Pope Francis appointed Fr. Joseph Dabrowski as auxiliary bishop of the southwestern Ontario diocese on Jan. 31.
“Fr. Joe,” as he is affectionately known as to his parishioners, is currently pastor at London’s St. Mary’s parish and superior of the Michaelite Fathers in North America.
London Bishop Ronald Fabbro said the appointment is “a great tribute to the talent, experience and the abilities of a faithful and gifted priest.”
“Over the past 12 years, I have had the privilege of knowing and working with Bishop-elect Dabrowski,” said Fabbro.
“He is a good friend and has made a significant contribution to the pastoral life of the Diocese of London during his many years of ministry.”
Dabrowski offered thanks to God for his calling to serve the Church and said that he is looking forward to taking on his new role.
“As I begin this new chapter in my life, I look forward to working in tandem with our bishop in journeying with the faithful in our diocese,” he said. “I pray that God will continue to bless me and my ministry, and grant me the knowledge, wisdom and compassion required to serve the people in this great Diocese of London.”
The 50-year-old Dabrowski was born in the small Polish village of Wysoka Strzyzowska to a close-knit family that laid the foundations for his life of faith. He entered the Michaelite order after graduating from a high school administered by the priests.
He completed one year of novitiate and another year of internship in Poland before he was selected to study in Italy at the St. Peter Institute of Philosophy and Theology in Viterbo. He graduated from the Pontifical Athenaeum of St. Anselm in Rome.
During his seminary years, Dabrowski served several Masses with the late Pope John Paul II.
He was ordained to the priesthood in Italy on May 4, 1991, and four days later was assigned to the order’s community in London. He served as associate pastor at several parishes in the diocese before he became pastor at St. Mary’s.
He has also served on the diocese’s Ministry to Priests committee, the Council of Priests, the Cemetery Advisory Board and the Linguistic Communities committee.
Dabrowski has been superior of the North American arm of the Michaelite order since 2013.
The Diocese of London has 130 parishes and missions, with a population of 444,310 Catholics, served by 110 diocesan priests, 58 priests who are members of religious institutes, 51 permanent deacons, 479 religious Sisters and Brothers, and 78 lay pastoral workers.