Could this Polish girl murdered on mission be a saint?

Michie · Apr 18, 2024

Helena Kmiec, Polish lay missionary is seen in a 2013 photograph in Zambia's Kulanga Bwana Farm when she volunteered in service with poorest children from the streets. Poland's church is seeking the beatification of a young lay missionary, who was stabbed to death in a bungled robbery shortly after starting work with Catholic nuns at a children's home in Bolivia in 2017. (OSV News photo/courtesy Helena Kmiec Foundation)

OSV News) — Poland’s church is seeking the beatification of a young lay missionary, who was stabbed to death in a bungled robbery shortly after starting work with Catholic nuns at a children’s home in Bolivia in 2017.

“In five years as a volunteer, she discovered her calling to spread the Gospel — and it gave her a sense of happiness and fulfillment, of being in God’s hands,” explained Father Pawel Wróbel, postulator in the missionary’s sainthood cause.

“Her life and example can show young people it’s possible to find your place in the church, despite what’s said today, sharing your God-given talents and convictions. It isn’t necessary to withdraw from the world.”

Beatification proceedings for Helena Kmiec

The priest spoke amid preparations for the May 10 start of beatification proceedings in Kraków for Helena Kmiec (1991-2017), who was killed, at age 25, by an overnight intruder at Cochabamba in central Bolivia.

In an OSV News interview, Father Wróbel said the beatification process, launched by the Polish bishops’ conference with Vatican approval, had been “met with joy” by Kmiec’s many friends and supporters, who were already submitting testimonies and recollections.

“The process will concern her heroic virtues — after analyzing evidence from her last moments of life, we concluded this wasn’t an act of martyrdom,” said Father Wróbel, a mission director with the Society of the Divine Savior, popularly known as Salvatorians.

“But this is also a sign from God that we must concentrate on her life rather than her death, not least since a miracle will be needed to confirm her sanctity.”

Prayers for her beatification

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