Stanislaw Czerniewicz was was a Polish

Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

 Jesuit. He was a temporary Vicar General of the Society of Jesus

Society of Jesus

The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...

 from 1782 until 1785.

Early career

After his Jesuit training in Lithuania - Philosophy (1747-50) and Theology (1753-57) at Vilnius

Vilnius

Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...

 - Czerniewiecz taught Grammar and Poetry in the High School of Kražiai

Kražiai

Kražiai is a town in Lithuania, located in the Kelmė district municipality, between Varniai and Raseiniai , on the Kražantė river. The old town of Kražiai is an archeological and urban monument....

 (1750-53) before being called to Rome where he was secretary for the Polish Assistancy of the Society of Jesus (1759-68). This is where he got familiarized with the government of the Society. He returned to his country where he was made Rector of the High School of Polatsk

Polatsk

Polotsk , is a historical city in Belarus, situated on the Dvina river. It is the center of Polotsk district in Vitsebsk Voblast. Its population is more than 80,000 people...

 (now in Belarus

Belarus

Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...

) in 1770.

After the Suppression of the Society of Jesus

The brief of Clement XIV suppressing the Society (July 1773) could not be promulgated in the Jesuit houses of White Russia (Belarus

Belarus

Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...

), as the Czarin Catherina the II of Russia, a non-Catholic, forbade it. She has no wish to see the Jesuits leaving their schools. There were at that time 201 Jesuits in the Russian empire. The Jesuits carried on their work as before. As Rector of the largest community and school Czerniewicz was a sort of 'reference authority' of the group. Perplexed as to what to do he sought in 1775, through indirect contacts, approval from the successor of Clement XIV on the papal throne, Pius VI, who rather cryptically, gave to understand that he was not displeased with the situation. Czerniewicz started then receiving Jesuits coming from other countries of Europe (1776) and soon got also permission (1779) to open a novitiate for new recruits in Polatsk.

Regional (Polish) Congregation I

As all this was rather unofficial and he had no legal authority over the Jesuits, Czerniewicz requested the local bishop (in charge of religious affairs) and Catherina II permission to call a 'Regional Congregation' for the election of a Vicar General of the Society. This was granted; the Congregation met in 1782. On the 17 Octobre Czerniewicz was elected Vicar General with full authority of a Superior General. The opening of the novitiate first, and then the election of a Vicar General created a diplomatic crisis between Russia and the Bourbon's courts in Europe. But Catherina defended 'her Jesuits' with the silent approval of Pius VI.

The Vicar General

Faithful to the Constitutions of Saint Ignatius Czerniewicz quietly prepared the rebirth of the Society, entertaining correspondence with many ex-Jesuits in a number of European countries and keeping them informed of the Russian developments. His good knowledge of the Russian mentality helped him also, as well as the Society, to find the right course through very difficult times. He died on the 7 July 1785.