Fr. Kazimierz Wojciechowski, Polish Salesian Martyr
(ANS – Krakow – June 1, 2026) – Kazimierz
Wojciechowski was the son of Andrzej and Maria Wojciechowski. He was born on August
16, 1904, in Jaslo. His father was a railway worker, and his mother worked on
the farm. At the age of 5, Kazimierz lost his father. From that moment, the
entire burden of providing for and raising 3 small children fell upon his
mother, a woman of deep piety and great self-sacrifice. With the help of kind
people, his mother arranged for her son Kazimierz to be admitted to the
Salesian school named after the Lubomirski family in Krakow. He was 8 years
old. He was a very lively, cheerful boy, always content. In 1916, Kazimierz was
admitted to the institute of Don Bosco in Oswiecim. The Salesian life, full of
joy and activity, suited his lively temperament. He loved games and recreation
and willingly took an active part in them. He studied well. He also showed
interest in the orchestra.
Salesian Path
After completing the 4th year of secondary school, he
submitted an application for the novitiate in Klecza Dolna. Upon entering the
novitiate in 1920, he earnestly set about refining his character, mindful of
his mother’s wish that he become a good and holy priest—a Salesian.
On October 2, 1921, he completed the novitiate and made his
first religious vows. He made his perpetual vows on May 2, 1928, in Oswiecim.
From Klecza Dolna, he went to the philosophy studentate in
Krakow, the so-called “Losiowka.” There he obtained his secondary school
diploma and completed his studies with good results.
He was sent for practical practical training to the minor seminary
in Lad on the Warta River. There he taught mathematics and assisted the boys,
being the driving spirit of recreation and all kinds of activities. One of his
pupils recalled: “I remember the Wednesday walks, when everyone had such a good
time. There were soccer games, ‘carabinieri’ games, and various pursuits.”
He also taught singing and music. In this field too, he
showed great creativity, inspiring the students and teaching them to play
instruments in an accessible way. One of the orchestra members in Lad recalled:
“Fr. Wojciechowski knew how to encourage us to play, whether by giving sweets
or by showing a new instrument acquired for our group. Sometimes, when one of
us was missing, he would take an instrument himself and play the missing part….
He also organized a fine choir.”
In 1924–1925, he taught music and mathematics in Lad. Later,
he worked as a teacher of music and singing in Salesian schools in Antoniewo,
Warsaw, Aleksandrow Kujawski, and Oswiecim. He knew how to create a joyful
atmosphere, characteristic of Salesian houses, through his love of music, sports,
and his lively manner with the young, although, given his energetic and
impulsive temperament, this did not always come easily to him.
In 1930, he came to Krakow for theological studies. There
too, he formed a choir among his fellow students, which enriched various
celebrations.
He also worked in the oratory at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish.
The sports club he organized there, involving the oratory youths, was one of
the most dynamic in Krakow.
On May 19, 1935, he received priestly ordination in Krakow
from Bishop Stanislaw Rospond, a great friend of Don Bosco’s works in Poland.
After the joyful days of his first Mass celebrations, he
went as a teacher to the minor seminary in Daszawa. After a year, he returned
to Krakow as a teacher of religion in the Debniki primary schools, as well as
director of the oratory and of the Catholic youth associations. The school
authorities described his work as follows: “Fr. Wojciechowski teaches religion
in our school. He knows how to interest and enliven the youths during lessons.
Everywhere he brings sincere joy…. He is also involved with the youths outside
of school…. He is liked by them and holds their respect.”
During the September 1939 military operations, he remained
in Krakow and hastened to help refugees. When the German authorities in the
so-called General Government reopened primary schools in November of that year,
Fr. Kazimierz returned to his beloved work in education.
Arrest
May 1941 arrived. On the eve of the feast of Mary Help of
Christians—May 23, in the evening hours—he was arrested by the Gestapo together
with other confreres and imprisoned in the Montelupich prison in Krakow.
As the reason for the arrest, the officer conducting the
operation stated that Fr. Kazimierz was working to maintain the spirit of
Polish identity among the youths. After a month in the Krakow prison, he was
transported with on June 26 others to the concentration camp in Auschwitz.
Martyrdom
June 27, 1941, proved tragic for the Salesians of Krakow. 12
of them were working in the penal company, among them Fr. Wojciechowski, whose
strong physical build drew the attention of the persecutors. He was subjected
to inhuman abuse, beaten, and kicked. With one blow of a shovel handle, the
kapo knocked out his teeth, and with a whip he cut open the skin on his head.
With the last of his strength, he continued to work, constantly driven on.
That day, 2 Salesians—Fr. Jan Swierc and Ignacy Dobiasz—had
already been murdered and taken to the crematorium. In the afternoon, it was
time for more victims. After a meal that none of those in the penal company
could swallow, the same exhausting labor resumed, along with further harassment.
After some time, greatly suffering, Fr. Kazimierz asked the block leader for
lighter work.
“Yes, you will get it at once—just take this wheelbarrow to
the pit, on the run!” he said, striking him several times on the back with a
stick, shouting: “You lazy cheat, you don’t want to work!”
He then pushed Fr. Kazimierz into the deep pit together with
the wheelbarrow. Soon, laughter and mockery could be heard from the SS man at
the sight of the unfortunate man trying to climb out.
Suddenly, the order was given: “Lie down next to that lazy
one!” Fr. Wojciechowski looked in the indicated direction and saw Fr.
Franciszek Harazim lying on his back, whom the bloodthirsty kapo had long been
tormenting.
It was approaching 2:00 p.m. The day was hot. Fever and
thirst tormented the poor prisoners. Finally, the kapo and the block leader
threw down a heavy beam and placed it on the necks of the dying priests,
mocking them: “So, you know how to deceive people. You don’t want to work. You
say there is a God. Show Him to me—I want to see Him! I am your god now! I am
the master of your lives!”
For a while longer, this mockery of the poor victims
continued. Then the kapo and the block leader stood on the beam placed on their
necks and with their weight completed the bloody act.
A short rattling breath, foam at the mouth, swelling of the
face, mortal convulsions, some indistinct words—and the two martyrs, Fr.
Wojciechowski and Fr. Harazim, ended their earthly journey, ended the agony of
the camp. Their bodies were thrown onto wheelbarrows and taken to the pile of
corpses beside the crematorium.
Fr. Kazimierz Wojciechowski was murdered on June 27, 1941,
at the so-called gravel pit, at the age of 37, in the 20th year of his
religious vows and the 6th year of his priesthood. He bore the camp number
17342.
On Fr. Wojciechowski’s beatification process, see the entry for Fr. Karol Golda below, May 14.
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