Leadership Changes

He made them the vicars of his love." - St. Ambrose of Milan

04-08-25 Pope Francis appoints Most Rev. Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R. the tenth Bishop of Providence

Biography of Most Reverend Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R.

Bishop Bruce Alan Lewandowski, C.Ss.R. was appointed by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, as the tenth Bishop of Providence on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

A native of Toledo, Ohio, His Excellency was born to the late Frances (Czelusta) and Robert Lewandowski, the second of four children to grow up on their farm. Since 2020, he has served as Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore as well as Vicar for Hispanic Catholics and Vicar for Baltimore City for the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

In September 1988, he professed first vows in the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, a religious order known as the Redemptorists, and completed his formation and education at Saint Alphonsus College in Suffield, Connecticut where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy, Holy Redeemer College in Washington, and then Washington Theological Union where he earned a Master of Divinity degree. Bishop William Curlin, then-Bishop of Charlotte, ordained him to the Sacred Priesthood in the Basilica Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on May 7, 1994.

As a Redemptorist priest, Bishop Lewandowski ministered as an Associate Pastor of Saint Cecilia Parish in East Harlem, New York (1994-1999); Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in South Bronx, New York (1999 to 2002); in missionary service as Assistant Pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia, West Indies (2002 to 2005); Pastor of Our Lady of the Visitation Parish in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2005 to 2011); Vicar for Cultural Ministries for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (2011 to 2015); and Pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Baltimore (2015 to 2020). In 2019, Archbishop William Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore, named him archdiocesan Vicar for Hispanic Catholics.

The Holy Father, Pope Francis, named then-Father Lewandowski as an Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore and Titular Bishop of Croae on June 10, 2020. He was consecrated to the episcopacy in the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore on August 18, 2020, by Archbishop William Lori, with Bishop Adam Parker and Bishop John McIntyre as co-consecrators. Drawing on a prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi later adapted by the founder of his Redemptorist order, Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop Lewandowski took for his episcopal motto “because by your Holy Cross.”

Bishop Lewandowski is fluent in Spanish and is a brother to Sister Mary Francis Lewandowski, CSSF; Paula Chupp (James); and Joseph Lewandowski. 

Episcopal Coat of Arms of Bishop Bruce Lewandowski, C.Ss.R.
Bishop Lewandowski’s sister, Felician Sister Mary Francis Lewandowski, who handles graphic arts and communications for her religious order, designed his coat, sticking to simple themes to reflect the bishop’s history and spirituality.


Motto of Bishop Bruce Lewandowski, C.Ss.R.
Bishop Lewandowski chose as his motto, “Because by Your Holy Cross,” a quote from the testament of St. Francis of Assisi that was adopted by St. Alphonsus Liguori in his well-known devotional work, “The Way of the Cross.” St. Alphonsus founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, known as the Redemptorists, in 1732; Bishop Lewandowski is a Redemptorist priest.

Read the full story of Bishop Lewandowski's Coat of Arms and Motto in the Catholic Review - https://catholicreview.org/bishop-designate-lewandowskis-sister-reflects-his-spirituality-in-coat-of-arms/