He was born in Poland in 1894. His family was very poor. In 1914 his father was captured and killed by the Russians in the struggle for Polish independence. He studied to become a Franciscan brother and was ordained a priest in 1918. He received the name Maximilian Maria. After his studies in Rome, he returned to Poland in 1919. Later he spent six years as a missionary in Japan. In Poland, he founded the monastery of Niepokalanów. During World War II, they hid around 2000 Jewish and Polish people in the friary. He was not afraid to speak publicly against the Nazis. Together with his brothers, he was arrested by the Nazis. He was sent to Auschwitz concentration camp. Whenever possible he celebrated Mass and consoled the other prisoners. One day, he volunteered to take the place of a man condemned to death. In this camp, he offered to give his life in another man’s place. After much torture and suffering, he was killed by lethal injection.
We have chosen St Maximilian Kolbe for you in Year 9 because St Maximilian Kolbe made big choices in his life that had a huge impact on himself and those around him. This year you will be making big choices about your education which will have a huge impact on your future.
The choices that Maximilian Kolbe were self sacrificial but saved the life on a man who had a family, that man survived the war and was present in Rome when Maximilian was declared a saint.
St Maximilian Kolbe is the patron saint of amateur radio operators, political prisoners, families, journalists, prisoners, and the pro-life movement.
The Catholic Social Teaching Principles that links to St Maximilian Kolbe are Peace, Dignity and Solidarity.
