Antoni Julian Nowowiejski

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 Two.
== Biography ==
Antoni Julian Nowowiejski was born on 11 February 1858 in Lubienia near Opatów. He studied in Płock and St. Petersburgh and received the Holy Orders in 1881. He became a professor and a rector of the Płock Seminary, canon of Płock and vicary-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 (synods) 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 Two.
== Works ==
Antoni Julian Nowowiejski was the author of many works in the realm of history (especially the history of Płock) and Catholic liturgy. 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:
* Wykład liturgii Kościoła katolickiego
* Ceremoniał parafialny
== References ==
* BŁ. ABP ANTONI JULIAN NOWOWIEJSKI, retrieved on 25 September 2007
== 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
Category:1858 births
Category:1941 deaths
Category:Beatified people
Category:Bishops of Płock
Category:Polish bishops
Category:Polish historians
Category:Roman Catholic titular archbishops
Category:19th-century Roman Catholic priests
Category:20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops
Category:Soldau concentration camp
Category:Soldau concentration camp victims
Category:20th-century venerated Christians
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