Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Białystok

Archdiocese of Białystok Archidioecesis Bialostocensis Archidiecezja Białostocka
Cathedral of the Assumption
Location
Country	Poland
Metropolitan	Białystok
Statistics
Area	5,550 km2 (2,140 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics (including non-members)	(as of 2015) 429,641 348,437 (81.1%)
Parishes	114
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	Stanisław Szymecki Edward Ozorowski
Website
Website of the Diocese

Edward Ozorowski, Archbishop 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.

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.

Ecclesiastical province

Its Suffragan sees are :

• Diocese of Drohiczyn
• Diocese of Łomża

Statistics

As of 2014, it pastorally served 351,550 Catholics (83.0% of 423,476 total; however only 43,2% are active members) on 5,550 km² in 114 parishes and 25 missions with 403 priests (380 diocesan, 23 religious), 204 lay religious (28 brothers, 176 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); previously Undersecretary of the Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (2012.07.24 – 2017.04.12).
• Józef Guzdek (16 July 2021 – present)

See also

• List of Catholic dioceses in Poland
• Roman Catholicism in Poland

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.

Sources and external links

• GCatholic.org, with Google map & satellite photo - data for all sections
• Catholic Hierarchy ^{[self-published]}
• Diocese website (in Polish)