By Habtamu Abrdew Beture
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| Rt. Rev. Angelo Moreschi, Vicar Apostolic of Gambella Vicariate |
The Chairman of AMECEA Rt. Rev. Charles Kasonde, on behalf of the bishops of AMECEA region, has sent a message of condolence to the Chairman of Ethiopian Catholic Bishops Conference, His Eminence Cardinal Bierhanayesus D. Souraphiel concerning the death of Rt. Rev. Angelo Moreschi, Vicar Apostolic of Gambella Vicariate.
Bishop Angelo Moreschi SDB, the Apostolic Vicar of Gambella in Ethiopia, passed away on March 24, 2020 in Italy. The prelate was under medical treatment due to heart and kidney problems for the last four years in Italy.
“On behalf of all the Bishops in the region, AMECEA Secretariat and its Institutions, we send our condolences through your Eminence to the members of the Ethiopian Catholic Bishops Conference, the clergy, Religious and the entire family of God in Gambella Vicariate for the loss of such an incredible missionary, pastor and a father,” reads the message of condolence signed by Rt. Rev. Kasonde today March 27, 2020.
In the message, the AMECEA Chairman says of Bishop Angelo, “His love for the Church and proactive attitude on pastoral matters was a blessing in strengthening not only his local Conference but also the entire region. The AMECEA members will always remember him for his spirit of love and generosity.”
Bishop Angelo Moreschi the Apostolic Vicar of Gambella/Ethiopia was born on June 13, 1952 in Nave (Brescia) Italy. Ordained a priest on 2 October 1982, he lived and ministered in Ethiopia for 33 years and vibrantly served in Dilla and Gambella in Ethiopia. On 31st of January 2010 Angelo Moreschi, SDB, was ordained Bishop and assumed his office as Vicar Vicar Apostolic and first Bishop of Gambella Vicariate.
As a priest, he dedicated much time to establishing new chapels in the mountainous area, thus significantly enlarging the number of Catholic catechumens and the faithful. In addition to his pastoral services, he was actively involved act in the administration and guidance of secondary schools, vocational school, and an orphanage. Besides, a large agricultural and husbandry project which father Angelo developed from the scratch.
On 16 November 2000, the Holy See declared the launching of Apostolic Prefecture of Gambella and Angelo Moreschi SDB became the first Apostolic Perfect. He arrived there when the Catholic Church was just at its initial stage. As the consequence, all activities of the newly born Prefecture saw a boost as parishes had residential priests; outstations grew in number; more social and developmental activities were implemented.
According to testimonies of the people who worked with him, Msgr. Angelo devoted his time and energies to the service of Gambella people regardless of race, religion, culture, and age. He has devoted his whole life to his mission to God as a Catholic Bishop. This paved way for the Roman Catholic Church to be well established in the region, with a good number of parishes and chapels. His Excellency is always remembered saying “Very important is the consciousness of becoming a Christian community, rather than just a community.”
According His Grace Archbishop Silvano Mario Tomasi who served as Apostolic Nuncio to Ethiopia, Eretria and Djibouti, and as observer to the African Union from 1996 to 2003, “The arrival of Bishop Moreschi in Gambella marked the transformation of the presence of the Catholic church in the area, with an effective methodology for agricultural improvement and food production; village development; and first evangelization. Soon he built the vocational school in Gambella town and new Catholic communities were established in different villages.”
Msgr. Angelo Moreschi SDB, also gave top priority to water supply projects. Water has always been in his mind as the top social priority. In his early years in Gambella, he set up and it is still functional a tanker truck: this has reached all possible corners of the region whenever he heard people without drinking water.” In every mission and in almost all chapels water holes with hand pumps completed for the people. Besides, two prisons have been benefiting for a number of years of this very basic minimum.
His love and service for the poor and the social justice are a lasting legacy and inspiration to all. The Church of Ethiopia thanks him for his service to God’s holy people and for his fidelity to Christ our Lord.