ETHIOPIA: Former Secretary General of Episcopal Conference of Ethiopia Passes on
 |
| Requiem Mass for the Late Fr. Kidanemariam |
Ethiopian Catholic Church regrets to announce the death of its
former Secretary General Rev. Fr. Kidanemariam Gebray who passed away on 4th
October, 2014 and was laid to rest at the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic
Cemetery on 9th October, 2014.
former Secretary General Rev. Fr. Kidanemariam Gebray who passed away on 4th
October, 2014 and was laid to rest at the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic
Cemetery on 9th October, 2014.
Representatives of different religious leaders in Ethiopia,
government officials, relatives of the late, clergy, religious and the faithful
attended the funeral celebration.
government officials, relatives of the late, clergy, religious and the faithful
attended the funeral celebration.
During the homily His Excellency Abune Tefasellassie, the Eparch
of Adigrat remarked that Fr. Kidanemariam lived a model life of priest. He
served the Catholic Church with great commitment and generosity.
of Adigrat remarked that Fr. Kidanemariam lived a model life of priest. He
served the Catholic Church with great commitment and generosity.
The late Fr. Kidanemariam is highly credited for his great
contribution in the response to the 1984-1985 great famine that took place in
Ethiopia. “He successfully managed to bring together the Ethiopian Orthodox
Church, the Ethiopian Catholic Church and the Ethiopian Evangelical Church’s and
establish the Joint Relief Partnership (JRP) office to respond to the crisis of
the time” said Bishop Timotios of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church who was also present
at the funeral.
contribution in the response to the 1984-1985 great famine that took place in
Ethiopia. “He successfully managed to bring together the Ethiopian Orthodox
Church, the Ethiopian Catholic Church and the Ethiopian Evangelical Church’s and
establish the Joint Relief Partnership (JRP) office to respond to the crisis of
the time” said Bishop Timotios of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church who was also present
at the funeral.
Bishop Timotio added that, “At the time some of the drought
affected areas in the Northern part of Ethiopia were under the TPLF which was a
war zone, yet Fr. Kidanemariam went to the site, travelled to many countries to
speak to the TPLF leaders and sign an agreement that would allow JRP to reach
the affected people.”
affected areas in the Northern part of Ethiopia were under the TPLF which was a
war zone, yet Fr. Kidanemariam went to the site, travelled to many countries to
speak to the TPLF leaders and sign an agreement that would allow JRP to reach
the affected people.”
Fr. Kidanemariam was born in Menekusoit; the first born son of hisfamily and also one of the three priests among the siblings. At young age the
late Rev. Fr. Kidanemariam had the call to be priest and was ordained a priest
by the then Bishop of Asmara, H.E. Bishop Yacob in the Vatican. He then went to
Britain to pursue further studies and acquired his degree in English and Educational
Pedagogy from Cambridge University.
Upon Completion he returned to his country and served the
Ethiopian Catholic Church in various capacities including the position of a
Secretary General to the National Office of Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat, he
was Representative of the Archbishop of Addis Ababa in the Archdiocese, and at the
International level. He is also credited for his contribution to the growth of
the Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat, the establishment of the Catholic
University in Ethiopia and above all his great love for the needy and respect
for all people.
Ethiopian Catholic Church in various capacities including the position of a
Secretary General to the National Office of Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat, he
was Representative of the Archbishop of Addis Ababa in the Archdiocese, and at the
International level. He is also credited for his contribution to the growth of
the Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat, the establishment of the Catholic
University in Ethiopia and above all his great love for the needy and respect
for all people.
May His Soul Rest in Peace
By Makeda
Yohannes, ECC Communications and Public Relation Officer
Yohannes, ECC Communications and Public Relation Officer
