Father Adrian Mantykiewicz returns to altar with message of forgiveness

Father Adrian Mantykiewicz returned to celebrate Mass at the Benedictine sisters’ abbey in Jaroslaw on Sept. 26, two days after a knife attack at the abbey left five people wounded. During the homily, Father Mantykiewicz offered forgiveness on behalf of himself and his fellow priests, Father Marek Pienkowski and the late Father Stanislaw Zbojniewicz.

The Sept. 24 attack resulted in the death of Father Stanislaw Zbojniewicz. Father Marek Pienkowski remained in serious but stable condition in the hospital as of Sept. 25, while Father Mantykiewicz was treated and released the same day as the attack.

Father Mantykiewicz asked the community to pray for the attacker, a 31-year-old Ukrainian citizen, specifically requesting prayers for his conversion. He also urged people not to blame the Ukrainian people for the actions of one individual, noting that the abbey had previously provided support to many Ukrainians following the outbreak of war in their country.