Jerzy Popieluszko (1947-1984)

FATHER JERZY POPIELUSZKO is one of Poland’s most-loved Cold War saints . . .

Jerzy Popieluszko

Feast Day: October 9
Beatified: June 6, 2010

The son of rural Polish farmers, Jerzy Popiełuszko was ordained a priest by Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski in 1972. In 1980, Cardinal Wyszynski asked him to celebrate Mass for striking steel workers. He organized adult education by bringing in teachers who taught the men about Polish literature, history, law, economics, and negotiation techniques. The young priest preached against Communism and organized charitable works to assist those suffering from injustice.

After the communists declared martial law in 1981, Fr. Jerzy became the target of intense persecution. Authorities arrested and interrogated him 13 times. They made several attempts on his life. The police kidnapped Fr. Jerzy on Oct. 19, 1984, and savagely beat him to death. His murder sparked massive outrage, drawing hundreds of thousands to his funeral in a massive show of opposition to the communist regime. Authorities conducted a quick trial and convicted the three abductors and their superior to prison terms of up to 25 years. All have since been released.

In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI declared Fr. Jerzy a martyr. More than 150,000 Poles — including Fr. Jerzy’s 90-year- old mother — attended his beatification in Warsaw.

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