Blessed Karol Stepien

Biography

Blessed Karol Stepien, also known as Brother Herman or Father Herman, was born on October 21, 1910, in Lódz, Lódzkie, Poland, to Józef and Marianna Puch, who were poor working-class farmers. As a child, Karol displayed exceptional intelligence but also had a reputation for being quite unruly.

At a young age, Karol felt a strong vocation to the priesthood, and at the age of 13, he began his studies at the Franciscan seminary in Lviv, which is now located in modern-day Ukraine. In 1928, he joined the Franciscan Friars Minor Conventual at Lodz-Lagiewniki, Poland, taking the name Herman and making his solemn profession in 1932.

Brother Herman continued his theological studies at the Pontifical University of Saint Bonaventure in Rome, Italy. On July 5, 1936, he was ordained as a priest in Rome. Father Herman further pursued his studies at the Jan Kazimierz University in Lviv, earning a Master's degree in Theology.

Throughout his priesthood, Father Herman served in various places, starting with the Franciscan Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows in Radomsko, Poland. He then moved on to serve in the church and Franciscan monastery of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Vilnius, Lithuania.

In 1940, Father Herman was assigned to Piar≈°ai, in modern-day Belarus, where he assisted Blessed Józef Puchala. Together, they dedicated themselves to caring for people who were being forcefully transported to Siberian work camps by the Russians, and later to concentration camps by the Germans.

Tragically, while ministering to these persecuted individuals, Father Herman and Blessed Józef Puchala were arrested, tortured, mutilated, and ultimately murdered by the Nazi occupiers. On July 19, 1943, they were shot in the head inside a barn outside Borovikovshchina (Borowikowszczyzna), Minskaya voblasts', Belarus. The barn was then set on fire. However, their remains were later retrieved by local Catholics and buried in the parish church in Pierszaje, Poland.

Recognized for their selfless dedication and martyrdom, Father Herman and Blessed Józef Puchala were venerated by Pope John Paul II on March 26, 1999, through a decree of martyrdom. They were beatified on June 13, 1999, by Pope John Paul II during a ceremony held in Warsaw, Poland.

Blessed Karol Stepien's feast days are celebrated on July 19th and June 12th, as one of the 108 Martyrs of World War II. His life and sacrifice continue to inspire and serve as an example of faith, courage, and love for others. Although there is no specific representation mentioned in the given details, his story serves as a reminder of the tremendous sacrifice made by those who faced persecution and death for their beliefs.