Join us this year as we remember a poignant anniversary: the 40th anniversary of the abduction and martyrdom of Father Jerzy Popieluszko. To honor this brave martyr of communism, a statue of Blessed Jerzy will be unveiled in Debki.
Back in 1984, Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko, the chaplain of the Solidarity trade union, was already on the radar of the communist secret services. His unwavering dedication to the Fatherland, support for families affected by the regime, and charitable gestures stirred up the ire of the communist regime.
Despite being followed, facing provocations, and targeted by a group from the secret services, Father Popieluszko continued his important work. In a chilling turn of events, he narrowly escaped capture at a campsite in Dębki, on the Baltic Sea coast. It was at a quaint wooden church in Dębki that he delivered one of his final sermons before his tragic martyrdom.
His powerful words from that fateful day still resonate: “By forgiving, we give a chance to the one we forgive. We also give him the chance to embark on the path of love. Christian forgiveness must be rooted in love and generosity, not in contempt or fear. Only those who are truly free inside can extend forgiveness, even in the face of external limitations.”
The commemoration ceremony for Blessed Popiełuszko was held at the Church of Our Lady of Częstochowa in Dębki on August 24, 2024. The event, under the honorary patronage of Metropolitan Archbishop of Gdańsk, Monsignor Tadeusz Wojda SAC, was a poignant tribute to this courageous martyr. A solemn Mass was followed by the unveiling of a memorial plaque and a monument dedicated to Blessed Jerzy.
