Timeline of Life

He was born in the village of Obydów, 28 miles northeast of Lvov, son of John and Agnieszka nee Kozdrowicka.

Baptized in the parish church in Kamionka Strumiłłowa by Fr. Michael Kordecki, vicar of the parish. At baptism he was given the name Joseph.

Begins his studies at a one-room schoolhouse in Obydow

Joseph Katarzyniec’s sister Marianna is born.

Begins preparations for the First Confession and Holy Communion. He mentions for the first time to his parents that he wants to become a priest.

Begins his education at the local school in Kamionka Strumiłowa, two and a half miles away from his native Obydow. At this time he is also a zealous altar server.

He finishes 5th grade at the school in Kamionka Strumiłowa.

Begins his high school studies in Radachów. He intently reads theological books, especially the Catechism of the Trent Council.

He finishes prep-school with very good grades on his diploma.

Begins his studies at a male teaching college in Lvov. Living in a boarding school with very poor conditions but was able to get by with a state scholarship, tutoring and the assistance of his parents. Every morning he served at Mass, and often went to the church of the Franciscan sisters for the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

He reports to the provincial of the Franciscans in Lvov, asking for admission to the Order. The provincial refuses, recommending that he first complete studies at the teaching college.

Passes his final examination and applies to the Franciscans for the second time. After demonstrating a very good knowledge of Latin and Greek, he is accepted into the Order.

After overcoming the resistance of parents who wanted him to be a teacher, he arrives at the Franciscan friary in Lvov. After completing an 8-day retreat on August 25, he begins his novitiate and receives the religious name Venance.

Finishes novitiate and makes his first profession of religious vows

Together with ten of his novitiate confreres he goes to Krakow and begins his philosophical and theological studies. Throughout his studies Fr. Czesław Kellar, a strict and demanding religious, will be his spiritual guide. It is he who will largely influence the entire spiritual life of the future candidate for ordination.

Vacation at Calvary Pacławska near Przemysl. He uses this time to study among other things, history and spirituality of the Franciscan Order.

At the beginning of his second year of studies he was elected secretary of the academic society Zelus Seraphicus (Seraphic Zeal) and fulfills this obligation with great dedication.

Another vacation at Calvary Pacławska, which he spends with St. Maximilian Kolbe.

Professes his final religious vows before the altar of Our Lady of Sorrows, the Sorrowful Benefactress of Krakow.

Becomes president of the academic society Seraphic Zeal, which develops tremendously under his leadership.

After his third year of theology, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Anatol Nowak.

Just a month after his ordination while on vacation at Calvary Pacławska, he assumes the duties of director of clerics.

At the family parish in Kamionka Strumiłłowa he celebrates his First Mass and zealously carries out priestly ministry to the inhabitants of Obydow, and during the approaching war front he helps to avoid panic among the inhabitants when the Russians occupy the village. After war front moves west he returns to the friary in Lvov.

He is assigned to pastoral ministry in Czyszki and carries out the duties of parochial vicar. He gains recognition of the parishioners as a good preacher and confessor, while radiating piety, modesty and zeal.

He leaves Czyszki and by the orders of the provincial he goes to Lvov to serve as the master of novices and spiritual director of the religious brothers.

Among his first friars at the novitiate is the brother of Fr. Maximilian Kolbe – Alfonse – make their first profession of religious vows.

In Lvov he teaches philosophy and Greek to the Franciscan clerics, while he is a highly regarded preacher and confessor, and in his spare time visits the sick in a care facility run by the Josephite sisters.

After a bout with the Spanish flu, his health is increasingly compromised.

On the order of his superiors he goes to Hanaczów for rest.

In end of October there is another passing of the ‘Spanish flu’, in addition, the doctor diagnosis him with tuberculosis, and has a hemorrhage for the first time.

Last vacation with clerics at Calvary Pacławska and has a heartfelt farewell to his formandi who go to study in Krakow. He will not see them again.

He becomes increasingly weak, is seriously sick.

He establishes a group of the Knights of the Immaculate for novices in Lvov.

After confessing for the entire day for the feast of St. Anthony the doctor said that his health was in a very serious state and that there was a risk of spreading tuberculosis. The provincial again sends him to Hanaczów. At this time the responsibilities of the master of novices are carried out by Fr. Maximillian Kolbe.

Provincial sends Fr. Venance indefinitely to Calvary Pacławska for rest and recuperation.

At night he has a very severe hemorrhage. The superior of the friary gives him the sacraments.

He sits for the last time in a confessional at Calvary. After the celebration of the Purification of Mary due to the very serious state of health he will no longer go to the church and spends most of his time in bed.

In the end of March, he endures a fear of death for three days.

Aware of his approaching death, asks his superior for an indulgence at the time of death. He regains complete peace of mind.

It is the Thursday after Easter. He receives Holy Communion in the morning, prays all day. He is exhausted with serious coughing. Quietly and unexpectedly he dies at 6:00 p.m.

Funeral at the Calvary cemetery with participation of numerous inhabitants of Calvary Pacławska, who believe that he died in the odor of holiness.

Fr. Maximilian Kolbe, struggling with financial difficulties in publishing the Knight of the Immaculate, he entrusts it to Fr. Venance and receives a positive outcome. In the Knight of the Immaculate he prints a short biography of Fr. Venance Katarzyniec and the first petitions and thanks for his intercession.

Fr. Maximilian Kolbe writes a circular letter from Japan to the province, calling for efforts to start the process of the beatification of Fr. Venance Katarzyniec.

The first full biography of Fr. Venance Katarzyniec appears in print, written by Fr. Alphonse Kolbe, his first pupil.

The Diocesan Curia in Przemyśl begins the informational process for Fr. Venance Katarzyniec.

Exhumation of the mortal remains of the servant of God which are placed in a stone tomb, in the cloister before the friar’s church at Calvary Pacławska.

Completion of the diocesan process.

Resumption of the beatification process at the apostolic level in Rome.

The completion of the so-called “Positio” and is sent to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome.

The Positio is examined by the Theological Consultors.

After reviewing the procedural acts, the cardinals and bishops give an affirmative response regarding his heroic virtues.

Pope Francis agrees to publish a decree on the heroic virtues of the Servant of God, Fr. Venance Katarzyniec, during a meeting with the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in the presence of the Postulator-general, Fr. Angelo Paleri. From this point on, Fr. Venance Katarzyniec worthy of the title of Venerable Servant of God.

Recognition, once again verification of the mortal remains of Fr. Venance and moving them inside the shrine.