Father Bruce Lewandowski to be ordained an auxiliary bishop

The Vatican announced June 10, 2020, that Pope Francis had appointed Father Bruce Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Bishop-elect Lewandowski is pastor of Sacred Heart/Sagrado Corazón de Jesus Parish in Baltimore and the interim delegate for Hispanic ministry in the archdiocese.

The ordination and installation Mass will take place August 18 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore. Attendance will be limited because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Bishop-elect Lewandowski, 53, was professed September 10, 1988, and ordained to the priesthood on May 7, 1994.

In announcing the news to the Redemptorist community, Provincial Superior Father Paul Borowski noted that Bishop-elect Lewandowski “has devoted his life to working for the abandoned, especially the economically poor, the immigrant population of the Church, [and] the Latino population of the Church. His missionary zeal has been evident in all his assignments from the Bronx to St. Lucia, from Philadelphia to now Baltimore.”

Father Borowski asked prayers of support for the bishop-elect as he begins his new ministry.

Archbishop Reverend William E. Lori of Baltimore said that Bishop-elect Lewandowski will continue to serve as pastor of Sacred Heart and delegate for Hispanic ministry for the foreseeable future.

The bishop-elect “brings extensive pastoral experience to his new role. He has served as pastor or pastoral associate at numerous parishes serving predominantly minority populations, including in East Harlem, Philadelphia, and most recently here in Baltimore City. In his 32 years as a religious and 26 years as a priest he has consistently demonstrated a heart for the people of God and a warm inclusiveness, especially for those most in need of the Church’s compassion and service,” Archbishop Lori wrote in a statement published June 10.

“I reiterate my gratitude to the Holy Father for appointing Bishop-elect Lewandowski to this new role serving the people of the Archdiocese of Baltimore,” he said. “I thank as well the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer for their continued generosity in sharing the considerable gifts of this holy servant with our Church.”