Robert Chrząszcz

A native from Wadowice (birthplace of Pope John Paul II), he entered the Higher Theological Seminary of the Archdiocese of Krakow in 1988, and was ordained a deacon in 1993. After his priestly ordination, held at the Wawel Cathedral in 1994, he began his work as a parish priest. His missionary work in Brazil began in 2005, as a fidei donum priest in Rio de Janeiro. His tenure at the head of Santa Luzia Parish (2006-2019) was marked by the construction of its new church, a large temple dedicated in 2011.^[1] In 2019, he was chosen to succeed his fellow countryman, Zdzisław Stanisław Błaszczyk, as the head of São Pedro do Mar Parish, following the later's appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Rio de Janeiro.^[2] Besides his function as a parish priest, he acted also as Episcopal vicar of Jacarepaguá vicariate and coordinator of the archdiocesan Commission for Altar Servers and Acolytes.^[3]

On 11 October 2020, Father Józef Chrząszcz was appointed Titular Bishop of Forconium and Auxiliary Bishop of Kraków.^[4] The same day, the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil issued a statement of welcome to the new bishop, praising his missionary work in Rio de Janeiro.^[5]