The Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte is located in the city of Nekemte in Ethiopia. It covers the area of 38,213 sq. miles with population of 7,241,000 and only 55,453 Catholics. 28 priests (including 9 Vincentians) and 86 parishes are there. It was established in January 1913 as Apostolic Prefecture of Southern Jaffa after division of Apostolic Vicariate of Ghalla. Later in the same year it was renamed Apostolic Prefecture of Kaffa. In 1937 promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Gimma. The current name is in use since September 3, 1982.

In 1958 Fr. Frans Janssen, C.M.(later bishop) became Apostolic Administrator of the Vicariate of Gimma as first Vincentian to be a head of the Vicariate. Six other Vincentian bishops followed. Bishop Theodorus Van Ruijven CM is the Vicar since July 23, 2009. He is turned 75 in May this year. Thus, Msgr Thottamkara as coadjutor will be his successor later on.

Varghese THOTTAMKARA, C.M. was born June 2, 1959 in Thottuva, Kerala, India. He was admitted to the Congregation of the Mission in the India South Province , May 11, 1982 in Gopalpur-on-Sea. He took his vows May 10, 1986 and was ordained deacon a day after. He received priesthood ordination January 6, 1987. Since ordination, he has served in several pastoral, academic, administrative, missionary, and institutional roles.

1988-1990 he was a pastor of Muniguda and Allada parish in diocese of Berhampur, Orissa, India. Next, 1990-1993 He was vice-rector and professor in the minor seminary of Ambo, Ethiopia, from 1993-1995 rector and professor of the Vincentian major seminary in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. 1995-1998 he lived in Rome and studied at Angelicum. He graduated as S.T.L in Moral Theology. After return to Ethiopia since 1998 to 2005 he was councillor of the CM Province of Ethiopia and professor at the St. Francis Theological Institute of Addis Abeba.

In 2005 Father returned to Rome. He was appointed Procurator General of the Congregation of the Mission. In 2006 he was elected Visitor of India South Province and returned to his homeland. During the General Assembly in Paris in 2010 Father has been elected Assistant General. His responsibilities include foreign missions. On June 28, 2013 he was appointed titular bishop of Chullu. This weekend, he is expected to come to St. John’s University, Jamaica, NY to participate in the International Visitors Meeting.

Father Rolando Crisostomos SANTOS was born on march 21, 1949 in Malabon City, Rizal, Metro Manila, Philippines. After elementary school he continued education in the Vincentian Minor Seminary of St. Vincent de Paul in Valenzuela City, Bulacan, (neighbor to his hometown). He entered Congregation of the Mission in the Province of Philippines in 1966 and took two years of Internal Seminary in the Vincentian Hills Seminary, Angono City, Metro Manila.
To continue his philosophy and theology studies he was sent to US Eastern Province of the Congregation to the Mary Immaculate Seminary, Northampton, PA. He took his vows on June 17, 1971 and was ordained priest June 1, 1974

During the first year after ordination he was a formator in the Seminary of St. Vincent Ferrer, Iloilo City, Philippines. Next, 1975 – 1981 took post of parochial vicar and pastor in Calumpang, Iloilo City. For two years since 1981 he was Director of Internal Seminary in the Vincentian Hills Seminary, Angono City, Rizal. In 1984 – 1987 he held position of the Rector of Vincentian Seminary of St. Vincent , Tandang Sora, Quezon City, Metro Manila. Meanwhile in 1983 and 1984 he was involved in the pastoral ministry as member of provincial Mission Team.

In 1987 he was appointed Director ofDaughters of Charity Province of Philippines, and additionally vicar of National Shrine parish of Miraculous Medal in Muntinpula City, Rizal and the superior of community house in the Shrine until 2001.

In 2001 he was sent to Papua New Guinea and became Spiritual Director and Econome in the Holy Spirit Seminary in Bomana, in the archodiocese of Port Moresby. In 2008 and 2009 he held position of Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

In 2009 was elected Visitor of the Province of Philippines still being superior of the missions in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. Recently he was also chairman of Asia – Pacific Visitors Conference (APVC).

Roman Catholic Diocese of Alotau-Sideia is located in the Eastern cone of the island of New Guinea on the shore of Milne Bay. Bishop’s Seed is in the city of Alotau Alotau, capital town of Milne Bay Province. In 1946 it was erected an Apostolic Prefecture and ten years later elevated to Apostolic Vicariate. It became a diocese in 1966 and in 1975 changed its name to the present one. Diocesan Seed was vacant since March 18, 2010 when bishop Francesco Panfilo SDB was nominated bishop of diocese of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. Msgr Santos will be the fourth bishop oa Aloatu-Sideia
Diocese itself is spanned on the 20,000 km² territory with population of 245,000. 16,8% of the populition are Roman Catholics (41,137 people). There are 16 parishes with 22 religious priests, 2 diocesan and 1 permanent deacon. There are 25 Religious men and 40 Religious Women there..

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