dr andrzej chibowski

The true story of Fr Michał Wilniewczyc, one of the 200,000 survivors of the World War II mass deportations of 1.5 million Poles to Siberian forced-labour camps. 

The story follows his deportation, suffering in the forced-labour camps, escape and eventual refuge in Iran where he served as chaplain in the Polish army-in-exile. He then joined a group of 105 adults who accompanied 733 mostly orphaned Polish children to their permanent refuge on the other side of the world in Pahiatua, New Zealand, in 1944. 

It continues his epic journey with his departure to Lebanon, Rome and finally back home to his native Poland in 1957. 

Fr Michał is a 20th Century version of Homer's Odysseus, who after long and eventful journey of 10 years returned safely to his native Ithaca. The return of Fr Michał lasted 18 years.