Kazimierz Hamerszmit

Kazimierz Aleksander Hamerszmit (12 February 1916 – 5 February 1996) was a Polish Roman Catholic priest, author, Nazi concentration camp survivor, and social activist. His cause for beatification was opened in 2008.

Biography Aleksander Hamerszmit was born on 12 February 1916 in Kołaki Kościelne, into a large family. His parents were Stanisław, a church organist, and Michalina. The day after his birth, he was baptised in the Parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kołaki Kościelne, where he was given the names Kazimierz and Aleksander. His godparents were Father Stanisław Koćmierowski and Katarzyna Hamerszmit. During the Second World War, his mother was a member of the Home Army, using the codename 'Mamusia' (English: 'Mother'). She played an active role in the resistance movement, for which she was awarded two medals, the silver and gold Cross of Merit with Swords in 1943 and 1944. At the age of six, Hamerszmit started attending the primary school in Kołaki Kościelne, where he studied for four years. On 1 September 1926, his studies at the Tadeusz Kościuszko Grammar School in Łomża begun, and graduated on 25 June 1934. On the 20 of July 1934, he entered the Major Seminary in Łomża, and was a member of the Sodality of Our Lady. After five years at the seminary, he was ordained as a priest on 30 April 1939 by Bishop Stanisław Kostka Łukomski in…Citește mai mult

Selected works The only publication edited by Edward Anuszkiewicz consists of the camp memoirs of Father Kazimierz Hamerszmit. In addition, Father Wojciech Guzewicz wrote a short article about the parish priest Stanisław Maciątek, based on the memoirs recorded by Father Kazimierz Hamerszmit. Kazimierz Hamerszmit, Edward Anuszkiewicz (2002), Na kapłańskiej drodze II: ks. Kazimierz Hamerszmit – numer obozowy w Dachau 22575: wspomnienia, vol. 2, Ełk: Kuria Biskupia Diecezji Ełckiej, ISBN 8391320049, OCLC 838606518 Wojciech Guzewicz (2007), "Wspomnienia o księdzu Stanisławie Maciątku, proboszczu w Wiżajnach, spisane przez ks. Kazimierza Hamerszmita" (PDF), Studia Ełckie, vol. 9, p. 127–134, ISSN 1896-6896, OCLC 922412197

Beatification On the initiative of the clergy of St Alexander's Parish in Suwałki, who were convinced of the holiness of his life, efforts were made to have him canonised. On 6 March 2008, the Holy See issued a decree known as the Nihil obstat granting permission for the beatification process to begin. Subsequently, in February 2010, the diocesan phase of the process began at the Ełk curia. From then on, he was entitled to the title of Servant of God. Priest Dariusz Broź has been appointed postulator of the cause. On 29 November 2019, the Vatican Dicastery for the Causes of Saints issued a decree confirming the validity of the beatification process at the diocesan level.

Legacy In 1996, Suwałki Town Council named one of the streets after him, the one he walked along every day on his way to St Alexander's Church, and in 1999, a memorial room dedicated to his life was established in the town. He is the namesake of an occupational therapy workshop for people with disabilities in Filipów and the Caritas soup kitchen in Suwałki. He is also a patron of Primary School No. 4 in Suwałki.

Bibliography Edward Anuszkiewicz (2000), Na kapłańskiej drodze. Ks. Prałat Kazimierz Hamerszmit 1916−1996, Ełk: Kuria Biskupia Diecezji Ełckiej, ISBN 83-913200-1-4, OCLC 749843820 Kazimierz Hamerszmit, Edward Anuszkiewicz (2002), Na kapłańskiej drodze II: ks. Kazimierz Hamerszmit – numer obozowy w Dachau 22575: wspomnienia, vol. 2, Ełk: Kuria Biskupia Diecezji Ełckiej, ISBN 8391320049, OCLC 838606518 Dariusz Brozio (2007), "Istota i znaczenie modlitwy w świetle nauczania ks. Aleksandra Kazimierza Hamerszmita. (PDF)" (PDF), Ełckie Studia Teologiczne, vol. 9, Ełk: Wydawnictwo Diecezjalne Adalbertinum w Ełku, p. 247–267, ISSN 1896-6896, OCLC 922412261 Dariusz Brozio (2008), "Kult Najświętszego Serca Pana Jezusa w świetle kazań ks. Kazimierza Hamerszmita. Nabożeństwo do Najświętszej Maryi Panny i świętych w kazaniach ks. Kazimierza Hamerszmita. Apostolstwo – jedną z form realizacji życia chrześcijańskiego w Kościele w nauczaniu ks. Kazimierza Hamerszmita. (PDF)" (PDF), Ełckie Studia Teologiczne, vol. 10, Ełk: Wydawnictwo Diecezjalne Adalbertinum w Ełku, p. 311–337, 403–415, ISSN 1896-6896 Jemielity, Witold (2001), "Ksiądz Kazimierz Aleksander Hamerszmit. (PDF)" (PDF), Ełckie Studia Teologiczne, vol. t. II, Ełk: Wydawnictwo Diecezjalne Adalbertinum w Ełku, p. 67–82, OCLC 998710191