Our Mission Partners in Ethiopia

Fr Habtesilassie Antuan

Ordained nearly 10 years ago, Fr Habtesilassie Antuan (also known as Fr Habte) is a local parish priest in the township of Emdibir, Ethiopia, and currently serves as the Secretary of the diocese.

Growing up in Emdibir himself, Fr Habte truly understands the needs of the community and is passionate about helping those in need, which shows through his involvement in the Deberety Farm, and the ideation and planning of the Goat Rearing Centre.

Fr Habte discusses the many benefits of the farming project for the community of Emdibir

“The principle that I live with is “God is love.” 1 John 4:16. If you see that God is love, then you are the product of love. So, for me, there is no such thing as language, no such thing as ethnicity, no such thing as colour, no such thing as religion. Everyone is a product of love. So, I serve in this spirit.”

Fr Habtesilassie Antuan

Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel

is the Archbishop of Addis Ababa and the Chancellor for The Catholic University of Eastern Africa. Originally born in Tchela Claka, Near Harar in Ethiopia, Cardinal Berhaneyesus attended Makanissa Major Seminary and studied Theology at King’s College London. He was ordained a priest in 1976 and became Archbishop in 1999. He was elevated to the cardinalate by Pope Francis in 2015.

Fr Tekle Mekonnen

Father Tekle Mekonnen, Headmaster at the Lideta Catholic Cathedral School (LCCS), is a priest based in the Archdiocese of Addis Ababa. He has over 20 years experience teaching in elementary and secondary schools, and lecturing at the Franciscan Institute of Philosophy and Theology.
Father Tekle has extensive qualifications including a BA in Philosophy, Licentiate in Theology, Licentiate in Philosophy, an MA in Government and International Relations, and a PhD in Political Philosophy.

María José Morales Jurado

Born in Barcelona, María José Morales Jurado is a Spanish lay missionary and the director of the Kidist Mariam Pastoral Centre which she helped establish in 2015.
María has been a member of the Community of Saint Paul since1988 and has been working as a missionary in pastoral and development projects since 1993.
She moved to Ethiopia in 2013 and is currently responsible for pastoral and development projects with youth and women in the Apostolic Vicariate of Meki.

“Aware of the terrible consequences this pandemic can do in our community, we need to stand together, to be hope for the hopeless. We need to tell them: we are still here. “

María José Morales Jurado

Sr Carmen Sammut SJA

Sr Carmen Sammut SJA is the key driver of the Lideta Catholic Cathedral School Scholarship Program.
Originally from Malta, Sr Carmen has been working with the Church in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, since 2008. Her role is vital to ensuring that children from disadvantaged and vulnerable backgrounds are given equal access to quality education.

“My dream and vision to the community is that our projects continue growing and reaches other hundreds of families and kids.”

Sr Carmen Sammut SJA