(OSV News) – The Polish church is investigating the murder of a young missionary, who was killed in a robbery shortly after starting work with Catholic nuns in the orphanage in Bolivia in 2017.
“In five years as a volunteer, he realized his calling to spread the Gospel – and it gave him joy and fulfillment, living in the arms of God,” explained Father Pawel Wróbel, postulator in the religious work of the mission.
“His life and example can show young people that you can find your place in the church, despite what is said today, to share your talents that God has given .No need to leave the world.
The priest spoke in the middle of the preparation for the beginning of the training on May 10 in Kraków for Helena Kmiec (1991-2017), who was killed, at the age of 25, by an assailant at night in Cochabamba in central Bolivia.
In an OSV News interview, Father Wróbel said the beatification process, launched by the Polish Bishops’ Conference with the Vatican’s approval, was “joined with joy” by friends and many supporters of Kmiec, leaving evidence and memories.
“The process is based on his heroic qualities – after examining the evidence from his last moments of life, we decided that this was not an act of martyrdom,” said Father Wróbel, a mission director with the Society of the Divine Savior, famous Salvatorians. .
“But this is also a sign from God that we need to think about his life before his death, not least because a miracle is needed to confirm his perfection.”
To be exalted, the church makes a careful examination of a person’s life and his writings to determine if he lived a life of heroic virtue, gave his life for others, and was killed. it belongs to Jesus Christ. In
Generally, two miracles must be approved by the church through the intercession of the religious candidate, one for beatification and one for canonization.
Meanwhile, the leader of a foundation said to continue the work of Kmiec that helps in the prayers for his training of those who want to keep his memory.
“She was a truly unique person, she could inspire others to lead beautiful lives,” said Marta Omieczynska, from the Helena Kmiec Foundation, based in Trzebinia in southern Poland, which worked along with the assassinated mission.
“But she is a normal girl now, very close to people, with her problems and worries, not a distant saint, always on her knees.”
Born in Krakow to a mother who died a few weeks later and a father who remarried, Kmiec attended Catholic schools in his hometown of Libiaz, he also attended Leweston School, where nursery school in England, on a scholarship for two years, before graduating as an engineer. degree at the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice.
He joined the Salvatorians’ Missionary Volunteer Service during his studies, and was sent to Hungary in 2012 to teach children at a summer school, to Zambia a year later to serve street children and with poor families in Lusaka, working together in 2014 among the youth. people in Timisoara, Romania.
In a missionary application, which is currently being held, Kmiec said that he received God’s grace in the form of “DDDDD – Dar Darmo Dany Do Dawania (A gift freely given to give)” and he believes in sharing.
“All the skills I have, the skills I have, the talents I have developed, are not meant to serve me, but to be used by me to help others,” said the student. Catholic.
“The greatest gift is my knowledge of God and I cannot keep this to myself but must spread it. If I can help someone, make someone laugh, make someone happy, teach someone anything – then I want to do it!”
Arriving in Cochabamba, a city of 630,000, on January 8, 2017, Kmiec helped Polish nuns from the Congregation of Servant Sisters of Debica to finish work at an orphanage, but was killed. he with 14 stab wounds only 16 days into his mission. .
In an order on April 14, Archbishop Marek Jedraszewski of Krakow said that Kmiec was raised in a home “full of love, warmth and, above all, deep trust,” and took great in “the ability to help and do good for others.”
He added that going to Mass every day was the most important part of his life and soul, with “motivation and a call to mission,” and said that the honor soon grew after him. of his death and his “holy life dedicated to God and the church.”
Father Wróbel, the postulator, said that Archbishop Oscar Aparicio Céspedes of Cochabamba agreed in 2022 to give the beatification cause of Kmiec to his native Krakow Archdiocese, in response to the requests of priests and Catholics.
Meanwhile, Omieczynska, the founder, said that young Catholics from all over the world visited a shop dedicated to Kmiec at the August 2023 World Youth Day church in the capital of Portugal , Lisbon.
He added that his “missionary and charismatic work in the service of the Church” was “mainly based at home in his family home,” and like Blessed Carlo Acutis ( 1991-2006), young Italian computer programmer born in London. It was launched in October 2020.
“Helena is honest and does not hide her own problems, she can provoke and make her cry,” said Omieczynska, whose foundation, founded in July 2017, gives lectures, conferences music and shows, and shows about Kmiec’s life, and educational funding. and charities in Bolivia, Zambia, Tanzania and Mexico.
“But he always returned to God, in the darkest moments, setting the kind of living example, in blood and bone, that young people need today. He remembers it means we don’t have to go to the ends of the earth for mission work – it’s closer to home.
In an OSV News interview, the missionary’s parents, Jan and Barbara, said they were inspired by the many stories of how their daughter’s kindness and determination helped others. next, and learned more about him from the many letters received since his death.
They added that they were worried about his safety during his missionary work, especially in Africa, but were supported by his smile and confidence.
“She is now a girl who has put God first, while living and enjoying life to the fullest in the real world,” Barbara Kmiec told OSV News. “It is clear that there is a well-ordered hierarchy of values, which continues to grow in adulthood.”
Kmiec is part of Poland’s Light-Life revival movement and has done volunteer work with Caritas, as well as becoming a talented singer and musician through classes at Gliwice’s State Music Academy.
The missionary, who worked briefly as a flight attendant with Hungarian-owned airline Wizzair, helped organize the 2016 World Youth Day in Krakow and plans to marry and start a family with her boyfriend after returning from Bolivia.
The funeral and burial of Kmiec, whose convicted killer was sentenced to 30 years in prison without parole, was held at St. Barbara in Libiaz in February 2017 by 120 priests, as well as government officials and officials, and led by Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, former secretary to St. John Paul II.
In his OSV News interview, Father Wróbel said the news of the assassination rekindled public interest in the young missionary, who was posthumously awarded Poland’s Golden Cross of Merit .
He added that Kmiec’s parents and family were expected to be key witnesses before the Krakow court, but said there was much more evidence to be examined about his “love and mediators.”
Omieczynska, the founder, said that the serious killing of Catholics “is not the end of his missionary work, but only the beginning,” he told OSV News.
“His faith was very alive, and he kept God as his best friend. And although he is destined for heaven, we are here to continue his work through our projects in Poland and abroad.
Jonathan Luxmoore writes for OSV News from Oxford, England.
The slain Polish missionary began ‘the path to holiness’ first reported on OSV News.
