Bishop of Rzeszów
Bishop Jan Franciszek Wątroba, Bishop of Rzeszów, was born on December 4, 1953, in Wieluń, in the Archdiocese of Częstochowa. Having passed his secondary school examinations, he was admitted to the major seminary of Częstochowa in 1972, and during his formation was called up for military service. He was ordained a priest for Częstochowa on May 27, 1979. After two years as parochial vicar at Wieruszów, he studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University from 1981 to 1985, obtaining a licentiate in theology while also assisting with the pastoral care of Polish pilgrims in Rome. From 1985 to 1994 he was private secretary to the Archbishop of Częstochowa and spiritual director for the young clergy, and from 1994 to 2000 rector of the major seminary. On April 20, 2000, he was appointed Titular Bishop of Bisica and Auxiliary Bishop of Częstochowa. He received episcopal ordination on May 20, 2000, with Stanisław Nowak as principal consecrator and Józef Mirosław Życiński and Antoni Józef Długosz as co-consecrators. On June 14, 2013, he was appointed Bishop of Rzeszów, and he was installed on July 20, 2013. Within the Polish Episcopal Conference he has served as a member of the commission for the clergy and as delegate for the pastoral care of women.