Salezjanie na ziemiach zachodnich i północnych (1945-2000). Służba kościołom lokalnym a realizacja własnego posłannictwa

Abstract

Initially, Salesians worked within non-parochial structures. They worked with adolescents by running oratories, vocational schools, orphanages, lower theological seminaries etc. Article 10 of their Constitutions, binding until 1972, issued an explicit warning: “in principle, parishes should not be accepted.” When diocesan bishops in Polish territories put Salesians in charge of charitable work, they often made their decision dependent on whether the sons of Fr. Bosco would take pastoral care. Until the outbreak of World War Two they had run 14 parishes. When the state borders and the system had changed (1945), the priests from the Salesian Society committed themselves in pastoral care in the West and North Territories. The reasons for their decision were the following: 1) particular Apostolic Administrators asked them and insisted on them to do that, 2) in the search for new didactic-formative posts, 3) such was the appeal issued by Primate Hlond of 5th December, 1945, 4) some friars took their own initiatives, 5) this was necessary due to circumstances when the state had abolished traditional forms of their activity. In relation with an insufficient number of the diocesan clergy, the main task was to replace them. A geographic network of parishes which were taken over by Salesians proves that their superiors had a concrete plan in mind, something that would help avoid too much dispersion. In 1970 225 priests worked in 67 pastoral posts. After the Church had obtained the rights of property (1971) in the Regained Territories, regular religious houses were erected in bigger parishes. On the grounds of the parochial pastoral care at that time, two new Salesian inspectorates were founded. The fall of communism (1989) in Poland made it possible for Salesians to organize educative-formative centres in the Western Territories.