“Today, I let myself be carried away by memories at the Shafinna mission while attending the priestly ordination of Daniel Dawit, who was born in this parish. Rather than being distracted, I would say I was deeply absorbed, allowing my mind to piece together episodes connected to this mission, the Vicariate of Awasa, and my fifty years in Ethiopia”.  Fr. Juan G. Núñez recounts.

Shafinna predates my arrival. It dates back almost to the very beginnings of the Vicariate, to December 1964. “Beginnings” is not a word used lightly. Awasa was founded by two Comboni fathers who had been entrusted with a territory of eight million inhabitants – and not a single Catholic.

Then, in rapid succession, came new missionaries and new missions every year. Shafinna was the fourth, opened in 1968. It was situated in a lush, fertile area where coffee grew alongside whatever fruit or vegetable one planted, in a climate that was neither too cold nor too hot. It was almost an earthly paradise.

My first visit there, in 1977, was for rather sentimental reasons. I had taken an Amharic course alongside a Comboni missionary who had arrived in Ethiopia at the same time as I did. Upon completing our training, he was assigned to Shafinna and I to Dilla – two missions not far apart.

In 1977, I visited him so we could encourage one another by sharing our stories. We both celebrated our fiftieth birthdays in Ethiopia. He had just been assigned to Italy to become the superior of a new community, while I remained here.

After five years in Dilla, I was called upon to open the inter-diocesan major seminary in Addis Ababa. In due course, three candidates from Shafina came to me there. All three were ordained priests, though two of them abandoned their vocation shortly afterwards, like many of those who reached the priesthood over the years.

I met Daniel recently and followed his journey – albeit from a distance – during my time as Apostolic Administrator of the Vicariate. Small and slender, unassuming but not shy. Today, he stands at the foot of the altar before the new Bishop of Hawassa, who will lay hands on him and make him a priest.

And all of us – the many priests concelebrating – will also perform this gesture, invoking the power of the Spirit upon him: the very same Spirit invoked by the more than 1,000 people packing the spacious new church in Shafinna. God needs him to keep alive this Church of Awasa – with its 300,000 Catholics.

I offer prayers and recall the past. I began my missionary life here, at the Dilla mission, working here for five years. I eventually left – though I never lost touch with the place – until, forty years later, now practically deaf and blind, I was called back to lead it, serving for four years in the role of bishop without actually holding the title. And now, here I am again, offering whatever service I can within the limits of my strength.

Tomorrow, I will celebrate the two Sunday Masses at the cathedral, each lasting over two hours. It might seem like a Herculean task, but it isn’t. It is simply a matter of relaxing and enjoying what unfolds there.

Most of the time is taken up by the singing, which is truly beautiful. A significant portion is also dedicated to commentary on the readings – some of which are practically homilies in their own right. My role is limited to the parts strictly reserved for the priest and a homily which, following Pope Francis’s advice, I try to keep brief yet thought-provoking. And so it shall be, God willing.