These nine Salesians, Frs. Jan Świerc, Ignacy Antonowicz, Ignacy Dobiasz, Karol Golda, Franciszek Harazim, Ludwik Mroczek, Włodzimierz Szembek, Kazimierz Wojciechowski, and Franciszek Miśka were men of deep pastoral zeal and educational commitment. Arrested during the German occupation of Poland simply for being Catholic priests, they endured brutal conditions and relentless persecution. Yet, in the darkest of places, they continued to live the charism of Don Bosco: offering spiritual comfort, hope, and brotherhood to fellow prisoners.

Fr. Jan Świerc, rector of the Salesian parish in Kraków, was arrested by the Gestapo in 1941. After a month of imprisonment, he was brutally tortured and killed by a German soldier for being a priest and for refusing to stop invoking the name of Jesus. Fr. Karol Golda was condemned to death for hearing the confessions of German soldiers stationed at Auschwitz. He was executed on May 14, 1942. The other Salesians were also arrested for their priestly identity and apostolic work. 

Their martyrdom is a powerful testament to the Salesian spirit of da mihi animas, cetera tolle—“Give me souls, take away the rest.” Even in the face of torture and death, they remained faithful to Christ and to the mission entrusted to them by Don Bosco: to be signs and bearers of God’s love, especially to the young and the suffering.

In addition to these nine Salesians, the Pope also approved the beatification of two diocesan priests from Czechoslovakia, killed during Communist persecution in the early 1950s. Their witness, too, reminds us of the cost of fidelity in times of oppression.

The Salesian Family rejoices in this recognition, which affirms the heroic virtue and unwavering faith of our brothers. Their beatification is not only a moment of celebration but also a call to renew our own commitment to the Gospel, especially in the face of adversity.

Their example inspires new generations of Salesians—priests, brothers, sisters, cooperators, and young people—to live with courage, joy, and fidelity. May their memory be a blessing and their intercession a source of strength for our mission today.

Courtesy: Vatican News | catholicreview