Костел Святой Троицы в Ружанах. Фото: kosciolruzhany.by
The Pinsk Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church reported that permission for Polish priest Janusz Pulit to continue his pastoral ministry had not been renewed. He served for 32 years in the parishes of Ruzhany and Lyskava.
Bishop of Pinsk Antoni Dziemianko said this in an address to parishioners that was highlighted by Christian Vision. According to him, the diocese did not receive approval from the state authorities for Pulit to continue his ministry in Belarus.
“In connection with the forced departure from our diocese of Father Janusz Pulit, CM, we would like to thank him for dedicating more than 32 of his 39 years as a priest to serving the faithful in our land. He selflessly responded to the call of Cardinal Kazimierz Świątek and the superiors of his religious congregation and became involved in the life of the Pinsk Diocese,” the bishop’s address said.
Dziemianko also noted the shortage of local priests and the declining number of clergy from other countries who come to Belarus to work in Catholic parishes. According to him, it is difficult for the Pinsk Diocese to provide regular pastoral care to all parish communities across the territory from Brest to Homiel.
“Dear brothers and sisters! Over the many centuries of the Church’s history, your parish communities have experienced different times: periods of flourishing as well as difficulties. Today we are going through a period when there are not enough local pastors. We pray for vocations to the priesthood and support our seminarians. Your long-serving parish priest is leaving your parishes against his will. This is painful for all of us. But we, the bishops and priests, will help and support you as we remain together in the spirit of Christian faith, hope and love,” he assured them.
At the same time, according to Christian Vision, two other Polish priests serving in the Pinsk Diocese whose permits were due to expire received new permits for the next six months.
Pulit became the third Polish priest in the Pinsk Diocese whose permission to conduct pastoral ministry has not been renewed since the beginning of 2026. The heads of other dioceses have not publicly reported cases in which Polish priests’ permits were not renewed, and the faithful learned about them only from unofficial sources.