...according to the Testimony of Fr. Krzysztof Korcz, Pastor of St. Andrew Parish in Dudley Over the Past 10 Years

Dear friends,

I have served as pastor here for 10 years. Until July 2023, I did not know much about St. Andrew Bobola, only that he was a Jesuit and a great martyr. I am ashamed to admit that when I arrived, I did not make efforts to honor him in this parish, of which he has been the Patron for 72 years. My predecessors did not establish a devotion to St. Andrew, and when I arrived, I first focused on parish renovations. Privately, I prayed the litany to St. Andrew, but not with the parishioners. There were no celebrations on the Patron’s feast day on May 16. I faced many challenges from the beginning of my ministry, and I felt St. Andrew always helped me. At a critical moment for this parish, when I thought I could no longer sustain it and considered merging it with a larger parish due to the declining number of parishioners and lack of new immigrants from Poland, St. Andrew himself intervened.

I want to share with you how St. Andrew Bobola, through various signs, again demanded his devotion, this time here in America. I believe he wanted to say, "Start honoring me in Dudley, and I will help you!" He also gave me the courage to inform the Bishop of the Diocese of Worcester that he wants to have his Sanctuary here, attracting not only Poles but all Christians living here to strengthen their faith.

The relics of St. Andrew arrived in Dudley after his canonization, thanks to Msgr. Andrzej Lekarczyk, who decided to build a new church for Dudley residents in 1952. He was the pastor of St. Joseph's Parish in Webster from 1932-1964. Fascinated by the triumphant return of St. Andrew Bobola's relics to his homeland after his canonization, he decided to make him the Patron of the new church. This was the first church dedicated to St. Andrew Bobola on American soil. The parish thrived until the last wave of immigration during the Solidarity era. After 2000, the number of parishioners began to decline due to a lack of new immigrants and the aging of the existing community. The parish faced the threat of merging with St. Joseph's Parish, as many parishioners moved there for its dynamism and parochial school. Festivals ceased, and the struggle for survival began.

When I arrived in 2014, I tried to revitalize the parish. Festivals were revived, and I invited priests from Poland to re-energize pastoral activities, but the pandemic thwarted all efforts. To survive, I had to lay off the secretary and the sacristan due to insufficient funds. To pay the bills, I started cooking and selling Polish meals for drive-through and door pickup due to restrictions. After the pandemic, I realized that the parish couldn't continue this way, and I was discouraged by the need to cook meals to keep the parish afloat. I prayed to God and St. Andrew for guidance, and I believe God intervened through our Patron, St. Andrew, just as He did in Strachocina.

In a critical moment for the parish, I made an appointment with Bishop Robert McManus of the Diocese of Worcester to discuss the future of this spiritually and numerically declining parish. The day before the meeting, it was canceled by the Bishop, an act of providence that saved the parish from closure. Soon after, I received another sign. A man from Chicago called, requesting a Mass of thanksgiving for his wife, who had suffered a brain hemorrhage in February 2023. The family prayed to St. Andrew Bobola for her recovery, and he had a dream instructing him to request a Mass at a church dedicated to St. Andrew Bobola in the USA. Searching online, he found our parish. After this call, I reflected deeply on St. Andrew Bobola, especially on the dream’s message: to request a Mass at a church dedicated to St. Andrew Bobola in the USA.

Following this call, I began to seek information about St. Andrew, realizing how little I knew about him despite serving in a parish dedicated to him. My interest led me to discover the greatness of this saint, especially through the testimonies of Fr. Józef Niżnik, pastor in Strachocina, who had apparitions of St. Andrew. I learned that all of St. Andrew's apparitions were calls to honor him and spread his devotion. I felt ashamed that our parish, though named after him, had never prayed the litany to St. Andrew, held novenas, or celebrated his feast on May 16. My predecessors had not fostered his devotion. Personally, I prayed the litany privately but not with the congregation due to the lack of tradition. I interpreted the Chicago call as St. Andrew saying, "Start honoring me in Dudley, and I will help you save the church."

From that day, I decided to pray the litany to St. Andrew daily after Communion. Two weeks after starting the litany, I received another sign. A lawyer called, informing me that a parishioner who died in 2022 left a substantial sum of money to the parish. I saw this as a sign from St. Andrew to save the church and parish. With this sign, the plan to merge St. Andrew's Parish with another collapsed, leaving the question: What does St. Andrew expect from me now? How should we use his relics in our church? Why did the man from Chicago dream of searching for St. Andrew Bobola's church in the USA instead of existing sanctuaries in Warsaw or Strachocina?

I began searching the USA for another parish named after St. Andrew Bobola and found one in Ohio, but it was established later and didn't have his relics. While praying, I felt that St. Andrew wanted a sanctuary here in America. If Our Lady of Częstochowa has a sanctuary in Pennsylvania and Jesus of Divine Mercy in Sturbridge, perhaps St. Andrew Bobola wants one in Dudley? I believe he does because he is present in his relics to help the Polish community maintain their Catholic identity, unite broken families, find the lost, and grant graces to those who seek his help. These thoughts of creating a sanctuary deepened, and I knew I couldn't do anything without my Bishop's approval. I prayed to St. Andrew Bobola for myself and for my Bishop, asking for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in presenting and accepting this mission.

The meeting with Bishop McManus took place as scheduled. I calmly and positively presented the parish's negative aspects (declining Mass attendance, baptisms, and weddings). The Bishop asked if I wanted to merge the parish. I replied no, believing that Jesus did not want me to give up. I then explained my vision to reverse the parish's decline. I pointed out that despite difficulties, the parish had no debt, the savings account had grown tenfold, and the parish had received a substantial bequest. For me, these were signs of Divine Providence, interceded by St. Andrew Bobola, the parish's patron.

I then expressed my belief that St. Andrew Bobola desires a sanctuary in America to help the Polish community. After hearing my testimony, Bishop McManus said, "I bless you for this work! Please prepare a Novena in May 2024, develop the devotion to St. Andrew, and we will see what God's will is."

This was a great joy but also a great task, so I began to act. During prayer, I felt prompted to visit St. Andrew's sanctuaries in Poland and meet their custodians. I arranged visits with Fr. Waldemar Borzyszkowski, Custodian of the Sanctuary in Warsaw, and went there with Fr. Grzegorz Zieliński. During the meeting, Fr. Borzyszkowski also proposed a phone conversation with the spokesman of the Polish Episcopate, Fr. Gęsiak. Later, I visited Fr. Niżnik in Strachocina with Fr. Bernard Kozłowski. Both meetings were very fruitful, and both custodians confirmed that I received many signs to spread the devotion and strive for a sanctuary.

During my stay in Poland, I planned preparations for the novena, purchasing vestments with St. Andrew, a reliquary, banners, and a monstrance. After returning to the USA, we started renovating the hall with funds donated by Nancy Vajcovec in October 2023. St. Andrew continued to help, bringing two contractors, Piotr Niebylski and Zbyszek Laska, who donated their work. Ceiling work lasted until the end of January 2024, followed by flooring from February 28 to April 18. During this time, bathrooms and the rectory kitchen were renovated, and Ernest Kostrzewą repaired the rectory, sacristy, and church steps.

In early January 2024, I sent letters to Polish parishes inviting them to national retreats on St. Andrew Bobola, led by Fr. Niżnik from April 21-24. I proposed to Bishop McManus a meeting between Fr. Niżnik and the priests of the Diocese of Worcester. The Bishop agreed and asked me to invite the diocesan priests for a meeting on April 27 at 11 am. I also traveled to Poland in March 2024 to promote the devotion. Fr. Niżnik invited me to participate in a Catholic program on TV Trwam on March 13, 2024, followed by an interview with Radio Jasna Góra in Częstochowa. A joyful moment before the radio interview was meeting Archbishop Wacław Depo of Częstochowa, my former rector in the Radom Seminary. During this time, I also had interviews with TV Niedziela and Gość Niedzielny.

Upon returning to the USA on March 28, 2024, I met with Bishop McManus to update him on my efforts to promote St. Andrew's devotion through Polish media. A significant event was Fr. Józef Niżnik’s arrival on April 18, 2024, visiting Polish parishes in Webster, Worcester, Boston, and Bridgeport, and inviting them to national retreats in Dudley. Many Poles from various parishes participated. Additionally, a meeting with parishioners from Fall River and Fr. Dariusz Jonczyk took place.

After the retreats, a meeting with the priests of the Worcester Diocese, including Bishop McManus, occurred on April 27 at 11 am. Bishop McManus brought a blessing from Pope Francis for the First Novena to St. Andrew Bobola, read after the Bishop's greeting. During the meeting, Fr. Grzegorz Chodkowski translated Fr. Niżnik’s presentation on St. Andrew Bobola for 80 people and four priests. In the evening, we attended Mass in Bridgeport with about 50 participants.

On April 28, a noon Mass for the Polish community and the blessing of a statue of St. Andrew took place, led by Fr. Niżnik. The ceremony was very solemn, with participation from the choir of St. Joseph’s Basilica, Fr. Grzegorz Chodkowski, and many parishioners from various parishes. A dedication to the Polish community and a Polish picnic followed. Andrzej and Anna Mędrek shared a testimony of healing through St. Andrew's intercession. On April 30 at 6 pm, Fr. Niżnik led a service to St. Andrew, reading out prayer requests from the retreats. On May 1, Fr. Niżnik celebrated his final Mass before returning to Poland.

A few days later, we welcomed Fr. Grzegorz Zieliński, Judicial Vicar of the Radom Diocese, to lead the First Novena to St. Andrew Bobola in our parish. On May 5, he visited Polish parishes in Webster and Worcester. The novena took place from May 7-15, with services at 5:30 pm in English and 7 pm in Polish.

During the novena, a miracle occurred. Anne Bembenek, who was healed of colon cancer, shared her testimony on May 10 at 5:30 pm and again on May 12 at 9 am and 10:30 am Masses. She was also asked to give her testimony on May 16, during the feast day of St. Andrew Bobola, in the presence of Bishop McManus at 6 pm. The celebration was very solemn, led by Bishop McManus, with many priests and parishioners present. Marilyn Fels carried the relics, and Paula Niksa carried the papal blessing in the procession. Various organizations, including the Knights of Columbus, Sera Club, and Warriors of Mary from Bridgeport, CT, participated. During the Mass, the papal blessing for the First Novena was read. For the first time in the parish’s history, Bishop McManus was welcomed by parishioners Zbigniew and Zofia Mroczka and their children. I delivered the homily, and Anne Bembenek shared her healing testimony in the Bishop's presence. After Mass, I asked Bishop McManus to bless the hall dedicated to Nancy Vajcovec. Paula Niksa thanked Nancy's family for her life and dedication to the parish. I held a commemorative plaque, thanking Nancy Vajcovec for all the good she did for the parish.

Following the feast day celebrations, we continued promoting the devotion through monthly Masses for the homeland on the 15th and 16th of each month. We also announced pilgrim Masses to honor St. Andrew's relics at 10:30 am in English and 12:00 pm in Polish. On May 19, 2024, the first pilgrims from New Jersey, led by Adam Stępień and his family, arrived. On June 16, 50 pilgrims from Boston, along with the choir from Our Lady of Częstochowa Parish, attended the monthly Mass. On July 14, the first patriotic family picnic took place, attended by Poles from various parishes. The Mass was led by Fr. Patryk Golczyński from the Radom Diocese, who delivered the homily. After Mass, there was a reception in the parish hall, a raffle, and a meeting with Fr. Michał Socha, a Franciscan from Our Lady of Częstochowa Parish in Boston. Fr. Michał entertained the Polish community with accordion music and singing religious and patriotic songs. This was a wonderful opportunity to meet with the Polish community, which began to come to Dudley to support the creation of the only St. Andrew Bobola Sanctuary on American soil.

On July 25, 2024, the feast of St. James the Apostle, a statue of Our Lady Queen of Heaven was placed in front of the church, and on the feast of St. Anne and Joachim, parents of Mary, a statue of St. Andrew Bobola was installed. We continue to pray for God's will and further signs from St. Andrew Bobola for establishing his sanctuary in Dudley. We pray for Bishop McManus, asking for the gifts of the Holy Spirit to discern God's will in establishing the diocesan sanctuary of St. Andrew Bobola.

Public media, including "Biały Orzeł" and Catholic Free Press, announced pilgrim Masses every Sunday at 10:30 am in English and 12:00 pm in Polish. Many articles have been published about the devotion to St. Andrew Bobola in the USA and the plans for his Sanctuary on American soil.

Here is a list of media that have published information about St. Andrew Bobola in Dudley, MA: Catholic Free Press, Biały Orzeł, Radio Maryja (unfinished conversations on March 13, 2024, at 6 pm, and at 9:30 pm), Radio Jasna Góra, Tygodnik Niedziela, Nasz Dziennik, Gość Niedzielny Radom, Radio Bobola London, and Radio and TV Christ the King Chicago.

Since June 29, 2023, St. Andrew has shown us through many signs that he wants to establish his Sanctuary here on American soil for the 10 million-strong Polish community. St. Andrew Bobola, present in holy relics at the Church in Dudley, has come here with a mission to unite families, support them in difficult times, and help them remain steadfast in the Catholic faith. Over the past year, we have seen many signs of St. Andrew bringing pilgrims here who seek his support and protection. He continues to urge us to start honoring him, promising to help us. Therefore, let us engage in spreading his devotion among the Polish community so that he becomes more known and loved, and he will intercede for us before God. We can do this simply by praying for his intercession, distributing litanies and prayers, and sharing his life story to inspire others to spread the devotion to the Patron of Poland, who wants to help not only Poles but all Christians living on this American soil. He wants to grant them healings, unite broken families, help overcome addictions, give courage in professing the faith, and assist in evangelization so that all Christians can engage in spreading the faith and passing it on to future generations.