Viterbo News 24 – Michaelite priest becomes bishop of Charlottetown

A Michaelite priest becomes Bishop of Charlottetown

Appointed by Pope Francis as spiritual leader of the Diocese of Canada, he will accept the appointment in June.

CASTEL SANT’ELIA – On May 4, 1991, at the age of twenty-seven, he was ordained a priest at the Shrine of Mary Most Holy aud Roups in Castel Sant’Elia. Today, at the request of Pope Francis, he has been chosen as the spiritual director of the Diocese of Charlottetown, Canada. Surprise and joy among the ‘brothers’ of the little Marian sanctuary who rejoiced at the news for their fellow countrymen. “Father Debrowski is a great example of faith and piety here in our Pontifical Sanctuary – remembers Father Stanislaus, the current rector -. During his five-year stay, he stood out for his humanity and for the power of discourse with the children he enlivened the people. From this intensive journey of his, he went to Canada and made a journey of faith. There was an urgency to continue. Here the Bishop of London entrusted an Italian-Canadian parish to our congregation, where Father Debrowski was able to unite the Italian and Canadian parishes. From this new experience was born his path, which led him to become the Bishop of Charlottetown, belonging to Prince Edward, where he died in June. “All the best wishes of our congregation go to him – concludes the rector – for the fruitful work he leads as a spiritual guide in Charlottetown”.

Father Debrowski was born in Wyszka Strzyszowska, Poland, and after entering the Michaelite Congregation, completed his theological studies at the San Pietro Theological Institute in Viterbo and earned a master’s degree in theology. Over the years he has held a number of positions in the Diocese of London: Assistant Pastor of Our Lady of Czestochowa and Chaplain of Cardinal Carter High School in St Michael’s, Leamington, Assistant Pastor of St Pius X and High Priest of St Thomas Aquinas. School.

From 2002 to 2003 he was Deputy Spiritual Director of the Diocesan Seminary of St. Peter and from 2004 to 2006 a member of the Diocesan Presbyteral Council.

In 2013 he founded the newly created Michaelite sub-province of “St. Kateri Tekakwitha” for North America.

He was elected Vice-Bishop of London on 31 January 2015 and was ordained a bishop the following 14 April.

He is a member of the Evangelical and Secular Commission at the level of the Canadian Bishops’ Conference.