Blessed Fr. Józef Jankowski (1910-1941), a native of Pommerania, did his philosophical-theological studies in the seminary of Oltarzew and was ordained priest in 1936. Subsequently, he worked as chaplain of the schools in Oltarzew and its outskirts and was spiritual accompanier of the Eucharistic movement and of the candidates for entry into the Society. In the first days of the Second World War in September 1939 he became chaplain to the military and to the local population. During the Nazi occupation he was administrator of the seminary. On May 16th 1941 he was arrested by the Gestapo and taken to the concentration camp of Auschwitz. Exhausted by forced labour and by hunger, and finally beaten to death by a camp guard, he gave up his soul on October 16th 1941.

Blessed Fr. Józef Stanek (1916-1944) was a native of the area of Krakow. After his school-leaving examinations he entered the Society and, on completing his studies, was ordained priest in 1941. After priestly ordination he began specialised studies at the institute of sociology – at the time clandestine – of the University of Warsaw. The day on which the Warsaw Uprising broke out –August 1st 1944 – he worked as chaplain in one of Warsaw’s hospitals. In the second half of August 1944 under the orders of his superiors he was made chaplain to the clandestine army. On September 23rd he was arrested by units of the SS and hung.