| Jan Kanty Lorek | |
| Honorific Suffix: | CM |
| Bishop of Sandomierz | |
| Appointed: | 12 March 1946 |
| Predecessor: | Włodzimierz Jasiński |
| Successor: | Piotr Gołębiowski |
| Other Post: | Apostolic administrator of Sandomierz (1936 - 1946) Titular bishop of Modra (1936 - 1946) |
| Ordination: | 2 July 1911 |
| Consecration: | 7 June 1936 |
| Consecrated By: | Aleksander Kakowski |
| Birth Date: | 20 October 1886 |
| Birth Place: | Błażejowice |
| Death Place: | Sandomierz |
| Motto: | Evangelizare pauperibus misit me |
Jan Kanty Rafał Lorek (20 October 1886 - 4 January 1967) was a Roman Catholic bishop of Sandomierz.
Lorek was born in 1886 in Błażejowice. After being kicked out of school due to his Polish nationality,[1] he entered into minor seminary for the Congregation of the Mission in Kraków in 1902; he entered into an intermediate seminary in 1905 and took his monastic vows on 27 September 1907. Afterwards, he began studying at a theological institute for the Congregation in the neighborhood of Stradom, Kraków; he was given minor orders on 25 March 1909, was ordained to the subdiaconate on 26 March 1910 and was made a deacon on 18 December 1910. He was ordained a priest on 2 July 1911 in Wawel Cathedral by Anatol Nowak,[2] who was auxiliary bishop of Kraków.
In November 1916, Lorek was drafted into the Imperial German Army. He was originally assigned to office work in Opole,[3] later being assigned to take care of Polish seasonal workers and prisoners of war in the Diocese of Hildesheim.[2] In 1921, he was appointed director of the Siemaszko Institution, located in Kraków - he was awarded the Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta on 27 November 1929 for his work in regards to the Institution.[1] [3]
In 1930, he was appointed prior and provost of Holy Cross Church. On 4 May 1936, he was appointed apostolic administrator for the Diocese of Sandomierz and titular bishop of Modra by Pius XI; he was consecrated on 7 July 1936 by Aleksander Kakowski,[2] assuming control of the diocese on 9 June.[3] On 12 March 1946, Lorek was appointed the bishop of Sandomierz.[4]
In 1961, Lorek was appointed an assistant to the papal throne. He died on 4 January 1967 after an illness; his funeral was held on 7 January in Sandomierz.[2] He was buried in the cathedral there.[3]