GIMMA [JIMMA], APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. - It is located in southwestern Ethiopia on the border of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. It derives from the apostolic prefecture of Kaffa, which, erected on 28 Jan. 1913 with part of the territory of the then apostolic vicariate of the Galla (now of Harar), was called that of Southern Kaffa and entrusted to the Institute of Missions of the Consolata.
On 8 Sept. 1913, after a rectification of boundaries with the apostolic vicariate of the Galla, it was called simply the apostolic prefecture of Kaffa. On 25 March 1937, in the reorganization of the missions of Ethiopia, it was elevated to an apostolic vicariate with new boundaries and with the appellation of G., from the name of the residence of the Ordinary. On 13 Feb. 1940 the apostolic prefectures of Edeber and Hosanna were detached from it, and the vicariate of G. remained with an area of 350,000 sq km. The Missionaries of the Consolata had established there a methodical and fruitful work of evangelization, so much so that in 1939 the vicariate already counted - out of 4,500,000 inhabitants, of whom 900,000 were dissident Copts, about as many Muslims and 2,650,000 pagans - 23,560 Catholics with 5,700 catechumens, 2,965 baptisms of adults in a single year, 86 priests and 20 foreign brothers, 78 foreign sisters, a minor seminary with 12 students, and a major one with 2; 42 principal stations, 11 secondary stations, 10 churches, 27 chapels, about sixty schools of various grades. But the war, which forced the exodus of the Italian missionaries, has largely scattered the fruits achieved. At present it is barely known that some Christian communities (and perhaps also some schools) survive. In 1949 the native priests number 8, the sisters 27; primary stations 5, secondary 1; churches 5, chapels 1; 4 dispensaries.
Bibliography5 works
Carlo Corvo