Bishop Fikremariam Hagos Tsalim, the founding bishop of a diocese in the East African nation of Eritrea, celebrated Mass at St. Martha Parish in Murrieta on Dec. 15 and visited with the Presbyteral Council of the diocese on Dec. 17.
Bishop Tsalim has been on a month-long national tour visiting Eritrean communities in several U.S. cities including Denver, Seattle, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Milwaukee, Washington D.C. and Columbus, Ohio. There has been an increasing number of Eritrean people emigrating to the United States and Bishop Tsalim said the purpose of his visit is to provide them reassurance and pastoral support.
“We came to encourage them,” he said. “They are first generation immigrants. We try to help them keep their faith.”
The Bishop of Segheneity, one of four eparchies in Eritrea, he attracted international attention last year when he was imprisoned by the country’s government with no explanation. Bishop Tsalim was held for 75 days before being released, an experience that he says educated him and strengthened his faith. He prayed the Rosary every day and was especially consoled by the Sorrowful Mysteries, he added.
“I meditated on the agony of Christ,” he recalls. “It was a good opportunity for me.”
After decades of civil war, Eritrea gained its independence from Sudan in 2012. Catholics make up about four percent of the country’s population. They practice the Ge’ez Rite, part of the Alexandrian Rite that is associated with the Coptic Catholic Church. The ancient Ge’ez language, which is now only spoken during liturgies, is used. The Dec. 15 Mass at St. Martha’s, which has a small Eritrean community, was celebrated in English.
The U.S. culture presents significant changes for Eritrean immigrants, Bishop Tsalim said.
“In the U.S. they have many things, but they have to choose the right ones,” he said. “It is important that they are not throwing away the Eritrean culture. They have to maintain it.”
This is third time since 2014 that Bishop Tsalim has visited the United States to connect with Eritrean communities here.