New Diocese Established in Kenya and Bishops Appointed in USA and Poland

In Brief

A new Kenyan diocese is formed and new bishops are named in the USA and Poland, reflecting the Church’s ongoing commitment to meet local pastoral needs.

More Context

• New dioceses help the Church better serve growing communities and local needs.
• Auxiliary bishops often become leaders of new or existing dioceses to gain experience.
• The Byzantine-Ukrainian rite in Poland serves Eastern Catholics in union with Rome.

On July 10, 2025, the Catholic Church announced important changes in its leadership across the globe. One major development was the creation of the new Diocese of Kapsabet in Kenya. This new diocese was formed from parts of the Diocese of Eldoret to better serve the faithful in Nandi County. Kapsabet is now part of the Kisumu ecclesiastical province and has its cathedral in the city of Kapsabet.

Bishop John Kiplimo Lelei was named as the first bishop of Kapsabet. Before this, he served as auxiliary bishop of Eldoret and held the titular see of Mons in Numidia. He was ordained a bishop on May 25, shortly after being appointed auxiliary bishop on March 27.

In the United States, Bishop Liam Stephen Cary resigned as head of the Diocese of Baker, Oregon. Pope Francis accepted his resignation. Monsignor Thomas Hennen from the Diocese of Davenport has been appointed to take over as bishop of Baker.

In Poland, Reverend Mariusz Dmyterko was named auxiliary bishop of the Byzantine-Ukrainian rite eparchy of Wrocław-Koszalin. He was given the titular see of Tzernicus. This appointment shows the Church’s ongoing commitment to serving Eastern Catholic communities who are in communion with Rome.

These changes reflect the Church’s efforts to respond to the needs of local communities by adjusting leadership. Creating new dioceses like Kapsabet allows bishops to be closer to their people. Appointing new bishops brings fresh energy and guidance to dioceses worldwide.

Each bishop has a great responsibility to care for the faithful, supporting their growth in faith and service. These changes strengthen the Church’s mission and help ensure that Catholics around the world receive pastoral care suited to their local situation.

Sources

• Holy See Press OfficeOfficial Vatican announcement detailing the new Diocese of Kapsabet and episcopal appointments in the USA and Poland.Holy See Press Office
• Resignations and ApointmentsAdditional Vatican release on episcopal appointments, providing broader context on recent bishop nominations.Press Vatican
• Resignations and AppointmentsFurther Vatican bulletin on episcopal changes, illustrating the ongoing nature of Church leadership updates.Press Vatican
• Resignations and AppointmentsAdditional context identified by Exa: Summary: - The Vatican press office release titled “Resignations and Appointments” (01.05.2026) reports several ecclesiastical changes. - Key items: - Appointment: Archbishop.Press Vatican