For nearly a century, since the establishment of the Province of Greater Poland-Masovia within the Society of Jesus, there has never been a ceremony in which a Jesuit from this province—now encompassing not only part of Poland but also Denmark, Russia, Belarus, and Kyrgyzstan—was ordained as a bishop. That changed on February 2, when Father Stephan Lipke, SJ, received episcopal consecration at the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Novosibirsk.

The ceremony was led by Bishop Josif Werth, SJ, the ordinary of the Diocese of the Transfiguration of the Lord, with the participation of bishops serving in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkey. A delegation from Poland, headed by Father Provincial Zbigniew Leczkowski, SJ, was also in attendance, along with Jesuits working in Vitebsk, Bishkek, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Tomsk, and Novosibirsk. Among the honored guests were Father Stephan’s parents and aunt, as well as representatives of the German Embassy. The over three-hour liturgy was also attended by local government representatives. The cathedral was filled to capacity with faithful Catholics of three rites—Latin, Byzantine, and Armenian—as well as Christians of other denominations.

Father Stephan Lipke, SJ, was born on December 31, 1975, in Essen, Germany. He completed his studies in philosophy and theology at the University of Bonn in 2000 and was ordained a deacon on June 10, 2001, in Hilden by Bishop Friedhelm Hofmann. On June 7, 2002, he was ordained a priest in Cologne by Cardinal Joachim Meisner. Seeking a Jesuit vocation, he entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus in Nuremberg as a priest on September 24, 2006, making his first vows on September 14, 2008.

Between 2008 and 2011, he worked in Munich, teaching catechism to adults preparing for baptism. In 2011, he was sent to Russia, first serving in Tomsk, where he taught at the Catholic Gymnasium and was pastor of the parish of Our Lady Queen of the Holy Rosary from 2014 to 2017. In 2017, he earned a PhD in Russian Literature from Tomsk State University. Following his academic work, he completed the final stage of Jesuit formation—the so-called Third Probation—in Manila, Philippines (2017-2018).

In 2018, he was appointed director of the St. Thomas Institute in Moscow and editor-in-chief of Simvol magazine. He also became a Consultor to the Superior of the Independent Russian Region. On May 18, 2019, in Warsaw Falenica, he made his solemn religious profession before Father Arturo Sosa, SJ, Superior General of the Society of Jesus.

Following the 2020 merger of the Independent Russian Region and the Province of Greater Poland-Masovia, Father Stephan became a member of the newly expanded province. That same year, he was appointed Secretary General of the Russian Episcopal Conference, Superior of the Jesuit community in Moscow, and Secretary of the Superior of the Russian Region of the PMA. In addition, he served as Delegate for the Protection of Children and Youth, assisted in pastoral work at St. Louis Parish in Moscow, ministered to the Missionary Sisters of Mercy, and taught at both the Jesuit Institute of St. Thomas and the Orthodox Institute of St. Philaret.

Fluent in German, English, and Russian, Father Stephan also has a strong command of Italian, Spanish, and French, as well as proficiency in Polish, Ukrainian, and Filipino.