• OUR LADY of CZĘSTOCHOWA: st Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland; source: own collectionOUR LADY of CZĘSTOCHOWA
    St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland
    source: own collection
link to OUR LADY of PERPETUAL HELP in SŁOMCZYN infoSITE LOGO

Roman Catholic
St Sigismund parish
05-507 Słomczyn
85 Wiślana Str.
Konstancin deanery
Warsaw archdiocese, Poland

  • St SIGISMUND: St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland; source: own collectionSt SIGISMUND
    St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland
    source: own collection
  • St SIGISMUND: XIX c., feretory, St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland; source: own collectionSt SIGISMUND
    XIX c., feretory
    St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland
    source: own collection
  • St SIGISMUND: XIX c., feretory, St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland; source: own collectionSt SIGISMUND
    XIX c., feretory
    St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland
    source: own collection
  • St SIGISMUND: XIX c., feretory, St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland; source: own collectionSt SIGISMUND
    XIX c., feretory
    St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland
    source: own collection
  • St SIGISMUND: XIX c., feretory, St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland; source: own collectionSt SIGISMUND
    XIX c., feretory
    St Sigismund parish church, Słomczyn, Poland
    source: own collection
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Martyrology of the clergy — Poland

XX century (1914 – 1989)

personal data

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  • GRACZ Stephen; source: S. Tylus, „Lexicon of Polish Pallotines 1912-2012”, Ząbki 2013, archives of Christ the King Province in Warsaw, own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOGRACZ Stephen
    source: S. Tylus, „Lexicon of Polish Pallotines 1912-2012”, Ząbki 2013, archives of Christ the King Province in Warsaw
    own collection
  • GRACZ Stephen, source: niepodlegla.pomorskie.eu, own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOGRACZ Stephen
    source: niepodlegla.pomorskie.eu
    own collection
  • GRACZ Stephen, source: nowosci.com.pl, own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOGRACZ Stephen
    source: nowosci.com.pl
    own collection
  • GRACZ Stephen, source: libermortuorum.pl, own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOGRACZ Stephen
    source: libermortuorum.pl
    own collection

surname

GRACZ

forename(s)

Stephen (pl. Szczepan)

  • GRACZ Stephen - Commemorative plague, St James's church, Lębork, source: gp24.pl, own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOGRACZ Stephen
    Commemorative plague, St James's church, Lębork
    source: gp24.pl
    own collection
  • GRACZ Stephen - Commemorative plaque, parish church, Sypniewo, source: www.facebook.com, own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOGRACZ Stephen
    Commemorative plaque, parish church, Sypniewo
    source: www.facebook.com
    own collection
  • GRACZ Stephen - Commemorative plague, 48 Targowa Str., Lębork, source: kontakt24.tvn24.pl, own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOGRACZ Stephen
    Commemorative plague, 48 Targowa Str., Lębork
    source: kontakt24.tvn24.pl
    own collection
  • GRACZ Stephen - Commemorative plague, Theological Seminary church, Ołtarzew, source: turystyka.ozarow-mazowiecki.pl, own collection; CLICK TO ZOOM AND DISPLAY INFOGRACZ Stephen
    Commemorative plague, Theological Seminary church, Ołtarzew
    source: turystyka.ozarow-mazowiecki.pl
    own collection

function

religious cleric

creed

Latin (Roman Catholic) Church RCmore on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2014.09.21]

congregation

Society of the Catholic Apostolate SACmore on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2013.05.19]

(i.e. Pallottines)

diocese / province

Christ the King province SACmore on
waw.pallotyni.pl
[access: 2019.02.02]

academic distinctions

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

date and place
of death

11.11.1942

Radogoszcztoday: neighborhood in Łódź, Łódź city pov., Łódź voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.18]

details of death

During Prussian rule in Pomerania (one of Poland's partitions), as a student at Collegium Marianum in Pelplin and next in classical gymnasium in Chełmno founder (in 1908), and next chairman (1910‑1912), of Polish clandestine self–educational Thomas Zan Society.

Later, during studies in Berlin, chairman of local clandestine Philomats organisation.

Member of supreme authorities of Thomas Zan Society for Prussian partition of Poland.

Fouder of many new local groups of these organizations.

Collaborator of „Shine” (pl. „Blask”) monthly for youth.

After outbreak of the World War I arrested by the German in 1914 in Chełmno.

Accused of sabotage but for lack of evidence soon released.

Next drafted into German army but for poor health released.

At the end of the World War I in 1918 agitator of the Polish cause and inclusion of Pomerania, and specifically Kashubian region, into reborn Poland.

Founder of clandestine units of Peoples' Guards and Fighting Societies (pl. „Towarzystwa Wojackie”).

After rebirth of Poland in 11.1918 organiser of Polish Peoples's County Council in Lębork and vicinity.

Participant of Polish District Parliament held on 03‑05.12.1918 in Poznań that expressed the will to create a united Polish state with access to the sea — member of its Presidium.

On 12.01.1919, arrested by the Germans and charged with high treason for organizing a Polish rally in Lębork the day before (under German, civil and military orders, Poles were then forbidden to engage in any political and national activities).

Jailed in the prison in Lębork, and later from 14.02.1919, in the fortress in Słupsk.

Conditionally released in 03.1919 — prior to court appearance.

Escaped to Greater Poland region, to Poznań, and there actively took part in last months of Polish Greater Poland Uprising in 1918‑1919.

Went into hiding from Germans who were looking after him.

Often changed his address (Poznań, Chełmno, Grudziądz, Gdańsk).

Later from 08.1919 — during preparation for a plebiscite that was to decide the fate of Pomerania — treasurer of Polish Warmia Plebiscite Committee, and in 1920 member of Refugee Support Committee for those escaping to Poland from parts of Warmia, Mazury and Pomerania that the plebiscite on 11.07.1930 decided to leave in Germany — for instance Lębork.

In 1936 widowed and then joined Fathers Pallotti's Society.

After German and Russian invasion of Poland in 09.1939 and start of the World War II, after start of German occupation, numerous times illegally crossed the border between occupied and run by the Germans General Governorate, where Ołtarzew Congregation house was located, and Polish provinces directly incorporated in Germany proper (among others Pomerania and Greater Poland regions).

To Poles there brought pastoral ministry, organized retreats for nuns, visited sick in hospitals and provided charity assistance.

Using false documents on Stephen Grenz name, claiming to be a cattle merchant from Warka, carried letters to and from people forcibly tranported to Germany for slave work, documents of the Polish clandestine organisations (part of emerging Polish Clandestine State) — including false personal documents and passes (some of which he made himself).

Managed to lead numerous candidates do the Theological Seminary in Ołtarzew.

During these trips stopped three times by the Germans and arrested, but released.

Finally in 10.1942 or 11.1942 arrested yet again by the Germans in Łódź, then part of German Warthegau (Eng. Greater Poland) province, when celebrating Holy Mass in basement of one the apartment blocks.

Held in Radegast prison in Radogoszcz n. Łódź.

Tortured.

Soon perished, unrecognised — formally according to German documents, from „heart failure” — living indeed, according to his own motto, „so not to regret it”.

cause of death

murder

perpetrators

Germans

date and place
of birth

02.08.1888

Sypniewotoday: Jastrowie gm., Złotów pov., Greater Poland voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02]

religious vows

24.09.1937 (temporary)
17.12.1939 (permanent)

presbyter (holy orders)
ordination

25.02.1940 (Warsawtoday: Warsaw city pov., Masovia voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.10.09]
)

positions held

till 1942

friar — Ołtarzewtoday: Ożarów Mazowiecki gm., Warsaw–west pov., Masovia voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.07.18]
⋄ Society's house, Pallottines SAC

till 1940

student — Ołtarzewtoday: Ożarów Mazowiecki gm., Warsaw–west pov., Masovia voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.07.18]
⋄ theology, Theological Seminary, Pallottines SAC — also: giving lectures on pastoral medicine

student — Sucharytoday: Nakło nad Notecią gm., Nakło nad Notecią pov., Kuyavia–Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.08.28]
⋄ theology, Theological Seminary, Pallottines SAC

15.09.1936 – 1937

novitiate — Sucharytoday: Nakło nad Notecią gm., Nakło nad Notecią pov., Kuyavia–Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.08.28]
⋄ Society's house, Pallottines SAC

1936

accession — Pallottines SAC

1927 – 1936

head of department — Warsawtoday: Warsaw city pov., Masovia voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.10.09]
⋄ Administrative Division, Veterinary Department, Ministry of Agriculture

1924 – 1927

provincial veterinary inspector — Poznańtoday: Poznań city pov., Greater Poland voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.07.18]
⋄ Poznań Voivodeship Office, Poznań Voivodeship — also: veterinarian

till 1923

PhD student — Lvivtoday: Lviv urban hrom., Lviv rai., Lviv, Ukraine
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.01.16]
⋄ [Veterinary Institute (from 1944) / State Veterinary Institutes i.e. Germ. Staatliche Tierarztliche Institut (1942‑1944) / Veterinary Institute (1939‑1941) / Academy of Veterinary Medicine (1922‑1939) / Imperial–Royal Veterinary School (1889‑1922)]

1919 – 1924

provincial veterinary inspector — Toruńtoday: Toruń city pov., Kuyavia–Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.06.20]
⋄ Pomeranian Voivodeship Office, Pomeranian Voivodeship — also: veterinarian

from 1917

veterinarian — Lęborktoday: Lębork urban gm., Lębork pov., Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2022.01.28]

from 1915

veterinarian — Grudziądztoday: Grudziądz city pov., Kuyavia–Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.09.02]

1912 – 1915

student — Berlintoday: Berlin state, Germany
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2020.07.31]
⋄ veterinary, Royal Veterinary College — also: temporarily in Dresden

1916 – 1925

membership — Toruńtoday: Toruń city pov., Kuyavia–Pomerania voiv., Poland
more on
en.wikipedia.org
[access: 2021.06.20]
⋄ scientific society — treasurer (1921‑1924) and head of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

author of books, brochures and articles in the field of veterinary science, e.g. „Cattle plague, or rinderpest”, Toruń, 1921; „Meat hygiene. Manual for the official inspection of slaughter cattle and meat examination with trichinoscopy according to the regulations in the former Prussian district”, Toruń, 1921; „Disinfection in the case of contagious diseases in domestic animals and the matter of harmless removal of carrion”, Poznań, 1926

widower

murder sites
camp 
(+ prisoner no)

EtG Radegast: Resettlement camp (as part of German resettlement „program” for Poles in 1939), then co–functioning with transit–concentration camp (during genocidal German «Intelligenzaktion» Litzmannstadt in 1939‑1940), finally changed into Germ. Erweitertes Polizeigefängnis (Eng. Expanded Police prison), in Radogoszcz n. Łódź, operational from 1939 till 1945, for Poles from Łódź region. Probably in excess of 40,000 people were held there. For religious this was a transit camp before transfer to KL Dachau concentration camp. (more on: en.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2015.09.30]
)

General Governorate: A separate administrative territorial region set up by the Germans in 1939 after defeat of Poland, which included German‑occupied part of Polish territory that was not directly incorporate into German state. Created as the result of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, in a political sense, was to recreate the German idea of 1915 (after the defeat of the Russians in the Battle of Gorlice in 05.1915 during World War I) of establishing a Polish enclave within Germany (also called the General Governorate at that time). It was run by the Germans till 1945 and final Russian offensive, and was a part of so–called Big Germany — Grossdeutschland. Till 31.07.1940 formally known as Germ. Generalgouvernement für die besetzten polnischen Gebiete (Eng. General Governorate for occupied Polish territories) — later as simply niem. Generalgouvernement (Eng. General Governorate). From 07.1941 expanded to include district Galicia. (more on: en.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2013.12.04]
)

Ribbentrop-Molotov: Genocidal Russian–German alliance pact between Russian leader Joseph Stalin and German leader Adolf Hitler signed on 23.08.1939 in Moscow by respective foreign ministers, Mr. Vyacheslav Molotov for Russia and Joachim von Ribbentrop for Germany. The pact sanctioned and was the direct cause of joint Russian and German invasion of Poland and the outbreak of the World War II in 09.1939. In a political sense, the pact was an attempt to restore the status quo ante before 1914, with one exception, namely the „commercial” exchange of the so–called „Kingdom of Poland”, which in 1914 was part of the Russian Empire, fore Eastern Galicia (today's western Ukraine), in 1914 belonging to the Austro–Hungarian Empire. Galicia, including Lviv, was to be taken over by the Russians, the „Kingdom of Poland” — under the name of the General Governorate — Germany. The resultant „war was one of the greatest calamities and dramas of humanity in history, for two atheistic and anti–Christian ideologies — national and international socialism — rejected God and His fifth Decalogue commandment: Thou shall not kill!” (Abp Stanislaus Gądecki, 01.09.2019). The decisions taken — backed up by the betrayal of the formal allies of Poland, France and Germany, which on 12.09.1939, at a joint conference in Abbeville, decided not to provide aid to attacked Poland and not to take military action against Germany (a clear breach of treaty obligations with Poland) — were on 28.09.1939 slightly altered and made more precise when a treaty on „German–Russian boundaries and friendship” was agreed by the same murderous signatories. One of its findings was establishment of spheres of influence in Central and Eastern Europe and in consequence IV partition of Poland. In one of its secret annexes agreed, that: „the Signatories will not tolerate on its respective territories any Polish propaganda that affects the territory of the other Side. On their respective territories they will suppress all such propaganda and inform each other of the measures taken to accomplish it”. The agreements resulted in a series of meeting between two genocidal organization representing both sides — German Gestapo and Russian NKVD when coordination of efforts to exterminate Polish intelligentsia and Polish leading classes (in Germany called «Intelligenzaktion», in Russia took the form of Katyń massacres) where discussed. Resulted in deaths of hundreds of thousands of Polish intelligentsia, including thousands of priests presented here, and tens of millions of ordinary people,. The results of this Russian–German pact lasted till 1989 and are still in evidence even today. (more on: en.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2015.09.30]
)

Pius XI's encyclicals: Facing the creation of two totalitarian systems in Europe, which seemed to compete with each other, though there were more similarities than contradictions between them, Pope Pius XI issued in 03.1937 (within 5 days) two encyclicals. In the „Mit brennender Sorge” (Eng. „With Burning Concern”) published on 14.03.1938, condemned the national socialism prevailing in Germany. The Pope wrote: „Whoever, following the old Germanic–pre–Christian beliefs, puts various impersonal fate in the place of a personal God, denies the wisdom of God and Providence […], whoever exalts earthly values: race or nation, or state, or state system, representatives of state power or other fundamental values of human society, […] and makes them the highest standard of all values, including religious ones, and idolizes them, this one […] is far from true faith in God and from a worldview corresponding to such faith”. On 19.03.1937, published „Divini Redemptoris” (Eng. „Divine Redeemer”), in which criticized Russian communism, dialectical materialism and the class struggle theory. The Pope wrote: „Communism deprives man of freedom, and therefore the spiritual basis of all life norms. It deprives the human person of all his dignity and any moral support with which he could resist the onslaught of blind passions […] This is the new gospel that Bolshevik and godless communism preaches as a message of salvation and redemption of humanity”… Pius XI demanded that the established human law be subjected to the natural law of God , recommended the implementation of the ideal of a Christian state and society, and called on Catholics to resist. Two years later, National Socialist Germany and Communist Russia came together and started World War II. (more on: www.vatican.vaClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2023.05.28]
, www.vatican.vaClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2023.05.28]
)

Greater Poland Uprising: Military insurrection of Poles living in Posen Provinz (Eng. Poznań province) launched against German Reich in 1918‑1919 aiming to incorporate lands captured by Prussia during partitions of Poland in XVIII century into Poland, reborn in 1918. Started on 27.12.1918 in Poznań and finished with total Polish victory on 16.02.1919 by a ceasefire in Trier. Many Polish priests took part in the Uprising, both as chaplains of the insurgents units and members and leaders of the Polish agencies and councils set up in the areas covered by the Uprising. In 1939 after German invasion of Poland and start of the II World war those priests were particularly persecuted by the Germans and majority of them were murdered. (more on: en.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2016.08.14]
)

Pomeranian Philomaths: Secret societies of Polish youth, aiming at self–education, patriotic in form and content, functioning 1830‑1920, mainly in secondary schools — gymnasia — in Pomerania around Vistula river (Gdańsk Pomerania and Chełmno county), in Prussian–occupied Polish territories (one of the partitions of Poland). On 08.01.1901 Germans conducted a series of interrogations of students at Chełmno, Brodnica and Toruń gymnasiums. On 09‑12.09.1901 the first of court trials of Polish students from those gymnasiums and students of Theological Seminary in Pelplin was held in Toruń. 1 person was sentenced to 3 months in prison, 1 to 2 months, 3 to 6 weeks, 7 to 3 weeks, 2 to 2 weeks, 19 to a week, 2 to 1 day, 10 were reprimanded. 15 were cleared. More definitive penalties were relegations from the schools with so‑called wolf’s ticket, forbidding sentenced students to continue secondary and higher studies in Prussia (Germany). Among those penalized were a few future Catholic priests — those were able to continue their education for the Chełmno diocese bishop, Bp August Rosentreter, refused to relegate students from Theological Seminary. (more on: pl.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2018.11.18]
)

Thomas Zan Societies: Secret societies of Polish youth, aiming at self–education, patriotic in form and content, functioning 1830‑1920, in mutiny against enforced Germanisation and censure of Polish culture, mainly in secondary schools — gymnasia — mainly in Greater Poland (Wielkopolska) and later in Silesia. The first groups were formed in 1817. In 1897 a congress in Bydgoszcz was held when rules of clandestine activities were formulated. At other congress in Bydgoszcz in Poznań a „Red Rose” society was formed, heading all others groups in various gymnasiums and coordinating their activities. In 1900 „Red Rose” consolidated Philomaths organizations from Pomerania as well. After Toruń trial of Pomeranian Philomaths in Toruń Germans arrested 24 members of Thomas Zan Society from Gniezno. 21 of them were sentenced up to 6 weeks in prison and reprimands. All were relegated from schools without the right to continue education in secondary and higher schools in Prussia. Despite repression the Societies existed till 1918 and rebirth of Poland. (more on: pl.wikipedia.orgClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2021.12.19]
)

sources

personal:
wsdsac.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2012.12.28]
, libermortuorum.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2019.05.30]
, www.izbawetbial.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2023.08.31]
, gp24.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2019.05.30]

original images:
niepodlegla.pomorskie.euClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2019.05.30]
, nowosci.com.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2019.05.30]
, libermortuorum.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2019.05.30]
, gp24.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2019.05.30]
, www.facebook.comClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2021.07.29]
, kontakt24.tvn24.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2019.05.30]
, turystyka.ozarow-mazowiecki.plClick to attempt to display webpage
[access: 2017.11.07]

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