A Saint Who Refused to Be Forgotten with Father Chris Korcz

What happens when a parish is on the verge of closing and a 17th-century martyr refuses to let it die?

That's the extraordinary story behind the Shrine of St. Andrew Bobola in Dudley, Massachusetts, and it's one we had the privilege of hearing firsthand in our latest episode of The Engage Parish Podcast.

Father Chris Korcz, pastor of the shrine and a man of remarkable faith and perseverance, sat down with us on-site to share how a small, declining Polish parish became the only St. Andrew Bobola shrine in the United States — and how three undeniable signs from God changed everything.

A Parish In Crisis...
When Father Chris arrived at St. Andrew Bobola Church twelve years ago, the community was already struggling. Immigration from Poland had slowed, young families were gravitating to a nearby parish with a school, and the pandemic accelerated an already painful decline. By 2023, the parish had dwindled to just 120 families, and Father Chris was preparing a report for his bishop to discuss the possibility of merging with a larger parish.

Then, the meeting was canceled — providentially, as it turned out.

...and the Phone Call That Changed Everything
A man from Chicago called out of nowhere. He had experienced what he believed was a miraculous healing of his wife, and he wanted to schedule a Mass of thanksgiving — not in Poland, not at a national shrine, but specifically at a St. Andrew Bobola parish in the United States. When he searched online, there was only one: Dudley, Massachusetts. That phone call sent Father Chris deep into the history and spirituality of St. Andrew Bobola, a Jesuit priest and martyr who was killed in 1657 for refusing to renounce his faith. What he discovered was a saint with a remarkable pattern of reappearing throughout history — healing the sick, inspiring the faithful, and rallying the Church in moments of crisis.

From L to R, clockwise: Shrine of St. Andrew Bobola in Dudley, Mass.; Main altar of the shrine; Father Chris Korcz standing next a bronze statue of St. Andrew Bobola; A reliquary containing a first class relic of St. Andrew Bobola (Photo courtesy of Mike Josephs).   
Three Signs, One Shrine
Father Chris began praying the Litany to St. Andrew Bobola daily. Within two weeks, a second sign arrived: a lawyer called to inform him that a recently deceased parishioner had left a significant bequest to the church.

The third sign came during the first-ever Novena to St. Andrew Bobola at the parish in May 2024, when a parishioner — diagnosed with colon cancer and scheduled to begin chemotherapy — received word from her doctors that the cancer was completely gone. Her testimony was given publicly, recorded, and documented by a canonical witness.

Armed with these three signs, Father Chris met with Bishop Robert McManus of the Diocese of Worcester, who gave his blessing to pursue the elevation of the parish to a diocesan shrine. On May 11, 2025 — a Jubilee Year — the Shrine of St. Andrew Bobola was officially established.

Why St. Andrew Bobola Matters Now
In our conversation, Father Chris reflects on why this saint, largely unknown to American Catholics, is making himself known again. St. Andrew Bobola is known as a defender of the faith, a man who chose martyrdom over apostasy, and a powerful intercessor — especially for those struggling with doubt, fear, or the courage to profess their beliefs publicly.

Ask [St. Andrew Bobola] to help you to focus on Jesus," Father Chris shares, "on this day, at this time, and every day."

The shrine is located in Dudley, Massachusetts, just a short drive from Connecticut and Rhode Island. This May, Father Chris is inviting Catholics from across New England and beyond to join the first anniversary celebrations, including:

• Novena: May 1–3, May 8–10 (featuring Father Mitch Pacwa from EWTN)
• Feast Day Mass: Saturday, May 16 at noon EST (Main celebrant: Bishop Robert McManus)
• Polish-language celebration: May 17 (see website for more information)

All Masses and celebrations will be live-streamed at standrewbobola.com. You can also purchase The Apparitions of St. Andrew Bobola After His Death — a new book featuring Father Chris's own testimony — in English or Polish through the shrine's website.

Watch the full episode above, or listen on the Fio app, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio.

St. Andrew Bobola, pray for us.