He was born on 15 January 1954, in Asmara, Eritrea and ordained priest on June 25, 1988.
Harar lies far in the east of Ethiopia. The Apostolic Vicariate of Harar includes the Harar Regional State, the Diredawa City Administration, the Somalia Regional State, part of Afar Regional State and Western Hararghe of Oromiya Regional State under its jurisdiction.
