Karol Kulczycki
| The Most Reverend Karol Kulczycki SDS | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Port Pirie | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Province | Adelaide |
| Appointed | 1 August 2020 |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 28 May 1994 by Franciszek Macharski |
| Consecration | 29 September 2020 by Adolfo Tito Yllana |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 October 1966 Góra, Poland |
| Denomination | Roman Catholicism |
| Motto | In Te, Domine, Speravi ("In thee I have trusted, Lord") |
Karol Kulczycki, SDS (born 19 October 1966) is a Polish-born Australian bishop of the Catholic Church and a member of the Society of the Divine Savior. He is the bishop of the Diocese of Port Pirie, appointed to the position in 2020. He was first transferred to Australia in 1997, before returning to his home country in 2018. He has since been back to Australia numerous times as of 2026.
Early life
Kulczycki was born in Góra, Poland, on 19 October 1966. During his youth, he lived in Czernina.[1]
He grew up in a faithful, church-going family, but hadn't felt the call to the priesthood as a child. While on a Salvatorian-run retreat when he was 18, he spent time before the Blessed Sacrament and said he felt himself being called by name to respond. He spent a further three years completing his studies before beginning studies for the priesthood.[2]
He joined the Society of the Divine Savior in 1987 and made his solemn vows in 1992. He studied theology and philosophy at the Salvatorian Major Seminary in Bagno, Poland. On 28 May 1994, Kulczycki was ordained a priest in Poland[3] by Cardinal Franciszek Macharski.[4]
Presbyteral ministry
After ordination, Kulczycki's first assignment was at the Society's vocational office in his home country, where he served from 1994 to 1997. In 1996, he became the director of the centre.[5] While serving in the vocational office, he met many priests who served in different countries, including Australia, and it kindled a desire to go to serve as a missionary priest in Australia.[2]
In 1997, he received the consent of his superiors to continue his priestly ministry with the Salvatorian community in Australia. He was first appointed assistant priest of Esperance. In 1999, he moved to Willetton where he also served as an assistant priest. In 2001, he was appointed parish priest of Merredin and also served as chaplain of Chisholm Catholic College in Bedford.
In 2005, he moved to Greenmount, where he also served as parish priest. In 2009, he was elected provincial superior of the Salvatorians in Australia. During this time, he also served as chaplain to Prendiville Catholic College in Ocean Reef and assistant priest at Ocean Reef. He returned to Poland in 2018 to serve as Vice Provincial of the Polish Province of the Salvatorian.[6]
Episcopal ministry
Kulczycki was appointed Bishop of Port Pirie on 1 August 2020.[3] He was ordained bishop by Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, on 29 September 2020 at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Trzebinia, Poland, and was installed in St Mark's Cathedral in Port Pirie on 28 October 2020.[4]
He had been unable to return to Australia for his episcopal ordination due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] He returned to Australia in early October and spent two weeks in quarantine prior to his installation.[8]
From 2021 to 2025, he served on the board of Catholic Health Australia, as the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference's representative.[9]
References
- Back to citation "Bishop – Catholic Diocese of Port Pirie". Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 Murthy, Amanda (19 February 2021). "Port Pirie's Bishop "ready to go wherever God leads"". The Record. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- Back to citation occurrence 3.0 Back to citation occurrence 3.1 "Rinunce e nomine". Holy See Press Office. Holy See. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020. (in Italian)
- Back to citation occurrence 4.0 Back to citation occurrence 4.1 "Karol Kulczycki". Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- Back to citation "Karol Kulczycki SDS". ppcatholic.org. Catholic Diocese of Port Pirie. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- Back to citation "Pope appoints new Bishop to the Diocese of Port Pirie, Australia". Vatican News. Holy See. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- Back to citation Brinkworth, Jenny (30 September 2020). "Journey to Port Pirie via Poland". The Southern Cross. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- Back to citation "Port Pirie bishop to be ordained in Poland". mediablog.catholic.org.au. Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Media Blog. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- Back to citation "BISHOP KAROL KULCZYCKI JOINS CHA BOARD". cha.org.au. Catholic Health Australia. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
External links
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Gregory O'Kelly |
Bishop of Port Pirie 2020–present |
Incumbent |