Bernard Kryszkiewicz

Servant of God Bernard Kryszkiewicz, (b. 2 May 1915 in Mława - d. July 7 1945 in Przasnyszu) was a Polish priest of the Passionist Congregation whose cause for beatification is currently in progress.

Zygmunt Kryszkiewicz was born into the family of mechanical workshop owner, Tadeusz Kryszkiewicz and his wife Apolonia Gołębiowskich in Mława, Poland on 2 May 1915. As a child he attend school the local college and in 1928, at his mother's instigation, he began further studies at the school of the Passionsts in Przasnysz. He entered the Passionist Congregation as a novice in 1933, taking the name Bernard of the Mother of Fair Love and one year later made his first profession of vows. He was sent to Rome in 1936 to study theology at the headquarters of the Passionist Congregation and made his perpetual profession of vows one year later. In 1938 he was ordained a priest and returned to Poland.

In the spring of 1939 he was appointed deputy director of seminarians in Przasnysz. After the outbreak of war he went to the Passionist house in Rawa Mazowiecka, which was the only house of the Congregation to remain open during the German occupation. There he devoted himself to educational and pastoral work and was director of the seminarians. In 1945 the Passionist house was turned into a hospital and Bernard worked as nurse, and cook. In March, he returned to Przasnysz to supervise the restoration of the buildings to religious use. In the midst of the confusion and difficulties caused by the war Bernard tended to the sick, wounded and displaced. In consequence of his apostolic work amongst the sick he contracted typus and died in July 1945 at the age of 30. His tomb is located in the Passionist church of Przasnysz. In June 2010 the work required for the beginning of the process of his beatification was completed and sent to Rome.