SW News: The church in the Polish village of Zuzela, the birthplace of Blessed Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, has been declared a sanctuary dedicated to the brave Cardinal who stood against communist oppression.

On September 12 Sunday, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, declared Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński and Mother Elżbieta Róża Czacka, two seminal Polish Catholic figures in the 20th century, as blessed. The beatification took place at the Temple of Divine Providence Warsaw, Poland’s capital.

In the thanksgiving Mass held at the church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Zuzela on Sunday, Bishop Janusz Stepnowski of Łomża diocese announced the establishment of the new sanctuary. The church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Zuzela is the parish church of the Cardinal. During the thanksgiving mass, Bishop Stepnowski said that the first sanctuary in the name of Blessed Wyszyński would be a blessing.

Bishop Tadeusz Bronakowski concelebrated the Mass, and the decree regarding the establishment of the new sanctuary was read out by the chancellor of the curia, Fr. Artur Zurawski. Presenting the profiles of Bl. Stefan Wyszyński and Mother Róża Czacka, Bishop Janusz Stepnowski said that “They gave their strength, their life for other persons.” While Cardinal Wyszyński tried to open the hearts of Poles to love, his life itself is a part of their national history.

The primate of the Millennium, Blessed Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński was the face of the Polish Church during the communist regime. As the Primate of Poland, he courageously defended and nourished the Catholic faith, bravely stood for it, and even suffered imprisonment.