Relics of Bl Jerzy Popiełuszko visiting London parishes

Fr Banaszkiewicz at Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden

There will be a chance to venerate the Relics of Blessed Father Jerzy Popiełuszko this evening (Wednesday 22 May) as they will be visiting Corpus Christi Church in Maiden Lane, Covent Garden between 8.30 and 9pm.

Bl Jerzy Popiełuszko was a Polish priest who became associated with the Solidarity movement, celebrating Masses in the Gdansk shipyard and supporting the workers' families. He was murdered by government agents on 19 October 1984. He was recognised as a martyr and beatified on 6 June 2010 by Archbishop Angelo Amato on behalf of Pope Benedict.

Canon Czesław Banaszkiewicz, a priest of the Archdiocese of Warsaw and a friend of Bl Jerzy has been touring with the Relics for the past two weeks. After a stay in the Polish parishes of Our Lady of Mercy and St Francis of Assisi in northwest London, Fr Czeslaw brought them to parishes in Birmingham and Brighton.

Last night the Relics were brought to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden.

On Friday, 24 May, the Relics will be coming to the chapel at Tyburn Convent, Marble Arch from 2-4pm.

Further dates are still to be confirmed. (Check ICN Listings for details).