Blessed Stephen Grelewski

He was born in the commune of Dwikozy, south-central Poland, in 1899. He became a priest in 1921 and, in 1924, obtained a doctorate in canon law at the University of Strasbourg, France.

Apostolic zeal
In France, the young priest took care of the parishes where Polish immigrants were located. Upon returning to his homeland, that is, in Poland, Father Estêvão gained great intellectual influence, especially through the means of communication available at his time. This was how he became general secretary of the Catholic Workers' Action of Radom, he collaborated with the Warsaw Post, with Voice of the People and with Catholic newspapers.

Defender of the Catholic faith
With great ardor, Father Estêvão defended the Catholic faith by writing several works, mainly against Protestantism and the sects present in Poland.

The ordeal and martyrdom of Estêvão Grelewski
The Polish priest faced the beginning of the pain caused by the Second World War in Europe. In 1941, he was arrested, together with his blood brother, Abbot Casimiro Grelewski. Father Estêvão suffered torment in the Dachau concentration camp, in Germany, and ended up dying of hunger.

Beatification
Father Estêvão Grelewski was beatified in 1999 by the Roman Pontiff John Paul II. His brother, Abbot Casimiro Grelewski, was also beatified on the same day, along with other martyrs who were victims of the Second World War.