Konigstein — The Catholic Diocese of Keren is seeking funds to repair its minor seminary which was extensively damaged by the war of independence.

The local bishop, Abba Kidane Yebi, has appealed to the German-based international Catholic charity, Aid to the Church in Need, which has promised to raise for him some 20,000 Euro.

Eritrea is one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world and still suffers greatly from the consequences of the recent war with Ethiopia (1998-2000). There is a shortage of everything- food, homes, health-care and educational opportunities - for its population.

The eparchy (diocese) of Keren, which was established only in December 1995, covers the northern part of the Eritrean highlands. It serves a population of around 450,000 people, just six percent of whom are Catholics. There are 38 parishes, 42 chapels, and a number of schools and hospitals run by the Catholic Church.

The Seminary of the Immaculate Conception was actually founded as long ago as 1872. In addition to the normal ravages of time, the building was also extensively damaged by bullet holes during the fighting in the earlier war of independence, between 1961 and 1999.