Servants - Miguel & Zbigniew -eng

Michal Tomaszek and Zbigniew Strzalkowski
Michal Tomaszek and Zbigniew Strzalkowski	Servants of God
OFM Conv - Martyrs

Fr. Michal Tomaszek was born in Lekawica near Zywiec, Poland, September 23rd, 1960 and Fr. Zbigniew Strzalkowski was born in Tarnow, Poland, July 3rd, 1958.
They completed theological studies at the Franciscan Major Seminary in Kraków, with a Master degree and the knowledge of Spanish.
Together with Fr Jaroslaw Wysoczanski, they worked in the Andes, Peru, with great enthusiasm, strong in faith and inflamed with love.
They gave themselves in a difficult ministry to a poor parish in Pariacoto village, taking care of many other villages and leaving an authentic Franciscan mark around them: humility, poverty, prayer, affability, courage to compromise oneself for the good, importance of community life...

Unfortunately, the northern areas of the Andes are excellent passages for dealing in coca leaves, destined to be turned into cocaine and huge profits. At that time a terrorist group called "Sendero Luminoso" (Shining Path) exercised control over that region. This guaranteed safety and prosperity for that kind of trade, because it could count on fear and ignorance.
The action of the Church, a more incisive catechesis, the opening of permanent centres for christian activities and the training of lay leaders, always represented a threat and a danger. Consequently, it's easy to understand the increase in violent acts against foreign missionaries and committed laymen... Violent acts aimed at discouraging, frightening, eliminating...
The terrorist group "Sendero luminoso" declared: "Con la Biblia y la Cruz pretendian ser una barrera al avance de la subversion... " (with the Bible and the Cross they pretended to be a barrier for the advance of revolution). This declaration clearly expressed a policy aimed at eliminating any hindrance. And the Franciscans stood in its way... On August 9, 1991 Michal Tomaszek and Zbigniew Strzalkowski were shot dead by "Sendero Luminoso".

MARTYRDOM

Their absurd death sentence
was written
on a bloodstained piece of cardboard:
"Asě mueren los lames del imperialismo"
( This way the lackeys of imperialism die )

In the evening of August 9th, there was the last Mass: Fr Zbigniew, during his sermon, insisted on the "necessary peace, faith and trust". The Church was half-filled with people.
Later, there was a a meeting for the young. At the same time,the terrorists were in the village and the friars knew it.
Then events came to a head. Fr Zbigniew Strzalkowski brought the young people to safety, ordering them to go up to the Chapel. Meanwhile, the terrorists knocked to the convent's door. The two friars bravely presented themselves: "Here we are". (the third one, Fr Jaroslaw, was providentially in Europe).

They were loaded on a jeep and taken to the center of the village: by that time it was deserted...
A courageous nun, Sr Berta, was present at their brief trial. Few sentences clarified their different positions: evangelical mission and anarchical outlook. There was no chance of mutual understanding.
In the end, the nun was thrown out of the jeep, which set out towards the mountain. At least, Sr Berta can testify aabout that rough and artificial trial.

They reached the area that Fr Michal Tomaszek called "Saint Damian": it was the first stage of a future retreat for young people and laymen, but it became the background of their martyrdom.
The terrorists forced them to get off the motor vehicle and made them lie on the road, with their hands tied and their absurd death sentence written on a bloodstained piece of cardboard: "Asě mueren los lames del imperialismo" (This way the lackeys of imperialism die)

By explicit request of the local Bishop, Msgr. Luis Bambaren, and with the support of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference, the Congregation of the Causes of Saints authorized the opening of their beatification process as martyrs of faith on the 5th of June 1995, the fourth anniversary after their death. one year earlier than the period foreseen in the current code of Canon Law (5 years after the death of a Servant of God).

the funeral procession

Subsequently in 1996, inquiries were sought and carried out in Krakow, with the purpose of obtaining testimony and documentation about the infancy, formation and first years in ministry of the Servants of God. At present, the diocesan inquiry is nearing completion.

The place of their martyrdom
is now known
to the whole of Latin America,
and their grave made famous
by the words of Jesus Christ:

"unless a grain of wheat
falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies,
produces much fruit."

(Jn 12, 24)