Bishop of Poland
Wiesław Lechowicz was born on December 22, 1962, in Dąbrowa Tarnowska, in the Diocese of Tarnów. After completing his secondary education, he entered the diocesan seminary in 1981 and was ordained a priest on May 24, 1987, incardinated into the aforementioned diocese. He served as a parochial vicar in Krościenko nad Dunajcem (1987–1991) and at the Parish of St. Hedwig in Dębica (1991–1992). Sent to Rome to study at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, he obtained a doctorate in Pastoral Theology (1996). In 2002, he earned a licentiate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Academy of Theology in Kraków. From 1996 to 1998, he exercised his pastoral ministry at the parishes of St. Nicholas in Bochnia and the Immaculate Conception of Mary in Nowy Sącz. In 1997, he taught Homiletics and Pastoral Theology at the Theological Faculty of Tarnów; he served as Prefect of Studies at the seminary from 1999 to 2004 and as Rector from 2004 to 2008. On December 22, 2007, he was appointed Titular Bishop of Lambiridi and Auxiliary Bishop of Tarnów, receiving episcopal ordination on February 16, 2008. He served as Diocesan Administrator from November 28, 2011, to June 15, 2012. Within the Polish Episcopal Conference, he is the Delegate for the Pastoral Care of Polish Emigrants, Chairman of the Committee for the Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad, and a member of the Commissions for the Clergy, Migrants, Tourism, and Pilgrimages. Wiesław Lechowicz was born on December 22, 1962, in Dąbrowa Tarnowska (Diocese of Tarnów). After completing his secondary education, he entered the Major Seminary of Tarnów in 1981. He was ordained a priest on May 24, 1987. From 1987 to 1992, he served as a parochial vicar in Krościenko and Dębica. He subsequently completed his theological studies at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome (1992–1996), obtaining a Licentiate in Systematic Theology. Upon returning to the diocese, he served as parochial vicar at the parishes of St. Nicholas in Bochnia and the Blessed Virgin Mary Immaculate in Nowy Sącz. From 1998 to 1999, he served as secretary to the Bishop of Tarnów and as a notary for the diocesan curia. In 1999, he was appointed Prefect of Discipline at the Major Seminary. During his time at the seminary, he earned a Licentiate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Academy of Theology in Kraków and a Doctorate in Pastoral Theology. He is currently the Rector of the Major Seminary in Tarnów (since 2004) and a lecturer in Homiletics (since 1996)—and later also in Pastoral Theology—at the Theological Institute of Tarnów; he is also a member of the Diocesan Commission for Preaching and a censor of theological books. He collaborates with the Episcopal Commission for Pastoral Care of the Polish Episcopal Conference.