On 30 January, the 37th anniversary of the tragic death of the chaplain of Białystok Solidarity Fr Stanisław Suchowolc passes. His patriotic homilies and pastoral ministry in the anti-communist opposition brought the safety Service's young vicar to its attention. Although nearly 4 decades have passed since the priest died, his words stay valid. – Yes, beloved – modern Pole dies. He dies with his homeland. He dies due to the fact that he invited specified programs into his heart, specified ideologies that closed the door to Christ. ... – he spoke in 1 of the sermons.
Fr Stanisław Suchowolec, 31-year-old vicar of the parish of Immaculate Heart of Mary in the Białystok territory of Dojlida, was found dead on the morning of January 30, 1989. Although the communist authorities claimed that the origin of spiritual death was carbon monoxide poisoning caused by the outbreak of the fire in the rectory, in fact no 1 who knew Fr Suchololec and his activities believed in the presented version of events.
The young vicar was a brave priest who, after killing his friend, Fr Jerzy Popiełuszko, was even more passionate about pastoral care for the activists of “Solidarity”, commemorating crucial patriotic anniversaries, giving fiery homilies. At the same time, he took up the tradition of Holy Mass for his homeland, nursed the memory of the murdered priest Popieluszko and prayed to begin his beatification process, and besides looked after the parents of Fr Jerzy.
Although 1989 was a year of hope for breakthrough political change, the Communist Authority and the Department of the IV MMA, which dealt with the Church, continued violent actions. Priests, faithful, as well as Fr Stanisław Suchowolec, shocked the death of the well-deserved 74-year-old priest Stefan Niedziela, parish priest of St. During the war, Fr.Niedziela was, among others, an AK chaplain, fought in the Warsaw Uprising, led the works of the Red Cross and the Main Care Council, met the underground reports on the assassination of Polish officers in Katyń by the NKVD, after the war he was a ViN chaplain, co-founded and cared for the community of “The Katyń household Poland”, as well as engaged in anti-communist opposition activities. Nights from 20 to 21 January 1989 were murdered. "Unknown perpetrators" first brutally beat the priest and then broke his neck.
After his death, as Fr Suchololec's friends reported, he felt that his life was besides in danger. – The loop around me is getting closer and closer. I feel trapped and betrayed. I'm under constant pressure. I have a bordering belief that without the cognition of the safety service I cannot take – virtually – even 1 step. They're threatening me. They're all stuck. They're trying to make me feel like I won't have peace or safety due to the fact that they're inactive around. Very close. In the shadows. Like I can feel their breath— He was going to tell Vladimir Sikora, president of the Independent Social Movement of Fr Jerzy Popieluszko.
The ceremony ceremonies of Fr Stanisław Sucholowiec were held on 3 February and became a large patriotic manifestation. 2 bishops, more than 150 priests, local Solidarity activists and delegations from all over Poland said goodbye to the young chaplain of Białystok “Solidarity”.
Family home – patriotism school
The patriotic stance of Fr Stanislaw Sucholowiec, who was born on 13 May 1958 in Białystok, was developed in a household home. Young Stanislaus grew in a household surviving Catholic religion and the values flowing from it, as well as the evidence of relatives, especially the father. Marian Suchowolec fought in the defensive war in September 1939, later joined the ranks of the Polish Armed Forces and participated, among others, in the conflict of Monte Cassino. The Suchowolce household experienced the drama of German business and slavery by Soviets. Stanisław was curious in the past of Poland from childhood and had the courage to ask hard questions. The study shows that in the school he was to discuss Katyń, which in the communist-led Poland was not only lied but besides banned. He was besides a keen observer of reality and socio-political change. His religion was influenced not only by his family, but besides by priests, specified as Fr Witold Pietkun, a minister of labor, repeatedly detained and sentenced by the government authorities for defending values.
In 1977 Stanisław Suchowolec joined the Archdiocese Higher Seminary in Białystok. 1 test for Stanislaw, the alumni of the 4th year, was the introduction of martial law. Repressions and arrests even threatened to have a second circulation publication, and specified were besides in the Białystok seminary. It was Stanisław Suchowolec who proposed hiding materials in the basement of the household house. His attitude was seen by university superiors. He was not only read and open, but brave.
During his studies in the seminary, Stanisław Suchowolec besides displayed pastoral initiatives. As a cleric, he began to visit intellectually disabled children from the home of Social Assistance in Zasciuszki in Białystok. another seminarians followed his example, and in time the ministry among the wards became a permanent pastoral ministry. Just after the ordination that took place during the martial law in June 1983, the young priest began to service as a vicar in the parish of the Apostles Peter and Paul in Suchovol. It was here that Fr Jerzy Popieluszko, chaplain of “Solidarity”, who became not only a model of pastoral and social commitment to him, but besides a friend. The evidence of this relationship was besides reflected in the words of Fr Jerzy, who, erstwhile experiencing always stronger repression by the SB, assured his parents that if anything bad happened to him, Fr Stanisław would take care of them.
“If Christianity is rejected, tradition is rejected, the people themselves are rejected”
The execution of Fr Jerzy was a shock for Fr Stanisław and a breakthrough in his pastoral ministry. The young priest witnessed the reaction of the faithful to the news of the execution of Fr George. He saw the attitude of those who appeared before the Department of Judicial medicine in Białystok, where Fr Jerzy was transported to Warsaw. Fr Suchowolec returned to these dramatic experiences in sermons from 1984 to 1985. As he stressed, at the time she “disappeared the psychosis of fear of power.” – They were not my beloved voices of hatred, they were not the voices of blind despair, they were the voices, they were the tears of Poles' despair that Poles were murdered and they were murdered for nothing, for preaching the truth, for wanting Poles to be Poles and Poland. And that was his biggest fault. He said on 19 November 1984 in the parish of the Apostles Peter and Paul in Suchowola. Fr Stanisław besides saw his friend's face and hands massacred. – Those who, as the Minister of Justice said at the time, are to watch over the safety of priests, our safety. It was done by men with officer's cut! I mean, if any provincial sergeant did it, any kind of stand-up, well, that could be explained, well, due to the fact that he's an ignorant, blindly obeying orders, but they did it about f and c e r o w i e. I don't want to put any questions here, I don't want you or me to ask. The fact is the fact. Priest George has been abused – he said.
Fr Suchowolec, to whom the past of his homeland was so close, considered the assassination of Fr George not only in the context of the Gospel and the rejection of God, but just the rejection of the tradition of the Polish nation, which for centuries grew on the foundations of Christianity. – Through the heart of all Pole flows the full nation, and the nation is simply a tradition, while tradition is Christianity. And if Christianity is rejected, tradition is rejected, and thus nation is rejected. So the heart of this man is empty, and although the proof is written – Polish nationality – it is only an honorable authoritative formality. In the heart of specified a man is not written “nationality.” Let us not be surprised, then, my beloved, that there are people in our nation capable of murdering priests, to force any pseudoideologies into our minds. He emphasized in 1 of his sermons in November 1984.
At the same time, Fr Suchowolec, in the spirit of evangelical teaching and message of Fr George, emphasized the request and function of forgiveness, which can become an impulse for social change. – Let us besides remember that the martyr's death of Father George is not in vain, so that she becomes this spark in our nation, which will ignite the flame of faith, hope and love. No rebellion, no hatred. This is not the way! And let us keep saying, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us"--that is the attitude of a Christian. This is the attitude of all Pole. And this death of man, Priest and Pole is to become for us the link that will ignite in our hearts the flame of Polishness, actual Polishness. Let it be the motive of our faith, hope and love, hope for a better future – he emphasized.
After the assassination of Fr Jerzy, Fr Suchowolec, in accordance with the request of a friend, remembered the parents of Fr Popieluszko, nursed his memory, organized pilgrimages to his grave. He became even more active in helping the persecuted by the communist authorities, and, above all, undertook the mission of continuing the Holy Mass begun by Fr Jerzy in the intention of the Father. He did it all another Sunday of the month. The advanced ceremonies, besides commemorating crucial national anniversaries, gathered representatives of “Solidarity” not only from the region but besides delegations from another cities of the country.
“Why has a Pole raised up to specified wonderful cultural and religion achievements gone so far from these values?”
The Homilies of Fr Stanisław Sucholowiec were carefully prepared. The priest referred in them to the Gospel and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, to the teaching of popes and social encyclicals, which emphasized the work and right of the Church to participate in solving hard social issues. In the homily, he recalled historical events, victories, and disasters that influenced the form of our country and the condition of society. It reminded the time erstwhile Poles fought not only for freedom, but for the endurance of the nation, for faith, tradition, culture and native language. In their content he skillfully intertwined fragments of patriotic songs and verses of poesy of Polish poets: Mickiewicz, Slovak Witwicki, Asynek or Konopnicka. He was primarily able to diagnose the condition of man and the mechanisms governing him – A man becomes a tool in the hand of evil that floods the world. Modern Satan is another man. He's the kind of man who separates us from what's most crucial from our roots. The roots of our nation are the religion which grew into the Polish tradition, this tradition which grew so profoundly into the heart of each of us. For centuries our homeland has been tossed by hostile countries. And it was in these hard experiences in our people that a fresh flame of religion was awakened, the awareness that “Poland is Poland, and Poland is Poland and Poland is Poles.“ He said on December 2, 1984.
The reason for the hard situation of Poland and Poles was the rejection of God and the religion on which the Polish state was created. – Yes, beloved – modern Pole dies. He dies with his homeland. He dies due to the fact that he invited specified programs into his heart, specified ideologies that closed the door to Christ. So the question is: how could this happen? Why a Pole, raised to specified wonderful cultural and religion achievements left by our fathers, so far departed from those values which constitute the dignity of the actual Pole – he said in 1984.
Fr Suchowolec could point to tools and mechanisms affecting man and society, which facilitate the introduction of harmful ideologies. – Unity is love, division is hatred. And it is those who want to restrain the Polish people who usage hatred. But can we talk about unity between men, unity between man and God erstwhile we deficiency the same unity? erstwhile we talk differently, do we think differently, or do we act differently? Then, against our own will, we become a tool that everyone can easy manipulate. And although it seems that we are free, we have become slaves. And as a nation broken internally, full of moral chaos, with hands wet on our fellow man, we become weaker, without visible possibilities for future development. – he emphasized during the sermon given on 20 January 1985 in Suchowola.
In homily, the clergy frequently referred to the fight of communist power with the Church and with faith, with Christianity, thanks to which Poland was incorporated into the ellipse of civilization and Latin culture, and yet it carries values that are universal. – This is simply a modern Pole, a nation's pupil who symbolised the fight with him. He over 40 for many became a symbol of those values that must be destroyed in our nation. He became 1 of the main enemies of the strategy and sovereignty of the “people” Polish state – he spoke in a homily on March 3, 1985.
As he emphasized, defending the Catholic faith, the cross is not a question of combating the strategy or ruling class. – This is simply a conflict for the freedom and dignity of a actual Pole. We, as the sons of a nation with a 1000 years of Christian tradition, have not only the right, but besides the work to fight for the cross, which is simply a symbol of a better tomorrow. Let's remember, no 1 who thinks honestly has been stumbled to see the cross – reminded.
Fr Suchowolec referred to the conscience of all man and called on Poles to take work for themselves and for another man. – Each of us should be aware of our freedom, which manifests itself primarily as the ability to choose good, and in any case what reason presents to us as good. Unfortunately, how often, erstwhile we look at the cards of our history, we Poles confused evil with good. For can we call it good, for can we call it good to accept the abortion bill, or can we call it program good, due to the fact that I think that's what we can say, drinking up our nation. Is it good to effort to intimidate people?... – he emphasized in the homily of 20 January 1985.
The protection of the life of unborn children and children at hazard of abortion was besides 1 of the topics of the homily. – Satan (...) he makes Polish mothers execution their children, and those who are to defend us carry fear, fear and intimidation. Those who are at the helm of power, by their laws, destruct fundamental human rights, guaranteed not by the ever-changing Constitution, but by the eternal law, the law given from God – he said on 8 December 1984 in Suchowola.
Three years of service in the parish in Suchowola made Fr Stanislaw known as a courageous priest, who continued the unique work of the Holy Mass for Homeland initiated by Fr Jerzy. He was known in the anti-communist opposition environment, invited to religious-patriotic events and celebrations in the region, and began inviting him besides to celebrations in another cities in the country.
In June 1986, Fr Stanislaw became a vicar in the parish of the Immaculate Heart of the NMP in Dojlidy, 1 of the districts of Białystok. The priest initiated the construction of a symbolic grave and monument to the honour of Fr Jerzy Popiełuszko, created the pastoral ministry of workers, consolidated the local opposition, helped families of persecuted Solidarity activists. besides located on the outskirts of the city, the parish became the center of meetings and prayers of activists of “Solidarity” who gathered many times around Fr Stanisław.
An apostle of fact and human dignity
The pastoral activity of Fr Stanisław Sucholowiec drew the attention of safety Service officers. As shortly as he entered the seminary, the clergyman, like any future clergyman, was in the interest of the Belarusian 4th Department of the safety Service. In March 1978, SB founded Stanislaw Suchowolc's Operational Records File. With more activity, the priest's vigilance and surveillance grew. safety officers recorded sermons that Fr Stanisław preached during the celebrations and Masses of the Saints for Homeland in the parish of Szczewola. The SB exerted force on representatives of the regional authorities to influence the priest's superiors in turn and to request the cessation of activity "politically harmful". erstwhile this did not work, spiritual surveillance was intensified and the young vicar was threatened. Fr Suchowolec began receiving the first anonymous threats as early as 1985. Deaf phones, constant reflection became part of the life of Fr Stanisław Suchololec. With the approval of his superiors, he began his studies in social psychology and psychology of religion at the Catholic University of Lublin. The young priest continued to engage intensively in pastoral and social activities. The SB so intensified its methods, utilizing standard methods of intimidation, harassment, harm to the car that would lead to an accident. A stone with a card was thrown into the priest's apartment, and according to the phrase “you will die like Popieluszko” another time, after the car mat, Fr Stanisław found a card on which the man on the gallows was drawn and under it the signature “Stanisław”. The Shikans besides touched a close priest. The “unknown perpetrators” set fire to the clergyman’s household house. Friends of Fr Stanislaus sometimes saw him with beating marks, swelling on his face, cut with a lip, eyebrows. Fearful of harming the priest, the closest colleagues, the workers he served and friends formed a group to defend Fr Stanisław. The priest was besides given a doberman dog, Nika. It seemed that the atmosphere in the country was slow beginning to change, permanent preparations for talks by the government with the opposition, but Fr Stanisław Suchowolec felt increasingly cornered.
The chaplain of the Białystok “Solidarity” was murdered on the night of 29 and 30 January 1989 at the rectory at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the Dojlids. Investigators said there was a fire in the priest's area that caused a damaged electrical heater, and the priest himself died of carbon monoxide poisoning. They besides found alcohol in the blood, although Fr Suchowolec was abstinent. The D.A. beautiful rapidly dropped the investigation for deficiency of evidence of 3rd organization involvement. However, Father Stanislaus's close and close friends did not believe in specified a scenario. The investigation resumed in 1991. She besides testified to the housewife from the rectory. She was the last individual to see Fr Suchololec around midnight. The female claimed that during that time she saw 3 unknown people, 2 men and 1 female in the rectory as well. In addition, during an examination of the scene, 1 firefighter stated that a gap had appeared in the corner of the window window window due to a dense object impact. Forensics besides noticed a fall in the wood floor, which was visible from the basement, allowing flammable substances to be poured into the room. Veterans besides took the floor, who watched the photographs of the Doberman stating that the dog had been killed or poisoned. A deliberate arson was found, but this investigation was besides dismissed in 1993 due to the undetected perpetrators of the crimes.
The investigative branch of the Institute of National Memory, who besides investigated the case of the chaplain of the “Solidarity” of Białystok, stressed that in his death all traces lead to SB. However, to this day neither the inspirers nor the actual perpetrators of the crimes have been detected.
In 2024, the Institute of National Memory honored Father Suchowolc with the Cross of Freedom and Solidarity, awarded, among others, for engaging in anti-communist opposition activities in Poland. Dr hab. Karol Polejowski, then vice-president of the IPN, during the celebration of spiritual honour in the Białystok branch of the Institute, stressed that Fr Stanisław Suchowolec was 1 of the last victims of the communist regime, and opposition activity directed against communist authorities in Poland would not be possible if it were not for the support of the Catholic Church and priests who opened their churches.
In 2008 president Lech Kaczyński awarded Fr Stanislaw Suchololec posthumously with the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.
On the another hand, on the 40th anniversary of spiritual ordination, the City Councillors of Białystok honored the priest for his patriotic activity. As they recalled, Fr Suchowolec did not hide opposition to the ruling Polish communist dictatorship. He was, as they called him, an apostle of fact and human dignity, the patron of regained freedom. – There is no uncertainty that the safety Service and its power-governing authorities are liable for his death. The execution of Father Suchololec is yet another proof that communism was a criminal strategy even in its late period – emphasized the councillors.
Editorial Centre of Life and Family
The article was based on materials from the publication: Fr Adam Szot, Waldemar F. Wilczewski, Homilie: “the fact of the eternal freedom whose name is God.” Fr Stanisław Suchowolec, as well as newsletter of the Institute of National Memory of the Bialystok Branch, issued on the occasion of 40. Anniversary of priestly ordination and history.pl
