A group of eleven Sisters of he Holy Family of Nazareth were murdered by the Nazis in exchange for 120 condemned citizens of Nowogródek, current day Belarus.
Sister Stella and her companions were murdered on this date, 1 August 1943 by the Gestapo in Novogródek, Hrodzyenskaya voblasts’, Belarus.
Invited by the bishop of the area to come serve the Church in the village of Novogródek in 1929, the Congregation of the Holy Family of Nazareth were well received by the people.
Tensions ran high with the Nazi occupation. When it became clear that the sacrifice of life was imminent, the Sisters in conversation with their chaplain, Father Zienkiewicz, said, “My God, if sacrifice if life is needed, accept it from us and spare those who have families. We are even praying for this intention.”
Blessed John Paul beatified the sisters on 5 March 2000.
The Blessed Martyrs are stilled remembered with devotion.