Editor: We hereby republish sections of the Centennial Booklet, “La Salette—1846-1946: Ten Decades with Our Lady,” edited by Fr. Emile Ladouceur, M.S., describing the first hundred years of making Mary’s message known. This is the eighth of twelve articles.
Bp. Thomas Daniel Beaven (1851-1920) of Springfield, MassachusettsIn the annals of the La Salette Community, the Chapter on Poland bears the character which marks the general; history of that heroic Catholic country. Throughout the centuries, Poland lost its territory, its wealth and its independence, but never its Faith. Having been drenched in floods of tears and torrents of blood, Poland, more than any other country, is able to learn and to love the sorrowing message of Our Lady of La Salette.
The coming of the La Salette Fathers in Poland was providentially set by the persecution in France and the clarion call for assistance from the Polish immigrants in the United States. Voicing the plea for Polish-speaking missionaries to serve the faithful in his diocese, Bishop Thomas Daniel Beaven (1851-1920), Bishop of Springfield, Massachusetts appealed to the Superior General of the La Salette Missionaries for trained priests who might minister to the Polish people in his flock. In response to this demand, the Very Rev. Father Joseph Perrin, M.S., Superior General, chose five young Swiss priests who had just finished their studies at the Gregorian University in Rome and in 1902, and sent them to Poland in order to learn Polish with the Lazarist Fathers in Kraców, Poland.
After obtaining a working knowledge of the language, these Fathers remained for some time engaged in parochial work in order to complete their training. When some left for America, others stayed in Poland to take charge of the Parish of Putzniki, entrusted to them by Bishop Jósef Bilczewski (1860-1923), Archbishop of Lemberg [later canonized by Pope Benedict in 2005].
Three of five young La Salette Swiss priests sent to Poland to learn the language: (from left:) Oswald Loretan (1876-1964); Francis Schnyder (1872-1929); Gabriel Van Roth (1875-1941)In order to assure the future of their undertaking, they founded an Apostolic School in 1907, with an initial enrollment of twelve students. In May, 1910, the already flourishing work was removed to Dęmbowiec, not far from Jaslo in the diocese of Przemyśl, where a new and more spacious building was erected to accommodate eighty pupils. At the outbreak of the First World War, the student body numbered well above fifty.
Then began Poland's arduous Way of the Cross. The Russian invasion brought devastation and a halt to the development of the College. However, with the revival of Catholic and independent Poland, mighty strides were made. Dęmbowiec saw a public outdoor Shrine rise on its grounds where thousands of pilgrims came to implore the Weeping Madonna. A Catholic magazine was published which reached every part of the country making known Mary's Message of La Salette.
In 1929, the foundations were laid for a magnificent National Sanctuary to Our Lady of La Salette at Dęmbowiec itself. A Novitiate was opened at Hurko and new apostles were being trained for foreign mission work in Argentina. Thus an undertaking which was started at the appeal of a North American Bishop was now able to answer the call of a South American shepherd of Polish exiles from the homeland.
The Preparatory College of Dęmbowiec has given many missionaries to the Congregation. Some became professors or directors in this same school and others devoted themselves to the missions in Poland, North America, Madagascar and Argentina. The students in Philosophy and Theology have attended courses at the Gregorian University in Rome, the Catholic University of Fribourg in Switzerland, and the Dominican House of Studies at Tournai, Belgium.
The Polish Fathers were also put in charge of the important parish of St. Joseph in Stanislawów and of the famous Shrine and Parish of Kobylanka in the Tarnow Diocese. However, Dęmbowiec remained the chief center of La Salette devotion. On September l5, 1929, Bishop Karol Józef Fischer (Fiszer) (1847-1931), coadjutor Bishop of Przemyśl, solemnly blessed the La Salette Facsimile near the chapel of the Missionary Fathers. Nearly 20,000 pilgrims were present, having come from Kraków, Lwów, Poznań, and even from Vilna, 125 miles away. In short, all Poland sent representatives to invoke the assistance of Our Lady of La Salette.
(from left:) Cardinal August Hlond (1881-1948); façade and front entrance of St. Joseph Shrine in Stanislawów, PolandDuring the Second World War, the Province of Poland suffered terrible setbacks, first under the German impact and then under Soviet domination. Four Polish Missionaries were killed by bombs when hostilities began. Many houses and schools were either destroyed or badly damaged.
The Provincial Superior. Rev. Michael Kolbuch, M.S. (1887-1957), escaped with his life and returned to the United States. Looking to the future he founded a new Polish Mission Seminary at Olivet, Illinois, to help recruit replacements for his decimated Province and support its missions in Argentina. Quite aptly the institute was named “La Salette Calvary.”
The publication of a Polish and English monthly in the United States has long helped to spread the message of La Salette among the Polish people. The Polish Fathers of Olivet sponsor the new National monthly, Our Lady's Digest.
Prospects are gloomy in regard to our La Salette establishments in Poland. However, the house and chapel at Dęmbowiec have been repaired and the school reopened. The houses of Lwów and Stanislawów are in Russian territory and the Fathers have been forced to leave. Soviet tyranny is accounted more brutal than that of the Germans. The Russians have planned to transform the town of Lwów into the western bastion of the USSR and a center of economic exploitation.
The Polish language is rapidly vanishing since the majority of the Poles have been transferred west of the so-called Curzon line or deported deep into Russia. Churches have been transformed into warehouses, or theatres and the younger priests have been forcibly pressed into the Red Army.
Nevertheless there is still a ray of hope and Cardinal August Hlond (1881-1948) speaks the mind and heart of Poland when he says: "Poland did not succumb, for God still lives. and in is own time, he shall speak his language and manifest himself amid the turmoil of the Nations. By his will, Poland shall rise again and shall be strong and glorious and happy — blessed Poland, the dear, beloved Martyr!"(from top left:) La Salette in Dęmbowiec, Poland: Shrine Church; La Salette Chapel; Outdoor facsimile; Seminary