Pope Francis has named Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., as the new bishop of the Diocese of Providence, R.I. The appointment was publicized in Washington April 8 by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Bishop Lewandowski has served as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore since 2020. He will be installed as bishop of Providence May 20. As the 10th bishop of the diocese, he succeeds Archbishop Richard G. Henning, who became archbishop of Boston in October 2024.
Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori said, “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. Throughout his service here in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Bishop Lewandowski served the People of God with zeal, fidelity, and love.”
Bishop Lewandowski, 57, a Redemptorist priest originally from Ohio, first came to the archdiocese in December 2016 to serve as pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus/Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Parish in Highlandtown. Pope Francis named him as an auxiliary bishop of Baltimore in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, and he was ordained to the episcopate Aug. 18, 2020.
Archbishop Lori said, “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. 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.”
Bishop Lewandowski serves as vicar for Baltimore City and vicar for Hispanic Catholics in the archdiocese. He has led the Seek the City to Come planning initiative to reimagine the Catholic faith in the parishes in the city, amid population loss, decreased Mass attendance and significant costs in deferred maintenance. He participated in dozens of meetings during the two-year process, listening to the concerns of the people who would be affected by the plan.
He was instrumental in bringing services to the community in East Baltimore in the early days of the pandemic, including working with the Baltimore City Health Department and the Johns Hopkins Hospital to provide testing clinics and eventually vaccinations.
“There is so much I love about the Church of Baltimore,” Bishop Lewandowski said. “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.”
He noted that he is grateful for his time in the archdiocese. “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,” he said. Archbishop Lori expressed his support as well, saying, “On a personal note, let me say how much I have enjoyed working closely with Bishop Bruce. His friendship, his knowledge of the archdiocese, and his love for its people, coupled with his religious charism and wise judgment have been invaluable. I know he goes to Providence warmly supported by the prayers of clergy, religious, and laity throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore.”
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, the West Indies and Pennsylvania. He attended St. Mary’s High School Seminary in Erie, Pa.; St. Alphonsus College in Suffield, Conn.; and the Washington Theological Union in Washington, D.C.
Home to a growing number of Hispanic Catholics and parishes that offer Mass in Portuguese, 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.
Also read:
Highlandtown cheers as ‘Padre Bruce’ becomes Bishop Lewandowski
Bishop Lewandowski’s formative years colored by rural pursuits
Bishop Madden will step down as urban vicar, Bishop Lewandowski to succeed him
Bishop Lewandowski blesses Preakness festivities, offering invocation at Alibi Breakfast
Ordination Mass for Bishop Lewandowski recalls Redemptorist saints
Emotional Bishop-designate Lewandowski considers selfishness versus sacrifice at vespers
To view more photos of Bishop Bruce Lewandowski, click through the slideshow below:
