Polish community in Malta to hold memorial for 13-year-old girl swept out to sea
Mass will be followed by wreath laying at Ċirkewwa site near where Oliwia Wojnowska died
The Polish Community in Malta is holding a memorial service for Oliwia Wojnowska who died after being swept out to sea at Ċirkewwa on Monday afternoon.
The body of the 13-year old girl, who was on holiday in Malta with her family, was found following a three-day search.
She had been standing on the pavement behind railings with her 49-year old father and 17-year old brother, watching the rough sea, when a large wave crashed over them. The father and son were pinned against a wall while the girl was swept out to sea. The father sustained injuries trying to grab his daughter.
A drone operator spotted the teenager’s pink jacket on the rocks close to nearby Sunset Viewpoint facing Paradise Bay on Tuesday afternoon, almost 24 hours after the incident.
Her body was recovered a day later.
On Thursday, the Polish Parish announced it will hold a memorial service and holy mass in her memory for the Polish community in Malta on Sunday February 1 at 10.30am at St John Bosco Chapel in Sliema.
The mass will be led by bishop Robert Chrząszcz, delegate of the Polish Episcopal Conference for the Ministry of Poland abroad.
After the mass, the community will go to the site of the tragedy in Ċirkewwa to lay wreaths and light candles.
Representatives of the Embassy of Poland will also take part in the ceremony.