Antoni Julian Nowowiejski
Encyclopedia
Antoni Julian Nowowiejski (11 February 1858 - 28 May 1941) was a Polish bishop of Płock (1908–1941), titular archbishop
of Silyum, first secretary of Polish Episcopal Conference
(1918–1919), honorary citizen of Płock and historian. He died at the hands of the Germans
in Soldau concentration camp
near Działdowo on 28 May 1941, and was subsequently beatified
by Pope John Paul II
in 1999 as one of the 108 Martyrs of World War II.
. He studied in Płock and Saint Petersburg
and received the Holy Orders
in 1881. He became a professor and a rector of the Płock Seminary, canon
of Płock and vicar general
of the Płock diocese. On 12 June 1908, he was nominated for position of the bishop of Płock; on 6 December, he received the sacra
, and the ingress
in Płock Cathedral took place on 10 January 1909.
As the leader of the Płock diocese he carried out an administrative reform, devoting much attention to catholic education (among other things, he created a lower seminary). During the First World War, he was active in charitative organizations. He oversaw two diocesians (synod
s) in 1927 and 1938, and initiated a local chapter of Akcja Katolicka (Catholic Action). In November 1930, he became the titular archbishop
of Silyum.
On 1 September 1939, the German invasion of Poland marked the beginning of the Second World War. One of the Nazi's goals was the elimination of Polish intelligentsia
. In 1940, Bishop Nowowiejski and Płock's suffragan bishop
Leon Wetmański were arrested by the Germans and imprisoned in Słuck and Działdowo. Nowowiejski died on 28 May 1941 in Soldau concentration camp
.
He was beatified
by Pope John Paul II
on 13 June 1999 as one of the 108 Martyrs of World War II.
. His Cereminiał parafialny (Parish ceremony) became a standard textbook for parish priests, and went through seven editions before the war. The University of Warsaw
awarded him a honorary title
of doctor honoris causa.
Selected works:
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Silyum, first secretary of Polish Episcopal Conference
Polish Episcopal Conference
Polish Episcopal Conference is the central organ of Catholic Church in Poland. It is composed of 6 cardinals, 25 archbishops and 104 bishops.** President - abp Józef Michalik...
(1918–1919), honorary citizen of Płock and historian. He died at the hands of the Germans
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
in Soldau concentration camp
Soldau concentration camp
The Soldau concentration camp was a concentration camp established by Nazi Germany during World War II in Działdowo , which after the occupation of Poland was part of East Prussia....
near Działdowo on 28 May 1941, and was subsequently beatified
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
in 1999 as one of the 108 Martyrs of World War II.
Biography
Antoni Julian Nowowiejski was born on 11 February 1858 in Lubienia near OpatówOpatów
Opatów is a town in Poland, in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. It is the capital of Opatów County. Its population is 7,833 .Tourist attractions include a 12th century Collegiate Church of St...
. He studied in Płock and Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
and received the Holy Orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
in 1881. He became a professor and a rector of the Płock Seminary, canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Płock and vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of the Płock diocese. On 12 June 1908, he was nominated for position of the bishop of Płock; on 6 December, he received the sacra
Sacra
Sacra may refer to :* Bibliotheca Sacra, the theological journal published by Dallas Theological Seminary* Harmonia Sacra, a Mennonite shape note hymn and tune book* Isola Sacra, an island in the Lazio region of Italy south of Rome...
, and the ingress
Ingress
Ingress may refer to:* the act of entering, and the antonym of egress* a type of noise typically encountered when using coaxial cable* Ingress filtering, a computer network packet filtering technique...
in Płock Cathedral took place on 10 January 1909.
As the leader of the Płock diocese he carried out an administrative reform, devoting much attention to catholic education (among other things, he created a lower seminary). During the First World War, he was active in charitative organizations. He oversaw two diocesians (synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
s) in 1927 and 1938, and initiated a local chapter of Akcja Katolicka (Catholic Action). In November 1930, he became the titular archbishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Silyum.
On 1 September 1939, the German invasion of Poland marked the beginning of the Second World War. One of the Nazi's goals was the elimination of Polish intelligentsia
Intelligentsia
The intelligentsia is a social class of people engaged in complex, mental and creative labor directed to the development and dissemination of culture, encompassing intellectuals and social groups close to them...
. In 1940, Bishop Nowowiejski and Płock's suffragan bishop
Suffragan bishop
A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop. He or she may be assigned to an area which does not have a cathedral of its own.-Anglican Communion:...
Leon Wetmański were arrested by the Germans and imprisoned in Słuck and Działdowo. Nowowiejski died on 28 May 1941 in Soldau concentration camp
Soldau concentration camp
The Soldau concentration camp was a concentration camp established by Nazi Germany during World War II in Działdowo , which after the occupation of Poland was part of East Prussia....
.
He was beatified
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
on 13 June 1999 as one of the 108 Martyrs of World War II.
Works
Antoni Julian Nowowiejski was the author of many works in the realm of history (especially the history of Płock) and Catholic liturgyCatholic liturgy
The Catholic Church is fundamentally liturgical and sacramental in its public life of worship.-Liturgical principles:As explained in greater detail in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and its shorter Compendium, the liturgy is something that "the whole Christ", Head and Body, celebrates —...
. His Cereminiał parafialny (Parish ceremony) became a standard textbook for parish priests, and went through seven editions before the war. The University of Warsaw
University of Warsaw
The University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland and one of the most prestigious, ranked as best Polish university in 2010 and 2011...
awarded him a honorary title
Honorary title (academic)
Honorary titles in academia may be conferred on persons in recognition of contributions by a non-employee or by an employee beyond regular duties...
of doctor honoris causa.
Selected works:
- Wykład liturgii Kościoła katolickiego
- Ceremoniał parafialny
Further reading
- Piotr Nitecki, Biskupi Kościoła w Polsce w latach 965 - 1999, ISBN 83-211-1311-7, Warszawa 2000
External links
- Archbishop Bl. Antonio Giuliano Nowowiejski at catholic-hierarchy.org
- Antoni Julian Nowowiejski at catholic-forum.com