Michael Joseph Kaniecki, SJ (April 13, 1935 – August 6, 2000) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the

Diocese of Fairbanks :''Former names: Prefecture Apostolic of Alaska (1894-1917), Vicariate Apostolic of Alaska (1917-1962).'' The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks ( la, Dioecesis de Fairbanks) is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Churc ...

in Alaska from 1985 to 2000.

Biography

Michael Kaniecki was born on April 13, 1935, in Detroit, Michigan. He professed

religious vows Religious vows are the public vows made by the members of religious communities pertaining to their conduct, practices, and views. In the Buddhism tradition, in particular within the Mahayana and Vajrayana tradition, many different kinds of re ...

as a Jesuit, and was ordained a priest for the Society of Jesus by Bishop Francis Valentine Allen on June 5, 1965.

Coadjutor Bishop and Bishop of Fairbanks

On March 8, 1984, Pope John Paul II named Kaniecki to be the

coadjutor bishop A coadjutor bishop (or bishop coadjutor) is a bishop in the Catholic, Anglican, and (historically) Eastern Orthodox churches whose main role is to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese. The coadjutor (literally, "co ...

of the Diocese of Fairbanks. He was consecrated on May 1, 1984, by Bishop Robert Whelan. The co-consecrators were Archbishop Francis Hurley and Bishop Michael Kenny. Kaniecki automatically became bishop of Fairbanks on June 1, 1985, with the resignation of Bishop Whelan; Kaniecki was installed on July 28, 1985. Kaniecki was known for his frequent "Letters to the Editor" sent to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner condemning homosexuality. Kaniecki served the diocese for a total of 16 years. Michael Kaniecki died suddenly on August 6, 2000, of a massive heart attack before celebrating a mass in Emmonak, Alaska.

References

1935 births 2000 deaths Roman Catholic bishops of Fairbanks 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States American people of Polish descent Clergy from Detroit Jesuit bishops 20th-century American Jesuits {{US-RC-bishop-stub