Military Ordinariate of Slovakia

The Military Ordinariate of Slovakia (Vojenský ordinariát) is a Latin military ordinariate (pseudo-diocese) of the Roman Catholic Church for the Slovak armed forces.

It is exempt, i.e. immediately subject to the Holy See (not part of any ecclesiastical province and its Roman Congregation for Bishops. The Cathedral episcopal see is Katedrála sv. Šebastiána, dedicated to Saint Sebastian, in the Slovak national capital Bratislava, which in 2009 replaced the Cathedral of St. John of Matha and St. Felix of Valois (''Katedrála sv. Jána a sv. Felixa z Valois''), also in Bratislava.

History
The military ordinariate, without precursor, was established by Pope John Paul II on 20 January 2003, ten years after the country's independence by the dissolution of Czechoslovakia.

Statistics
As per 2014, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Slovak Armed Forces and their families in 56 parishes with 54 priests (46 diocesan, 8 religious), 1 deacon and 8 lay religious brothers.

Military ordinaries

 * František Rábek (incumbent, 20 January 2003 – ...), previously Auxiliary Bishop of Nitra (Slovakia) (1991.07.13 – 2003.01.20) and Titular Bishop of Catrum (1991.07.13 – 2003.01.20)

Sources and external links

 * Military Ordinariate of Slovakia (Catholic-Hierarchy)
 * GCatholic.org, with Google map and satellite photo
 * picasaweb.google.com St.Sebastian cathedral