: frightened priests, and taught them how to defend themselves and about what to be aware. He also organized having parcels sent to people deported into Siberia and Kazakhstan. When the war broke out between the Germans and the Bolsheviks and the army and officials left Druya at the end of June, lawless chaos settled in. Stores were robbed, people assaulted, and finally the crowd brought about a hanging of a resident who was exceedingly favoring the Bolsheviks. Then wiser people decided to organize a civil committee for order and asked Fr. Kulesza to serve as its president. He first objected and wouldn’t agree, but when they kept pressing him, he agreed to it, after a prayerful consideration. Lawful regulations were established, and a volunteer fire department was organized. Peace and order reigned. But all that caused Fr. Kulesza’s destruction. On the afternoon of June 30, 1941, several Soviet soldiers crossed the Dzwina River by boat. They approached the monastery, and upon seeing Fr. Kulesza, ordered him to follow. They agreed to allow two additional priests to accompany him. But after crossing the river bank, they sent those two priests back home. The detainee was ordered to get in the car and he was driven toward Polock. When the car broke down, soldiers took Fr. Kulesza to the hut of a Communist, where a Soviet command post was located. After a short while, they led Fr. Kulesza away from the hut and took him to a rye field. There, two soldiers began to beat him on his face with their boots. He fell; when he got up again, they took him to a freshly-dug ditch and the two soldiers shot him in the head. When he fell in the ditch, a third soldier hit him twice on the head with a bayonet. The dying priest instinctively lifted his right hand and covered his eyes with it; in this position, he was covered with earth. This is how his body was discovered. The Germans entered Druya on July 5, 1941. The next day, Sisters Apolonia Pietkun, Maria Jasinska, and Janina Podolska crossed the Dzwina River and learned from people in Lupanty the details of Fr. Kulesza’s martyrdom and the place of his burial. They dug up the body from the grave, wrapped it in a sheet, and carried it by horse-driven cart to the Dzwina River; many people joined them in this procession. Since it was a Sunday afternoon, many people assembled on the other bank of the river and they met the procession carrying the body, weeping loudly. The Sisters, accompanying the body, considered it as a special honor. From the riverbank, the body of Fr. Kulesza was carried on biers. Men, carrying them, frequently took turns, because everyone wished to have this honor. Fr. Wincenty Smolinski, who came out to receive the martyr’s body, burst into loud sobbing instead of singing, and the earthly remnants, accompanied by great wailing, were taken into the church. The departed was dressed in a red chasuble as a sign of martyrdom. Throughout the following three days, great crowds visited the church and prayed for the deceased near the coffin. The funeral took place on Wednesday, July 8th, with 11 priests and a great multitude of the faithful in attendance. Fr. Kulesza was buried in a stone tomb on the left side of the church. This tomb, which the Communists razed to the ground, was found intact. The parishioners willingly visit it and decorate it with flowers. Local residents bestowed upon the murdered priest their great respect and love, and after his death — great honor. At the site of Fr. Kulesza’s martyrdom, a farmer prepared a gravesite and placed a cross there. Because this place is near the road, people often stop by and recite a “Hail Mary” and flowers are always there. Many people took with them a bit of earth soaked with the Martyr’s blood, treasuring it as a relic. It has happened many times that when people kissed those relics with devotion and prayer, they were granted favors for which they asked. The Sisters also pleaded to Fr. Kulesza for help and intercession before God when they experienced problems with religious education, and their requests were always answered. By the letter of February 9, 2021, the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints opened the process of the Servant of God Fabian and four companions – one of whom is Fr. Eugeniusz Kulesza, MIC. www.padrimariani.org Almighty and merciful God, You granted Your servant Eugene – the grace of martyrdom and called him to be true witness of Your Son’s Passion and Resurrection. May he be raised to the glory of the altars, so that we, after his example and through his intercession, may faithfully fulfill God’s calling in our own life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. We encourage you to pray for graces through the intercession of the Servant of God Fr. Eugene Kulesza. Postulatore Generale dei Chierici Mariani Casa Generalizia Via Corsica, 1 00198 Roma, Italia Tel.: 011-39-06-853-703-1 Fax: 011-39-06-853-703-22 Amen
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