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Styles of Mitchell Thomas Rozanski
Reference style	His Excellency The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop

Mitchell Thomas Rozanski (born August 6, 1958) is an American Catholic prelate who has served as Archbishop of St. Louis since 2020. He previously served as Bishop of Springfield in Massachusetts from 2014 to 2020 and as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore from 2004 to 2014.

Biography

Early life and education

Mitchell Rozanski was born on August 6, 1958, in Baltimore, Maryland. He attended Sacred Heart of Mary School in Dundalk, Maryland, and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel High School in Essex, Maryland. After his high school graduation, Rozanski entered the Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington, D.C. He later received his seminary training at CUA's Theological College.

Ordination and ministry

Rozanski was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of Mary, Our Queen, in Baltimore for the Archdiocese of Baltimore by Archbishop William Borders on November 24, 1984. After his ordination, Rozanksi performed pastoral assignments at the following parishes in Maryland:

• Assistant pastor at St. Michael in Overlea in 1984
• Assistant pastor at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore in 1985.
• Associate Pastor at St. Anthony in Baltimore in 1985
• Associate pastor at St. Isaac Jogues in Baltimore in 1990
• Administrator of Holy Cross and St. Mary Star of the Sea in Baltimore in March 1993, before being appointed pastor there in October 1993
• Temporary administrator of Immaculate Conception in Towson in January 2000
• Temporary administrator of St. John the Evangelist in Severna Park, becoming pastor on November 28, 2000

Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore

On July 3, 2004, Rozanski was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of Baltimore and titular bishop of Walla Walla by Pope John Paul II, becoming the youngest bishop in the United States at that time. He received his episcopal consecration at the Cathedral of Mary, Our Queen, on August 24, 2004, from Cardinal William Keeler, with Bishops William Newman and W. Francis Malooly serving as co-consecrators. Rozanski selected as his episcopal motto: "Serve The Lord With Gladness."

As an auxiliary bishop, Rozanski was appointed as vicar for Hispanic ministries. He also served as the Seton vicar, supervising parishes in Anne Arundel, Howard, Carroll, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) announced on April 18, 2011, that Rozanski would succeed Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, as co-chair of the Polish National Catholic-Roman Catholic dialogue. He was named to the post by Archbishop Wilton Gregory. On November 12, 2013, Rozanski was elected as chair of the USCCB Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.

Bishop of Springfield in Massachusetts

On June 19, 2014, Pope Francis named Rozanski the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts. He was installed on August 12, 2014.

In September 2018, a Diocesan Review Board notified Rozanski that it had found an allegation of sexual abuse by former Springfield Bishop Christopher Weldon to be credible. The board cited a Chicopee, Massachusetts, resident who said that Weldon had abused him a child. The board later split on the case, with several members saying that the victim did not name Weldon directly. Three other board members maintained they had witnessed otherwise. In June 2019, Rozanski met with the victim, saying he found the allegations "deeply troubling". In June 2020, an investigation by retired Superior Court Judge Peter A. Velis found the victim's claim "to be unequivocally credible."

After the Velis' findings were released, Rozanski asked Trinity Health of New England to remove Weldon's name from its rehabilitation center, the former Farren Memorial Hospital in Montague, Massachusetts. Weldon's remains were disinterred and moved to more secluded spot in the cemetery. Rozanski ordered the removal of all photographs, memorials and other mentions of Weldon from all diocesan facilities, schools and churches.

In December 2019, Rozanski banned the Pioneer Valley Gay Men's Chorus from singing in a Christmas caroling concert at St. Theresa's of Lisieux Parish in South Hadley, Massachusetts.

In June 2020, Robert M. Hoatson, co-founder of Road to Recover Inc. for survivors of clerical sexual abuse, called on Rozanski to resign. Hoatson described Rozanski's handling of sexual abuse allegations against Weldon to be “woefully deficient.” Hoatson also called on Pope Francis to rescind his appointment of Rozanski as archbishop of St. Louis.

Archbishop of St. Louis

On June 10, 2020, Francis appointed Rozanski as archbishop of St. Louis, following the retirement of Archbishop Robert Carlson. Rozanski was installed on August 25, 2020, at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri.

In May 2023, Rozanski announced All Things New, a plan to reduce the number of parishes in the archdiocese from 178 to 134 with closures and mergers. Seven parishes filed appeals in August 2023 with the Dicastery for the Clergy in Rome, which decided to accept appeals from two parishes. The Dicastery in June 2024 rejected the appeals from the two parishes.

See also

• Catholic Church hierarchy
• Catholic Church in the United States
• Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
• List of Catholic bishops of the United States
• Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops

References

1. ^ "Most Rev. Mitchell T. Rozanski". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore.
2. ^ "Bishop Mitchell Thomas Rozanski". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
3. "Coat of Arms". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore.
4. "Archbishop Kurtz Elected President of U.S. Bishops, Cardinal DiNardo Elected Vice President". www.usccb.org. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
5. "Pope names new Springfield, Massachusetts bishop". The Washington Post. Associated Press. June 19, 2014. Archived from the original on June 19, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
6. "Former bishop not listed as 'credibly accused,' despite diocesan board's finding | The Berkshire Eagle | Pittsfield Breaking News, Sports, Weather, Traffic". August 24, 2019. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
7. "Sex abuse claim against late Springfield bishop Christopher Weldon demonstrates challenge victims face - masslive.com". June 16, 2019. Archived from the original on June 16, 2019. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
8. ^ "Abuse allegations against late Springfield, Mass., bishop found credible". National Catholic Reporter. June 26, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
9. Voghel, Jazquelyn (January 7, 2020). "Pioneer Valley Gay Men's Chorus says diocese barred them from concert". The Daily Hampshire Gazette. Northampton, Massachusetts. Archived from the original on January 8, 2020. Then, about two weeks before the concert, the group was informed that Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski of the Springfield diocese would not allow them to perform...
10. Bourne, Alden (January 3, 2020). "Gay Singing Group Says Springfield Bishop Prevented It From Taking Part In Concert". New England Public Radio. Springfield, Mass. The Pioneer Valley Gay Men's Chorus is crying foul after it says it was told it couldn't sing at a church holiday concert on orders from the Catholic bishop in Springfield, Massachusetts.
11. ^ Merzbach, Scott (June 27, 2020). "Clerical sex abuse survivor calls on Bishop Rozanski to resign over report". Daily Hampshire Gazette. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
12. "Pope Francis Accepts Resignation of Archbishop Robert Carlson of St. Louis; Names Bishop Mitchell Rozanski of Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts as Successor". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
13. "Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski". Retrieved June 10, 2020.
14. "St. Louis Archdiocese reorganization will cut parishes from 178 to 134". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
15. "Vatican agrees to review closures of two St. Louis parishes amid archdiocesan restructuring". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
16. "St. Louis parish appeals continue as Vatican upholds latest merger". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved September 25, 2024.

External links

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis Official Site
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore website

• Biography
• Catholicism
• United States
• Missouri

v t e Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis
v t e Ordinaries of the Archdiocese of St. Louis Bishop Joseph Rosati Archbishops Peter Richard Kenrick John Kain John J. Glennon Joseph Ritter John Carberry John L. May Justin Rigali Raymond Leo Burke Robert James Carlson Mitchell T. Rozanski Coadjutor Archbishop Patrick John Ryan Catholicism portal
v t e Churches in the Archdiocese of St. Louis List List of churches in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis Cathedral Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis Basilica Basilica of St. Louis, King of France Parishes St. Joseph Church, Apple Creek St. Maurus Church, Biehle St. James Church, Crosstown Ste. Genevieve Church, Ste. Genevieve Sacred Heart Church, Ozora St. Mary's of the Barrens Church, Perryville St. Vincent de Paul Church, Perryville St. Alphonsus Liguori "Rock" Church, St. Louis St. Francis Xavier College Church, St. Louis St. Mary of Victories Church, St. Louis St. Rose of Lima Church, Silver Lake Former parishes Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Belgique St. Mary's Church, Bridgeton St. John the Evangelist Church, Lithium St. Boniface Church, Perryville Immaculate Conception Church, St. Louis St. John Nepomuk Church, St. Louis St. Liborius Church, St. Louis St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, St. Louis Abbey Abbey of Saint Mary and Saint Louis Oratory St. Francis de Sales Oratory, St. Louis Shrines St. Ferdinand's Shrine, Florissant Shrine of St. Joseph, St. Louis
v t e Education in the Archdiocese of St. Louis Higher education Fontbonne University Maryville University Saint Louis University Seminaries Aquinas Institute of Theology Kenrick–Glennon Seminary High schools Barat Academy, O'Fallon Bishop DuBourg High School, St. Louis Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School, St. Louis Chaminade College Preparatory School, Creve Coeur Christian Brothers College High School, Town and Country Cor Jesu Academy, St. Louis De Smet Jesuit High School, Creve Coeur Duchesne High School, St. Charles Incarnate Word Academy, Bel-Nor John F. Kennedy Catholic High School, Manchester Nerinx Hall High School, Webster Groves Notre Dame High School, Lemay Rosati-Kain High School, St. Louis St. Dominic High School, O'Fallon St. Francis Borgia Regional High School, Washington St. John Vianney High School, Kirkwood St. Joseph's Academy, Frontenac Saint Louis Priory School, St. Louis St. Louis University High School, St. Louis St. Mary's High School, St. Louis St. Pius X High School, Festus St. Vincent High School, Perryville Ursuline Academy, Oakland Valle Catholic High School, Sainte Genevieve Villa Duchesne, St. Louis Visitation Academy of St. Louis, Town and Country Former Higher education Marillac College High schools St. Elizabeth Academy, St. Louis Trinity Catholic High School, North St. Louis County
v t e Clergy of the Archdiocese of St. Louis Auxiliary bishops Christian Herman Winkelmann George Joseph Donnelly John Cody Charles Herman Helmsing Leo Christopher Byrne Glennon Patrick Flavin George Joseph Gottwald Joseph Alphonse McNicholas Charles Roman Koester Edward Thomas O'Meara John Nicholas Wurm Edward Joseph O'Donnell J. Terry Steib Paul Albert Zipfel Edward Braxton Michael John Sheridan Joseph Fred Naumann Timothy M. Dolan Robert Joseph Hermann Edward M. Rice Mark S. Rivituso Priests Christopher Edward Byrne Mark Kenny Carroll Luis Morgan Casey Patrick Feehan Robert Finn Marion Francis Forst John R. Gaydos John Hennessy John Joseph Hogan John Joseph Leibrecht George Joseph Lucas Antoni Klawiter Joseph Melcher Michael Portier Andrea Bernardo Schierhoff Leo John Steck Richard Stika John Henry Tihen
Catholicism portal

v t e Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
Ordinaries	Bishops Patrick Thomas O'Reilly Thomas Daniel Beaven Thomas Michael O'Leary Christopher Joseph Weldon Joseph Francis Maguire John Aloysius Marshall Thomas Ludger Dupré Timothy Anthony McDonnell Mitchell Thomas Rozanski William Draper Byrne
Churches	Cathedral St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica Basilica of St. Stanislaus Parishes St. Stanislaus Parish, Adams
Education	High schools Pope Francis Preparatory School Saint Mary High School Closed Holyoke Catholic High School St. Joseph Central High School
Priests	Richard R. Lavigne
Catholicism portal

v t e Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore
Churches and parishes	List List of churches in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore Cathedral Cathedral of Mary Our Queen Co-cathedral Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Pro-cathedral St. Peter's Pro-Cathedral Parish churches St. Alphonsus Holy Cross Holy Rosary St. Elizabeth of Hungary St. John the Evangelist St. Leo St. Vincent de Paul St. Wenceslaus Our Lady of Pompeii Chapels and shrines National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Catholic education	Seminaries Mount St. Mary's Seminary St. Mary's Seminary Higher education Loyola University Maryland Mount St. Mary's University Notre Dame of Maryland University St. Mary's University High schools Archbishop Curley Archbishop Spalding Bishop Walsh School Calvert Hall College Cristo Rey Jesuit Loyola Blakefield Maryvale Preparatory School Mercy Mount de Sales Academy Mount Saint Joseph Notre Dame Preparatory School Our Lady of Mount Carmel St. Frances Academy St. John's Catholic Preparatory Saint Maria Goretti St. Mary's The Catholic High School of Baltimore The John Carroll School Closed educational institutions Cardinal Gibbons School Institute of Notre Dame Seton Keough High School Towson Catholic High School Woodstock College
Ordinaries	Archbishops John Carroll, S.J. Leonard Neale, S.J. Ambrose Maréchal, P.S.S. James Whitfield Samuel Eccleston, P.S.S. Francis Patrick Kenrick Martin John Spalding James Roosevelt Bayley James Gibbons Michael Joseph Curley Francis Patrick Keough Lawrence Shehan William Donald Borders William Henry Keeler Edwin Frederick O'Brien William Edward Lori Auxiliary bishops Dominic Laurence Graessel Alfred Allen Paul Curtis Owen Patrick Bernard Corrigan Thomas Joseph Shahan John Michael McNamara Lawrence Shehan Jerome Aloysius Daugherty Sebastian Thomas Austin Murphy Thomas Mardaga F. Joseph Gossman Philip Francis Murphy James Stafford William Clifford Newman John Ricard, S.S.J. Gordon Bennett, S.J. W. Francis Malooly Mitchell T. Rozanski Denis J. Madden Mark E. Brennan Adam Parker Bruce Lewandowski
Miscellany	Plenary Councils of Baltimore The Catholic Review
Suffragan dioceses	Diocese of Arlington Diocese of Richmond Diocese of Wilmington Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston
Catholicism portal Maryland portal

• 1958 births
• Living people
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
• Roman Catholic bishops of Springfield in Massachusetts
• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore
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• 21st-century Roman Catholic archbishops in the United States