Ethiopian Region
The Ethiopian Mission sprang up in 1954 at the request of Mgr. Urbain Person, OFM(Cap),the then Bishop of Harrar to start a School for the French- speaking children of the employees of the Franco- Ethiopian Railway , at Dire Dawa. Sisters Marie Augustine, Marie Raphael, Marie. du Bon Secours and Marie St. Mark were sent to Ethiopia from India to start the School .They left by ship for Djibouti on 14th July 1954.
They were warmly welcomed by Fr. Leopold and the Capuchin Fathers on 25th July 1954,who helped them to settle down . On 27th August 1954 the School of Notre Dame was inaugurated and given the name “Notre Dame” though officially the School started on 1st September 1954.With the efforts of our sisters the School has grown till pre-university level and is the best School in the City.At present Sr.Desta is the School Directress and Sr. Sinknesh is helping out in the primary section.
In 1956, the Bishop of the Addis Ababa Archdiocese, Abune Asrate Mariam, invited us to take over the Cathedral Nativity Girls' School. The Superior General made an agreement with the Bishop to hand over the school to the Franciscan Sisters of St. Mary of the Angels. As per this agreement, the Bishop consented, and we began constructing our own primary school. Initially, it went up to Grade 8. Later, Sr. Yvette upgraded it to Grade 10, and Sr. Asha further extended it to +2 (pre-university level).From its beginning until today, the school continues to be recognized as one of the best in the country. Currently, there are only two sisters serving in the school: Sr. Vandana and Sr. Asha.
In Asebe Tefari, we initially started a tailoring and sewing program for poor women. Later, we opened a clinic for leprosy patients and eventually started a school as well. Sr.Meskel set up the Clinic very well. At present, all these apostolates are continuing under the supervision of Sr. Almaz and Sr. Meron. We were also invited to start a clinic in a place called Jahara, in the Harar region. Unfortunately, we were forced to close it due to a lack of personnel.
In 1993, the Bishop of Meki requested us to take up a school for the blind. Sr. Ishlata accepted this apostolate, and Sr. Jacintha later took over its administration. After Sr. Jacintha, the responsibility was passed on to Sr. Ashrita. However, in 2024, we returned the school to the diocese, as we no longer had enough sisters to continue the mission.We also took charge of a diocesan school in Awassa, served there for eight years, and then handed it back.
We constructed a prayer house near Lake Babogaya in Debre Zeyit, about 45 km from Addis Ababa. It was originally used as a formation house for candidates. We continue to hope and pray that God will send many more disciples to Ethiopia to carry on His mission. Jesus bless our Mission and all our pioneers who toiled to expand the Mission.
Sr. Desta
Coordinator of Ethiopia
They were warmly welcomed by Fr. Leopold and the Capuchin Fathers on 25th July 1954,who helped them to settle down . On 27th August 1954 the School of Notre Dame was inaugurated and given the name “Notre Dame” though officially the School started on 1st September 1954.With the efforts of our sisters the School has grown till pre-university level and is the best School in the City.At present Sr.Desta is the School Directress and Sr. Sinknesh is helping out in the primary section.
In 1956, the Bishop of the Addis Ababa Archdiocese, Abune Asrate Mariam, invited us to take over the Cathedral Nativity Girls' School. The Superior General made an agreement with the Bishop to hand over the school to the Franciscan Sisters of St. Mary of the Angels. As per this agreement, the Bishop consented, and we began constructing our own primary school. Initially, it went up to Grade 8. Later, Sr. Yvette upgraded it to Grade 10, and Sr. Asha further extended it to +2 (pre-university level).From its beginning until today, the school continues to be recognized as one of the best in the country. Currently, there are only two sisters serving in the school: Sr. Vandana and Sr. Asha.
In Asebe Tefari, we initially started a tailoring and sewing program for poor women. Later, we opened a clinic for leprosy patients and eventually started a school as well. Sr.Meskel set up the Clinic very well. At present, all these apostolates are continuing under the supervision of Sr. Almaz and Sr. Meron. We were also invited to start a clinic in a place called Jahara, in the Harar region. Unfortunately, we were forced to close it due to a lack of personnel.
In 1993, the Bishop of Meki requested us to take up a school for the blind. Sr. Ishlata accepted this apostolate, and Sr. Jacintha later took over its administration. After Sr. Jacintha, the responsibility was passed on to Sr. Ashrita. However, in 2024, we returned the school to the diocese, as we no longer had enough sisters to continue the mission.We also took charge of a diocesan school in Awassa, served there for eight years, and then handed it back.
We constructed a prayer house near Lake Babogaya in Debre Zeyit, about 45 km from Addis Ababa. It was originally used as a formation house for candidates. We continue to hope and pray that God will send many more disciples to Ethiopia to carry on His mission. Jesus bless our Mission and all our pioneers who toiled to expand the Mission.
Sr. Desta
Coordinator of Ethiopia
Sister Desta
Regional Head