On 24 May 2025, the ceremony of beatification of Father Stanislaw Kostka Streich took place on Poznań's Ostrow Tumski, in front of the Metropolitan Basilica. The event was attended by the Deputy President of the Institute of National Remembrance, Mateusz Szpytma, Ph.D. The beatification Mass was presided over by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Canonization. Also Pope Leo XIV recalled the beatification of Fr Stanisław Streich during his Sunday’s Regina Caeli address in Rome.
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Blessed Stanisław Kostka Streich (1902–1938) was a Polish Roman Catholic priest and martyr, recognised for his unwavering faith and pastoral dedication.
Early Life and Priesthood
Born on 27 August 1902 in Bydgoszcz, Poland, Stanisław Streich pursued his theological studies at the Archdiocesan Seminary in Poznań, where he was ordained a priest on 6 June 1925. He furthered his education in classical philosophy at the University of Poznań. Throughout his early ministry, he served in various capacities, including as a chaplain to the Sisters of St. Elizabeth and as a religion teacher in Poznań. His pastoral assignments included vicariates in several Poznań parishes, notably at the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Florian, the Church of Corpus Christi, and the Church of St. Martin. In 1933, he became the parish priest in Żabikowo. In 1935, he was appointed the first pastor of the newly established parish of St. John Bosco in Luboń, where he initiated the construction of a new church and was deeply involved in aiding the unemployed and impoverished, earning widespread respect among the local community.
Martyrdom
On 27 February 1938, during a Sunday Mass for children at the Church of St. John Bosco in Luboń, Father Streich was tragically murdered. As he approached the pulpit to read out the Gospel, Wawrzyniec Nowak, a 47-year-old former member of the Communist Party of Poland, emerged from the congregation and shot him twice in the face. After Father Streich collapsed, Nowak fired two additional shots into his back. Witnesses reported that Nowak shouted, "Long live communism!" during the attack. He was immediately apprehended by parishioners, subsequently tried, and executed in 1939.
Beatification
The beatification process for Fr Streich commenced on 28 October 2017 and concluded at the diocesan level on 13 April 2019. On 23 May 2024, Pope Francis authorised the promulgation of the decree recognising his martyrdom ("Decretum super martyrio"), affirming that he was killed out of hatred for the faith ("odium fidei"), thereby paving the way for his beatification.
The beatification ceremony was held on 24 May 2025 in Poznań, presided over by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. The event drew thousands of faithful, honouring Father Streich's sacrifice and legacy.
Father Stanisław Streich is remembered as a devoted pastor who served his community with compassion and zeal. His martyrdom stands as a testament to his unwavering commitment to his faith and his congregation. Not only does his beatification honour his sacrifice but it also serves as an inspiration to the faithful, exemplifying courage and steadfastness in the face of persecution.
Read about other martyrs of the 20th century:
Century of Martyrs – an exhibition with the IPN’s contribution launched online
Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe (1894—1941)