Archbishop of Miami
Thomas Gerard Wenski. October 18, 1950, West Palm Beach. Son of Chester S. Wenski and Louise M. (nee Zawacka) Wenski. One younger sister, Mary Engle. To the priesthood, May 15, 1976, for the Archdiocese of Miami. Appointed Titular Bishop of Kearney and Auxiliary Bishop of Miami, June 24, 1997. Consecrated to the episcopacy September 3, 1997. Appointed coadjutor bishop of Orlando, July 1, 2003; succeeded Bishop Norbert Dorsey upon his retirement, Nov. 13, 2004. Appointed Archbishop of Miami, April 20, 2010. Installed as fourth Archbishop of Miami, June 1, 2010. Served as Apostolic Administrator, Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, March 2011-June 2012. He is the only Florida native serving as a bishop in the state. Sacred Heart School, Lake Worth. St. John Vianney Seminary, Miami, Associate in Arts (1963-1970). St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, Boynton Beach, Bachelor in Arts (1972); Master of Divinity (1975). Catholic University of Lublin, Poland, summer courses in Polish language and culture (1981, 1983). Fordham University, Master of Arts in sociology (pastoral planning) (1992). Languages spoken: English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, some Polish. Parochial vicar, Corpus Christi, Miami (1976-1979). Summer studies in Haiti (1979). Associate director, Haitian Apostolate, Miami (1979-1985). Associate rector, St. Mary Cathedral, Miami (1981-1984). Director, Haitian Apostolate (1985-1998); includes Pierre Toussaint Haitian Catholic Center, Miami, and circuit-riding ministry that establishes Haitian communities from Homestead in the south to Fort Pierce in the north, Immokalee in the west and Fort Lauderdale in the east. Pastor, Notre Dame d’Haiti Mission, Miami (1985-1998); and concurrently, pastor of Divine Mercy Mission, Fort Lauderdale (1987-1997), and St. Joseph Mission, Pompano Beach (1991-1997). Coordinator, Ministry to Cultural Groups (1990-2003). Director, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami (1995-2003). Archdiocesan director of Catholic Relief Services, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Disaster Relief, Catholic Commission for Social Advocacy, and Ministry to Sexual Minorities (1996-2003). Other appointments: Archdiocesan Committee on Popular Piety and Presbyteral Council; secretary of the Catholic Community Service Board, Catholic Child Welfare Trust Board and Catholic Family and Children’s Services; Archbishop’s representative to the Greater Miami Religious Leaders Coalition and the Board of Directors of the Florida Loan Fund. Chair, U.S. bishops' Committee for Religious Liberty (July 2020-November 2020). Board member, CLINIC - Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (chair, 1998-2001). Member, U.S. bishops’ Committee on Migration (chair, 2002-2004). Consultant, U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace (chair, 2005-2008). Member, Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development (chair, 2013-2016). Member, U.S. bishops’ Subcommittee on the Church in Latin America. Consultant, U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities. Board member, Catholic Relief Services. Board member, Catholic Leadership Institute, “Good Leaders, Good Shepherds”. Board of Directors, St. John Vianney Seminary, Miami. Board of Trustees, St. Vincent de Paul Seminary, Boynton Beach. Board of Directors, Sts. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, Orchard Lake, Michigan. Member, Scalabrini International Migration Network Advisory Committee.