On July 16, 2024, Pope Francis appointed  Fr. Getahun Fanta Shikune, CM, the Director of the Lazarist School of Addis Ababa and Spiritual Director of the Daughters of Charity in Ethiopia, as the new Vicar Apostolic of Nekemte.

Fr. Shikune was born on February 25, 1973, in Aleku Sassi, West Wollega, within the Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte.

He earned a Master’s degree in Human Resources from DePaul University in Chicago. He joined the Congregation of the Mission (Lazarists) and studied Philosophy and Theology at the St. Francis Capuchin Institute of Philosophy and Theology in Addis Ababa. He was ordained a priest on July 1, 2001. As a member of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians/Lazarists-C.M.), Fr. Shikune has served in various roles, including parish priest of Holy Saviour in Sako and St. Mary in Metcha. He has also been the rector of the major seminary of his congregation and superior of the Province of Ethiopia for two terms (2010-2013 and 2013-2016).

The Vicariate of Nekemte became vacant when Pope Francis appointed Bishop Varghese Thottamkara, CM, the former Vicar Apostolic of Nekemte, as the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Balasore in India on May 10, 2023.

Source: Vicentinos Chile Facebook and Catholic information service for Africa.