Modern-Day Miracles in Massachusetts at the Saint Andrew Bobola Shrine
- Yves Jacques
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
In a quiet corner of Dudley, Massachusetts, something extraordinary is unfolding.
At the newly elevated Shrine of Saint Andrew Bobola—the only parish dedicated to Saint Andrew Bobola in the United States—modern-day miracles are drawing attention, pilgrims, and renewed faith. In this powerful episode of Hearts of the Holy Family, we explore the life of this great martyr and the unmistakable signs that God is working through his intercession today.
These are not distant legends from centuries past. These events are happening now.
Who Is Saint Andrew Bobola?
Though not yet widely known in America, Saint Andrew Bobola is one of the
greatest martyrs of the Catholic Church.
Born in 1591 in Poland, he became a Jesuit priest known as a “hunter of souls” because of his zeal for preaching and bringing souls back to the Catholic faith. He worked tirelessly for Christian unity, seeking reconciliation between Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox.
For this mission, he paid with his life.
In 1657, he was brutally tortured and martyred for refusing to deny his Catholic faith. His sufferings closely mirrored the Passion of Christ—his skin torn, his tongue cut out, his body mutilated. Yet his final words remained steadfast:
“I was born in the Catholic faith, and I want to die in the Catholic faith.”
Fifty years later, he seemed forgotten.
But heaven had other plans.
Incorruptibility, Apparitions, and Resurrection Miracles
In 1702, after appearing to the rector of a Jesuit college in Pinsk, St. Andrew directed them to his burial place. When his coffin was opened, his body was found incorrupt—remarkably preserved, with wounds still visible as if fresh.
Soon after, two young girls who had died were brought to his tomb. Through his
intercession, both were restored to life. These miracles became pivotal in the process toward his canonization.
Throughout the centuries, St. Andrew continued to appear—offering prophetic messages, encouraging perseverance in times of war and persecution, and playing a significant spiritual role in Poland’s history, including during the 1920 Miracle of the Vistula.
Even during the rise of communism, his relics were dramatically rescued from Soviet Russia by American Jesuits and brought safely to Rome. In 1938, he was canonized on Easter Sunday—a rare and significant honor.
Pope Pius XII later dedicated an entire encyclical to him, Invicti Athletae Christi, presenting him as a model of courage and fidelity in times of persecution.
A Forgotten Saint… Awakens in America
Fast forward to Dudley, Massachusetts. Saint Andrew Bobola Parish—the only parish in the United States bearing his name—was struggling. Declining numbers, financial hardship, and uncertainty about its future weighed heavily on its pastor, Fr. Krzysztof Korcz.
In 2023, as Fr. Korcz prepared to meet with Bishop Robert McManus about the parish’s future, unexpected events began to unfold:
A man from Chicago called requesting a Mass in thanksgiving for his wife’s healing—after dreaming he should contact the only Saint Andrew Bobola church in America.
A significant financial gift arrived from a deceased parishioner’s estate.
Fr. Korcz felt an unmistakable prompting to begin praying the litany to Saint Andrew Bobola daily.
What began as quiet prayer quickly turned into something extraordinary.
A Miraculous Healing in May 2024
During the first novena to Saint Andrew Bobola in May 2024, parishioner Anne Bembenek was battling colon cancer.
Already grieving the unexpected death of her husband, Anne was facing aggressive treatment plans: chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Overwhelmed and broken, she fell to her knees and begged God—and St. Andrew Bobola—for help.
On the third day of the novena, as doctors met to determine her treatment plan, the unimaginable happened.
She received a call:There was no remaining cancer. No chemotherapy. No radiation. Only surgery.
Further medical review confirmed the findings.
Anne described walking around her kitchen in disbelief, even pinching herself to be sure she wasn’t dreaming. For her—and for Fr. Korcz—this was no coincidence.
It was a sign.
From Parish to Shrine
After this healing and other confirmed graces, Bishop McManus gave his blessing to begin the process of elevating the parish to a shrine.
On May 11, 2025—during the Jubilee Year of Hope—the church was officially elevated to the Shrine of Saint Andrew Bobola.
More than 1,000 pilgrims from over ten states filled the church for the dedication Mass, preached by Fr. Mitch Pacwa of EWTN.
Since then:
Additional reported healings of cancer have occurred.
Pilgrim Masses are now celebrated every Sunday (English and Polish).
Monthly healing Masses are offered through St. Andrew’s intercession.
Devotion continues to grow nationwide.
In a year marked by uncertainty, struggle, and what once seemed like hopelessness, the shrine stands as a living sign of hope.
A First-Class Relic and Signs of Grace
The Dudley shrine houses a first-class relic of Saint Andrew Bobola—brought to the parish through the efforts of Jesuits who had rescued his relics from Soviet Russia decades earlier.
Even during an exorcism session at the parish, a significant grace was reportedly received through the saint’s relic.
The parallels to St. Philomena are striking: a once-forgotten saint rediscovered, accompanied by miracles, calling the faithful back to deeper trust in God.
A Saint for Our Divided Times
Saint Andrew Bobola is the patron of unity.
He died working for reconciliation among Christians. Today, in a world fractured by division, confusion, and spiritual indifference, his message feels urgently relevant.
His life reminds us:
Holiness is possible.
Perseverance in persecution is possible.
Unity in Christ is possible.
When God wants something, He confirms it with signs.
And in Dudley, Massachusetts, the signs are unfolding before our eyes.
Visit the Shrine
The Shrine of Saint Andrew Bobola welcomes pilgrims from across the United States. Visitors may venerate the relic, attend healing Masses, and learn more about the saint’s life and apparitions.
For more information, including the book The Apparitions of Saint Andrew Bobola After His Death, visit:
In a time when many ask, “Where is God?” the story of Saint Andrew Bobola in Dudley offers a powerful answer:
He is still acting.
He is still healing.
He is still raising up saints.
And perhaps—He is calling us to become saints too.
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