Paweł Kontny

Paweł Kontny SChr (29 June 1910 – 1 February 1945) was a Polish priest of the Roman Catholic Church. He was a member of the Society of Christ. During World War II he served as a priest in Lędziny. On 1 February 1945, he was killed by Soviet soldiers while protecting two girls from being kidnapped and raped. The Soviets forced the townspeople to bury Kontny's body in the place where he was killed. Three days later, after the front moved west, the townspeople exhumed Kontny's remains and buried them at the local cemetery. A cause for his beatification is currently being prepared.

Early life Paweł Kontny was born on 29 June 1910 in Paprocany to Jakub and Jadwiga Kontny. After he graduated from the local primary school he attended the gymnasium in Mikołów. The family's financial troubles led to him to have to work during his vacations. Amongst other places, he worked for a lock smith and at a local coal mine.

Seminary Formation On 31 August 1932, Kontny entered the novitiate of a newly established religious order, the Society of Christ. He was accepted to the novitiate by the founder of the order, Venerable August Cardinal Hlond. After completing novitiate, he made his first vows on 16 October 1933. The next day, along with the rest of the first class of Society of Christ seminarians, he began two-year philosophical studies at the Archbishop's Seminary in Gniezno. The rector of the seminary was Blessed Michał Kozal. After completing philosophical studies, Kontny began a four-year theological program at the Archbishop's seminary in Poznań. He made final vows on 18 October 1936.

Among many acts to commemorate Kontny's sacrifice and death, a street was named after him in Lędziny.