Fr. Kazimierz Wojciechowski, Polish Salesian Martyr

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.