28 MAY SAINT OF THE DAY
Nowowiejski was born in Lubienia near Opatów. At 16, he entered the diocesan seminary at studied Płock. He received Holy Orders at 23. The following year he obtained a degree
in theology from the Academy of Saint Petersburg. Nowowiejski became a professor and a Rector of the Płock Seminary, canon of Płock and in 1902 Vicar General of the Płock diocese.
He was ordained bishop of Płock in 1908. As the leader of the Płock diocese he carried out an administrative reform, devoting much attention to catholic education.
During the First World War, he was active in charity organizations. He oversaw two diocesan synods in 1927 and 1938, and initiated a local chapter of Catholic Action.
In 1930, he became the titular Archbishop of Silyum. The German invasion of Poland marked the beginning of the World War II. One of the Nazis' goals was the elimination
of Polish intelligentsia. Archbishop Nowowiejski was tortured when he refused to trample on his pectoral cross. He secretly although suffering,
imparted his blessing to the tortured and dying. After three months of torture and hunger, he died, at the age of 83. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II 1n 1999 as one
of the 108 Martyrs of World War II.
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