Franciszek Mientki

Franciszek Mientki (1913–1982) was a Polish priest, missionary of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, chaplain of the Polish Armed Forces and lieutenant-colonel in the Polish Army.

Life Franciszek Mientki was born on 22 October 1913, in Bromberg (Prussian name of Bydgoszcz), then part of the German Empire. The family lived in the suburban commune of Schwedenhöle (today's Szwederowo district), at 83 Taubenstrasse (today's 49 Gołębia Street).

Interwar period He graduated from high school in Bydgoszcz with the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit. The Congregation arrived in Poland in 1921, and just opened in 1925 the Holy Spirit Boarding School, operating under the direction of Father Dr. Stanisław Kolipiński. He was made a deacon on 23 April 1939 and ordained a priest on 23 July 1939.

Second World War At the outbreak of World War II, Franciszek was in France where he worked in Polish community centers during the summer break.

On 22 October 1939, Father Mientki was stationed at the Polish military camp located in Camp de Coëtquidan, as part of the Sikorski's Army. afterwards, he was transferred in February 1940 to the Sanitary and Veterinary Training Center in Combourg, Brittany, as a chaplain.

After 1 November 1942, he followed a parachute jumping course; Mientki was the second polish chaplain, after Father , to receive the brigade's parachute badge.

After the operations in the Netherlands, he was transferred to the Meuse river area, where, together with his brigade, he took part in organizing the defense of a makeshift airfield.

Post war and Polish People's Republic years At the end of the conflict, Father Mientki served in the Allied troops (British occupation zone) in the village of Bersenbrück. He remained there until his demobilization on 15 January 1947.

Once released from military service, Franciszek Mientki returned to Freiburg to complete his studies: he obtained a master's degree in dogmatic theology in March 1948. That same year, he returned to Poland, then under communist rule (PRL). Back to his home country, he became involved in the work of his religious congregation, the Congregation of the Holy Spirit.

On 27 November 1949, he was arrested by officers of the Security Office and sentenced to 12 years in prison: he stayed in confinement in Rawicz and Wronki jails. Liberated in December 1956, he was rehabilitated and released under an amnesty during the Polish thaw.

From 16 July 1970 to 1973, he occupied the Provincial superior seat of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit in Poland. After 1974, Father Mientki had been living in Cielądz, near Rawa Mazowiecka. After his death from heart disease,

Awards and commemorations Recipient of the Cross of Valour. Recipient of the parachutist badge , a Polish combat badge for soldiers who participated in combat parachute operations. A commemorative plaque to Mientki is placed on the building of the Pomeranian Military District Museum.