4 New Bishops for the Polish Catholic Church (Union of Utrecht)

 

History was made today for the Union of Utrecht, the Old Catholic Communion of Churches, with which the Churches of the Anglican Communion are in full communion. The Polish member of the Union of Utrecht is called the Polish Catholic Church. It consists of three dioceses at present, but with the death of the late Bishop Wiktor  Wysoczański earlier this year, there were no bishops remaining. A synod this summer elected 4 to fill the three dioceses and provide an auxiliary for Warsaw as well. So today, the 4 new bishops were consecrated, the first time for such a multiple consecration in an Old Catholic Church. It also marks the beginning an entirely new chapter in the life of the Polish Catholic Church.

Bishop Dick Schoon

The service, slightly over 3 hours in length, was presided by Bishop Dick Schoon, the Bishop of Haarlem, assisted by Bishop Pavel Stránský of the Czech Old Catholic Church, and Bishop John Okoro, Bishop Emeritus of the Old Catholic Church of Austria. Archbishop Bernd Wallet of Utrecht and I were also participants in the laying-on-of hands. The Cathedral of St Mary Madgalene in Wrocław was filled for the consecration mass. Ecumenical guests included bishops from the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church, the Orthodox Church and the Mariavite Church.

The four new bishops are Andrzej Gontarek, Bishop of Warsaw and Lead Bishop of the Polish Catholic Church, Antoni Norman for the diocese of Kraków-Czestochowa,  Stanisław Bosy for the diocese of Wrocław and Henryk Dąbrowski, auxiliary bishop for the diocese of Warsaw.

The Bishops for the Laying on of Hands

The Polish Catholic Church is now ready with new leadership to engage more intensively in mission and ministry across the country. We pray for them in this new stage of their life.

Being present for this historic occasion was a huge privilege. It was also a time to connect with old friends, and ome new ones, over some excellent Polish refreshments.