Blessed Hilary Januszewski was born June 12, 1907, in Krajenki, Poland, and given the name Pawel by his parents, Martin and Marianne. He entered the Carmelite Order in 1927 in Cracow, and was ordained priest in 1934 after completing his studies at the International College of Saint Albert in Rome. As one of the best students, he obtained a lectorate in theology from the Roman Academy of Saint Thomas, and returned to Cracow in 1935 where he was appointed Professor of Dogmatic Theology and Church History at the Institute of the Polish Province. In 1939 he was appointed prior of the community. The Nazis had invaded Poland a few weeks earlier. Within a year, several friars had been arrested and deported. Fr. Hilary offered his life in exchange for an older and sick friar. By April of 1941 he was imprisoned in the concentration camp at Dachau along with several other Carmelites, including Blessed Titus Brandsma whom he joined in prayer.
In response to an outbreak of typhus in the camp, 32 priests offered to help. Fr. Hilary joined them. On March 25, 1945, just a few days before the liberation of the camp, Fr. Hilary died of typhus at Dachau. His body was cremated there. Along with 108 Polish martyrs of the Second World War, Fr. Hilary Januszewski was beatified by Saint Pope John Paul II on June 13, 1999.
In response to an outbreak of typhus in the camp, 32 priests offered to help. Fr. Hilary joined them. On March 25, 1945, just a few days before the liberation of the camp, Fr. Hilary died of typhus at Dachau. His body was cremated there. Along with 108 Polish martyrs of the Second World War, Fr. Hilary Januszewski was beatified by Saint Pope John Paul II on June 13, 1999.
Blessed Alfonso Maria Mazurek was born March 1st, 1891, in Poland. He attended seminary school during his youth, joined the Carmelite Order in 1912 and was placed in charge of the Minor Seminary. In 1930 he was elected prior of the Carmelite monastery in Czerna. On August 24, 1944, Nazis invaded the monastery. Fr. Alfonso was separated from the others and tortured. He was taken by military car to a dirt path where he was kicked and forced to walk a great distance before he was shot and wounded. He was kicked more and his mouth filled with dirt by the Nazi guards who had mortally wounded him. Some brother friars found him, and he received absolution before his death on August 28th. He was beatified on June 13, 1999, by Saint Pope John Paul II along with 108 Polish martyrs of the Second World War.