One hundred years of history, 74 years of the 20th century and 26 years of the 21st century is a very important milestone achieved by a Polish Catholic weekly: “Niedziela” (Sunday). Born as a diocesan publication, it has become one of the most important Polish weeklies with a nationwide circulation. The main celebrations of the centenary were held on Friday, September 18, 2026, at the Jasna Góra monastery in Częstochowa.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Poland, Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi; bishops, including the Archbishop of Częstochowa Wacław Depo; and representatives of the academic world, media, politics, and business participated in the celebrations. About 500 employees, collaborators, friends, and readers of the weekly were present in Częstochowa. The President of the Republic of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, assumed the honorary patronage of the celebrations and sent a letter to the participants.

The day began in the morning with the unveiling at the magazine’s headquarters of a commemorative plaque dedicated to the former directors of the weekly. At noon, the Jubilee Mass was celebrated in the Chapel of the Black Madonna, presided over by the Apostolic Nuncio to Poland, Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi. During the liturgy, Archbishop Wacław Depo entrusted the work of “Niedziela” to the Mother of God.

After the Mass, also at the monastery, the Jubilee Gala took place: an official meeting combined with the presentation of the prestigious “Servant of the Word” statuettes to personalities who have made a significant contribution to the dissemination of truth through the media.

The President of the Republic of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, who assumed the honorary patronage of the celebrations, sent a letter to the participants, which was read by his advisor Jan Józef Kasprzyk. In the letter, the President congratulates and thanks the entire editorial staff, currently led by Fr. Grabowski, “for their constant dedication to the vitally important mission of proclaiming truth in public life. Thank you for creating a Catholic information organ that does not hesitate to address difficult, unpopular, and politically incorrect topics.” “On the occasion of your centenary,” the President continues, “I wish you satisfaction in your journalistic work, a sense of fulfillment, and evangelical zeal in shaping the minds and consciences of your compatriots. May Saint Stanislaus Kostka, patron saint of Poland, whose feast we celebrate today, watch over the entire community of ‘Niedziela’. Best wishes!”

Among the various initiatives related to the anniversary, mention should be made of the Polish Post, which prepared a unique, limited-edition postcard with a commemorative postmark.

The history of “Niedziela” begins on April 4, 1926, when the first issue of the 12-page magazine is published with a circulation of about 7,000 copies. The publication bears the subtitle: “Weekly for Catholics of the Diocese of Częstochowa. Illustrated Catholic weekly of the Diocese of Częstochowa.” Fr. Wojciech Mondry takes over the management of the publication, and Bishop Teodor Kubina writes a special letter on the occasion of the founding of the weekly.

In 1937, Fr. Stanisław Gałązka becomes the director of “Niedziela”, and the magazine expands to 16 pages. Unfortunately, with the outbreak of World War II in 1939, publication is interrupted, and it is necessary to wait until the end of the conflict to resume printing: the first issue after the end of the German occupation bears the date April 8, 1945. Fr. Antoni Marchewka is appointed editor-in-chief of the weekly, which becomes a magazine aimed at Catholics throughout Poland. Sadly, the dark period of the communist regime begins in the country’s history. Censorship intervenes to impose its corrections, and for a time, Fr. Marchewka ends up in prison. Finally, the communists shut down this free voice of Catholics: the last issue is published on March 15, 1953.

Only at the time of the birth of the free trade union “Solidarność”, thanks to the persistence and pressure of the then bishop of the city, Msgr. Stefan Bareła, did the authorities finally permit the resumption of the publication of “Niedziela”. On June 7, 1981, after a long pause, the first issue of the weekly “Niedziela” is published. Fr. Ireneusz Skubiś becomes its editor-in-chief.

In 1989, Poland was going through a period of transformation, and free elections were held. The weekly supported the candidates of “Solidarność”. Several columnists of “Niedziela” were elected to the Polish Parliament following the elections. The censorship of the communist regime also came to an end.

Speaking of the history of “Niedziela” during that period, one must remember the figure of Msgr. Skubiś, a charismatic priest who directed the weekly for a full 33 years, creating a large multimedia institution, undertaking modern forms of evangelization, and placing the values of Christian and national culture at the center of his activities. Msgr. Skubiś set himself the goal of creating a weekly that would chronicle ecclesiastical life, the Pope’s magisterium, and the teachings of the Polish bishops, while providing Christian formation to its readers. Years of effort to build a modern editorial office bore fruit: “Niedziela” was published in a national edition and numerous diocesan editions; in the 1990s, it reached a circulation of 300,000 copies. At that time, it was the most widely distributed Catholic magazine among the former communist countries.

Thanks to Msgr. Skubiś’s strong managerial skills, a new editorial building was constructed not far from the Jasna Góra monastery, and “Niedziela” transformed into a multimedia entity with its own radio station, television studio, internet portal, and publishing house. In 2006, the first electronic format issue of “Niedziela” was released, making it possible to purchase the entire magazine via an e-kiosk.

It must also be noted that Msgr. Skubiś collaborated closely with the Jasna Góra monastery, supporting the spiritual mission of this “heart” of Polish Catholicism; he used to call the Black Madonna of Częstochowa the “editor-in-chief” of the magazine.

From 2014 to 2019, the weekly was directed by Lidia Dudkiewicz, the first female editor-in-chief. She was succeeded in 2019 by Fr. Jarosław Grabowski.

It is worth noting that on April 6, 2016, Pope Francis met with the editorial staff of “Niedziela” on the occasion of the weekly’s 90th anniversary celebrations. Meanwhile, on May 6 of this year, a delegation from “Niedziela” presented Pope Leo XIV with a special book published for the Jubilee on the occasion of the centenary.

For the weekly’s centenary, the Association of Polish Journalists awarded “Niedziela” a Special Prize. This is a gesture of recognition by the journalistic community toward a publication that has accompanied the Church and Poland for a century: during the interwar period, under the communist regime, and after the democratic revival.