Wiktoria and Josef Ulma – The Merciful Samaritans from Markowa
The Ulma family of Józef and Wiktoria Ulma with Seven Children were a Polish Catholic family in Markowa, Poland, during the Nazi German occupation in World War II who attempted to rescue Polish Jewish families by hiding them in their own home during the Holocaust. They and their children were summarily executed on 24 March 1944 for doing so.
On 17 December 2022, Pope Francis declared the entire family to be martyrs and determined that they would be beatified on 10 September 2023, a celebration that was held in their native Markowa. The beatification of the Ulma family is unique within the Catholic Church, as they are the first family to be beatified together in the history of the Church in the 21st century. After some news reports suggested that the beatification would represent the first beatification of an unborn or pre-born child, the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints released an official clarification on 5 September 2023, stating that “this [unnamed] child was delivered at the time of his mother’s martyrdom” (based on the evidence that his remains were found emerged from his mother’s womb in the original grave), and he was therefore included with the other martyred Ulma children, under the catholic doctrine of baptism of blood.
Their feast day is celebrated on 7 July (day of the anniversary of Józef and Wiktoria’s wedding). The remains of the Ulma family are placed in the side altar of the Saint Dorothy’s Church in Markowa, Poland.
The Relics of the Blessed Ulma family will visit the Holy Cross Church, Tramore on Saturday 10th May for the celebration of the Eucharist at 7.30pm.