Bishop Martin David

Martin David was born on 15 August 1970 in Čeladná, Frýdek-Místek district, and grew up in the village of Ženklava, Nový Jičín district, in a family with his three siblings, one brother and two sisters. After graduating from the Secondary Vocational Engineering School in Kopřivnice, he began working as a mechanic of machines and equipment at the Tatra Kopřivnice state enterprise. In 1989-1990 he completed basic military service, and after it until 1993 he worked at Tatra in Kopřivnice. From 1991 he began distance study of theology while employed at the Cyril and Methodius Faculty of Theology of Palacký University in Olomouc, where from 1994 he was admitted to full-time theological study. After completing his studies in 1999, he entered the Theological Konvikt in Litoměřice as a deacon in the role of prefect. On 24 June 2000, in the Cathedral of the Divine Saviour in Ostrava, he received priestly ordination from the hands of Bishop František Václav Lobkowicz. He then served as parish vicar in the parish at the Co-Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Opava. In 2002 he was appointed administrator of the parish of Stěbořice and excurrendo administrator of the parish of Hlavnice. From 2000 to 2007 he was also entrusted with service as chaplain for youth in the Opava deanery. In 2008 Bishop František Václav Lobkowicz appointed him vicar general of the Diocese of Ostrava-Opava. On 12 January 2012 Pope Benedict XVI granted Martin David the honorary title Chaplain of His Holiness. On Friday 7 April 2017 Pope Francis appointed Mons. Martin David auxiliary bishop of Ostrava-Opava and titular bishop of Tucca di Numidia. He received episcopal ordination on Sunday 28 May 2017. The principal consecrator was Bishop František Václav Lobkowicz, and the co-consecrators were Archbishop Jan Graubner of Olomouc and Bishop Vojtěch Cikrle of Brno. On 1 June 2020 auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Ostrava-Opava Mons. Martin David was appointed apostolic administrator sede plena et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the same diocese by decree of the Congregation for Bishops. After the death of Bishop František Václav Lobkowicz on 17 February 2022, he became its apostolic administrator sede vacante. On 4 July 2023 Pope Francis appointed him diocesan bishop of Ostrava-Opava. The news was announced by Apostolic Nuncio Jude Thaddeus Okolo during midday prayer in the Church of Saint Wenceslaus in Ostrava. On 31 August 2023 he was installed in office during a solemn liturgy. He is a member of the Permanent Council of the Czech Bishops' Conference, chairman of the Commission for Liturgy and of the Mixed Commission of the Czech Bishops' Conference and the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious Orders. He is a member of the Commission for the Prevention of and Protection against Abuse.