Blessed Antoni Swiadek
Also known as
- Antoni Witek
- 25 January
- 12 June as one of the 108 Polish Martyrs of World War II
Profile
The son of Władysław and Władysława Swiadek; his father was a wheelwright. After studying at the seminary in Poznań, Poland, he was ordained a priest in the archdiocese of Gniezno, Poland on 10 June 1933. He was noted for his piety, determination and hard work. Pastor, youth minister, military chaplain and Boy Scout leader at the Saint Stanisława Biskupa i Męczennika parish in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
When the Germans invaded Poland in September 1939, Father Antoni volunteered as military chaplain to the Polish army. When his division was defeated, he served as chaplain to Polish prisoners of war until he was returned to Bydgoszcz. There he concentrated on young people, preparing children for their First Communion, and ignoring Nazi regulations that required all liturgy be celebrated in German. Arrested in July 1942 for his continued loyalty to the Church and his parishioners, he was sentenced to forced labour in the Dachau concentration camp, and worked until he died. Martyr.
Born
- 25 January 1945 at the Dachau concentration camp, Oberbayern, Germany of typhus
- he died with a rosary in his hand
- buried in a mass grave near the village of Deutenhofen, Germany
- 23 March 1999 by Pope John Paul II (decree of martyrdom)
Readings
Love for the Mother of God characterized his whole life. He was one of those exceptional priestly souls who, with their sunny serenity, purity of character and depth of life, attract at the same time, but also intimidate and shame. – Father Jan Ziólkowski about Blessed Antoni
MLA Citation
- “Blessed Antoni Swiadek“. CatholicSaints.Info. 30 January 2022. Web. 19 April 2024. <>