Cult of
Saint Andrew Bobola
in His native village

Since 1930s (when father Poplatek had edited his book) historians of St. Andrew Bobola believed that Strachocina is the place of His birth. However before the second part of 1980s even in Strachocina only these well-informed knew that they were countrymen of the Saint. It has changed after arrival of father Józef Niżnik to the village. Just he alone set up Strachocina a wide-known place of the cult of St. Andrew Bobola.
At the picture he is encircled by nuns from the Franciscan Convent of Knights of Immaculata - founded by father St. Maximilian Kolbe (in Poland and in Japan).
Also they are in Strachocina only thanks to father Niżnik - he convinced authorithies of the convent that the best place for a new cloister is the place where St. Andrew Bobola was born.
On May 16. 1988 during elevated celebration local bishop Ignacy Tokarczuk officially recognized Strachocina the center of special cult of St Andrew as His native village. In the same year, on September 17 the corner stone of the cloister was fixed.

But the roots of everything go back long before these events.
The case has the savor of sensation.
Father Niżnik arrived at Strachocina only by chance. In 1983 he was there for short time to act as the substitute for parish-priest (that took a cure at clinic in Cracow). One night (on Sept. 10 to 11) some strange tapping at arm waked him up. He saw a shape over him. It was a human creature "slim, dressed in black and with black beard". He tried to catch the phantom but it moved away in the direction of a window and ... disappeared. In the morning he learned that the presbitery in Strachocina "has been haunted" from time immemorial for today's people and illness of the parish-priest had relevance with similar "visits".
Moved with the accident he made up his mind to resign entering Lublin Catholic University where he was assigned by his Church authorities and to stay in Strachocina to inquire into the question. He took up the duties of parish-priest (making happy his predecessor that was sent to a quiet tiny village in Beskid Mountains where he found peace at last).
Mysterious "visits" recured many times during next four years. Father Niżnik resolutely tried to get into touch with the phantom and sought help in pray. Soon he associated his "guest" with St. Andrew Bobola - a countryman from Strachocina. He learned that Father Pio passed to some nun from New Zmigrod, Poland the message that St. Andrew wants his cult in Strachocina.
On May 16 1987, at an unniversary of the martyr's death of the Saint he celebrated a very solemn Holy Mass with Eucharistic Procession and thanksgiving Te Deum. During the service he preached a touching sermon. He told:
"We want You, Andrzej Bobola, our Saint, we want You to be our particular patron and protector. This day we call: WE WANT YOU. And this call results from the historical past, from you are ours [...]. Since here is Your beginning, since here are Your roots, Strachocina has been recorded at God with capital letters. ...
That night the mysterious figure appeared for the last time.
Soon Father Niżnik wrote a letter to the Sanctuary of Andrzej Bobola in Warsaw. He asked for relics of the Saint. The request was granted. Relics of St. Andrew Bobola were brought to the parish-church with solemn celebration on May 16 1988. Local bishop Ignacy Tokarczuk took part in it and preached a sermon.

Since this event each May 16 there are great celebrity in Strachocina. A huge masses of people from neighbourhood (but not only) take part in it together with their bishops. Since 1992 the place of the celebration has changed from the parish-church to so called "Bobolówka" - according to tradition - there was a manor where Andrew Bobola was born. To this day only an uncared-for park with old trees has preserved. Some of these trees certainly remember future Saint. Now they have built there a simple field chapel that is used during celebrities. The chappel is topped with a writting: He has chosen this place by himself.