Stefan Wincenty Frelichowski
Encyclopedia
Blessed Stefan Wincenty Frelichowski (b. January 22, 1913 in Chełmża - February 23, 1945 in Dachau) was a Polish
priest, scout and is patron of Polish Scouts. He joined Scouting on March 21, 1927. Stefan served as Patrol leader, later as Troop Leader
and during his years in the High Seminary of Pelplin Diocese he was an active member of its Scout Club. Further more he was an active member of the Marian Congregation
in Chełmża and since he was nine years old Stefan had been an altar boy
.
During his years in the seminary of Pelpin he was active in the Temperance movement
.
On March 14, 1937 he was ordained a priest in Pelpin.
In the following years he served as a priest in Pelpin and Toruń
. While working as a priest he continued his studies on the university of Lwów. In Toruń he was responsible for the parish press. In 1938 he became leader of the Old Scouts and chaplain of the scout district Pomerania.
Arrested by the Gestapo
on October 18, 1939 he was imprisoned in the German
concentration camps Stutthof
, Grenzdorf, Sachsenhausen and Dachau where he died.
On June 7, 1999 Stefan Wincenty Frelichowski was beatified by Pope John Paul II
.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
priest, scout and is patron of Polish Scouts. He joined Scouting on March 21, 1927. Stefan served as Patrol leader, later as Troop Leader
Scout Leader
A Scout Leader or Scouter generally refers to the trained adult leader of a Scout unit. The terms used vary from country to country, over time, and with the type of unit.-Roles:...
and during his years in the High Seminary of Pelplin Diocese he was an active member of its Scout Club. Further more he was an active member of the Marian Congregation
Christian life community
The Christian Life Community is an international association of lay Christians who have adopted an Ignatian model of spiritual life. The 'Community' is present in almost sixty countries....
in Chełmża and since he was nine years old Stefan had been an altar boy
Altar server
An altar server is a lay assistant to a member of the clergy during a Christian religious service. An altar server attends to supporting tasks at the altar such as fetching and carrying, ringing the altar bell and so on....
.
During his years in the seminary of Pelpin he was active in the Temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
.
On March 14, 1937 he was ordained a priest in Pelpin.
In the following years he served as a priest in Pelpin and Toruń
Torun
Toruń is an ancient city in northern Poland, on the Vistula River. Its population is more than 205,934 as of June 2009. Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland. The medieval old town of Toruń is the birthplace of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus....
. While working as a priest he continued his studies on the university of Lwów. In Toruń he was responsible for the parish press. In 1938 he became leader of the Old Scouts and chaplain of the scout district Pomerania.
Arrested by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
on October 18, 1939 he was imprisoned in the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
concentration camps Stutthof
Stutthof concentration camp
Stutthof was the first Nazi concentration camp built outside of 1937 German borders.Completed on September 2, 1939, it was located in a secluded, wet, and wooded area west of the small town of Sztutowo . The town is located in the former territory of the Free City of Danzig, 34 km east of...
, Grenzdorf, Sachsenhausen and Dachau where he died.
On June 7, 1999 Stefan Wincenty Frelichowski was beatified by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
.
External links
- Stefan Wincenty Frelichowski - Polish language site