June 7
Bl. Zbigniew and Michał
First Order ☩ Memorial
Zbigniew Strzałkowski was born on 3 July 1958 in Tarnów. He professed simple vows in the Order of Friars Minor Conventual on 2 September 1980 and on 7 June 1986 he was ordained a priest. Having worked as a teacher in a minor seminary in Legnica, he left for Peru as a missionary. Michael (Michał) Tomaszek was born on 23 September 1960 in Łękawica. He professed simple vows in the Order of Friars Minor Conventual on 1 September 1981 and on 23 May 1987 he was ordained a priest. Having worked as a pastor in Pieńsko, he left for Peru as a missionary.
Both of them worked in the large Pariacoto parish (the Diocese of Chimbote), edifying a Franciscan community and serving the people. Visiting the settlements of the Andes, they were selflessly dedicated to pastoral and charitable service. On the evening of August 9, 1991, they were murdered by communist guerrillas.
From the Common of Several Martyrs
Collect
God, you called Blessed Michal and Zbigniew,
Priests, to imitate Christ after the example of Saint Francis of Assisi
and for the sake of the people entrusted to them
strengthened them with your Spirit to became martyrs,
grant us that we, through their intercession,
may grow in the love of you and in the humble service to the little ones.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.