Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia Blesses “Selam” Residential Village

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia (CBCE) held a blessing ceremony on January 22, 2026, for the “Selam” residential village, an income-generating project intended to support diocesan priests.

The eight-floor residential complex, located in the Summit area under the Archdiocese of Addis Ababa, has been under construction for the past seven years and is currently 85 percent complete. The project was developed by the General Secretariat of the CBCE.

The “Selam” residential village was built through the support of the German Catholic Church, specifically the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, in partnership with the late Pope Francis and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia, under the coordination of the CBCE General Secretariat.

Delivering a message at the ceremony, His Excellency Abune Markos, Bishop of Jimma–Bonga Diocese and Vice President of the CBCE, described the project as a tangible expression of pastoral support and fraternity. He noted that the facility will strengthen the Church’s evangelization mission by helping meet the basic needs of priests who serve Catholics across the country. He further emphasized that the project reflects the Church’s long-term vision of economic self-sufficiency by reducing dependence on external support.

The Secretary General of the CBCE, Rev. Fr. Ketema Asfaw, expressed gratitude to the benefactors and partners who contributed to the project’s realization. He explained that the multi-purpose complex includes 39 residential units, commercial shops, cafeterias, meeting halls, and ample parking facilities. He added that the project represents one of the Church’s strategic initiatives to ensure sustainable income generation.

In his remarks, the President of the Ethiopian Priests’ Association, Rev. Fr. Fiseha Tafesse, thanked the CBCE and its partners for their commitment to improving the living conditions and social well-being of priests. He highlighted that the initiative will strengthen priestly fraternity and foster greater solidarity by addressing priests’ basic needs in the years ahead.

The ceremony was attended by the Representative of the Holy See in Ethiopia, His Grace Archbishop Brian Udagwe; Ethiopian Catholic bishops; the Bishop and officials of the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart; diocesan priests of the Ethiopian Catholic Church; and senior officials and staff of the CBCE General Secretariat.