GIMMA, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of. – It is situated in south-western Ethiopia on the border of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. It derives from the apostolic prefecture of Kaffa, which, erected on 28 Jan. 1913 from 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 the Missions of the Consolata.
On 8 Sept. 1913, after a rectification of the 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 designation G., from the name of the Ordinary’s residence. 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—among 4,500,000 inhabitants, of whom 900,000 were dissident Copts, approximately 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 seminary with 2; 42 principal stations, 11 secondary stations, 10 churches, 27 chapels, and approximately sixty schools of various levels. But the war, which imposed the departure of the Italian missionaries, has largely dispersed the fruits achieved. At present, it is barely known that some Christian communities (and perhaps some schools as well) survive. In 1949 there were 8 indigenous priests and 27 sisters; 5 primary stations, 1 secondary station; 5 churches, 1 chapel; 4 dispensaries.