Modjo town, located in central Ethiopia at about 75 KM south east of Addis Ababa, has been defined as a ‘fast growing town’ because of its geographical position. It is the capital of Lume Woreda and is one of the towns of Oromiya Regional State under East Shewa Zone. Different ethnic groups coming from all over the country inhabit in the town. They are Oromo, Amara, Kambata, Tigre, Gurage and other minor groups. As the Woreda is located within the Rift valley Region that crosses Eastern Africa it largely falls in the low land Agro ecology. The food production is not as expected because of inadequate rainfall, lack of irrigation facility and also of poor farming method.
Though there are two elementary schools and two high schools in the town, they are inadequate for the whole population. The health status of the town is poor as reflected by the high infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate. Access to sanitary facilities in the Woreda is very poor in rural areas. The youth are exposed to moral danger due to low socio- economic situation, ignorance, want of caring parents and educationists. Vast majority of Modjo population are Orthodox Christians. Currently there are about fifty Catholics. The parish has three stagnant out stations-Dibandiba, Ejersa, and Dekabora 4, 15, 20 KM. respectively from Modjo.
The community of Modjo was erected on 25th April 2009 and opened on 24th May 2009. Modjo Catholic Mission was established in 1994 by Consolata Missionary Fathers. As the mission got established, Consolata missionary sisters were involved in the running of the dispensary, kindergarten and pastoral work. They had been actively involved in all the sectors of the population with several programmes, like women empowerment, credit union and other developmental programs. In February 2009, Consolata Sisters withdrew completely from this mission. Then the Consolata Provincial superior Rev. Fr. Antony Vismara approached the Sisters of Charity to collaborate with them to take ahead the apostolic activities. Accordingly, the Metropolitan Archbishop Berhaneyesus D. Souraphiel, CM of Addis Ababa made the official invitation.
The clinic started to function on 19th March 1990, the formal kindergarten in 1994, and the Modjo parish dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul was established in 1997. The pioneers were sisters Pauline Joseph (superior), Annie Joseph, Bhavya Raphael and Ancia Gopurathinkal.
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This offshoot of Modjo is located in Kolfe Keraniyo, the capital of Addis Ababa. It is 3 kms from the Vatican Embassy and 10 km from Bole International Airport. It has almost the same cultural elements of Modjo. Archbp. George Panikulam - the Apostolic Nuncio to Ethiopia, Archbp. Berhaneyesus of Addis Ababa, and Bishop John Migliorati of Awassa together blessed the house on 27th April 2012.
The sisters engage in health, educational and socio-pastoral services. Their services include educating women to hygiene and good health, caring the sick in the clinic, ante-natal health check up and Immunization programme, collaboration with the ministry of health, providing safe delivery service to Ante- natal mothers to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates, assisting the management for an effective administration, kindergarten, value education to students and staff, educating the less gifted, providing snacks, study material and school fee for the needy children, engaging with the formal education in primary and secondary schools of FSMA sisters, family visits, liturgical preparation, catechesis, English class to the seminarians and the poor children of the locality.
Like Jesus the sisters strive to spread his love, compassion, concern and respect to every one,’ thus to give the Good news to the poor.
The presence of the Sisters of Charity in Ethiopia is a proof of its missionary zeal. Fullasa Catholic Mission is situated on the south of Ethiopia and is under the Diocese of Awassa. The Sidamo tribe here follows their traditions and culture in all the aspects of life -- birth, death, marriage, etc. Majority of the people are Catholics and but a good percentage of them now belong to other Christian groups. Their life situations and living conditions are miserable. They lack basic necessities like water, food, access to health care, education, transportation and sanitation.
In 2005, responding to the repeated invitations from the Bishops of Addis Ababa, Adigrat and Awassa dioceses, Mother Pier Carla Mauri requested the Calicut Province to consider it in the Provincial Council. Thus, the sisters were sent to take up the mission at Fullasa in the diocese of Awassa. Through their life in Fullasa, they communicate the compassionate love of God to the people.
The pioneers to this mission were sisters Roshni Devasia (superior), Sherly Joseph, Christina Thomas and Prasanna Lonappan. On 21 Nov. 07 the community was erected and on 13 April 2008 the sisters took up mission from Comboni sisters. This new missionary presence has been a remarkable event on the occasion of the 175th birthday of St. Bartholomea Capitanio.
The sisters strive incarnate themselves into the new culture to uncover with respect those “seeds of Word hidden among them.” Giving the “Good News to the poor” has many expressions. In the health sector they attend to holistic health care of the sick, in the clinic and the T.B.Shelter, ante-natal health check up, Immunization programme and preventive health care, in collaboration with the ministry of health, and nutritional and supplementary feeding programme. In the educational sector they engage in formal education from classes 1-8, value education, and assistance for efficient managing of the school, school clubs, teaching personality development in the context of adult responsibility and the preparatory school. To meet the social and pastoral needs of the people, the sisters attempt faith formation in different groups, animation of liturgy and pious associations (Girls of Mary), adult education, women and gender promotion activities in collaboration with the diocese, residential programme for girls in preparation for marriage in view of women promotion and upbringing of good Christian families, family visits, participation in prayer groups, visits to the substations and help the people to harvest rain water for domestic purposes.
Already the development among women is remarkable. In collaboration with the government we have introduced microfinance saving system and programmes to eradicate harmful traditional practices which has very badly affected the women of reproductive age. These attempts have been very fruitful. They have also started rain water harvesting. About 100 families avail of this service. There is better awareness about health and hygiene. The sick make use of the healing services and preventive care programmes. The faith life of the little girls has remarkably improved through the association called “Mariami senne”.
At the invitation of the Bishop of Nekemte, we began our presence in Nekemte on 13th March 2015. Since 18th May 2016 the offshoot was opened of Addis Abeba. The sisters began their mission in the school in September 2015. One of the sister is the directress of the Kidane Mehiret Higher Secondary school of the diocese. Others are teaching in the school. One sister takes English class for the minor seminarians. Sisters are actively involved in the pastoral activities of Kidane Mihiret Cathedral Church of Nekemte and its sub stations of Ariajawi and Gari. In view of pastoral care of youth and vocations, we have accommodated seven girls. We began this venture on 23rd September 2015. 15th of August 2018 this off-shoot was opened as a community. The community is comprised of four members.