The Apostolic Prefecture of Robe, where our community is located, was established in 2012 by a decree of Pope Benedict XVI, through the division of the territory of the Apostolic Vicariate of Meki
The Apostolic Prefecture covers an area of 102,769 square kilometers, with a total population of approximately four million inhabitants. Father Angelo Antolini, a Capuchin brother, was appointed as the Apostolic Prefect. The patron saint of the Prefecture is Saint Teresa of Calcutta.
There are two main ethnic groups: the Oromo and the Somalis, with their respective languages (Oromo and Somali). The Amharic language is predominantly known in urban areas. Both ethnic groups practice the Islamic religion. The Orthodox Church is present in the oldest cities, as a legacy of the Amara Christian empire. Only in cities are there small Protestant and Catholic communities. According to estimates, the Islamic religion represents approximately 97% of the population.
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia recognizes a secular state, where religious freedom is one of the pillars of civil society. This promotes an atmosphere of religious tolerance, in which conversions from one religion to another are possible without dramatic consequences. Unfortunately, there are increasingly frequent infiltrations of Islamist extremists, particularly in the sector of our Prefecture that is located near Somalia, one of the most unstable areas in the world.
The Catholic Church has a presence in the Prefecture of Robe
The presence of the Catholic Church in this part of the world is relatively recent, spanning only about twenty years. It is a small presence, with approximately one thousand faithful representing 0.03% of the population. Therefore, it is a presence that carries a prophetic meaning.
The Catholic Church is highly regarded for its attention to the poor, its humble attitude, and its respect for traditions, cultures, languages, and the challenging political lives of the people. It is valued for consistently adopting an attitude of dialogue rather than opposition, without any expansionist intentions.
Here are some centers where the Catholic Church is present
Alem Gena
Alem Gena is a town of five thousand inhabitants, located 25 km from Robe, in the fertile plain of the Bale Plateau.
In 2005, a five-hectare plot of land was acquired for the construction of a kindergarten, a school, and a church. The construction progress was very slow, and it was only in 2011 that the kindergarten started operating. Four classrooms and offices were built inside the complex. The inauguration of the complex took place on January 22, 2015. In parallel with this, a beautiful chapel was also constructed.
Goba
Goba is the former capital of the former Bale region. It has a population of sixty thousand and is located at an altitude of 2,700 meters, just ten kilometers from Robe.
The Catholic community in Goba consists of 200 faithful. Within the compound, there is a large church, a kindergarten, and a primary school up to the fifth grade.
A few hundred meters away is the compound of the Sisters of Mother Teresa. The five sisters lovingly and devotedly serve three hundred patients in need.
Dallo Manna
Dallo Manna, with its 10,000 inhabitants, is the capital of one of the twenty provinces in the Bale region, located 120 km south of Robe. It is accessible only through the road that leads up to the Bale Mountains, offering a breathtaking view of the Sanetti Plateau, a hilly expanse at an altitude of 4,000 meters. It is a unique and highest-altitude road in Africa. Passing through the mountain pass, the road descends further for 60 km through the famous Harenna Forest, reaching an altitude of 1,300 meters compared to Dallo Manna.
Since 2012, the apostolic prefecture has implemented an agricultural project aimed at expanding the cultivation of Moringa, cassava, and other crops to improve the food supply of the population, particularly those affected by the climatic conditions of the semi-desert area. A kindergarten and a school have also been built.
Nansebo
Since May 2015, Father Angelo Antolini has established new facilities in the Nansebo region, near the Sidamo border. Currently, there are around a hundred pre-catechumens from Islam and the traditional Oromo religion, and a first chapel (40 square meters) has been built using local materials.
In terms of social initiatives, four women’s groups have been established for micro-credit activities and local cattle rearing. There is also a promotion of milk consumption, as it is an essential food for the population. Additionally, the prefecture has launched a project to plant five hundred apple and plum trees.
Hargelle à Afder (Somali Region)
Until now, Afder, the Somali zone connected to the Vicariate of Meki, has not received any pastoral attention, mainly due to the lack of qualified missionary personnel for a specific mission, which consists solely of being present in a completely Muslim territory.
In the process of establishing the Prefecture of Robe, the Prefect visited Afder three times for initial inspections, traveling from Neghelli Borana, which is 300 km from Robe, and then from Neghelli to Hargelle, covering a total distance of approximately 650 km. This journey can be completed in two days and involves traveling south of the Gannal River and crossing the Somali zone of Liben in the Vicariate of Hawasa. The road is fairly good and can be traveled throughout the year.
Orthodoxes and Protestants
Currently, the Orthodox Church is present throughout the oldest cities with at least one church and a few hundred followers, often from the Amara or Showa Oromo ethnic groups. The Arsi Oromo ethnic group has rarely embraced the Orthodox Church, as it has always represented a dramatic aspect of colonization for them. An estimation of Orthodox followers throughout the entire territory of the Prefecture puts their number at around eighty thousand (2.5% of the population).
Protestant churches of different denominations are multiplying in the cities, especially near the Sidamo border. Young students are particularly drawn to Pentecostal forms of Christianity, which are not always free from fundamentalist and fanatical attitudes, creating unpleasant religious tensions. The followers of Protestant Churches number in the tens of thousands.
