For Immediate Release:
Holy Father appoints Auxiliary Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., to lead Diocese of Providence
Archbishop William E. Lori commends Baltimore City vicar for service to the local Church
(Baltimore, MD) – Archbishop William E. Lori announced on Tuesday the Holy Father’s appointment of Auxiliary Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., to lead the Diocese of Providence, commending the Baltimore City vicar for his indefatigable service to the faithful.
Bishop Lewandowski, 57, a Redemptorist priest originally from Ohio, will be installed as the 10th bishop of Providence on May 20. In Rhode Island, he succeeds the Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, who became the Archbishop of Boston in October.
Archbishop Lori thanked Bishop Lewandowski for being a passionate voice for Spanish-speaking Catholics and for his work as a loving shepherd who offered life-saving ministries during the COVID-19 pandemic and oversaw the Seek the City to Come initiative that is revitalizing parishes in Baltimore City and in some of the immediate suburbs.
“Although we shall all keenly miss the presence and ministry of Bishop Lewandowski in our midst, it must be said that Pope Francis could not have chosen a better bishop for the Diocese of Providence,” Archbishop Lori said. “Throughout his service here in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Bishop Lewandowski served the People of God with zeal, fidelity and love.”
Bishop Lewandowski said he will miss Baltimore and so many wonderful people that he has come to know and love. He is grateful for his years of ministry in the Archdiocese and the way they have shaped his priestly service. He was ordained as auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Baltimore on August 18, 2020, following nearly five years as pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus-Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Parish in Baltimore’s Highlandtown neighborhood.
“There is so much I love about the Church of Baltimore. I will especially miss the Hispanic Community. From the start, they welcomed me as one of their own. We’ve been through so much together. It will be hard to leave them,” said Bishop Lewandowski, who is episcopal vicar for Hispanic Catholics and Titular Bishop of Croae.
“Archbishop William Lori’s friendship and guidance these past years have truly been a blessing. I am grateful to him and to Bishop Adam Parker. They are wonderful shepherds, and I have benefited from their wisdom. In countless ways, the people of the Archdiocese have blessed my life; I will carry Baltimore with me in my heart and in my prayers.”
Pope Francis selected Bishop Lewandowski among appointments of NUMBER of bishops who were selected to lead new dioceses, according to the Vatican’s announcement.
Known for his pastoral zeal, tireless nature and dynamic homilies, Bishop Lewandowski became pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus-Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Parish in December 2016. His service to the parish included the onset of the coronavirus pandemic during which time he advocated for more public health support for Baltimore’s Hispanic communities. He distributed the Eucharist from the streets and partnered with Baltimore City Health Department and the Johns Hopkins Hospital to operate free testing sites on the parish campus.
The sweeping Seek the City initiative, which kicked off in 2022, is designed to reimagine Catholic life in Baltimore, amid population loss, decreased Mass attendance and significant costs in deferred maintenance. Although difficult, early signs show a renewed strength in the City Church as more pews are filled in the remaining parishes and ministries are enlivened with new energy and resources.
“As Auxiliary Bishop, he preached the Gospel far and wide with zeal and effectiveness, greatly strengthened ministry to and among our growing Hispanic community and effectively conducted the Seek to City to Come parish realignment process – and much more,” Archbishop Lori said. “Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, Bishop Bruce will bring his many gifts, his energy, and his pastoral heart to the People of God in the Providence Diocese.”
Ordained to the priesthood in May 1994, Bishop Lewandowski grew up on a farm in Lima, Ohio. Before arriving in Baltimore, he served as a priest, pastor and vicar in New York, West Indies and Pennsylvania. He attended St. Mary’s High School Seminary in Erie, Pennsylvania; St. Alphonsus College in Suffield, Connecticut; and the Washington Theological Union in Washington, D.C.
Home to a growing number of Hispanic Catholics, the Diocese of Providence serves all of the state of Rhode Island with more than 160 churches, schools and other ministries. It was established by Pope Pius IX in 1872.
*To watch the live press conference from the Diocese of Providence on April 8 at 10:00 a.m., visit: Diocese of Providence – YouTube.
https://www.archbalt.org/holy-father-appoints-auxiliary-bishop-bruce-a-lewandowski-c-ss-r-to-lead-diocese-of-providence/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJh-EVleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHn-hqrdDdCcL493BzrMM3EVzY0rveV2KFUxBRbPOwnICltTgQczKSjwCexLN_aem_FxIi3wjEfe7SB3bNybZl9Q
