Aleksander Kazimierz Bereśniewicz

Bereśniewicz was born in Szwelnia. When he was 10 years old, he began his education with the Bernardines in Dotnuva. He was later educated at Kėdainiai.^[1] In 1839, he began attending the diocesan seminary of the Diocese of Samogitia, located in Varniai.^[2] He first learnt theology at the theological academy in Vilnius, transferring to Saint Petersburg Roman Catholic Theological Academy in 1842.^[3] After obtaining a magister degree in theology, he was appointed a professor of dogmatic theology and of the Latin language for the diocesan seminary at Varniai on 16 September 1845. He was ordained a priest on 10 September 1847.^[2]

In 1850, Bereśniewicz was appointed regent of the diocesan seminary in Varniai. He moved to Vilnius in 1853 at the request of the Russian government, where he was made the prefect of a school. He was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Samogitia and titular bishop of Maximianopolis by Pope Pius IX in 1858;^[3] he was consecrated on 27 February 1859 in St. Petersburg by Wacław Żyliński. He served as rector of the Saint Petersburg Roman Catholic Theological Academy between 1860 and 1864,^[2] and was appointed vicar capitular of the Diocese of Samogitia in 1875.^[1]

Bereśniewicz was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Kujawy-Kaliska on 15 March 1882. He assumed control of the diocese on 1 July 1883.^[4] During his tenure as bishop of Kujawy-Kaliska, he rebuilt the diocesan seminary and helped to renovate the cathedral in Włocławek. On 8 March 1897, Pope Leo XIII appointed Bereśniewicz a prelate of the papal household and an assistant to the papal throne. He resigned as bishop of Kujawy-Kaliska on 15 March 1902 and died in Włocławek on 4 June of the same year. He was buried at the cathedral in Włocławek.^[2]