"Some give by going to the missions.
Some go by giving to the missions.
Without both there are no missions."
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"Some give by going to the missions. Some go by giving to the missions. Without both there are no missions." |
   
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In the early part of the twentieth century, the far east of Russia,
including Vladivostok, was populated by many Polish settlements. We have
seven sainthood
candidates who lived in the city of Vladivostok—five Polish laymen, Bishop
Karol Sliwowsky, and Fr. Jerzy Jurkiewicz.
The Holy Father has asked that information be gathered on these and other
Russian martyrs as quickly as possible before the eyewitnesses are all
deceased. If you have information that would help us, please
contact us at the U.S. office.
When the ravages of the 1917 Communist revolution finally reached the city of Vladivostok, which was located at the end of the Trans-Siberian Railroad, it had devastating effects on the Catholic as well as the Orthodox populations.
All Catholic clergy were first arrested and sent to labor camps. Soon after this, the parishes were closed down. Parishioners were harassed and intimidated in many ways. Many were executed, suffering "red" martyrdom. Others, although they were not executed physically for the faith, suffered "white" martyrdom for the faith.
One such white martyr was the beloved first bishop of Vladivostok, the Most Reverend Karol Sliwowsky. Bishop Sliwowsky's cathedral as well as his episcopal residence was taken away from him. He died shortly after of a broken heart while being confined in house arrest. The rector of the cathedral, Fr. Jerzy Jurkiewicz, who also acted as the bishop's personal assistant, was reportedly last seen in a gulag with one eye missing. He was never heard from again.
Five laymen, all Russian Polish, were killed after they were discovered praying the rosary.
For more information on the sainthood candidates, please read the following articles:
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Copyright © 2007 Mary Mother of God Mission Society
