Memories of Ethiopia

By: Fr. Edgardo Espiritu, SDB

Ethiopia has just emerged from a turbulent period in it’s history. Fr. Espiritu lived there during those 15 traumatic years. He shares with us some of his experiences.

The panoramic view I daily enjoy from my room, perched high on the tower of the Don Bosco  Retreat House in Mambucal, reminds me daily of a far away country, Ethiopia, where I spent almost fifteen years as a missionary. Of course, Mambucal except for the letter Mhas nothing to compare with Makale. Where I now see verdant forest, Makale can only boast of brownish desert sands. But then Makale was 9,000feet above see level, where as now I am only at a barely 1,000 feet. Each has a beauty all its own, as well as memories that are dear to me. One such memorable event would be my first meeting with the young who on May 3, 1992 will be ordained the FIRST ETHIOPIAN PRIEST.

I meet Fessehatson, in a very strange way.
It was early morning on Monday the third week of September 1982. I had gone to market and was preparing to o back to our Technical school when at the moment a young man of about 17 years old leaned on the hood of our Landrover. He looked tired, perspiring, panting as he unslung a huge grayish bag from his shoulder. As he massaged his aching shoulder he looked around, bewildered by the Divisoria like crowed of the Market, hawkers with their wares, children running around, the cacophony of braying, meighing, bleating and mooing of animals, the shouts of animal drivers and the throaty invitations of the market vendors.
While still mesmerized by this vision I approach him, “Salaam,” I said, “May I help you.” Salaam, I am lost, I would like to get in touch with a certain Abba Zememfes Qedus, of Don Bosco. But as you can see Sir, I am utterly lost.” The young man explained. Since I never wore any distinctive sign of my being priest, (Ethiopia was then a rigid Stalinist communist state as well as a rabid anti- Catholic Orthodox country) the young man never suspected my true identity, much less to ever think I was actually Zememfes Qedus. My name of Abba Zememfes Qedus is an Ethiopian name given to me by the Catholics. Abba means ‘father’ and Zememfes Qedus means ‘gift of the Holy Spirit’. Thus my name is ‘Father Gift of the Holy Spirit!’ “What do you want with Abba Zememfes Qedus, may I ask?” I inquired, “Well, I would like to be come a Salesian priest if he will accept me. I have finished my third year high school; soon I will pass the government exams and be ready for Philosophy, after that, regency, then Theology...”hey wait not so fast,” I interrupted his machine gun like enumeration of his life program. “I think Abba Zememfes Qedus will ask you, why do you want to join them. What will answer to that? “Well” he begun to with a toothy smile fit for a toothpaste commercial, “First of all my intentions is to do what Don Bosco did in Italy, that I will also do for the poor and abandoned youth of my country. Then I know that Salesians way of sanctity is a joyful one, no extraordinary penances, no special uniforms in other words they are normal! Lastly the technical work that too fascinates me. Well I can also say that I can contribute my years of study of Ethiopian Chant and Liturgy. I am almost a Debtera.” Almost a Debtera,” I thought. Well a Debtera is one who form boyhood had been trained by monks to help in the Liturgical functions in the churches. Then I saw him lift up his bag about to go in search of me. “Could I give you a ride,” I told him I know the Don Bosco residence, “just wait for a while I get some chalk for the school.” I came back ten minutes later and we rode off.
As we entered the compound of our Salesians residence I look back to see this young man seated on the back of the car, and I said, “Well here we are” I got out of the car he followed me. As soon as he was out of the car he knelt down and kissed my knees-out of filial respect and then give me nine kisses on the check as a sign of filial love.
“How did you know that I am Abba Zememfes Qedus?” I asked him in surprise. “The camel driver and the young man near the salt merchants shop told me so. But then I saw you surrounded by dozens of kids when you went off to buy the chalk. No Salesians priest is ever alone!! He will always have kids and young men around. I read and reread that in the book, ‘Smiling Don Bosco
I embrace him and said “Welcome son. Let pray that God who has begun all these will bring it to completion.” Little did I know then that would take place, on the very day that I would be installed as parish priest in Mambucal Don Bosco. Fessehatsion Andemariam on that same day will also be ordained! Lord how marvelous are your ways how inscrutable your deeds.

‘My intention is that what Don Bosco did in Italy, I will also do for the poor and abandoned youth in my country,