On April 18-19, 2026, two prayer days were organized in Kalwaria Pacławska, Poland, to mark the 105th anniversary of the death of the Venerable Servant of God Friar Wenanty KATARZYNIEC, and to pray for his elevation to the glory of the altars. The prayer days attracted numerous faithful, inspired by the life and spirituality of Friar Wenanty.
The program for the Prayer Days was divided into three levels.
1) Spiritual
A group of people from all over Poland spent these two days in nighttime adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and prayed before the tomb of Friar Wenanty. On Saturday, Father Sergiej RIZNYK presided over Mass. He is the pastor and custodian of the Parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Shrine of the Agonizing Jesus located in the village of Milatyn, in the Kamionka Buska (Strumiłłowa) District, Ukraine—the home parish of Friar Wenanty. In the evening, everyone gathered to recite the Rosary, drawing inspiration from meditations based on the writings of Friar Wenanty.
This year, an initiative was launched that came from an idea by Tomasz KOLASZYŃSKI, entitled “National Intention for the Beatification of Friar Wenanty – April 19, 2026.” The faithful from 141 parishes in Poland—and elsewhere—have scheduled Masses on that day, or around that date, to offer prayer “for the beatification of Friar Wenanty.”
2) Formational
The theme for the anniversary and the prayer days was “Friar Wenanty’s Easter.” Two reflections were offered: Friar Piotr BIELENIN, OFM Conv., from Cracow, spoke about Friar Wenanty’s perspective on death as expressed in the writings of the Servant of God.
Friar Piotr KŁYS, OFM Conv., the Novice Master in Smardzewice, Poland, talked about the renewal of religious life in the historical Province of Galicia at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries and how that renewal was carried out by Friar Wenanty KATARZYNIEC and St. Maximilian KOLBE. These lectures were capped by a Sunday homily, delivered by the Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Anthony and Bl. James of Strepar in Poland (Cracow), Friar Mariusz KOZIOŁ. Friar Mariusz emphasized that today we all need guides along the way, just like the disciples of Emmaus. That guide is always Jesus, but it could also be a holy person like Friar Wenanty (through his life, wisdom, and writings), or a spiritual director.
3) Artistic
There was an exhibition of artwork by children from the Friar Wenanty KATARZYNIEC Elementary School in the village of Święte [near Przemyśl, Poland], on the theme “Friar Wenanty: The Path to Holiness.” The parish choir from Kamionka Buska (Strumiłłowa), Ukraine, enriched the Saturday and Sunday liturgies with their music. They also sang during the Rosary, and performed during the Sunday concert, praising the Risen Jesus. Many people from all over Poland attended the Masses. The spiritual retreat drew seventeen participants along with forty-one pilgrims from the Parish of St. Catherine in Święta Katarzyna (near Wrocław, Poland), accompanied by their Pastor, Father Rafał HOŁUBOWICZ. Others attending included the seminarians from the Conventual Franciscan Major Seminary in Cracow, accompanied by their formator, Friar Marcin ZAŁUSKI, and the novices from the novitiate in Smardzewice, accompanied by their Novice Master, Friar Piotr KŁYS. Also present was a delegation from the Friar Wenanty Elementary School, carrying a banner, and led by the Principal, Mr. Łukasz ŁAMASZ. The Minister Provincial, Friar Mariusz KOZIOŁ, presided over the Mass on Sunday. He was joined by the Assistant General for Formation, Friar Bernardino HOSPITAL POSADA as well as Friars Marek WAWRZYSZKO, and Jan SZEWEK. Our heartfelt thanks go to all who prayed with us. May the Venerable Servant of God sustain us all through his intercession.
The Conventual Franciscans of Kalwaria Pacławska
