Archbishop of Krakow Opens Beatification Process for Murdered Polish Missionary

Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski of Krakow, Poland, has announced the opening of the beatification and canonization process for Helena Agnieszka Kmiec, a 26-year-old Polish lay missionary who was murdered in Cochabamba, Bolivia, in 2017. The edict opening the cause was published on April 14, 2024, and will be read in all the parishes and chapels in Krakow on Sunday, April 21.

Kmiec was born in Krakow in 1991 and was raised in a home of deep faith. She attended Catholic schools and later studied engineering at the Silesian University of Technology. Kmiec became a missionary with the Salvator Missionary Volunteer Service, serving in Hungary, Zambia, and Romania before being sent to Bolivia, where she was killed in 2017.

Just days after arriving in Bolivia, Kmiec was killed by two criminals who had entered the school where she was volunteering. After her death, a reputation for a holy life and dedication to God and the Church arose among the faithful, leading the archbishop to open the process for her beatification and canonization.

Why this matters: The opening of the beatification and canonization process for Helena Agnieszka Kmiec highlights the sacrifices and dedication of young lay missionaries who serve the Church around the world. Kmiec's story serves as an inspiration to others who may be considering a life of service and faith, even in the face of danger and adversity.

The edict calls for anyone with information about Kmiec to submit it to the Metropolitan Curia of Krakow before June 30. Archbishop Jędraszewski's announcement marks the beginning of the process to potentially declare Kmiec a blessed and saint of the Catholic Church, recognizing her as a martyr for the faith. "After her death, a reputation for a holy life and dedication to God and the Church arose among the faithful," leading to the opening of the cause for her beatification and canonization.

Key Takeaways

• Archbishop Jędraszewski opened beatification process for Helena Kmiec.
• Kmiec, a 26-year-old Polish lay missionary, was murdered in Bolivia in 2017.
• Kmiec served as a missionary in Hungary, Zambia, and Romania before Bolivia.
• Kmiec's holy life and dedication led to the opening of her canonization cause.
• The edict calls for information about Kmiec before June 30, 2024.