Szczytno: ceremony of a brutally murdered priest

The family, priests and inhabitants of Szczytno said goodbye to Fr. Many years of parish priest St. Brother Albert Chmielowski died from injuries after a brutal beating which occurred in early November. – This celebration wasn't expected to be here today. That's not how we said goodbye – emphasized Fr. Andrzej Wysocki, Dean of the Dekanat Szczytno during the ceremony Machine. The last farewell of the advanced priest gathered crowds of believers.

The ceremony ceremony at St. Brother Albert Chmielowski's church in Szczytno began with a rosary service. Many inhabitants of Szczna and surrounding villages gathered in the church and in front of the temple. You could see the tears of emotion and sadness of the parish priest's loss.

– He attended all our household celebrations, married our children. He was a very intelligent man, a wonderful, warm, read. large failure to the full Szczna – recalls Stanislaw Gerwel, a Szczytna resident.

The ceremony Mass was presided over by Archbishop Józef Górzyński. The Warmia Metropolitan, addressing the assembly, emphasized that present everyone faces this unexpected and violent death. – specified death gives emergence to a peculiar reflection, and it fills with utmost fear. But we hear the words of Christ: let not your heart be troubled. Fr Lech devoted his full life to preaching Christ's triumph over evil, sin, and death. Evil reacted violently to him with its criminal stigma, but it surely did not win him. For he stood by his full life The winners of death, hell and Satan— This is Warmia metropolitan.

At the end of the Eucharist, the faithful could perceive to the speeches of those who specifically wanted to say goodbye to the deceased priest. Among them were colleagues from the seminary. It was with them from 1971 to 1973 as a cleric that he carried out forced military service in a unit in the Bank of the Odra – You've been very friendly to all of us. You loved us like brothers, and we loved you. Thank you for all our meetings. You've gone distant but preach the glory of God as you have done your full life as a priest. That's why I say I'll see you in heaven. – remembers 1 of the priests.

After Holy Mass, the ceremony procession went towards the municipal cemetery, where Fr. He was a peculiar man. He had his rules. He was warm, open, friendly. – says Piotr Kubiński, a resident of the territory of Szczytno.

Fr. prelate Lech Lachowicz was born in Lidzbark Warminski in 1952. He received priestly ordination at the hands of Bishop Joseph Drzazga in 1976. He was a vicar, among others, in Olsztyn, Bartoszyce and Gołdapi. in 2001 he was appointed honorary chaplain of His Holiness John Paul II. He was the first parish priest of St. Brother Albert Chmielowski Parish in Szczytno. He undertook building a parish church and a rectory. He served as a parish priest for 34 years until his death, or until 9 November 2024.

In early November, he was brutally beaten at the rectory. Doctors fought for almost a week for his life. The police stopped the unsub the next day. Simon K. During the hearing, he admitted that he had come to the rectory with the intention of stealing money. He was meant to usage force or even commit murder. A man struck a priest with a metallic axe. The priest besides had an extended wound on his face. The unsub was temporarily arrested. He's facing life.

KAI/work. FA

Fr Lech Lachovich died. He was the victim of a violent assault at the rectory in Szczytno.