Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Białystok
The Archdiocese of Białystok (Latin: Bialostocen(sis)) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Podlaskie Voivodeship, Northeastern Poland. It is a metropolitan see with two suffragan dioceses.
Archdiocese of Białystok Archidioecesis Bialostocensis Archidiecezja Białostocka | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | Poland |
Metropolitan | Białystok |
Statistics | |
Area | 6,263 km2 (2,418 sq mi) |
Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2021) 438,200 352,760 (80.5%) |
Parishes | 116 |
Information | |
Denomination | Catholic Church |
Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
Rite | Roman Rite |
Established | 5 June 1991 |
Cathedral | Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
Current leadership | |
Pope | Francis |
Archbishop | Józef Guzdek |
Suffragans | Diocese of Drohiczyn, Diocese of Łomża |
Auxiliary Bishops | Henryk Ciereszko |
Vicar General | Henryk Ciereszko |
Bishops emeritus | Edward Ozorowski |
Website | |
Website of the Diocese |
Its cathedral archiepiscopal see is Bazylika Archikatedralna Wniebowzięcia NMP, a minor basilica in the episcopal see of Białystok. It also has a second minor basilica : Bazylika Ofiarowania Najświętszej Marii Panny, dedicated to the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Różanystok.
Statistics
As of 2020, it pastorally served 352,760 Catholics (80.5% of 438,200 total; however only 43,2% are active members) on 5,550 km² in 116 parishes and 25 missions with 411 priests (384 diocesan, 27 religious), 201 lay religious (31 brothers, 170 sisters) and 60 seminarians.
History
- Established June 5, 1991 as Diocese of Białystok on Polish territory split off from the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Vilnius in Lithuania
- Enjoyed a Papal visit from the Pope John Paul II in June 1991.
- Promoted on March 25, 1992 by the same as Archdiocese of Białystok
Episcopal ordinaries
- Bishops of Białystok
- Edward Kisiel (1991.06.05 – retired 1992.03.25), died 1993; previously Titular Bishop of Limata (1976.05.03 – 1991.06.05) as Apostolic Administrator of Vilnius (Lithuania) (1976.05.03 – 1991.06.05)
- Metropolitan Archbishops of Białystok
- Stanisław Szymecki (1993.05.15 – retired 2000.11.16), previously Bishop of Kielce (Poland) (1981.03.27 – 1993.05.15)
- Wojciech Ziemba (2000.11.16 – retired 2006.05.30); next Metropolitan Archbishop of Warmia (Poland) (2006.05.30 – 2016.10.15); previously Titular Bishop of Falerone (1982.06.19 – 1992.03.25) as Auxiliary Bishop of Warmia (Poland) (1982.06.19 – 1992.03.25), Bishop of Ełk (Poland) (1992.03.25 – 2000.11.16)
- Edward Ozorowski (2006.10.20 – retired 2017.04.12); previously Titular Bishop of Bitetto (1979.01.31 – 2006.10.20), first as Auxiliary Bishop of Vilnius (Lithuania) (1979.01.31 – 1991.06.05), then as Auxiliary Bishop of Białystok (1991.06.05 – succession 2006.10.20)
- Tadeusz Wojda, (S.A.C.) (2017.06.10 – 2021.03.02); next Metropolitan Archbishop of Gdańsk (Poland) (since 2021.03.25); previously Undersecretary of the Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (2012.07.24 – 2017.04.12).[1][2]
- Józef Guzdek (3 September 2021 – present); previously Titular Bishop of Treba (2004.09.15 – 2010.12.04) as Auxiliary Bishop of the Kraków, Bishop of Military Ordinariate of Poland (Poland) (2010.12.19 – 2021.07.14)
References
- Gulbinowicz, Piotr Nitecki (2000). Biskupi Kościoła w Polsce w latach 965 - 1999 : słownik biograficzny (Wyd. 2 popr. i uzup. ed.). Warszawa: "Pax". ISBN 83-211-1311-7.
- Honorable Archbishop Dr. Tadeusz Wojda, Archbishop of Białystok website
- VATICAN - Tadeusz Wojda, Under-secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, appointed Archbishop of Bialystok, Agenzia Fides, 19 April 2017
Sources and external links
- GCatholic.org, with Google map & satellite photo - data for all sections
- Catholic Hierarchy [self-published]
- Diocese website (in Polish)