Helena Agnieszka Kmieć, born on February 9, 1991, in Libiąż, Poland, was a passionate and devout young woman who dedicated her life to serving others through her faith. After losing her mother shortly after birth, she was raised by her father, Jan, and stepmother, Barbara Zając, and considered the Blessed Virgin Mary as another mother. Helena’s faith was central to her life; she attended Mass almost daily and was deeply involved in her parish.
Helena was an excellent student, earning a scholarship to a prestigious high school in England. Despite not gaining admission to study medicine at Oxford, she pursued chemical engineering at the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice. Post-graduation, she worked as a stewardess. Her passion for travel and the outdoors was matched by her dedication to volunteering and missionary work.
In 2016, during World Youth Day in Krakow, Helena used her linguistic skills and people skills to coordinate volunteer efforts. She later joined the Salvatorian Missionary Volunteers, undergoing a year of spiritual formation before embarking on international missions. She worked with children in Hungary, Romania, and Zambia, where she taught and supported street children and those from poor families, despite the dangers.
Helena had plans to marry and continue her career while also preparing for a mission in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Tragically, before the orphanage she was to work at opened, she was murdered in her bedroom by an unknown assailant. Her aspirations were to learn Spanish, form a Catholic ministry and become a saint.
Helena’s life was centered around the Eucharist, akin to Blessed Carlo Acutis, and she received Holy Communion the day before her death. Known for her joyful spirit and relatability, Helena’s social media reflected her as an ordinary yet virtuous young adult. Her sister, Teresa, emphasized Helena’s testimony of living fully in the love of God while engaging actively in the world, highlighting that a close relationship with God brings happiness both on earth and in heaven.
In April 2024, the Archbishop of Krakow, Marek Jędraszewski, initiated Helena’s beatification process, recognizing her as a servant of God whose life and martyrdom inspire deep faith and service to others.
